Comparison

Smashviews vs GistForge

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Smashviews

Get unbiased news delivered instantly from sources you choose. This app prioritizes user control over content, avoiding algorithmic filtering and data exploitation. Stay informed with real-time updates and easily search or save articles for later.

Highlights
  • User-selected news sources
  • No algorithmic content filtering
  • Real-time news delivery
  • Article search functionality
  • Save articles for later
Features
Read full description

A simple app with a simple purpose: deliver you news without any external or unwanted oversight. We built smashviews because it is painfully difficult to find a news app that operates as smooth as the big guys, but doesn't use you for your data every time you click--all the while running algorithms in the background that decide which articles you see and don't see. Simply put, we don't believe that an algorithm should be deciding this for you, which is why we deliver the news to you unadulterated. You chose the sources and you chose what's important to read or not read.  News gets delivered by the minute, as soon as it gets published. Review the feed at the end of the day, or keep track of breaking news as it happens. Missed an article or want to check other sources? Use our search page. See an event break in real time but can't read it in the moment? Save it to your profile and come back later. Download smashviews today! You won't be disappointed. P.S. smashviews is brand new and we will be continuously adding functionality. Features soon to come include more sources, more categories, local sources, custom categories, and a widget. If you have any suggestions or requests, for app functionality or specific local sources, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at support@smashnews.org

About

GistForge

This app offers AI-generated summaries of Hacker News articles, presented in a full-screen, TikTok-style feed. It provides TL;DRs, reasons to care, and key facts for each story, with options to read the original article or join discussions. It's designed for tech professionals and non-native English speakers seeking concise tech news.

Highlights
  • AI-summarized tech news briefs
  • TikTok-style scrolling feed
  • Bilingual content (English/Simplified Chinese)
  • HN-native categories
  • Tap to read original articles/discussions
  • Dark mode
  • No account required
Features
Read full description

GistForge scrolls like TikTok but reads like Hacker News. Each full-screen card is a 5-second decision — is this tech story worth your full attention? Our AI writes a tight TL;DR, the reasons to care, and the three facts that matter. Tap through to read the original article or join the Hacker News discussion. WHO IT'S FOR - Engineers, designers, and founders who skim 50+ HN posts a week - Non-native English readers who want bilingual tech news - Anyone tired of ad-heavy RSS readers WHAT'S INSIDE - 5 HN-native categories: Best, Top, Show, Ask, New - Adjustable time range: today to past year - Bilingual content: every story rewritten in English and Simplified Chinese - AI-summarized briefs: TL;DR, Why care, Key facts - Tap-to-source: read the original article or HN discussion - Dark mode by default - Works without an account PRIVACY FIRST - No accounts, no ad tracking, no advertising identifiers - Crash reports (Sentry) and 5 anonymous interaction events only - No personal data leaves your device beyond what's needed to fetch the next page of stories - Full privacy policy at app.quantumforgex.com/privacy GistForge is built by an indie developer. No VC, no growth team, just a focused tool for tech readers. Terms of Use (EULA): https://app.quantumforgex.com/terms/ Privacy Policy: https://app.quantumforgex.com/privacy/

Screenshots

Smashviews4 screens
GistForge4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Smashviews at none against GistForge's 2. Smashviews also leads on ratings volume (5 vs 1). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. GistForge sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Smashviews asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Smashviews against 5.0 for GistForge. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Smashviews has 5 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Smashviews ships an update every 4 days, GistForge weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Smashviews versus GistForge: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSmashviewsGistForge
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (5 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings5 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 4 days — betterWeekly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS14.0 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size8 MB43 MB
Age rating17+12+
DeveloperEvan Hedding增林 洪

In-app purchases

None

Smashviews

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

GistForge

Subscriptions2
  • GistForge Pro$1.991 Month
  • GistForge Pro$14.991 Year

Questions

Is Smashviews free?
Smashviews is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is GistForge free?
GistForge is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Smashviews or GistForge?
Smashviews and GistForge are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 5 and 1 ratings respectively.
Do Smashviews or GistForge have ads?
Neither Smashviews nor GistForge shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Smashviews or GistForge?
Smashviews ships an update every 4 days, and GistForge weekly. Most recently, Smashviews was updated on November 3, 2026 and GistForge on October 31, 2026.

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