# Lightning Alarm vs WeatherSmart

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Lightning Alarm at 80% against WeatherSmart's 9%. Lightning Alarm also leads on rating (4.5 vs 1.5) and ratings volume (890 vs 4). WeatherSmart's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Lightning Alarm sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per year. WeatherSmart asks for nothing beyond the download.

Lightning Alarm holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 1.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Lightning Alarm has 890 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 80% of Lightning Alarm's written reviews are positive against 9% of WeatherSmart's.

Lightning Alarm ships an update every 2 months, WeatherSmart every 3 months. Both last shipped on October 26, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Lightning Alarm | WeatherSmart |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (890 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightning-alarm/id1015876499/reviews)** | [1.5 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/weathersmart/id1045032640/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **890** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | **80.5% of reviews** | 8.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 79 MB | 55 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Infoplaza BV](https://appshunter.io/developer/419311197) | [AfriGIS Pty Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/314370267) |

## What reviewers say

### Lightning Alarm

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightning-alarm/id1015876499)

Receive timely notifications about approaching thunderstorms and lightning strikes in your vicinity. This app provides accurate lightning detection and displays real-time information on a map, ensuring safety during outdoor activities.

**Highlights:** Real-time lightning detection, Approaching storm notifications, Lightning distance display, Map view of lightning strikes, Textual storm information, Push message alerts

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Lightning Alarm Premium | $2.99 | per year |
| 1 month ad free | $0.99 | one-time |
| 3 months ad free | $1.99 | one-time |
| 1 year ad free | $2.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- ⭐️ Excellent app
- 👍 Works great
- 🚀 Accurate and precise
- 🔔 Helpful notifications
- 🌩️ Tracks lightning effectively

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App crashes or freezes
- ⚠️ Inaccurate or unreliable
- 🔍 Difficult to set location
- 🔢 Metric units not preferred

**Reported bugs**

- Notifications not working
- Map tiles not loading properly
- App crashing on launch

**Requested features**

- Option to switch between miles and kilometers
- Add multiple locations to track
- Improve map visuals and details
- Customizable alert radius


### WeatherSmart

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/weathersmart/id1045032640)

Get severe weather warnings and detailed forecasts for your current location and any other area. Customize settings like update frequency and do not disturb times. View daily highs, lows, and wind direction.

**Highlights:** Severe weather warnings, Current location weather, Forecasts for selected locations, Seven-day forecast, Temperature and wind data, Customizable settings

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Lightning Alarm free?

Lightning Alarm is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is WeatherSmart free?

WeatherSmart is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Lightning Alarm or WeatherSmart?

Lightning Alarm is rated higher. Lightning Alarm averages 4.5 out of 5 from 890 ratings, while WeatherSmart averages 1.5 from 4 ratings.

### Do Lightning Alarm or WeatherSmart have ads?

Lightning Alarm shows ads; WeatherSmart does not.

### Which is updated more often, Lightning Alarm or WeatherSmart?

Lightning Alarm ships an update every 2 months, and WeatherSmart every 3 months. Most recently, Lightning Alarm was updated on October 26, 2026 and WeatherSmart on October 26, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*