# Hacker News Tech Reader vs Hacker News

The clearest difference is monetization model: Hacker News Tech Reader at free against Hacker News's free with in-app purchases. Hacker News Tech Reader also leads on ratings volume (1.6K vs 34) and review sentiment (94% vs 79%). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Hacker News Tech Reader sells 6 one-off in-app purchases and Hacker News sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Hacker News Tech Reader against 4.7 for Hacker News. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Hacker News Tech Reader has 1.6K ratings behind it against 34, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 94% of Hacker News Tech Reader's written reviews are positive against 79% of Hacker News's.

Hacker News Tech Reader ships an update every 3 days, Hacker News every 5 days. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Hacker News Tech Reader | Hacker News |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (1.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hacker-news-tech-reader-hack/id1464477788/reviews)** | [4.7 (34 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hacker-news-latest-in-tech/id1573004386/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.6K** | 34 |
| Positive reviews | **93.5% of reviews** | 79.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 days** | Every 5 days |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 28 MB | 20 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 9+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Pranoy Chowdhury](https://appshunter.io/developer/952263202) | [Snap Web Studios](https://appshunter.io/developer/496259214) |

## 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 |


### Hacker News

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hacker-news-latest-in-tech/id1573004386)

Access the latest tech, startup, and science news with a fast and customizable reader. Organize stories by topic, search quickly, and enjoy AI-powered summaries. This ad-free experience syncs across devices and prioritizes your privacy.

**Highlights:** Fast browsing of feeds and comments, iCloud sync for favorites and read status, Customizable story groups by topic, Lightning-fast search, AI-powered story summaries, Ad-free reading experience, Home screen widgets

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Safari Extension, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Small Tip | $0.99 | one-time |
| Medium Tip | $2.99 | one-time |
| Large Tip | $4.99 | one-time |
| Extra Large Tip | $19.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Hacker News Tech Reader free?

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

### Is Hacker News free?

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

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

Hacker News Tech Reader is rated higher. Hacker News Tech Reader averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.6K ratings, while Hacker News averages 4.7 from 34 ratings.

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

Neither Hacker News Tech Reader nor Hacker News shows ads.

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

Hacker News Tech Reader ships an update every 3 days, and Hacker News every 5 days. Most recently, Hacker News Tech Reader was updated on November 3, 2026 and Hacker News 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.*