Bar chart showing Adobe, QuickBooks and LinkedIn leading the complaint count in the HackerChurn analysis.
HACKERCHURN REVEALS TOP SAAS TOOLS HACKER NEWS USERS WANT TO CANCEL
*New analysis of three years of public Hacker News comments shows 1,551 negative remarks across 101 platforms. Users are not just complaining—they’re building alternatives, with 139 replacements already in the wild.*
Hacker News users have spoken, and they’re not shy about it. A new dataset called HackerChurn scraped three years of public comments, flagging every mention of a SaaS product that sparked a complaint. The result: 101 platforms, 1,551 negative remarks and a clear hierarchy of disgruntlement. At the top sit Adobe, QuickBooks and LinkedIn, each racking up dozens of threads that criticize lock‑in, poor quality and intrusive features. The community’s frustration is not limited to venting; 139 respondents have taken the extra step of building their own replacements. This article breaks down the raw numbers, highlights the most vilified tools and asks what the fallout means for the SaaS ecosystem.
Which SaaS tools topped the complaint list?
The HackerChurn study counted every public comment that named a tracked SaaS product. Adobe led with 79 threads, followed closely by QuickBooks (86 threads) and LinkedIn (81 threads). Evernote generated 67 threads, Grammarly 66, and LastPass appeared in 54 threads. CrowdStrike, Atlassian and Zscaler each attracted 58, 53 and 47 threads respectively. The raw numbers reflect a community that is vocal about security breaches, poor performance, intrusive AI features and broken workflows. Across the 101 platforms, the tally reached 1,551 negative comments, indicating a sustained wave of dissatisfaction rather than isolated outbursts.
Why are password managers like LastPass under fire?
LastPass topped the list for security‑related grievances. Commenters cited recent breaches, weak encryption and a loss of trust. The backlash is not merely rhetorical; users are actively seeking alternatives, as shown by the 139 built‑own replacements recorded in the study. The sentiment mirrors a broader trend where security‑critical tools are judged harshly when any vulnerability surfaces. The volume of threads (54) underscores that the community treats password management as a non‑negotiable baseline, and any slip triggers mass exodus.
Why are productivity suites like Evernote and Adobe under fire?
Evernote drew 67 threads, with users complaining about slow performance, lost notes and a post‑acquisition decline. Adobe’s 79 threads focused on lock‑in, poor quality, intrusive AI and telemetry. Both platforms suffer from perceived bloat and a shift toward aggressive data collection. The complaints span from 2024‑11‑30 to 2026‑11‑02, showing a persistent erosion of goodwill. Users argue that the tools no longer serve their core purpose and that the added AI features feel like a revenue grab rather than a productivity boost.
Is building your own replacement gaining traction?
The study recorded 139 instances where commenters said they built their own alternative. Bitwarden, for example, shows a "Built their own → Bitwarden" entry with 44 complaints, and Obsidian appears with a similar built‑own tag. Even heavyweight products like Adobe have a "Built their own · 1" note, indicating at least one user created a substitute. This DIY movement signals a willingness to invest development resources rather than remain locked into disliked services. It also hints at a future where open‑source or in‑house tools could erode the market share of traditional SaaS vendors.
Frequently asked questions
Which SaaS tools received the most complaints on Hacker News?
Adobe led with 79 threads, QuickBooks with 86, LinkedIn with 81, Evernote with 67, Grammarly with 66 and LastPass with 54 threads.
How many negative comments were recorded in the HackerChurn study?
The study counted 1,551 negative comments across 101 platforms.
How many users built their own replacements for complained SaaS tools?
139 commenters reported building their own replacements for the platforms they disliked.
The HackerChurn findings lay bare a tech community that refuses to tolerate mediocrity. With thousands of complaints and a growing DIY ethic, SaaS vendors face a decisive moment: double down on security, performance and user control, or watch their user base migrate to home‑grown solutions. The next wave of product releases will be judged not just on features but on whether they can restore the trust that Hacker News has clearly withdrawn.
Sources: Hacker News, HackerChurn – which SaaS tools HN wants to cancel, https://hissingkitty.com/hacker-churn