# HNR vs HackerBook

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: HNR at none against HackerBook's 2. HackerBook's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 11 months). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. HackerBook sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. HNR asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for HNR against 5.0 for HackerBook. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 3 respectively.

HNR ships an update every 11 months, HackerBook fortnightly. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | HNR | HackerBook |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hnr-hacker-news-reader/id6443591042/reviews) | [5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hackerbook/id6467827442/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **3** |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 11 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Size | 3 MB | 9 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.2 | **15.1** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Michael Hsieh](https://appshunter.io/developer/1634672514) | [Tao Xu](https://appshunter.io/developer/1484566052) |

## What reviewers say

### HNR

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hnr-hacker-news-reader/id6443591042)

Access and read stories from the popular tech news website Hacker News. Browse top or latest articles, save your favorites, share content, and search for specific topics. Offers customizable color themes including dark and light modes.

**Highlights:** Browse top/latest stories, Save favorite articles, Share stories, Search functionality, Customizable color themes, Dark/light mode support

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### HackerBook

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hackerbook/id6467827442)

Stay updated with the most popular discussions on Hacker News through a streamlined interface. This app makes it effortless to immerse yourself in the tech community's latest conversations.

**Highlights:** Trending topics showcase, Streamlined interface, Tech community buzz, Effortless navigation, Immersive tech discourse

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Exclusive News | $2.99 | per month |
| Tips | $0.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is HNR free?

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

### Is HackerBook free?

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

### Which has better reviews, HNR or HackerBook?

HNR and HackerBook are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 2 and 3 ratings respectively.

### Do HNR or HackerBook have ads?

Neither HNR nor HackerBook shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, HNR or HackerBook?

HNR ships an update every 11 months, and HackerBook fortnightly. Most recently, HNR was updated on November 3, 2026 and HackerBook 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.*