HyperTexting vs The Bristol Cable
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
HyperTexting
A social news feed that connects you to diverse content from news outlets, creators, and podcasts. Share your thoughts and media, including links, mentions, and files, directly to your own website. Engage with a truly open social web experience.
- Follow diverse content feeds
- Post to your own website feed
- Supports hyperlinks and @mentions
- Includes photos, videos, and podcasts
- Share PDFs and other files
- Engage in open social discourse
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HyperTexting is a social news feed, powered by the open social web. Follow your favorite feeds, including traditional news outlets, independent journalists, content creators, podcasts, video streams, and much more. Join the discourse by posting to your feed—an actual website—easier than posting on social media, with hyperlinks, @mentions, #hashtags, photos, videos, podcasts, and even PDFs.
The Bristol Cable
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The Bristol Cable app brings award-winning investigative journalism and community connection right to your pocket. As Bristol's independent, member-owned news co-op, we're building something different—a space where quality local journalism meets genuine community conversation, free from big tech algorithms and corporate interests. Become a member of The Bristol Cable—starting at just £1/month. Download the app today. WHAT YOU GET : Full mobile access to The Bristol Cable's in-depth investigations and analysis Seamless browsing of articles, podcasts, and multimedia content Customisable notifications—you have complete control over what you receive Dedicated local community spaces for Bristol conversations Connection to the Open Social Web and global communities Integration with Mastodon, Bluesky, Threads, and Fediverse networks Member-exclusive community features and discussions Information about Cable events, workshops, and meetups Direct messaging with other members and local organisations Privacy-first design—no algorithm manipulation or data exploitation Support truly independent, accountable journalism OPEN ACCESS JOURNALISM, MEMBER-EXCLUSIVE APP The Bristol Cable has always believed journalism should be free for everyone to read—we don't do paywalls. All our stories remain freely accessible online because information is a public good, not a commodity. But this app is something more. It's a complete community platform that combines our journalism with social connection, local networking, and access to the Open Social Web. That's why app access is for Cable members only, starting from just £1 per month. When you become a member, you're not paying for news—you're joining a movement and gaining a powerful tool for community engagement. DEEP-DIVE IMPACT JOURNALISM Access The Bristol Cable's acclaimed investigative reporting wherever you are. Our journalist-led team produces in-depth journalism that enhances understanding of local issues—political, policy, cultural, and beyond. We don't chase breaking news. Instead, we dig deep into the stories that matter to Bristol, holding power to account and uncovering truths others won't touch. BEYOND THE ALGORITHM The app connects you to the Open Social Web—including Mastodon, Bluesky, Threads, and the wider Fediverse. Discover and follow interest-led communities, engage with people across the world, and join conversations that aren't controlled by profit-driven algorithms. This is social networking that respects your privacy, your time, and your intelligence. No data harvesting. No manipulation. No corporate surveillance. Just genuine connection and meaningful conversation. A SPACE FOR YOUR COMMUNITY The app creates dedicated local spaces where Bristol's communities can come together. Discuss the issues that matter to you. Share perspectives. Organise action. Connect with Bristol-based organisations and events. This is more than a news app—it's a digital town square built on values of openness, democracy, and collective ownership. WHO WE ARE The Bristol Cable is an independent investigative local news co-operative, owned by over 2,600 members who believe Bristol deserves better journalism. Since 2014, we've been investigating stories others ignore, amplifying voices often unheard, and building new models for democratic media. Our work has sparked national conversations, changed local policy, and held powerful institutions to account. And we've never put our journalism behind a paywall. A PIONEERING COLLABORATION This app represents a groundbreaking partnership between The Bristol Cable and the Newsmast Foundation. Together, we're demonstrating how community-centred journalism and open social networks can work hand-in-hand, creating a model that other independent media organisations can follow. This is what the future of democratic, community-owned media looks like.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: The Bristol Cable at every 3 weeks against HyperTexting's every 6 weeks. The Bristol Cable also leads on device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 18.0). On price, ads and in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
HyperTexting ships an update every 6 weeks, The Bristol Cable every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.
| Parameter | HyperTexting | The Bristol Cable |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (4 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 66.7% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 4 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 15.1 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 180 MB | 43 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Herd Works Inc | The Newsmast Foundation |
In-app purchases
HyperTexting
No in-app purchases
The Bristol Cable
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is HyperTexting free?
Is The Bristol Cable free?
Do HyperTexting or The Bristol Cable have ads?
Which is updated more often, HyperTexting or The Bristol Cable?
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