# HN Dark Mode vs Onion Browser

The clearest difference is rating: Onion Browser at 4.6 against HN Dark Mode's 3.5. Onion Browser also leads on review sentiment (85% vs 50%) and ratings volume (206 vs 2). HN Dark Mode's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 7) and device support (4 vs 2). On price, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Onion Browser sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. HN Dark Mode asks for nothing beyond the download.

Onion Browser holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Onion Browser has 206 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of HN Dark Mode's written reviews are positive against 85% of Onion Browser's.

HN Dark Mode ships an update every 3 weeks, Onion Browser every 10 days. Both last shipped on October 15, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | HN Dark Mode | Onion Browser |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.5 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hn-dark-mode/id1611040838/reviews) | **[4.6 (206 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/onion-browser-deep-web-proxy/id6478085370/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **206** |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | **84.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 10 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 1 MB | 89 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Innovative Computer Software](https://appshunter.io/developer/635038702) | [Secure cypher Solutions](https://appshunter.io/developer/1731713292) |

## What reviewers say

### HN Dark Mode

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hn-dark-mode/id1611040838)

Enhances the Hacker News website with a customizable dark theme. Users can choose to always have dark mode enabled or have it automatically adjust to their operating system's theme. This extension is designed exclusively for the Hacker News site and prioritizes user privacy by not collecting browsing data.

**Highlights:** Dark theme for Hacker News, Configurable dark mode settings, Automatic theme matching OS, Privacy-focused design, Safari extension

**Features:** Safari Extension

**In-app purchases:** none


### Onion Browser

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/onion-browser-deep-web-proxy/id6478085370)

Browse the web privately and securely with advanced features like ad blocking and VPN integration. Access the Darknet and deep web with confidence, while also monitoring your phone's performance and system health.

**Highlights:** Private browsing, VPN integration, Ad and tracker blocking, Darknet and deep web access, Phone performance analytics, Encryption and security

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

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| weekly subscription | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Onion Browser Weekly Premium | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly subscription | $8.99 | per month |
| Yearly subscription | $17.99 | per year |
| Onion Browser Yearly Premium | $34.99 | per year |
| Lifetime premium subscription | $14.99 | one-time |
| Onion Browser Pro for Lifetime | $17.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast browsing speed
- 🔒 Good for privacy
- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 💡 Detailed analytics provided
- ✨ Convenience makes a difference

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐌 Slow loading times
- 🐛 Does not load pages
- 🐛 Repeatedly fails human verification
- 💰 Subscription required
- 🐌 Browser is laggy

**Reported bugs**

- Does not load any pages
- Human verification fails repeatedly
- Unable to connect after payment
- Cannot access onion/deep web

**Requested features**

- Improve loading speed
- Fix human verification issues
- Clarify free vs. paid model
- Enable access to onion/deep web


## Frequently asked questions

### Is HN Dark Mode free?

HN Dark Mode is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Onion Browser free?

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

### Which has better reviews, HN Dark Mode or Onion Browser?

Onion Browser is rated higher. HN Dark Mode averages 3.5 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Onion Browser averages 4.6 from 206 ratings.

### Do HN Dark Mode or Onion Browser have ads?

Neither HN Dark Mode nor Onion Browser shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, HN Dark Mode or Onion Browser?

HN Dark Mode ships an update every 3 weeks, and Onion Browser every 10 days. Most recently, HN Dark Mode was updated on October 15, 2026 and Onion Browser on October 15, 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.*