# HackStream vs Signal for Hacker News

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Signal for Hacker News at none against HackStream's 1. HackStream's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 4 months). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. HackStream sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Signal for Hacker News asks for nothing beyond the download.

HackStream ships an update every 3 weeks, Signal for Hacker News every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | HackStream | Signal for Hacker News |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 4 months |
| Size | 13 MB | 10 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | 26.0 |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [FiveSheep OU](https://appshunter.io/developer/1725654318) | [Clarved Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1889702767) |

## What reviewers say

### HackStream

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hackstream-hackernews-feed/id6757635951)

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Notifications | $1.99 | one-time |


### Signal for Hacker News

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/signal-for-hacker-news/id6775184169)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is HackStream free?

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

### Is Signal for Hacker News free?

Signal for Hacker News is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do HackStream or Signal for Hacker News have ads?

Signal for Hacker News shows ads; HackStream does not.

### Which is updated more often, HackStream or Signal for Hacker News?

HackStream ships an update every 3 weeks, and Signal for Hacker News every 4 months. Most recently, HackStream was updated on October 19, 2026 and Signal for Hacker News on October 20, 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.*