# HackerWeb - Hacker News client — Read-only Hacker News client

> Read-only Hacker News client with enhanced readability and navigation. (iPhone/iPad app by Chee Aun Lim.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hackerweb-hacker-news-client/id1084209377 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Chee Aun Lim](https://appshunter.io/developer/1084209376)
- Category: News
- Price: $2.99
- Rating: 5.00/5 from 10 App Store ratings · 7 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 17+
- Requires: iOS 26.0 · 29 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2016-03-01
- Data updated: 2026-08-29
- Monetization: paid
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hackerweb-hacker-news-client/id1084209377/reviews.md

## What is HackerWeb?

HackerWeb is a super-clean Hacker News app built for maximum readability and has a lean set of features to optimize the reading experience.

It’s created specifically with iOS design guidelines in mind, so it feels native and blends well with the operating system.

It has a simple set of features that are usually invisible:

- Dual Web and Comments tabs for easy switching between the story’s web page and the list of comments
- Revolutionary comments thread UI for easy navigation, with smart collapsing to prevent being overwhelmed by too many comments
- Automatic Dark mode, respecting the system’s appearance settings.
- Smart indentations and formatting for comments, complementing the existing limited formatting from Hacker News.
- Automatic syntax highlighting for code blocks in comments, with best-effort programming language detection.
- Allow interactions like upvoting and replying, which opens up web view with login information and sessions stored in itself, instead of the app.
- Comment’s “Thread view” to list all parent comments of a comment, on a flat list, for easy reading instead of manually drilling down the nested comments.
- “Share as Image” for comments, which allows sharing of a specific comment, optionally including the parent comments and/or story, as an image.

HackerWeb is an unofficial Hacker News client, built with React Native and Expo.

This is a passion side project for learning and experimenting ideas. Since 2012.

Open-sourced: https://github.com/cheeaun/hackerweb-native-2

## Key features

- Dual Web and Comments tabs
- Revolutionary comments thread UI
- Automatic Dark mode
- Smart indentations and formatting
- Automatic syntax highlighting for code blocks
- Upvoting and replying
- Comment's 'Thread view'

## Chart rankings

- #39 in Top Paid · News (US App Store)

## Recent user reviews (7 of 7)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hackerweb-hacker-news-client/id1084209377/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Simple and good.

*2024-03-29, version 2.1.0*

I’m an avid reader of HN, despite that I really dislike their UX for threading replies on their website.

When I found the HackerWeb.App PWA I switched it and never came back.

Recently I found you published an iOS Native one, I think I still like the PWA better but I love the cool threading style on this one. It also performs better than the PWA.

The ability to switch between webview and comments view is phenomenal too — definitely a great feature add that lacks in the PWA version.

When I saw this was open source, I considered building it myself and having it for free, but then I realized how I used the PWA for free for many years and how it would take me time to build and maintain the iOS one just to save a couple bucks. Shame on me, glad to purchase and finally give back to you who made my experience reading HN better.

Thank you @cheeaun !

### 5/5 — Simple and it works

*2019-07-09, version 1.1*

Nice thing about this app is it does one thing well, and exactly the thing you want it to do, let you read HackerNews :)

I’ve been using the free web app for ages, but bought this to show appreciation and send some money to the dev.

One feature suggestion:

Let me “load more” more than once... I sometimes don’t read for a few days and find it limiting that I can only browse through two pages before being pushed out of the app.

Otherwise, great stuff, thank you.

### 5/5 — By far the best Hacker News client

*2017-12-24, version 1.1*

Easily the best Hacker News client available, highly recommend the web app version as well. The interface is a huge improvement over Hacker News itself, and lacks any of the clutter of other clients.

### 5/5 — Clean and crisp and sharp and amazing

*2017-03-28, version 1.1*

It's a web app. But you'd NEVER know because it's amazing work. Work like this deserves your money and time. This has been my go-to app since the start. Brilliant.

### 5/5 — Great HN app

*2016-09-05, version 1.1*

Great app, fast, and rarely see bugs. Look forward to improvements.

### 5/5 — Huge potential

*2016-05-04, version 1.1*

I've been reading Hacker News for years now and am growing increasingly frustrated at their lack of usability and modern design. HackerWeb is already an improvement by letting me collapse comments. I think it's got a ways to go but I see some huge potential to offer such an improved experience that people would be stupid not to use it.

### 1/5 — Could of get the information for free...

*2016-03-07, version 1.0*

The information is the same as in the free app "hacker news". Worst part is that the content cannot be view on data...

## Frequently asked questions about HackerWeb

### What is HackerWeb?

HackerWeb is a read-only client for Hacker News, designed for maximum readability and a native iOS experience. It offers features like dual web/comment tabs, advanced comment navigation, and automatic dark mode.

### How much does HackerWeb cost?

HackerWeb is a paid application, priced at $2.99. This one-time purchase grants you access to all its features.

### Does HackerWeb have ads?

No, HackerWeb is ad-free. As a paid application, it provides an uninterrupted reading experience without advertisements.

### What devices does HackerWeb support?

HackerWeb is available for iPhone and iPad devices, adhering to iOS design guidelines for a native feel.

### How often is HackerWeb updated?

The latest version, 3.0.1, was last updated on December 2nd, 2025. The app has been actively developed since 2016.

### Can I upvote or reply to comments in HackerWeb?

Yes, HackerWeb allows interactions like upvoting and replying. These actions open in a web view with stored login information, maintaining your session.

### What is the 'Thread view' in HackerWeb?

The 'Thread view' in HackerWeb lists all parent comments of a selected comment on a flat list. This makes it easier to read comment threads without manually drilling down into nested replies.

### Is HackerWeb suitable for young users?

HackerWeb has an age rating of 17+, indicating it is intended for mature audiences due to the nature of content typically found on Hacker News.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 3.0.1 — 2025-12-02

Bug fixes

### 3.0.0 — 2025-11-18

Updated for iOS 26

### 2.1.0 — 2022-06-14

- Upgrade to Expo SDK 45
- New HTML parser
- More readability formatting for lists, block quotes, and inline code
- New native modal view to open HN story links
- Add underlines to hyperlinks
- Add option to enable interactions like upvoting and commenting (inside web views)
- Add option to enable automatic syntax highlighting for code blocks
- Subtle UI hints for identifying depth of comment thread modals
- Large header for Settings screen
- Full screen gesture for Story screen
- Reduce haptics
- Expandable parent comment in Comments screen
- Add ‘View Thread’ visualization
- Add ‘Share as Image’

### 2.0.3 — 2022-04-15

Fix crash bug.

### 2.0.2 — 2021-11-23

- Upgrade to Expo SDK 43
- Strip indents from code blocks
- Tiny bug fixes

## Apps similar to HackerWeb

| App | Rating | Price | Category |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Newsbin: RSS Feed Reader](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/newsbin-rss-feed-reader/id6737723338) | 4.0 (7) | Free | News |
| [HackerPillar: HN Reader](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hackerpillar-hn-reader/id6444180018) | 5.0 (1) | Free | News |
| [claw: Unofficial Lobsters App](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/claw-unofficial-lobsters-app/id1531645542) | 4.7 (11) | $2.99 | News |
| [Hackery](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hackery/id1095090759) | 3.0 (4) | Free | News |
| [Native Reader for Hacker News](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/native-reader-for-hacker-news/id931789125) | 4.2 (5) | Free | News |
| [Hacker News - Social News](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hacker-news-social-news/id1442922669) | — | Free | News |

## More apps by Chee Aun Lim

- [Check Weather SG](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/check-weather-sg/id1510170224)

All apps by Chee Aun Lim: https://appshunter.io/developer/1084209376

## Related topics

[react native hacker news](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/react-native-hacker-news)

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-29.*