Comparison

HackerPillar vs Intelli RSS

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

Intelli RSS

Features
Read full description

Intelli RSS is a clean, fast, and privacy-focused RSS reader designed for people who want to take control of their news. Subscribe to your favorite websites, blogs, and news sources — all in one place. No algorithms deciding what you see. No ads. Just your feeds, beautifully presented. KEY FEATURES • Auto-Discovery — Paste any website URL and Intelli RSS will find all available RSS and Atom feeds automatically. • Push Notifications — Get notified instantly when new articles are published in your feeds. • Cross-Device Sync — Your subscriptions, read states, and starred articles sync seamlessly across all your devices. No account required. • OPML Import & Export — Moving from another reader? Import your OPML file in seconds. Export anytime. • Home Screen Widget — See your latest articles at a glance without opening the app. • Smart Filters — Quickly view All, Unread, or New articles. Search across all your feeds. • Starred Articles — Save articles for later with a single tap. • Built-in Reader — Read articles in a clean, distraction-free view with adjustable font size. • Dark Mode — Full support for Light, Dark, and System appearance modes. • Popular Feeds — Get started instantly with curated feed suggestions in your language. • Background Refresh — Articles update automatically in the background so your feeds are always fresh. • Privacy First — No account, no tracking, no personal data collection. Your reading habits stay yours. Built entirely with SwiftUI and SwiftData for a native iOS experience that feels fast and right at home on your iPhone. Intelli RSS is free and respects your privacy. Read our full privacy policy on our support page.

Screenshots

HackerPillar4 screens
Intelli RSS4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Intelli RSS at every 3 days against HackerPillar's fortnightly. Intelli RSS also leads on iOS requirement (18.6 vs 26.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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 and Intelli RSS sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

HackerPillar ships an update fortnightly, Intelli RSS every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on September 16, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
HackerPillar versus Intelli RSS: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHackerPillarIntelli RSS
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS26.018.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB7 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperTaha BroachwalaGrzegorz Kowalewski

In-app purchases

1 purchases

HackerPillar

Subscriptions1
  • HackerPillar Pro Monthly$4.991 Month
3 purchases

Intelli RSS

One-time3
  • Small Coffee$0.99
  • Large Coffee$2.99
  • Coffee & Cake$4.99

Questions

Is HackerPillar free?
HackerPillar is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Intelli RSS free?
Intelli RSS is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do HackerPillar or Intelli RSS have ads?
Neither HackerPillar nor Intelli RSS shows ads.
Which is updated more often, HackerPillar or Intelli RSS?
HackerPillar ships an update fortnightly, and Intelli RSS every 3 days. Most recently, HackerPillar was updated on September 16, 2026 and Intelli RSS on September 19, 2026.

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