The best web fiction platforms, according to hackers
3 web fiction platforms were recommended on Hacker News between November 2025 and November 2026. We rank them by how many separate people recommend each one, and 1 earns the Hacker Approved badge.
Top pick
The most recommended web fiction platform with the badge. Each figure is one person. RecommendsCriticizes One comment
Preserves a large body of fan fiction
Recommended as a free, community-run fiction archive with a strong tagging system and no algorithmic feed; critics object to some hosted content.
All 3 web fiction platforms, 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.
| Rank | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Archive of Our Own (AO3) | 11 | 2 | 85% | 4 | — | Approved |
| 2 | SCP Foundation | 9 | 1 | 90% | 4 | — | — |
| 3 | Royal Road | 6 | 1 | 86% | 3 | — | — |
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 web fiction platform in five threads counts once.
The badge goes to web fiction platforms 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.