# Lightning Alarm vs Lightning Tracker

The clearest difference is rating: Lightning Alarm at 4.5 against Lightning Tracker's 4.3. Lightning Tracker's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.4). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Lightning Alarm sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per year and Lightning Tracker sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Lightning Alarm holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 889 and 574 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 80% of Lightning Alarm's written reviews are positive against 76% of Lightning Tracker's.

Lightning Alarm ships an update every 2 months, Lightning Tracker every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Lightning Alarm | Lightning Tracker |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (889 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightning-alarm/id1015876499/reviews)** | [4.3 (574 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightning-tracker/id1473753714/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **889** | 574 |
| Positive reviews | **80.5% of reviews** | 75.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 79 MB | 127 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Infoplaza BV](https://appshunter.io/developer/419311197) | [Elecont LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/401533969) |

## 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


### Lightning Tracker

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightning-tracker/id1473753714)

Visualize real-time lightning strikes across North and South America on a dynamic map. Receive predictive alerts for strike patterns and intensity, with estimated arrival times for your location. Monitor current and historical lightning activity to stay informed and protected.

**Highlights:** Live lightning map, Real-time strike visualization, Predictive lightning alerts, Estimated time of arrival (ETA) for strikes, Monitor saved locations, 6-hour strike history

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads & Limits | $2.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Accurate and real-time lightning tracking
- 👍 Helpful for safety and planning outdoor activities
- 💡 Useful for weather monitoring and storm tracking
- ⭐ Excellent app overall

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional bugs and glitches
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 📢 Intrusive ads in free version
- 🚫 Lack of important features like distance, alerts, and history

**Reported bugs**

- App not detecting lightning strikes even when visible
- Frequent crashes and freezes
- Issues with app updates and functionality changes

**Requested features**

- Add distance/radius information for lightning strikes
- Implement push notifications/alerts for lightning within a certain radius
- Provide historical data and the ability to view past lightning activity
- Improve overall app stability and performance


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Lightning Alarm free?

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

### Is Lightning Tracker free?

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

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

Lightning Alarm is rated higher. Lightning Alarm averages 4.5 out of 5 from 889 ratings, while Lightning Tracker averages 4.3 from 574 ratings.

### Do Lightning Alarm or Lightning Tracker have ads?

Both Lightning Alarm and Lightning Tracker show ads.

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

Lightning Alarm ships an update every 2 months, and Lightning Tracker every 4 months. Most recently, Lightning Alarm was updated on September 25, 2026 and Lightning Tracker on September 21, 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.*