The best newsletters, according to hackers
26 newsletters were recommended on Hacker News between November 2025 and November 2026. We rank them by how many separate people recommend each one, and 4 earn the Hacker Approved badge.
Top picks
The three most recommended newsletters with the badge. Each figure is one person. RecommendsCriticizes One comment
Tracks latest AI releases closely
Recommended for keeping up with LLM and AI releases, with clear, high-signal posts on many tech topics. Critics say some posts are mostly quotes and retelling of events.
Thorough, well-researched historical analysis
Thorough, well-researched essays on pre-modern history, by a historian people often share on Hacker News.
Dense, well-written, thoughtful essays
Free, dense, well-researched essays with rich interlinking and polished typography; critics say the writing lacks personality.
All 26 newsletters, ranked
Select a column heading to sort. Approval share is recommenders out of everyone who gave an opinion; the tick on each bar marks the 2 to 1 line the badge needs. Months counts the months, out of 13, in which someone recommended it.
How we rank
Rank is the number of separate people who recommend a product in a Hacker News comment over the past year. Someone who praises the same newsletter in five threads counts once.
The badge goes to newsletters that at least 10 people recommend, with recommenders outnumbering critics at least 2 to 1, recommended in at least 4 of the 13 months.
Rankings are never for sale. We may earn a commission when you buy through our links. It never changes the order.