# H for Hacker News vs HackerReads

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: HackerReads at none against H for Hacker News's 4. H for Hacker News's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs every 5 days) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.6). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. H for Hacker News sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. HackerReads asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for H for Hacker News against 5.0 for HackerReads. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 5 respectively.

H for Hacker News ships an update every 3 days, HackerReads every 5 days. Both last shipped on October 30, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | H for Hacker News | HackerReads |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/h-for-hacker-news/id6744145932/reviews) | [5.0 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hackerreads/id6745434040/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 3 | **5** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 days** | Every 5 days |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 26 MB | 20 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 17.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Krishna Sangeeth KS](https://appshunter.io/developer/1796652653) | [Mahesh Adhikari](https://appshunter.io/developer/1761921713) |

## What reviewers say

### H for Hacker News

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/h-for-hacker-news/id6744145932)

Stay updated with the latest tech news and discussions in a fast, modern, and clutter-free interface. Search the archive, bookmark articles into custom collections, and enjoy a unified reading experience with a built-in reader for external links.

**Highlights:** Search Hacker News archive, Bookmark stories into custom collections, Browse Top, New, Best, Show HN, Ask HN, Job stories, Collapsible comment view, Built-in reader for external links, Export/import bookmarks and reading history, Read history timeline

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| small | $0.99 | one-time |
| medium | $1.99 | one-time |
| large | $4.99 | one-time |
| extralarge | $9.99 | one-time |


### HackerReads

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hackerreads/id6745434040)

This app delivers curated tech and hacking news with AI-powered summaries. It offers a clean, distraction-free reading experience for developers and tech enthusiasts, ensuring you stay updated on important stories without the clutter.

**Highlights:** AI-powered summaries, Curated top tech stories, Clean, minimal design, Smart story tracking, Dark mode support, Lightweight and fast

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is H for Hacker News free?

H for Hacker News is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is HackerReads free?

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

### Which has better reviews, H for Hacker News or HackerReads?

H for Hacker News and HackerReads are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 3 and 5 ratings respectively.

### Do H for Hacker News or HackerReads have ads?

Neither H for Hacker News nor HackerReads shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, H for Hacker News or HackerReads?

H for Hacker News ships an update every 3 days, and HackerReads every 5 days. Most recently, H for Hacker News was updated on October 30, 2026 and HackerReads on October 30, 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.*