The Shadow PC Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Shadow PC in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Shadow PC
The Insider’s Guide
A full Windows PC in the cloud for gaming and creative work
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among remote desktop apps, read from Shadow PC’s own pages.
Made by Shadow · checked Nov 13, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Shadow PC’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Shadow PC’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 13, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
1.8
GPA, above 6 of the 85 other remote desktop apps we grade
Shadow PC is a Windows PC with an RTX graphics card that runs in Shadow's data centers and streams to your devices. You install your own games and software on it, and a monthly plan sets the graphics tier, storage and playtime. Gamer plans come in Lite, standard and Pro tiers, and Pro adds longer sessions and a team manager.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Shadow PC, taken from its own pages and our grades.
You install the client, sign in and stream, with nothing to set up.
- 1
Best for a full Windows gaming PC streamed to your devices
Playtime is capped by fair use, peak-hour priority depends on your tier, and not every game or app will run.
- 2
Paid plans start at $29.99 a month
As its pricing page puts it: $29.99 per month, no commitment.
- 3
It runs on 6 platforms
Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android.
- 4
A full Windows PC
Install games from Steam, Epic or Battle.net, plus mods and your own software, instead of picking from a fixed library.
- 5
Stream to many devices
The download page lists apps for Windows, macOS, iOS and Android, and the site also offers a browser version and Android TV and Apple TV.
- 6
Monthly playtime and session caps
Lite plans allow 120 hours a month in sessions of up to 4 hours. Other plans list 210 hours, sessions of 6 to 8 hours and an Always On option.
- 7
A 1.8 GPA, above 6 of 85
That is against the other remote desktop apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
To replace Shadow PC you would be making a fast, secure link to another computer through any network. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
Shadow PC at a glance
- Pricing
- Paid, from $29.99 per month, no commitment
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android
- Made by
- Shadow
- Category
- Remote Desktop
- Our grade
- 1.8 GPA, weak
- Store rating
- 3.8 on the App Store, 2,023 ratings
The report card
Best for a full Windows gaming PC streamed to your devices
Shadow PC streams a full Windows PC to many devices, from $29.99 a month with no commitment. Playtime is capped by fair use, peak-hour priority depends on your tier, and not every game or app will run.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | D | $29.99 a month for the cheapest plan, just under the $30 line where the category's dearest tenth begins. Neo Pro is $44.99 and Power Pro $59.99. |
| Free plan and trial | F | No free plan and no trial is listed anywhere on the vendor pages. |
| Features | C | A full Windows PC streamed to many devices, with team management on Pro. Monthly playtime and resolution limits apply, with 120 hours on Lite. |
| Ease of use | B | No store rating on record. You install the client, sign in and stream, with nothing to set up. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Web, Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone and Android clients, with Steam, Epic and Battle.net. No API is listed. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Shadow PC is for
- Fits if you want a Windows gaming PC on a laptop or phone
- Works for monthly use with no long commitment
Who it is not for
- Pricey if you play often, since the cheapest plan is $29.99 and Lite caps at 120 hours a month
- Skip it if you want a trial first, as none is listed
- Watch out: peak-hour queue priority depends on your tier, from Lite to Premium
- Watch out: the vendor notes that not every game or app will run
- Watch out: businesses use a separate Cloud Workstations line with its own pricing
Good to know
Good for
- Playing PC games on a Mac, Chromebook or phone
- Light 3D, rendering or local-AI work without buying hardware
- Gamers who prefer a monthly plan with no commitment
Worth knowing
- Playtime is a fair-use cap that resets on the 1st of each month; Lite allows 120 hours.
- Peak-hour queue priority depends on the tier, from Lite to Premium.
- The vendor notes that not every game or app will run, flagged with an asterisk on its page.
- A separate Cloud Workstations line for businesses has its own pricing page.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$29.99
A month to start
Shadow PC is a paid product, starting at $29.99 per month, no commitment.
No free plan and no trial is listed anywhere on the vendor pages.
Neo Lite
$29.99
per month, no commitment
Up to 120 hours of playtime a month, sessions up to 4 hours, streaming in 1440p, 256 GB storage.
Neo
$37.99
per month, no commitment
Streaming up to 1440p, multi-screen and ultrawide support, RTX and DLSS. The comparison table lists 210 hours a month.
Power Lite
$43.99
per month, no commitment
Up to 50% more GPU power than Neo, 28 GB RAM and 20 GB VRAM, 120 hours a month, 4-hour sessions.
Neo Pro
$44.99
per month, no commitment
For 3D and rendering: priority access, longer sessions and a subscriptions and users manager.
Power
$54.99
per month, no commitment
Up to 50% more GPU power, 28 GB RAM and 20 GB VRAM, streaming up to 5K.
Power Pro
$59.99
per month, no commitment
Power hardware with priority access, longer sessions, a users manager and installs of CUDA and RTX workflows.
Read from shadow.tech on Nov 13, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
6
Places it runs: Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android
A full Windows PC in the cloud for gaming and creative work. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: AI agents, remote desktop.
A full Windows PC streamed to many devices, with team management on Pro.
- A full Windows PC
- Install games from Steam, Epic or Battle.net, plus mods and your own software, instead of picking from a fixed library.
- Stream to many devices
- The download page lists apps for Windows, macOS, iOS and Android, and the site also offers a browser version and Android TV and Apple TV.
- Monthly playtime and session caps
- Lite plans allow 120 hours a month in sessions of up to 4 hours. Other plans list 210 hours, sessions of 6 to 8 hours and an Always On option.
- Resolution and monitor limits
- The comparison table shows 1440p at 60 Hz on the lightest tier and up to 5K at 240 Hz on the others, with 1 to 3 monitors.
- Team management on Pro
- Pro plans include a subscriptions and users manager, and a team suite adds roles, fleet management, IAM and centralized billing.
Where it runs
- Web
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
- iOS
- Android
What it works with
- Steam
- Epic Games
- Battle.net
Shadow PC is made by Shadow.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
6/85
Other remote desktop apps it is graded above
Shadow PC's GPA of 1.8 is higher than 6 of the 85 other remote desktop apps we grade, and level with 6.
It stands best on ease of use (B, above 59 of 85) and worst on free plan and trial (F, above 0).
Its paid plans start at $29.99 a month, against a middle price of $8.33 for the category: 40 of the 44 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.7 out of 4. 5 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 86 remote desktop apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Shadow PC’s own letter is outlined.
- DValue for moneyAbove 0 of 85
- FFree plan and trialAbove 0 of 85
- CFeaturesAbove 1 of 85
- BEase of useAbove 59 of 85
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 28 of 85
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 59 remote desktop apps. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Shadow PC is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace Shadow PC you would be making a fast, secure link to another computer through any network. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 73 of the 85 other remote desktop apps grade higher. It costs $359.88 a year.
What you could not
- A fast, secure link to another computer through any network.
- An AI agent, with the models and the safeguards behind it.
- Apps for macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android that stay in step with each other.
What this rests on. Shadow PC’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Paperspace, Vagon, Parsec, Shells and Moonlight
The 5 tools Shadow PC is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 1.8GPA
Paperspace
From $22/mo
Cloud desktops and GPU machines you rent by the hour or month.
- Only Shadow PC lists iOS and Android apps.
- 2.2GPA
Vagon
Free trial · from $7.99/mo
Cloud workstations with GPUs, billed by the minute.
- Only Shadow PC lists Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android apps.
- Vagon also covers file sharing.
- 2.6GPA
Parsec
Free plan · from $8.33/mo
Low-latency remote desktop for games and creative work.
- Parsec has a free plan. Shadow PC does not.
- Only Shadow PC lists an iOS app.
- Shadow PC also covers AI agents.
- 2.0GPA
Shells
From $14.95/mo
A personal cloud computer you open from any device.
- Only Shadow PC lists Windows, macOS and Linux apps.
- Shadow PC also covers AI agents.
- Shells also covers file sync.
- 3.0GPA
Moonlight
Free
Open-source client for streaming PC games to other devices.
- Moonlight has a free plan. Shadow PC does not.
- Only Shadow PC lists a web app.
- Moonlight is open source, according to its own site.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
11
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Shadow PC free?
No. Shadow PC is a paid product, starting at $29.99 per month, no commitment.
How much does Shadow PC cost?
Shadow PC lists 6 plans. Neo Lite: $29.99 per month, no commitment.
What platforms does Shadow PC work on?
Shadow PC is available on Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android.
How is Shadow PC rated?
Shadow PC's iPhone and iPad app averages 3.8 out of 5 from 2,023 ratings on the App Store in the United States, as read on Nov 13, 2026.
Is Shadow PC open source?
Shadow PC is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 13, 2026.
What does Shadow PC integrate with?
Shadow PC's listing names Steam, Epic Games and Battle.net. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes Shadow PC?
Shadow PC is made by Shadow.
What are the alternatives to Shadow PC?
The closest alternatives to Shadow PC in our directory are Paperspace, Vagon, Parsec, Shells and Moonlight.
How does Shadow PC compare with other remote desktop apps?
Shadow PC's GPA of 1.8 is higher than 6 of the 85 other remote desktop apps we grade, and level with 6.
Is Shadow PC good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Shadow PC D for value for money. Its paid plans start at $29.99 a month, against a middle price of $8.33 for the category: 40 of the 44 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Shadow PC?
To replace Shadow PC you would be making a fast, secure link to another computer through any network.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Shadow PC’s own pages on Nov 13, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Shadow's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Shadow. Prices change, so check shadow.tech before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
7,721
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
7,721
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Shadow PC, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/shadow-pc
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Shadow PC: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/shadow-pc
Know someone choosing between remote desktop apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/shadow-pc/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded remote desktop apps after Shadow PC, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Remote Desktop Insider's GuideEvery one of the 86 remote desktop apps we grade, compared
- Chrome Remote Desktop Insider's GuideGoogle's free remote access to your own computers from a browser3.2 GPA
- DWService Insider's GuideFree browser-based remote access to computers via an agent3.2 GPA
- HopToDesk Insider's GuideFree open-source remote desktop with a paid device dashboard3.2 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Shadow PC’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Shadow PC is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Shadow. Prices and plans change: check shadow.tech before you buy.