Hacker News Zero vs hn
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Hacker News Zero
A streamlined mobile client for browsing Hacker News. Offers a simple interface with customizable themes and easy navigation between different sections of the site.
- Simple browsing interface
- Dark and light mode themes
- Article/comment switcher
- Navigate front page, Ask HN, New sections
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The best way to browse Hacker News on your iPhone! - Simple interface for browsing - Dark and light mode themes - One big button to switch back and forth between article and comments - Switch between the HN front page, "Ask HN", and the "New" section with ease
hn
Stay updated with tech news and articles through a clean, simple, and distraction-free reading experience. Focus on content without clutter, ads, or pop-ups.
- Clean and simple interface
- Easy navigation
- Distraction-free reader mode
- Ad-free experience
- Focus on content
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The hn app is the perfect way to stay up-to-date with all your favorite tech news and articles on Hacker News. Our app features a clean and simple interface that's easy to navigate, so you can focus on the content that matters most to you. With our reader mode, you can enjoy a distraction-free reading experience that's easy on the eyes. No more cluttered pages, ads or annoying pop-ups. Just pure, unadulterated content that's a pleasure to read. Experience the ultimate in simplicity and functionality with the hn app.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: hn at 5.0 against Hacker News Zero's 4.6. hn also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 6 weeks). Hacker News Zero's advantage is ratings volume (7 vs 2) and iOS requirement (11.2 vs 17.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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.
hn holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 7 and 2 respectively.
Hacker News Zero ships an update every 6 weeks, hn weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Hacker News Zero | hn |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (7 ratings) | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 85.7% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 7 — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | Weekly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 11.2 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 13 MB | 14 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | locacha | Victor Aguilar |
Customer experience
Hacker News Zero
hn
In-app purchases
Hacker News Zero
No in-app purchases
hn
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Hacker News Zero free?
Is hn free?
Which has better reviews, Hacker News Zero or hn?
Do Hacker News Zero or hn have ads?
Which is updated more often, Hacker News Zero or hn?
Other comparisons
