Apollo for Reddit vs Hydra
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Apollo for Reddit
This app served as a popular third-party client for browsing Reddit on iOS. Due to API pricing changes, it has ceased operations but remains available as a commemorative experience. Users can access a thank you message, unlock wallpapers, and export their data.
- Commemorative state
- Goodbye Apollo wallpaper pack
- Data export functionality
- Unlockable app icons
- Developer update hub
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Apollo was an iOS app for browsing Reddit from 2015 to 2023. In 2023 Reddit announced significant price changes to their API, going from free to potentially costing tens of millions of dollars per year, with 30 days notice before developers would start incurring charges. As a result, Apollo was forced to shut down after the better part of a decade building for an incredible, supportive community. With over 100,000 five star ratings, and many accolades, I was incredibly proud of what Apollo accomplished. The app now exists in a commemorative/historic state, with a thank you message, the option to unlock a Goodbye Apollo wallpaper pack, and options to export data if you had the app downloaded previously (shake the device), and all previous app icons are now automatically unlocked. You can also use the app as a hub to get updates about other things the developer (Christian Selig) is working on. Again, thank you so much for all the years of fun, it was the honor of a lifetime building the app for all of you!
Hydra
Experience subreddits with a fast, fluid, and native iOS client. Enjoy seamless browsing, an immersive media viewer, and customizable themes. It's designed for both casual users and power Redditors.
- Lightning-fast loading
- Multireddit support
- Favorite subreddits
- Native iOS design
- Image and video viewer
- Multiple account support
- Quick access gestures
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Hydra is the best client for browsing your subreddits and the ultimate experience on iOS. It's fast, fluid, and designed to make browsing more seamless than ever before. If you're looking for a powerful yet beautifully simple client, Hydra is the way to go. "Hydra makes Reddit feel like a natural part of iOS. Everything just flows." - u/goosewatergoose "This app is what you get when the developer really understands what a great user experience should be. It’s everything the Reddit app isn't" - DAC, UK "Long time Apollo user. Found the app a month ago. Great work so far, just wanted to convey the props" - @gruthsc3 (Discord) Hydra is crafted with a native iOS design, making it feel right at home on your device. It loads fast, responds instantly, and makes browsing an incredibly intuitive experience. Packed with powerful features, it's built to be the ultimate companion for both casual browsing and hardcore Redditors alike. Features that make Hydra shine: - Lightning-fast loading for seamless scrolling and browsing - Multireddit support for organizing and following your favorite topics - Favorite subreddits to keep your go-to communities at your fingertips - A beautifully designed, native iOS experience that feels right at home - Gorgeous image and video viewer for an immersive media experience - Multiple account support so you can switch effortlessly - Quick access gestures to upvote, downvote, reply, and more with a swipe - Markdown support to get the most out of your posts and comments - System share menu integration to easily share content anywhere - Full inbox access for messages and notifications - Private messages support to stay connected with other users - Powerful search to find posts, subreddits, and users in an instant - Customizable themes to match your style - Compact mode for an optimized browsing experience - Highly customizable UI to tailor Hydra to your needs - Blur NSFW content and spoilers for a safe browsing experience - Low data mode to keep your usage efficient - Beautiful, intuitive UI/UX that makes using Hydra a delight Hydra is always evolving with new features and improvements based on feedback from the community. If there's something you'd love to see, drop by the /r/HydraApp subreddit and let me know! Hydra is an unofficial client, but it just might be the best one you've ever used. --- This is an unofficial client for the Reddit service (Reddit is a registered trademark of Reddit, Inc., and this app is not affiliated with or endorsed by Reddit). --- Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ratings volume: Apollo for Reddit at 180K against Hydra's 736. Apollo for Reddit also leads on update cadence (every 9 days vs every 3 weeks) and review sentiment (87% vs 74%). Hydra's advantage is chart position (#133 vs unranked). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases 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. Apollo for Reddit sells 5 one-off in-app purchases and Hydra sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Apollo for Reddit against 4.8 for Hydra. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Apollo for Reddit has 180K ratings behind it against 736, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 87% of Apollo for Reddit's written reviews are positive against 74% of Hydra's.
Apollo for Reddit ships an update every 9 days, Hydra every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Apollo for Reddit | Hydra |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (180K ratings) | 4.8 (736 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 86.6% of reviews — better | 74.5% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 180K — better | 736 |
| Update frequency | Every 9 days — better | Every 3 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | #133 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 16.4 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 141 MB | 75 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Christian Selig | Dimitrie Milinovich |
Customer experience
Apollo for Reddit
Hydra
User reviews
Apollo for Reddit
From 180K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Hands down the best way to use reddit on mobile
- 🚀 Exemplary app
- 🚀 Sleek, easy and affordable
- 🚀 The best Reddit app iOS ever had!
- 🚀 Fantastic Reddit client for iPhone
Room to improve
- 💰 Predatory in-app purchase upgrades
- 💰 Stop asking me to pay for ultra
- 💰 Can't post without pro, that shoulda been very clear on download
- 💰 Laughably bad
- 🐛 Occasional glitches and bugs
Hydra
From 736 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Massive potential
- 👍 Closest thing to Apollo
- 👍 Best option for 2025
- 👍 Better in almost every way
- 👍 Superior Reddit Client++
Room to improve
- 🔒 Sketchy security
Bugs and requests
Apollo for Reddit
Reported bugs
4 issues- Reoccurring glitch where can't click on posts
- Becoming unresponsive to refreshes after inactivity
- Filtering from r/All not working as expected
- Error when applying new icons
Requested features
4 requests- Ability to unmark existing content as read
- Option to choose a default web browser
- Small arrow overlay to scroll down to original comment
- Compact mode for navigation on smaller screens
Hydra
Reported bugs
1 issue- Expect some bumps
Requested features
2 requests- Customizing the gestures and hiding the username on the tab bar
- Content blocking, comment images, startup feed, and others
In-app purchases
Apollo for Reddit
- Nice Tip$1.00
- Kind Tip$3.00
- Generous Tip$5.00
Show 2 moreShow fewer
- Amazing Tip$10.00
- Godzilla Tip$20.00
Hydra
- Hydra Pro$2.991 Month
- Nice Tip$1.99
- Generous Tip$4.99
- Amazing Tip$9.99
Show 1 moreShow fewer
- Incredible Tip$19.99
Questions
Is Apollo for Reddit free?
Is Hydra free?
Which has better reviews, Apollo for Reddit or Hydra?
Do Apollo for Reddit or Hydra have ads?
Which is updated more often, Apollo for Reddit or Hydra?
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