Comparison

HN Reader Pro vs HackTheNews

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

HN Reader Pro

A streamlined reader for tech news, offering a comfortable dark mode experience. It displays top stories with integrated article and comment views, plus bookmarking for easy saving. Stay connected with the tech community.

Highlights
  • Dark mode for comfortable browsing
  • Integrated article and comment viewing
  • Bookmark functionality
  • Top stories display
  • Tech community engagement
Features
Read full description

A sleek Hacker News reader with dark mode for comfortable browsing. Features top stories, integrated article and comment viewing on a single page, and bookmark functionality for saving interesting content. Stay informed and engaged with the tech community effortlessly.

About

HackTheNews

Features
Read 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

HN Reader Pro4 screens
HackTheNews4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: HN Reader Pro at none against HackTheNews's 2. HN Reader Pro also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs fortnightly) and iOS requirement (13.4 vs 15.1). 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. HackTheNews sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. HN Reader Pro asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

HN Reader Pro ships an update every 2 days, HackTheNews fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 6 level
HN Reader Pro versus HackTheNews: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHN Reader ProHackTheNews
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 days — betterFortnightly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.4 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size22 MB39 MB
Age rating17+9+
DeveloperLucas LimaHackTheNews

In-app purchases

None

HN Reader Pro

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

HackTheNews

Subscriptions2
  • HackTheNews Premium Monthly$3.991 Month
  • HackTheNews Premium Yearly1 Month trial$39.991 Year

Questions

Is HN Reader Pro free?
HN Reader Pro is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is HackTheNews free?
HackTheNews is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do HN Reader Pro or HackTheNews have ads?
Neither HN Reader Pro nor HackTheNews shows ads.
Which is updated more often, HN Reader Pro or HackTheNews?
HN Reader Pro ships an update every 2 days, and HackTheNews fortnightly. Most recently, HN Reader Pro was updated on October 21, 2026 and HackTheNews on October 30, 2026.

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