# Simple Reader for Hacker News — user reviews > 51 indexed App Store user reviews of Simple Reader for Hacker News by Ryan Nystrom, rated 4.20/5 from 1,414 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-reader-for-hacker-news/id1000995253/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-reader-for-hacker-news/id1000995253.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 1,023 · 4★ 117 · 3★ 41 · 2★ 24 · 1★ 209 ## What do users think of Simple Reader for Hacker News? Overall sentiment: negative **Pros** - 👍 Clean, simple, and straightforward interface - 🚀 Fast and efficient - 📚 Minimalist design that fits the Hacker News theme **Cons** - 🐛 Crashes on launch or during use - 🐛 Unable to load content or display articles - 🐛 Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions **Commonly reported bugs** - Crashes when rotating the device - Search functionality not working as expected - Permanent search mode with no way to return **Most requested features** - Dark mode option - Login and voting support - Customization options (font size, etc.) ## Newest reviews (17 of 51) ### 2/5 — Not Updated *2022-11-03, version 1.3.0* Was a great app, but it doesn't work anymore. Terrible that you can't just develop something these days and let it go on autopilot. Everything in tech needs constant updates and hand holding. ### 2/5 — used to work fine *2022-10-02, version 1.3.0* It was all good until October2022, there were couple bugs but overall good HN client. But now just crashes on launch, have to find another HN app. ### 2/5 — Crashing *2022-06-02, version 1.3.0* Just downloaded the app and whenever I open it just it open for less 3 seconds then closes, ### 4/5 — Dark mode please *2022-04-05, version 1.3.0* Of all the apps that display y combinator I like this one the most for its minimalist design. Pleeeease add dark mode. I only use this app in bed. ### 4/5 — Clean, simple and straightforward, minor issues *2021-10-18, version 1.3.0* Like the description says, a simple reader for HN. Search doesn’t appear to work well, or maybe at all. And it can get into search mode permanently with no way to return to the reader mode without uninstalling ### 1/5 — Won’t load anything, blank screen *2020-08-07, version 1.3.0* After the first day it won’t load any threads, just shows a big white empty screen. Pointless, don’t waste your time. ### 3/5 — Not loading anything *2020-04-11, version 1.3.0* Good app except for today. Won't load anything ### 2/5 — Crashes *2019-11-01, version 1.3.0* Worked great on my iPhone 7 (iOS 10.1) for years. Just moved to an 11, and the app fails to launch. :( ### 3/5 — App crashes on load in iPS 13.0 *2019-09-23, version 1.3.0* Three stars because the app crashes on startup. Not 1 star because I’m not a jerk. ### 1/5 — Immediately crashes *2019-09-18, version 1.3.0* Hasn’t been updated in over a year so it crashes on load. ### 3/5 — Instant crash on open *2019-08-27, version 1.3.0* Not sure what’s up but I can’t even launch the app ### 4/5 — 5 stars if it didn't crash on rotate *2019-08-24, version 1.3.0* Solid and simple app that does everything you need it to without any fiddly extras. However, if portrait lock is off the app always crashes when the phone rotates. I would rather it stay locked in vertical than try to rotate and crash! ### 3/5 — Landscape mode bug *2019-07-13, version 1.3.0* If you put your phone in landscape mode the comments will be cut off. ### 4/5 — Simple and friendly app - with a weird “feature” *2019-04-22, version 1.3.0* Great, easy to use, no-nonsense app. Overall it’s great. But... there’s this nice time saving feature. If you spend too much time on the app (15-30 minutes) it will decide to crash. I’m sure this is just a time saving feature so you don’t scroll endlessly /s. ### 1/5 — App keeps crashing *2019-01-27, version 1.3.0* Installed it and the app keeps crashing. Closed it and opened it and it worked. Next day I opened it and it crashed so now I deleted it :) ### 3/5 — Crashing for iphone xs *2019-01-16, version 1.3.0* Crashing for iphone xs. Tried few times and not opening. Please fix. Such a good thing hence i give 3 *. ### 2/5 — Seems to stutter on iOS 12 *2019-01-07, version 1.3.0* I'm noticing that the app stutters and makes it hard to scroll up on comments at times. Not really sure what could be causing it but it's incredibly frustrating. I'd recommend using a different reader given the wealth of other options. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Crashes on launch *2023-10-31* Got iPhone 14 Pro Max, installed, crashed on launch, reinstalled, same. Tried several times, wasn’t to launch a even a singke time. It’s been couple weeks, still no fix. Phone is fine, SW is up to date. Pls fix ### 1/5 — Doesn’t work anymore *2023-02-11, version 1.3.0* This was my go-to HN app. The search box at the top was great since other apps don’t have that. But the app doesn’t work anymore. ### 1/5 — Broken as of Oct. 2022 *2022-10-21, version 1.3.0* Shows a (more) link with no other options. The “more” shows comments from an indeterminate source. ### 1/5 — No articles load *2022-10-13, version 1.3.0* Can’t see any articles after latest update. See “More” but no other articles in the list. ### 1/5 — No longer works *2022-10-11, version 1.3.0* Good for years, for whatever reason it can’t display posts anymore. ### 1/5 — No longer works *2022-10-10, version 1.3.0* Was my favorite Hacker News app but it no longer works. Every thread is the same and is titled “More”. Unfortunately I think the developer abandoned this one long ago. Was hoping I could keep using it regardless but RIP. ### 1/5 — Now broken *2022-10-04, version 1.3.0* I wasn’t getting new posts any longer. The list only displayed one story called “More”. Tried reinstalling and now it force crashes on start. ### 1/5 — Stopped loading content *2022-10-01, version 1.3.0* Just recently stopped being able to load content. Looks like the app is abandoned as it hasn’t had an update in years. So, time to move on to a different app. ### 1/5 — Crashes on open - latest iOS major version *2022-07-24, version 1.3.0* see title ### 1/5 — Crashes on launch *2022-07-20, version 1.3.0* The app crashes on launch, likely because it has not been updated for newer versions of iOS in over 4 years. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Best thing on the intertubes! *2021-10-17, version 1.3.0* First thing I read in the morning. Never fails to inform and delight. ### 5/5 — No longer works *2020-02-21, version 1.3.0* This app was great but now it returns “no results found”. If updated I could update my review. ### 5/5 — Wanted to give it five stars *2019-05-10, version 1.3.0* I have nothing to say. I’m tried in an airport I just want to sleep. But the app is very useful ### 5/5 — Fantastic minimal client *2018-05-08, version 1.3.0* I wish it supported login and voting. Apart from that, the UI is fantastic. ### 5/5 — iPhone X *2017-12-31, version 1.3.0* As I write this review, this is the only Hacker News app that supports iPhone X. It’s pretty nice. ### 5/5 — Nice reading app for techies *2017-04-01, version 1.2.0* Nice simple and uncomplicated reading app for techies to keep updated on technology and related news. ### 5/5 — Easy to use and love how the comment threads are visible *2017-01-30, version 1.2.0* Great app. I like how the color scheme is like the site. Also, comment threads are nested and visible. ### 5/5 — Perfect! *2016-08-28, version 1.2.0* Clean interface with no distracting clutter. Hard to imagine a better hacker news reader. ### 5/5 — The best hacker news app I have seen *2016-05-03, version 1.2.0* No weird stuff. Functions like you would expect. Thematically fits the website. I have tried many different HN apps, this is one I can finally settle on. ### 5/5 — not as stupid as promised *2016-04-23, version 1.2.0* but close enough getting news on ios is a comically serious difficulty no more --- *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 2026-06-10.*