# command_line vs Pulse for Hacker News

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Pulse for Hacker News at none against command_line's 3. Pulse for Hacker News also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 15 months). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. command_line sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Pulse for Hacker News asks for nothing beyond the download.

command_line ships an update every 15 months, Pulse for Hacker News every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | command_line | Pulse for Hacker News |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/command-line/id6468368351/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **2** | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 15 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Freemium | — |
| Size | 39 MB | 38 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 15.3 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 9+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Daniel Shaw](https://appshunter.io/developer/1699998952) | [Dong Sian Lin](https://appshunter.io/developer/1754164176) |

## What reviewers say

### command_line

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/command-line/id6468368351)

A fast, terminal-style client for reading and participating in Hacker News discussions. Offers a focused interface with features like offline caching and story saving. Premium unlocks account actions and advanced tools for deeper engagement.

**Highlights:** Terminal-inspired interface, Browse all story types, Threaded comment discussions, Search Hacker News, Save stories with bookmarks, Offline caching, Account sign-in and participation

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Premium Yearly | $39.99 | per year |
| Premium Lifetime | $99.99 | one-time |


### Pulse for Hacker News

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pulse-for-hacker-news/id6504872454)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is command_line free?

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

### Is Pulse for Hacker News free?

Pulse for Hacker News is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do command_line or Pulse for Hacker News have ads?

Neither command_line nor Pulse for Hacker News shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, command_line or Pulse for Hacker News?

command_line ships an update every 15 months, and Pulse for Hacker News every 3 weeks. Most recently, command_line was updated on October 8, 2026 and Pulse for Hacker News on October 12, 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.*