ObserveHN vs HackTheNews
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
ObserveHN
This reader app provides a streamlined way to access the latest tech news and discussions from Hacker News. It features interactive widgets for quick access to top stories and a clean, minimalist design for an enhanced reading experience.
- Interactive home screen widgets
- Clean and minimalist design
- Effortless navigation through categories
- Upvote posts and join discussions
- SwiftUI integration for smooth performance
Read full descriptionHide full description
ObserveHN: Your Ultimate Hacker News Companion Stay updated with the latest tech news and stories from Hacker News with ObserveHN, a sleek and user-friendly reader app. Designed for tech enthusiasts, developers, and startup aficionados, ObserveHN brings you the best of Hacker News in a beautifully minimalistic and interactive experience. Key Features: • Interactive Widgets: Access the top stories, new posts, and your favorite threads directly from your home screen with customizable widgets. • Clean and Simple Design: Enjoy a distraction-free reading experience with our flat, 2-dimensional design, making it easy to focus on what matters most— the content. • Effortless Navigation: Seamlessly browse through various categories, upvote interesting posts, and dive deep into engaging discussions. • SwiftUI Integration: Built with SwiftUI, ObserveHN ensures smooth performance and a visually appealing interface. Download ObserveHN today and never miss a beat in the world of technology and innovation!
HackTheNews
Read full descriptionHide full description
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 in-app purchases: ObserveHN at none against HackTheNews's 2. HackTheNews's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 7 months) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). 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
Both are free to download. HackTheNews sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. ObserveHN asks for nothing beyond the download.
ObserveHN ships an update every 7 months, HackTheNews fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | ObserveHN | HackTheNews |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (5 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 5 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 15.1 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 3 MB | 39 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 9+ |
| Developer | Evan Japundza | HackTheNews |
In-app purchases
ObserveHN
No in-app purchases
HackTheNews
- HackTheNews Premium Monthly$3.991 Month
- HackTheNews Premium Yearly1 Month trial$39.991 Year
