HackerPillar vs HackTheNews
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Fast Hacker News feed
- Readable comment threads
- Focused Reader Mode
- Saved stories and offline library
- Thread tracking
- Advanced search (Pro)
- Home screen widget
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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.
HackTheNews
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HackTheNews is the smartest way to stay current with Hacker News. Available on iOS, web, and mobile, our AI-powered platform delivers intelligent article and comment summaries—helping you find what matters most, wherever you are. ACCESS ANYWHERE Native iOS app for iPhone and iPad, plus a full-featured web app accessible from any browser. Sync your starred stories and preferences across all devices. Start reading on mobile, continue on desktop. AI-POWERED INTELLIGENCE • Get instant AI-generated article summaries before you read • Understand comment discussions without scrolling hundreds of replies • See key takeaways, arguments, and technical details at a glance • Scan dozens of stories in minutes instead of hours POWERFUL FEATURES • Browse Top Stories, New, Ask HN, Show HN, and Jobs • Smart tagging: Startups, AI/ML, DevOps, Security, Frontend, Backend, Mobile • Star stories to read later, synced across devices • Archive management to keep your feed clean • Tag-based navigation for topics that interest you PREMIUM FEATURES • Unlimited AI summaries with no restrictions • Advanced sorting by points, comments, or time • Tag filtering for specific technology categories • Story archiving Terms of Service: https://hackthenews.app/terms-of-service Privacy Policy: https://hackthenews.app/privacy-policy
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is iOS requirement: HackTheNews at 15.1 against HackerPillar's 26.0. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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
Both are free to download. HackerPillar sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $4.99 per month and HackTheNews sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on June 1, 2026 and September 10, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | HackerPillar | HackTheNews |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better | — |
| Number of ratings | 1 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | Fortnightly |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Freemium | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | 15.1 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 4 MB | 39 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 9+ |
| Developer | Taha Broachwala | HackTheNews |
In-app purchases
HackerPillar
- HackerPillar Pro Monthly$4.991 Month
HackTheNews
- HackTheNews Premium Monthly$3.991 Month
- HackTheNews Premium Yearly1 Month trial$39.991 Year
Questions
Is HackerPillar free?
Is HackTheNews free?
Do HackerPillar or HackTheNews have ads?
Which is updated more often, HackerPillar or HackTheNews?
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