# HNreader vs Hacker Reader

The clearest difference is update cadence: Hacker Reader at every 2 months against HNreader's every 27 months. HNreader's advantage is device support (4 vs 2). On price, ads, in-app purchases and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

HNreader ships an update every 27 months, Hacker Reader every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | HNreader | Hacker Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[1.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hacker-reader/id6754137305/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **1** |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 27 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | — | Free |
| Size | 5 MB | 65 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **16.4** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | +9 |
| Developer | [Jahn Bertsch](https://appshunter.io/developer/571241368) | [Daniel Capistrano Sarinho Paiva](https://appshunter.io/developer/1580657892) |

## What reviewers say

### HNreader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hnreader-tech-news/id1498482288)

**Features:** Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Hacker Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hacker-reader/id6754137305)

A native iOS client for Hacker News offering a streamlined reading experience with home screen widgets, community interaction, and a beautiful, dark-mode-friendly design. Securely log in to upvote, comment, and bookmark stories.

**Highlights:** Browse all story categories, Upvote stories and comments, Secure login with HN account, Post comments and replies, Bookmark stories, Home screen widgets, Dark mode support

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is HNreader free?

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

### Is Hacker Reader free?

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

### Do HNreader or Hacker Reader have ads?

Neither HNreader nor Hacker Reader shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, HNreader or Hacker Reader?

HNreader ships an update every 27 months, and Hacker Reader every 2 months. Most recently, HNreader was updated on October 8, 2026 and Hacker Reader on October 9, 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.*