ObserveHN vs HackStream
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
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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!
HackStream
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HackStream is an unofficial Hacker News client designed to streamline your experience. At its core, HackStream has a customizable upvote threshold and you only see stories that meet that level in your feed. That way, you can enjoy a clean, focused feed of high-quality posts. ou can bookmark, comment, reply, and upvote directly. Browse new, top, best and more. HackStream keeps you in control of the Hacker News content that matters most to you.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: ObserveHN at none against HackStream's 1. ObserveHN also leads on iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.0). HackStream's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 7 months). 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. HackStream sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. ObserveHN asks for nothing beyond the download.
ObserveHN ships an update every 7 months, HackStream every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on June 1, 2026 and September 2, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | ObserveHN | HackStream |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 — better | 26.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 3 MB | 13 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Evan Japundza | FiveSheep OU |
In-app purchases
ObserveHN
No in-app purchases
HackStream
- Notifications$1.99
