While the two are very similar, they are not the same. While they both use grated or shredded potatoes as a base, hash browns don't typically contain eggs as a binder, usually only consist of potatoes, oil and salt, and are often cooked in one giant batch in a skillet. These savory pancakes on the other hand, contain flax eggs and gluten free flour as a binder and are cooked in individual pancake portions in a skillet.