# Narwhal for Reddit vs command_line

The clearest difference is monetization model: command_line at freemium against Narwhal for Reddit's subscription. command_line also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.5). Narwhal for Reddit's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 15 months) and ratings volume (17K vs 2). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Narwhal for Reddit sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and command_line sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

command_line holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Narwhal for Reddit has 17K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Narwhal for Reddit ships an update weekly, command_line every 15 months. The most recent releases landed on November 4, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Narwhal for Reddit | command_line |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (17K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/narwhal-for-reddit/id845422455/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/command-line/id6468368351/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **17K** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 69.9% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 15 months |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Freemium** |
| Best chart rank | **#30** | — |
| Size | 32 MB | 39 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **15.1** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [robot swingset, llc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1088692323) | [Daniel Shaw](https://appshunter.io/developer/1699998952) |

## What reviewers say

### Narwhal for Reddit

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/narwhal-for-reddit/id845422455)

**Currently charting:** #30 Top Grossing · News, #90 Top Free · News (US App Store)

This app offers a highly customizable and efficient way to browse Reddit. Enjoy a seamless experience with features like simultaneous link and comment viewing, swipe-based voting, and personalized themes. It's designed for fast and efficient Reddit usage.

**Highlights:** View any subreddit, Simultaneous link and comment view, Swipe-based voting, Customizable themes, Save and hide links, Favorite subreddits, View orangereds

**Features:** Safari Extension, Vision Pro support, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Narwhal Pro | $3.99 | per month |
| Narwhal Pro | $4.99 | per month |
| Narwhal Pro - Extra Support | $5.99 | per month |
| Narwhal Pro - Extra Support | $6.99 | per month |
| Narwhal Pro - Extra Support | $9.99 | per month |
| Narwhal Pro Annual | $39.99 | per year |
| Tip Jar $5 | $5.00 | one-time |
| Tip Jar $10 | $10.00 | one-time |
| Tip Jar $25 | $25.00 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Smooth and intuitive navigation
- 👍 Highly customizable UI
- 🔒 No ads or distractions
- 🤖 Excellent developer support and responsiveness
- 💡 Useful features like multi-account support and gestures

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional freezing and crashes
- 🔋 Overheating and high battery drain issues
- 🤔 Inconsistent video playback and loading
- 🤷‍♀️ Confusing or unintuitive UI elements for some users

**Reported bugs**

- Swipe gestures not working consistently
- Video player controls freezing or malfunctioning
- Keyboard issues causing input lag or freezes

**Requested features**

- Add ability to create and manage subreddit shortcuts
- Improve search functionality to find specific subreddits
- Implement a 'mark all as read' option for posts
- Add support for saving posts to custom folders or categories


### command_line

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/command-line/id6468368351)

A fast, terminal-style client for reading and participating in Hacker News discussions. Offers a focused interface with features like offline caching and story saving. Premium unlocks account actions and advanced tools for deeper engagement.

**Highlights:** Terminal-inspired interface, Browse all story types, Threaded comment discussions, Search Hacker News, Save stories with bookmarks, Offline caching, Account sign-in and participation

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Premium Yearly | $39.99 | per year |
| Premium Lifetime | $99.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Narwhal for Reddit free?

Narwhal for Reddit is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is command_line free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Narwhal for Reddit or command_line?

command_line is rated higher. Narwhal for Reddit averages 4.5 out of 5 from 17K ratings, while command_line averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Narwhal for Reddit or command_line have ads?

Neither Narwhal for Reddit nor command_line shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Narwhal for Reddit or command_line?

Narwhal for Reddit ships an update weekly, and command_line every 15 months. Most recently, Narwhal for Reddit was updated on November 4, 2026 and command_line on November 3, 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.*