Comparison

HackerPillar vs HackerFlow

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

HackerFlow

Features
Read full description

Ready to explore the internet’s most interesting ideas? Welcome to HackerFlow. From emerging technologies and ambitious startups to programming, science, thoughtful essays, Hacker News is where curious people share what they are building, reading, and thinking about. What you’ll find in HackerFlow: ■ Stories worth discovering: Explore technology news, research, essays, personal projects, unexpected websites, and ideas you might not encounter anywhere else. ■ Show HN: Discover apps, experiments, and open source projects shared directly by the people building them. ■ Ask HN: Read questions, practical advice, personal experiences, and recommendations from a knowledgeable community. ■ Conversations made clearer: HackerFlow’s comment design makes it easier to see who is replying to whom and follow different branches of a conversation. ■ Bookmarrk stories and comments: Found something interesting but don’t have time to read it? Bookmark it and return whenever you’re ready. ■ Never lost a story: Your history helps you find stories you previously visited, even when you can no longer remember their titles. Browse Hacker News, follow the discussion, and save what matters with HackerFlow. HackerFlow is an independent, unofficial client for Hacker News and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or associated with Y Combinator.

Screenshots

HackerPillar4 screens
HackerFlow4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: HackerFlow at none against HackerPillar's 1. HackerFlow also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs fortnightly) and iOS requirement (18.0 vs 26.0). 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. HackerFlow asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

HackerPillar ships an update fortnightly, HackerFlow every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 6 level
HackerPillar versus HackerFlow: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHackerPillarHackerFlow
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS26.018.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB10 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperTaha BroachwalaLev Lekush

In-app purchases

1 purchases

HackerPillar

Subscriptions1
  • HackerPillar Pro Monthly$4.991 Month
None

HackerFlow

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is HackerPillar free?
HackerPillar is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is HackerFlow free?
HackerFlow is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do HackerPillar or HackerFlow have ads?
Neither HackerPillar nor HackerFlow shows ads.
Which is updated more often, HackerPillar or HackerFlow?
HackerPillar ships an update fortnightly, and HackerFlow every 3 days. Most recently, HackerPillar was updated on October 27, 2026 and HackerFlow on October 29, 2026.

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