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Fanatical vs Shadow PC

Fanatical logo

Fanatical

Gaming

Authorised key store built around build your own bundles of mostly Steam titles

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Shadow PC logo

Shadow PC

Gaming

A full Windows machine in a datacentre, rented by the month

From
$29.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Fanatical has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Fanatical almost everything activates on Steam, so the Steam account rules, regional restrictions and library policies apply and the store is a discount channel rather than an independent platform.; Shadow PC you rent hardware, not a catalogue, so the subscription buys you nothing to play; every game is purchased separately and the real monthly cost is Shadow plus whatever you spend on games.
  • They diverge on capability: Fanatical covers Build your own bundle, Shadow PC covers Full Windows instance.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Fanatical and Shadow PC actually diverge.

Attributes where Fanatical and Shadow PC differ
AttributeFanaticalShadow PC
Starting priceFree$29.99/month
Pricing modelOne-time purchasePer user per month
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebWindows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Web, Smart TV

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Gaming).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Fanatical

  • Build your own bundle
  • Star Deals
  • Authorised sourcing
  • Mixed media bundles
  • Steam first catalogue
  • Wishlist alerts

Only in Shadow PC

  • Full Windows instance
  • Install anything
  • Dedicated GPU tier
  • Broad client support
  • Peripheral passthrough
  • Storage add-ons

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Fanatical

  • Filling a Steam library with back catalogue titles at a few pounds each through a build your own bundlenot Shadow PC
  • Buying a recent release at a discount from a source with publisher agreements rather than a grey marketplacenot Shadow PC
  • Picking up a headline title on a Star Deal that undercuts the concurrent Steam sale pricenot Shadow PC
  • Buying several copies of an inexpensive multiplayer game for a group without paying full price eachnot Shadow PC

Shadow PC

  • Running Windows-only games or applications from a Mac, a Linux desktop or a Chromebooknot Fanatical
  • Playing heavily modded games that catalogue streaming services do not permitnot Fanatical
  • A student or contractor who needs a capable Windows workstation for a few months rather than a purchasenot Fanatical
  • Households that want gaming performance without buying and housing a desktop towernot Fanatical

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Fanatical

  • Almost everything activates on Steam, so the Steam account rules, regional restrictions and library policies apply and the store is a discount channel rather than an independent platform.
  • Bundle pools are weighted towards older and low profile titles, and the advertised saving is measured against list prices that the same games rarely sell at any more.
  • There is no refund once a key has been revealed, which is stricter than Steam and leaves no route out of an impulse purchase.
  • Duplicate keys from bundles have no resale route because an activated Steam key cannot be transferred, so overlapping bundle purchases are simply wasted money.
  • Some titles carry regional activation locks, and prices are set per currency rather than tracking exchange rates, so buyers outside the main markets can end up paying more than the local store price.

Shadow PC

  • You rent hardware, not a catalogue, so the subscription buys you nothing to play; every game is purchased separately and the real monthly cost is Shadow plus whatever you spend on games.
  • Included storage is a few hundred gigabytes while modern titles run to a hundred gigabytes each, so extra storage is effectively compulsory and the advertised price understates what most subscribers pay.
  • The company went through receivership in 2021 and changed hands, after which prices rose sharply and grandfathered plans ended, so there is a documented precedent for the terms shifting under existing subscribers.
  • Capacity is regional and has been sold out before, with waiting lists for new subscribers, and anyone far from a datacentre gets latency that undermines the whole point.
  • It is a real Windows machine, which means you own its problems: updates, driver issues, malware exposure and a disk that fills up, all of which a catalogue service handles for you.

Pricing, plan by plan

Fanatical

Free
  • Store accountFree
    • Free account, you pay per title or per bundle
    • Build your own bundles at a fixed price for a chosen number of titles
    • Most keys activate on Steam

Shadow PC

$29.99/month
  • Shadow PC$29.99/month
    • Dedicated Windows instance with administrator rights
    • GPU allocated to your machine
    • Base storage allocation of a few hundred gigabytes
  • Shadow PC Power$undefined/month
    • Higher GPU class than the base plan
    • Sold as a monthly upgrade on top of the standard subscription
    • Aimed at high refresh rate and heavier creative workloads
  • Storage upgrade$undefined/month
    • Additional disk beyond the included allocation
    • Billed monthly per block of storage
    • Required in practice once you install several large games

Which should you pick?

Choose Fanatical if

  • You need build your own bundle.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want star deals.
Fanatical review

Choose Shadow PC if

  • You need full windows instance.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Web, Smart TV.
  • You also want install anything.
Shadow PC review

Questions people ask

Is Fanatical or Shadow PC better?
Neither clearly leads. Fanatical starts at Free and Shadow PC at $29.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Fanatical or Shadow PC?
Fanatical has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Fanatical and $29.99/month for Shadow PC.
Does Fanatical or Shadow PC run on more platforms?
Fanatical runs on Web. Shadow PC runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Web, Smart TV.
Can I use Fanatical for free?
Yes. Fanatical has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Shadow PC starts at $29.99/month.
What is Fanatical best used for?
Fanatical is most often used for filling a steam library with back catalogue titles at a few pounds each through a build your own bundle, buying a recent release at a discount from a source with publisher agreements rather than a grey marketplace, picking up a headline title on a star deal that undercuts the concurrent steam sale price, buying several copies of an inexpensive multiplayer game for a group without paying full price each. Of those, filling a steam library with back catalogue titles at a few pounds each through a build your own bundle and buying a recent release at a discount from a source with publisher agreements rather than a grey marketplace are not what Shadow PC is typically brought in for.
What can Fanatical do that Shadow PC cannot?
Fanatical covers Build your own bundle, Star Deals, Authorised sourcing, Mixed media bundles. Shadow PC covers Full Windows instance, Install anything, Dedicated GPU tier, Broad client support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Fanatical: Are Fanatical keys official?

Yes. Fanatical sources under publisher and distributor agreements, unlike marketplaces where individual sellers list keys of unknown origin.

Shadow PC: Does the subscription include games?

No. Shadow is a rented Windows PC. You install Steam or any other launcher and buy games yourself, which is why it costs more than services that include a catalogue.

Fanatical: Can I return a bundle I do not want?

Not once keys have been revealed. Check the contents against your existing library before buying, because duplicates cannot be resold.

Shadow PC: Can I use it for work as well as gaming?

Yes. It is a full Windows instance with administrator rights, so Adobe applications, CAD, development tools and Blender all run on it, subject to your own software licences.

Fanatical: Do the keys work outside the United Kingdom?

Usually yes, but individual titles can be region restricted and the restriction is listed on the product page rather than applied automatically at checkout.

Shadow PC: How much storage do I get?

A few hundred gigabytes on the base plan, which covers roughly two to four current large games. More is available as a paid monthly add-on.

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