# Hacker News Tech Reader vs command_line

The clearest difference is update cadence: Hacker News Tech Reader at every 3 days against command_line's every 15 months. Hacker News Tech 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. Hacker News Tech 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: Hacker News Tech Reader has 1.6K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Hacker News Tech Reader ships an update every 3 days, command_line every 15 months. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Hacker News Tech Reader | command_line |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (1.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hacker-news-tech-reader-hack/id1464477788/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/command-line/id6468368351/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.6K** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 93.5% 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

### 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 |


### 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 Hacker News Tech Reader free?

Hacker News Tech 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, Hacker News Tech Reader or command_line?

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

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

Neither Hacker News Tech Reader nor command_line shows ads.

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

Hacker News Tech Reader ships an update every 3 days, and command_line every 15 months. Most recently, Hacker News Tech Reader was updated on November 3, 2026 and command_line 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.*