Comparison

HackerPillar vs Hacksy

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

Head to head
About

HackerPillar

This app offers a streamlined and focused reading experience for Hacker News. It features a clean feed, readable comment threads, and a reader mode for articles. Users can save stories, read offline, and track discussions.

Highlights
  • Fast Hacker News feed
  • Readable comment threads
  • Focused Reader Mode
  • Saved stories and offline library
  • Thread tracking
  • Advanced search (Pro)
  • Home screen widget
Features
Read full description

HackerPillar helps you read Hacker News with less friction and more focus. Browse top stories in a clean, high-performance feed, open deep discussions with readable comment threads, and switch to Reader Mode for long-form articles. Save stories, read offline, and track threads you care about. Key features: - Fast, modern Hacker News feed - Readable comments with thread controls - Focused Reader Mode - Saved Stories + Offline Library - Thread tracking and activity checks - Advanced search and custom feeds (Pro) - Home screen widget support - Share extension for quick imports HackerPillar Pro unlocks: - HN account actions (login, vote, reply) - Advanced search and custom feeds - Extended reader and tracking features - Additional power-user tools across the app Subscription details: - Title: HackerPillar Pro - Length: Monthly and Yearly - Price: Pricing varies by region and is shown in-app before purchase - Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase - Subscription renews automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period - Manage or cancel in Settings > Apple ID > Subscriptions Privacy Policy: http://smartcodeapps.tech/hackerpillar-privacy-policy/ Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Built for people who read Hacker News every day.

About

Hacksy

Features
Read full description

Hacksy is a modern and minimalistic Hacker News reader that serves as a one-stop shop for all tech-related news. Found an interesting article you’d like to read later? Just swipe to add it to your bookmarks. Read a comment that resonated with you? Save it to reference it anytime. Want to search the extensive Hacker News archives? Hacksy’s got you covered. What truly makes Hacksy stand out is its seamless reading experience — you can follow both the discussion and the article at the same time, without ever having to choose between one or the other.

Screenshots

HackerPillar4 screens
Hacksy4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Hacksy at none against HackerPillar's 1. Hacksy also leads on iOS requirement (18.0 vs 26.0). HackerPillar's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months). On price, ads and device support 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. HackerPillar sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $4.99 per month. Hacksy asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

HackerPillar ships an update fortnightly, Hacksy every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 6 level
HackerPillar versus Hacksy: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHackerPillarHacksy
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS26.018.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB6 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperTaha BroachwalaJanusz Polowczyk

In-app purchases

1 purchases

HackerPillar

Subscriptions1
  • HackerPillar Pro Monthly$4.991 Month
None

Hacksy

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is HackerPillar free?
HackerPillar is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Hacksy free?
Hacksy is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do HackerPillar or Hacksy have ads?
Neither HackerPillar nor Hacksy shows ads.
Which is updated more often, HackerPillar or Hacksy?
HackerPillar ships an update fortnightly, and Hacksy every 2 months. Most recently, HackerPillar was updated on October 3, 2026 and Hacksy on October 1, 2026.

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