# OpenBenches

Hacker Approved page: https://hackerapproved.com/p/openbenches/

5 people recommended OpenBenches in Hacker News comments and none criticized it, November 2025 to October 2026. It was recommended in 1 of 12 months, in 1 thread. It does not meet the Hacker Approved badge rule.

5 of the 5 people who recommend it commented in one thread, “Why do people leave comments on OpenBenches?”.

**Verdict:** People recommend it as a beautiful, moving project that feels like the old web and invites visitors to add benches from their city.

Summary written by Claude from 5 comments.

## Why people recommend it

- Great, lovely project (3 comments in the sample): "Thanks for building and maintaining this lovely project." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46345899)) "Great project, feels like the old web." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46339418)) "Great project. Will encourage others." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46339526))
- Beautiful, moving, old-web feel (1 comment in the sample): "This is really beautiful. One of the most moving things I've seen in weeks." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46342042))
- Encourages others to join in (1 comment in the sample): "Interesting site, will definitely add a few that are in my city!" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46347941))

## Other interactive maps people recommend

- [Map of Metal](https://hackerapproved.com/p/map-of-metal/): 30 recommend, 4 mixed, 4 criticize
- [CheapFoodMap](https://hackerapproved.com/p/cheapfoodmap/): 20 recommend, 8 mixed, 7 criticize
- [Shipmap.org](https://hackerapproved.com/p/shipmap-org/): 19 recommend, 4 mixed, 6 criticize
- [Project Hail Mary Stellar Navigation Chart](https://hackerapproved.com/p/project-hail-mary-stellar-navigation-chart/): 15 recommend, 1 mixed, 3 criticize

## Where to get it

- [Visit the official site](https://openbenches.org/)

## The badge

A product earns the Hacker Approved badge when at least 10 people recommend it, recommenders outnumber critics at least 2 to 1 (mixed feelings count toward neither side), it was recommended in at least 4 of the 12 months and in at least 5 different threads, and no single thread supplies more than half of the people who recommend it. Health and money products are never badged.

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "OpenBenches", https://hackerapproved.com/p/openbenches/ (5 recommend, 0 mixed, 0 criticize; Hacker News comments, November 2025 to October 2026).

Counts updated 2 Nov 2026, with data through October 31, 2026.