Comparison

HackStream vs Hack News for HN

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

Lightweight Hacker News reader

Free

📡 News

No ratingsView app →

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

Hack News for HN

Features

Read full description

Hack News is a fast, lightweight reader for Hacker News. Browse stories, open comment threads, read discussions, and move around quickly with a clean native interface. The app is built for people who want Hacker News without extra clutter, slow loading, or unnecessary features. Features: - Fast native story lists - Clean comment reading - iPhone and iPad support - Hacker News user profiles - Simple settings

Screenshots

HackStream4 screens

Hack News for HN2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Hack News for HN at none against HackStream's 1. On price, update cadence, 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. Hack News for HN asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

HackStream ships an update every 3 weeks, Hack News for HN every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 15, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 5 level

HackStream versus Hack News for HN: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
Parameter	HackStream	Hack News for HN
Price	Free	Free
Update frequency	Every 3 weeks	Every 2 weeks — better
Ads	No	No
In-app purchases	Yes	No — better
Devices	iPhone	iPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS	26.0	26.0
Further details — not scored
Size	13 MB	6 MB
Age rating	12+	9+
Developer	FiveSheep OU	E.J. Dyksen

In-app purchases

1 purchases

HackStream

One-time1

Notifications$1.99

None

Hack News for HN

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is HackStream free?

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

Is Hack News for HN free?

Hack News for HN is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

Do HackStream or Hack News for HN have ads?

Neither HackStream nor Hack News for HN shows ads.

Which is updated more often, HackStream or Hack News for HN?

HackStream ships an update every 3 weeks, and Hack News for HN every 2 weeks. Most recently, HackStream was updated on September 15, 2026 and Hack News for HN on September 23, 2026.