hn vs HN Reader
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
hn
Stay updated with tech news and articles through a clean, simple, and distraction-free reading experience. Focus on content without clutter, ads, or pop-ups.
- Clean and simple interface
- Easy navigation
- Distraction-free reader mode
- Ad-free experience
- Focus on content
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The hn app is the perfect way to stay up-to-date with all your favorite tech news and articles on Hacker News. Our app features a clean and simple interface that's easy to navigate, so you can focus on the content that matters most to you. With our reader mode, you can enjoy a distraction-free reading experience that's easy on the eyes. No more cluttered pages, ads or annoying pop-ups. Just pure, unadulterated content that's a pleasure to read. Experience the ultimate in simplicity and functionality with the hn app.
HN Reader
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Read Hacker News (https://news.ycombinator.com/) articles and comments with this clean, simple, modern looking and fast performing universal app. • Top stories • Newest stories • Best stories • Job stories Themes • A beautiful design user interface with loads of customizable options • Night theme (Dark Theme) All articles and comments in the app are displayed as is, provided by Hacker News, and not owned by the publisher of this app.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: hn at weekly against HN Reader's every 8 months. HN Reader's advantage is iOS requirement (11.0 vs 17.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
hn ships an update weekly, HN Reader every 8 months. The most recent releases landed on September 9, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | hn | HN Reader |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better | — |
| Number of ratings | 2 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Weekly — better | Every 8 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 11.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 11 MB | 17 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Victor Aguilar | Truong Luu |
In-app purchases
hn
No in-app purchases
HN Reader
No in-app purchases
