# Hacker News Reader App vs Hacker Reader

Hacker News Reader App and Hacker Reader are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters — price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 8, 2026 and September 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Hacker News Reader App | Hacker Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | — | Free |
| Size | 32 MB | 59 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 16.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Toine Loris* Riedo*](https://appshunter.io/developer/1740609813) | [Daniel Capistrano Sarinho Paiva](https://appshunter.io/developer/1580657892) |

## What reviewers say

### Hacker News Reader App

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hacker-news-reader-app/id6502296871)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Hacker Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hacker-reader/id6754137305)

A native iOS client for Hacker News offering a streamlined reading experience with home screen widgets, community interaction, and a beautiful, dark-mode-friendly design. Securely log in to upvote, comment, and bookmark stories.

**Highlights:** Browse all story categories, Upvote stories and comments, Secure login with HN account, Post comments and replies, Bookmark stories, Home screen widgets, Dark mode support

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Hacker News Reader App free?

Hacker News Reader App is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Hacker Reader free?

Hacker Reader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Hacker News Reader App or Hacker Reader have ads?

Neither Hacker News Reader App nor Hacker Reader shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Hacker News Reader App or Hacker Reader?

Hacker News Reader App ships an update every 3 months, and Hacker Reader every 3 months. Most recently, Hacker News Reader App was updated on September 8, 2026 and Hacker Reader on September 7, 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.*