Comparison

HackStream vs HackNe

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

Head to head

HackStream

Unofficial HackerNews Client

Hacker News Reader

About

HackStream

Features

Read full description

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.

About

HackNe

Features

Read full description

HackNe for Hacker News is a native iPhone app built for reading Hacker News in a clean, fast, and simple way. Browse the feeds you actually care about: - Top - New - Best - Ask - Show - Jobs Open articles directly inside the app, then jump into the discussion with one tap. Read nested comment threads, check user profiles, and follow the conversation without losing your place. HackNe is designed for people who want a straightforward Hacker News experience that feels at home on iPhone. No clutter, no unnecessary complexity, just stories, comments, and links that matter.

Screenshots

HackStream4 screens

HackNe3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: HackNe at none against HackStream's 1. HackNe also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs every 3 weeks) and iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.0). 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. HackStream sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. HackNe asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

HackStream ships an update every 3 weeks, HackNe every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on September 2, 2026 and September 15, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 3 level

HackStream versus HackNe: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
Parameter	HackStream	HackNe
Price	Free	Free
Update frequency	Every 3 weeks	Every 5 days — better
Ads	No	No
In-app purchases	Yes	No — better
Devices	iPhone	iPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS	26.0	17.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size	13 MB	1 MB
Age rating	12+	4+
Developer	FiveSheep OU	Tansu Asici

In-app purchases

1 purchases

HackStream

One-time1

Notifications$1.99

None

HackNe

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is HackStream free?

HackStream is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

Is HackNe free?

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

Do HackStream or HackNe have ads?

Neither HackStream nor HackNe shows ads.

Which is updated more often, HackStream or HackNe?

HackStream ships an update every 3 weeks, and HackNe every 5 days. Most recently, HackStream was updated on September 2, 2026 and HackNe on September 15, 2026.