The song was written by lead vocalist Hayley Williams and guitarist Taylor York and was recorded in the band's hometown, Nashville, Tennessee.

[3] According to DIY, "Hard Times" follows the "bombastic footsteps" of previous singles "Still Into You" and "Ain't It Fun", featuring a "huge chorus and sugary vocals".

[5] According to Billboard writer Lindsey Byrnes, it is a pop rock song that features a tribal beat, and is reminiscent of 1980s new wave.

Joe Coscarelli at The New York Times praised the song, stating that Hayley Williams "remains the focus, and her nimble melodies and sneakily huge pop hooks are as crisp and magnetic as ever, unbeholden to genre walls.

[16] Billboard compared the song to Talking Heads and Blondie, stating "With the infectious quality of 'Hard Times' inspiring a jump-on-the-bed and use a hairbrush as a microphone type of vibe, Paramore's new chapter is a testament to what can happen not only when you weather the storm, but when you let yourself dance in the rain as well".

[17] Writing for The Inquirer, Joseph R. Atilano opines that the song is "a very solid track and is something that long time Paramore fans will surely enjoy listening to over and over again" but criticizes its short length, and mentions that Williams' vocals could be louder in some areas.

[18] The Village Voice's Pazz & Jop annual critics' poll to find the best music of 2017 ranked "Hard Times" at number 11.

[23] NPR's Lars Gotrich described the video as containing "early MTV-style effects, loud pastels and a performance space seemingly constructed out of an old Nickelodeon set".