# HackerNotes vs Pond

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: HackerNotes at 12.0 against Pond's 16.6. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

HackerNotes costs $1.99 and Pond $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

HackerNotes ships an update every 3 days, Pond every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | HackerNotes | Pond |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $1.99 | $1.99 |
| Rating | — | **[5.0 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pond-drop-your-ideas/id6748211962/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **5** |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 days | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | — | Paid |
| Size | 30 MB | 8 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 16.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [慧英 郭](https://appshunter.io/developer/1807569882) | [EUIHYUNG JUNG](https://appshunter.io/developer/1744853554) |

## What reviewers say

### HackerNotes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hackernotes-productivity/id6744580327)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Pond

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pond-drop-your-ideas/id6748211962)

Capture thoughts and ideas instantly with a simple, intuitive interface. Organize notes, set reminders, and merge ideas seamlessly. Access your thoughts everywhere with cloud sync.

**Highlights:** Quick note capture, Voice input for thoughts, Merge multiple notes, Highlighting and reminders, Organize with multiple ponds, iCloud seamless sync, One-hand mode

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is HackerNotes free?

HackerNotes costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Pond free?

Pond costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Do HackerNotes or Pond have ads?

Neither HackerNotes nor Pond shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, HackerNotes or Pond?

HackerNotes ships an update every 3 days, and Pond every 2 days. Most recently, HackerNotes was updated on October 2, 2026 and Pond on October 11, 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.*