A comprehensive comparison of two leading cloud gaming platforms to help you choose the right service for your gaming and computing needs.
Cloud gaming has revolutionized how we access high-performance computing resources, eliminating the need for expensive hardware upgrades. Two prominent players in this space are Shadow PC and EVERESTGAMES, each offering unique approaches to virtual desktop infrastructure. This comparison examines their pricing models, performance capabilities, global reach, and feature sets to help you make an informed decision.
Shadow PC has established itself as a subscription-based cloud gaming service operating primarily in North America and Europe. The platform provides full Windows virtual machines that users can access from various devices, allowing installation of games and software just like a physical computer. Shadow operates from eight data centers across supported regions and offers multiple subscription tiers with different performance levels.
EVERESTGAMES represents a modern cloud gaming solution that combines subscription-based plans with flexible usage options. The service operates from strategic data center locations across North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific, providing users with low-latency access to powerful virtual machines. EVERESTGAMES supports gaming, rendering, video editing, VR applications, and other GPU-intensive workloads through its tiered pricing structure.
Shadow PC employs a straightforward monthly subscription model with two primary gaming tiers. The base tier, known as Discovery or Boost, offers GTX 1080-equivalent graphics performance for approximately $32.99 per month in the United States or €32.99 per month in Europe. This tier includes 6 to 12 GB of RAM depending on the specific plan, 256 to 512 GB of SSD storage, and access to a Windows virtual machine. Shadow also offers a Power upgrade tier with RTX 3070-equivalent performance for around $49.99 per month in the US or €49.99 per month in Europe, featuring 28 GB of RAM and enhanced CPU capabilities.
EVERESTGAMES provides a more flexible pricing structure with three main subscription tiers. The Bronze plan starts at $16.99 per month and includes 10 hours of gameplay, a GTX 1080 GPU, 4 CPU cores, 16 GB of RAM, and 100 GB of storage. Additional gameplay hours cost $0.99 per hour beyond the included allocation. The Silver plan at $29.99 per month offers 15 hours of gameplay with an RTX 4060 GPU, 8 CPU cores, 32 GB of RAM, and the same 100 GB storage base. The premium Gold tier costs $66.99 per month and provides 20 hours of gameplay with RTX 3080-level performance, 8 CPU cores, 32 GB of RAM, and 100 GB storage, with additional hours priced at $2.99 each.
For casual gamers who play fewer than 20 hours per month, EVERESTGAMES often proves more cost-effective, especially at the Bronze tier. However, for users who consistently exceed 20 hours monthly, Shadow PC's flat subscription rate may offer better value. The key difference lies in EVERESTGAMES's pay-as-you-go model for additional hours versus Shadow's unlimited usage within subscription limits, though Shadow does not explicitly cap monthly hours.
Shadow PC's base tier delivers GTX 1080-equivalent graphics performance, which handles most modern games at 1080p resolution with medium to high settings. The CPU specifications vary by plan, with Discovery offering 4 virtual cores and Boost providing 8 virtual cores, both running Intel Xeon processors at approximately 3.1 GHz. The base tier includes 6 GB of RAM for Discovery or 12 GB for Boost, with 256 GB or 512 GB of SSD storage respectively. Shadow's Power tier significantly upgrades to RTX 3070-equivalent graphics, 28 GB of RAM, and enhanced CPU performance suitable for 1440p gaming at high settings.
EVERESTGAMES offers comparable entry-level performance with its Bronze plan featuring GTX 1080 graphics, 4 CPU cores, and 16 GB of RAM, designed for 1080p gaming at 60 FPS. The Silver tier steps up to RTX 4060 performance with 8 CPU cores and 32 GB of RAM, optimized for 1440p gaming at 60 FPS. The Gold tier provides RTX 3080-level performance with 8 CPU cores and 32 GB of RAM, capable of 4K gaming at 60 FPS. All EVERESTGAMES plans include 100 GB of base storage, with additional storage available at $4.80 per 50 GB increment.
Both services support ray tracing and modern graphics technologies, though Shadow's base tier lacks ray tracing support while EVERESTGAMES's Silver and Gold tiers include full ray tracing capabilities. EVERESTGAMES also offers higher base RAM allocations across all tiers compared to Shadow's entry-level options, which may benefit users running multiple applications simultaneously or working with memory-intensive creative software.
Shadow PC maintains a more limited geographic footprint, operating from eight data centers primarily serving North America and Europe. The service restricts signups based on country of residence, meaning users outside supported regions cannot access Shadow PC subscriptions. This limitation can be significant for users in Asia, Africa, South America, or other regions not covered by Shadow's infrastructure.
EVERESTGAMES operates from seven strategic data center locations across three major regions. In North America, the service maintains facilities in Northern Virginia and Oregon. European coverage includes Frankfurt and London, while Asia Pacific operations span Mumbai, Sydney, and Tokyo. This distribution ensures low-latency access for users across these regions, though coverage remains more limited than some competitors with 20-plus data center locations.
For users traveling frequently or requiring access from multiple regions, EVERESTGAMES allows account access from supported regions, though performance may vary based on proximity to data centers. Shadow PC's regional restrictions mean users cannot easily switch between regions or access the service while traveling outside supported areas.
Shadow PC provides a full Windows 10 or Windows 11 virtual machine experience, allowing users to install any software, games, or applications they would use on a physical computer. The service supports streaming to Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Smart TVs, and web browsers, providing exceptional device compatibility. Shadow includes 1 Gbps network bandwidth, enabling high-quality streaming at resolutions up to 4K depending on the subscription tier. Storage can be expanded with optional HDD additions up to several terabytes.
EVERESTGAMES offers similar flexibility with full virtual machine access, supporting installation of games from Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG, and other platforms. The service runs on Linux with Proton compatibility, enabling support for the vast majority of Windows games. EVERESTGAMES supports gaming, rendering, video editing, VR applications, and other GPU-intensive workloads, though cryptocurrency mining is explicitly prohibited. Data transfer rates vary by plan, with Bronze offering 15 Mbps, Silver providing 25 Mbps, and Gold delivering 45 Mbps.
Both services excel for different use cases. Shadow PC's unlimited usage model suits users who game extensively or need consistent access to their virtual machine throughout the month. EVERESTGAMES's tiered approach with included gameplay hours works well for casual gamers or users with variable usage patterns, as they only pay for additional hours beyond their plan allocation.
Shadow PC provides 1 Gbps network bandwidth to all subscribers, ensuring high-quality streaming regardless of subscription tier. The service supports resolutions up to 4K and refresh rates up to 240 Hz depending on the plan, with ray tracing and DLSS available on Power tier subscriptions. Shadow's streaming technology has been refined over years of operation, providing stable connections and low input latency when users have adequate internet connections.
EVERESTGAMES offers variable data transfer rates based on subscription tier, with Bronze plans providing 15 Mbps, Silver plans delivering 25 Mbps, and Gold plans offering 45 Mbps. All tiers support gaming up to their respective resolution limits, with Gold tier capable of 4K gaming at 60 FPS. The service optimizes streaming quality based on the selected plan, ensuring users receive appropriate bandwidth for their performance tier.
Both services require stable internet connections for optimal performance, with Shadow recommending minimum speeds that vary by resolution and EVERESTGAMES providing tier-specific bandwidth allocations. Users with slower connections may experience better results with EVERESTGAMES's lower-tier plans, which require less bandwidth, while users with high-speed connections can take full advantage of Shadow's 1 Gbps allocation or EVERESTGAMES's Gold tier capabilities.
Shadow PC includes base SSD storage ranging from 256 GB to 512 GB depending on the subscription tier, with optional HDD storage expansions available up to several terabytes. The service maintains user data persistently, meaning files and installations remain available between sessions. Shadow does not charge separately for storage beyond the base allocation included in subscriptions, though expansion storage incurs additional monthly fees.
EVERESTGAMES provides 100 GB of base storage across all subscription tiers, with additional storage available at $4.80 per 50 GB increment per month. This model allows users to scale storage precisely to their needs, paying only for what they use. The service maintains persistent storage, ensuring games, applications, and files remain available across sessions without requiring reinstallation.
For users with extensive game libraries or large creative project files, Shadow's included storage may prove more cost-effective at lower tiers, while EVERESTGAMES's scalable model benefits users who need minimal storage or want to pay only for what they use. Both services support external storage solutions and cloud storage integration for additional file management options.
Shadow PC best serves users who require consistent, unlimited access to a cloud gaming PC throughout each month. The flat subscription model appeals to dedicated gamers who play regularly and want predictable monthly costs. Shadow also suits users in supported regions who need a full Windows virtual machine for work, creative projects, or gaming without worrying about hourly limits or usage-based billing.
EVERESTGAMES appeals to casual gamers who play intermittently or users with variable usage patterns. The tiered subscription model with included gameplay hours provides cost savings for users who don't exceed their monthly allocations, while the pay-as-you-go model for additional hours offers flexibility without long-term commitments. EVERESTGAMES also suits users who need powerful GPU resources for specific projects or occasional high-performance computing tasks.
Both services work well for users who want to avoid hardware investments, travel frequently, or need access to powerful computing resources from multiple devices. EVERESTGAMES may offer better value for users in supported regions who play fewer than 20 hours monthly, while Shadow PC provides better economics for heavy users who consistently exceed 30 hours per month.
Choosing between Shadow PC and EVERESTGAMES depends primarily on your usage patterns, geographic location, and performance requirements. Shadow PC offers unlimited usage within subscription limits, making it ideal for dedicated gamers who play extensively each month. The service provides strong performance options and comprehensive Windows virtual machine access, though geographic restrictions limit availability to North America and Europe.
EVERESTGAMES provides flexible pricing with tiered subscriptions and pay-as-you-go options, making it cost-effective for casual gamers or users with variable usage. The service offers competitive performance across three tiers, with the Gold plan delivering RTX 3080-level capabilities for 4K gaming. EVERESTGAMES serves users across North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific, though with fewer data center locations than some competitors.
For users in supported regions who game heavily, Shadow PC's unlimited model often provides better value. For casual gamers or users who want flexibility without long-term commitments, EVERESTGAMES's tiered approach with included hours offers significant cost savings. Both services deliver quality cloud gaming experiences, and the optimal choice depends on individual usage patterns, budget constraints, and performance needs.
