# HACK for Hacker News YC Reader vs command_line

The clearest difference is update cadence: HACK for Hacker News YC Reader at every 3 days against command_line's every 15 months. HACK for Hacker News YC Reader also leads on monetization model (free vs freemium) and ratings volume (1.6K vs 2). command_line's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.7). On price, ads, in-app purchases and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. HACK for Hacker News YC Reader sells 6 one-off in-app purchases and command_line sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

command_line holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: HACK for Hacker News YC Reader has 1.6K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

HACK for Hacker News YC Reader ships an update every 3 days, command_line every 15 months. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | HACK for Hacker News YC Reader | command_line |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (1.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hack-for-hacker-news-yc-reader/id1464477788/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/command-line/id6468368351/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.6K** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 93.4% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 days** | Every 15 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Size | 28 MB | 39 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Pranoy Chowdhury](https://appshunter.io/developer/952263202) | [Daniel Shaw](https://appshunter.io/developer/1699998952) |

## What reviewers say

### HACK for Hacker News YC Reader

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

This app offers a beautiful and intuitive way to read tech, startup, and STEM news from Hacker News. It provides advanced features like push notifications, threaded comments, and powerful search, with extensive customization options for a personalized reading experience.

**Highlights:** Ad-free and subscription-free reading, Push notifications for replies, Nested threaded comments with collapse, Swipe to upvote and favorite, Submit new posts and drafts, Powerful Algolia-powered search, Customizable themes, fonts, and layout

**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 |
| Amazing Tip | $12.99 | one-time |
| Hack Premium | $14.99 | one-time |
| Godzilla Tip | $19.99 | one-time |


### command_line

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/command-line/id6468368351)

A fast, terminal-style client for reading and participating in Hacker News discussions. Offers a focused interface with features like offline caching and story saving. Premium unlocks account actions and advanced tools for deeper engagement.

**Highlights:** Terminal-inspired interface, Browse all story types, Threaded comment discussions, Search Hacker News, Save stories with bookmarks, Offline caching, Account sign-in and participation

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Premium Yearly | $39.99 | per year |
| Premium Lifetime | $99.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is HACK for Hacker News YC Reader free?

HACK for Hacker News YC Reader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is command_line free?

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

### Which has better reviews, HACK for Hacker News YC Reader or command_line?

command_line is rated higher. HACK for Hacker News YC Reader averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.6K ratings, while command_line averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do HACK for Hacker News YC Reader or command_line have ads?

Neither HACK for Hacker News YC Reader nor command_line shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, HACK for Hacker News YC Reader or command_line?

HACK for Hacker News YC Reader ships an update every 3 days, and command_line every 15 months. Most recently, HACK for Hacker News YC Reader was updated on October 13, 2026 and command_line on October 8, 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.*