# Hacker News Tech Reader vs NetNewsWire

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: NetNewsWire at none against Hacker News Tech Reader's 6. NetNewsWire also leads on chart position (#122 vs unranked). Hacker News Tech Reader's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs monthly) and review sentiment (94% vs 84%). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Hacker News Tech Reader sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. NetNewsWire asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Hacker News Tech Reader against 4.7 for NetNewsWire. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.6K and 890 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 94% of Hacker News Tech Reader's written reviews are positive against 84% of NetNewsWire's.

Hacker News Tech Reader ships an update every 3 days, NetNewsWire monthly. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Hacker News Tech Reader | NetNewsWire |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (1.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hacker-news-tech-reader-hack/id1464477788/reviews) | **[4.7 (890 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/netnewswire-rss-reader/id1480640210/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.6K** | 890 |
| Positive reviews | **93.5% of reviews** | 83.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 days** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | — | **#122** |
| Size | 28 MB | 27 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 9+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Pranoy Chowdhury](https://appshunter.io/developer/952263202) | [Brent Simmons](https://appshunter.io/developer/1480640209) |

## What reviewers say

### Hacker News Tech Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hacker-news-tech-reader-hack/id1464477788)

This app offers a beautiful and intuitive way to read the latest tech, startup, and STEM news from Hacker News. It features customizable reading options, push notifications, and advanced search capabilities, all without ads or subscriptions.

**Highlights:** Ad-free and subscription-free experience, Push notifications for replies, Nested comment threads, Advanced search with filters, Customizable fonts and themes, Article sharing and archiving, Support for multiple browsers

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Nice Tip | $3.99 | one-time |
| Kind Tip | $6.99 | one-time |
| Generous Tip | $9.99 | one-time |
| Hack Premium | $12.99 | one-time |
| Amazing Tip | $12.99 | one-time |
| Godzilla Tip | $19.99 | one-time |


### NetNewsWire

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/netnewswire-rss-reader/id1480640210)

**Currently charting:** #122 Top Free · News (US App Store)

This app aggregates articles from your favorite blogs and news sites, offering a faster and more organized way to consume content. It provides control over your news feed, eliminating the need to visit multiple websites or rely on social media algorithms. Enjoy a streamlined reading experience with customizable features and syncing capabilities.

**Highlights:** Direct feed downloading, iCloud and third-party syncing, Customizable article themes, Reader view, Starred articles, Smart feeds, Home screen widgets

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Hacker News Tech Reader free?

Hacker News Tech Reader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is NetNewsWire free?

NetNewsWire is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Hacker News Tech Reader or NetNewsWire?

NetNewsWire is rated higher. Hacker News Tech Reader averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.6K ratings, while NetNewsWire averages 4.7 from 890 ratings.

### Do Hacker News Tech Reader or NetNewsWire have ads?

Neither Hacker News Tech Reader nor NetNewsWire shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Hacker News Tech Reader or NetNewsWire?

Hacker News Tech Reader ships an update every 3 days, and NetNewsWire monthly. Most recently, Hacker News Tech Reader was updated on November 3, 2026 and NetNewsWire on November 3, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*