Comparison

Apollo for Reddit vs Hydra

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Commemorative state
  • Goodbye Apollo wallpaper pack
  • Data export functionality
  • Unlockable app icons
  • Developer update hub
Features
Read full description

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!

About

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.

Highlights
  • Lightning-fast loading
  • Multireddit support
  • Favorite subreddits
  • Native iOS design
  • Image and video viewer
  • Multiple account support
  • Quick access gestures
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

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

Apollo for Reddit4 screens
Hydra4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

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.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
Apollo for Reddit versus Hydra: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterApollo for RedditHydra
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (180K ratings)4.8 (736 ratings)
Positive reviews86.6% of reviews — better74.5% of reviews
Number of ratings180K — better736
Update frequencyEvery 9 days — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank—#133 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size141 MB75 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperChristian SeligDimitrie Milinovich

Customer experience

Apollo for Reddit

All ratings180,273 ratings
Positive94.4%
Neutral1.7%
Negative4.0%
Written reviews591 reviews
Positive86.6%
Neutral3.2%
Negative10.2%

Hydra

All ratings736 ratings
Positive95.7%
Neutral1.2%
Negative3.1%
Written reviews149 reviews
Positive74.5%
Neutral6.0%
Negative19.5%

User reviews

Apollo for Reddit

From 180K App Store ratings

What 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 ratings

What 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

5 purchases

Apollo for Reddit

One-time5
  • Nice Tip$1.00
  • Kind Tip$3.00
  • Generous Tip$5.00
Show 2 more
  • Amazing Tip$10.00
  • Godzilla Tip$20.00
5 purchases

Hydra

Subscriptions1
  • Hydra Pro$2.991 Month
One-time4
  • Nice Tip$1.99
  • Generous Tip$4.99
  • Amazing Tip$9.99
Show 1 more
  • Incredible Tip$19.99

Questions

Is Apollo for Reddit free?
Apollo for Reddit is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Hydra free?
Hydra is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Apollo for Reddit or Hydra?
Apollo for Reddit and Hydra are both rated 4.8 out of 5 on the App Store, from 180K and 736 ratings respectively.
Do Apollo for Reddit or Hydra have ads?
Neither Apollo for Reddit nor Hydra shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Apollo for Reddit or Hydra?
Apollo for Reddit ships an update every 9 days, and Hydra every 3 weeks. Most recently, Apollo for Reddit was updated on October 19, 2026 and Hydra on October 18, 2026.

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