# Hydra vs VAN IN Plus

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Hydra at 50% against VAN IN Plus's 0%. VAN IN Plus's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 5 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

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

Hydra ships an update every 5 months, VAN IN Plus every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Hydra | VAN IN Plus |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | **50.0% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 13 MB | 195 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16 | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Universiteit Gent](https://appshunter.io/developer/602640927) | [Uitgeverij VAN IN](https://appshunter.io/developer/438500754) |

## What reviewers say

### Hydra

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hydra/id602640924)

Stay updated on the latest news and activities from your favorite student associations. Check restaurant menus and read student publications.

**Highlights:** Latest news updates, Student association activities, Restaurant menu information, Access to student publications

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### VAN IN Plus

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/van-in-plus/id1586097873)

This educational app unlocks interactive 3D visuals from textbooks. Simply scan a book page with your device's camera to activate augmented reality content and explore immersive learning experiences.

**Highlights:** 3D visual content activation, Textbook page recognition, Augmented reality integration, Camera permission required, Book selection via plus icon

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Hydra free?

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

### Is VAN IN Plus free?

VAN IN Plus is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Hydra or VAN IN Plus have ads?

Neither Hydra nor VAN IN Plus shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Hydra or VAN IN Plus?

Hydra ships an update every 5 months, and VAN IN Plus every 2 months. Most recently, Hydra was updated on September 30, 2026 and VAN IN Plus 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.*