Comparison

Lightning Alarm vs Lightning Tracker‎

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Lightning Alarm

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
Read full description

Always safe with Lightning Alarm. You will be notified if a thunderstorm is in your area. The lightning detection is very accurate and the (automated) notifications are essential for safe outdoor activities. At a glance you can see the nearest lightning. Displayed on the map and in text, you see the current distance from the thunderstorm to your location. You can even set up a push message, notifying you for approaching storms. This App is unique and a must for your safety during outdoor activities. The information is based on the detection network of Meteoplaza.com. With this network 98% of all lightning discharges are detected, resulting in a high quality of the warnings! Lightning Alarm, you have been warned! Lightning Alarm Premium can be purchased through iTunes for € 3.49 per year. € 3.49 will be charged within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Subscriptions are user-managed and auto-renewal can be turned off by going to Apple ID settings. By purchasing Lightning Alarm Premium you agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Privacy statement: https://www.infoplaza.nl/en/about-us/disclaimer-privacy/ Terms of Service: https://www.infoplaza.nl/en/about-us/terms-of-use-lightning-alarm/

About

Lightning Tracker‎

Monitor real-time lightning strikes on a map with detailed information like time and distance. Receive background notifications for nearby activity and customize your detection radius. View current weather conditions alongside lightning alerts.

Highlights
  • Real-time lightning strike map
  • Strike details (time, distance)
  • Background monitoring and notifications
  • Customizable detection radius (1-50 miles)
  • Current weather conditions view
  • Lightning strike expiration (15 minutes)
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Track and monitor lightning strikes in realtime nearby to your location, with Lightning Tracker Live. Lightning strikes are presented on a map view, where you can tap on each marked lightning strike for more details, including: • Time of strike • Distance from your current location Lightning strikes will appear on the map view in realtime & will expire after 15 minutes, keeping you up to date with only the latest lightning activity all the time. The app will also work when in the background, periodically checking for any lightning strikes & notifying you if any do occur. As a default setting, the app will check/monitor at a radius of 25 miles within your location for lightning activity. This can be customized in the app settings from anywhere between 1 & 50 miles. Your chosen radius value will be saved for future use. Other features include an option to view your current weather conditions. We hope that you find this app useful. Please reach out to us via email support if you have any feedback or questions. Subscription: Your subscription will automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. If your subscription is subject to any promotional discount, the discount will expire upon the end of the current period and you'll be charged the standard rate upon renewal. Go to your iTunes Account under subscriptions to manage your membership and to turn auto-renew off. Your iTunes Account will be charged when the purchase is confirmed. Privacy Policy: https://goingmerry.xyz/privacy-policy/ Terms of Use: https://goingmerry.xyz/terms-conditions/

Screenshots

Lightning Alarm4 screens
Lightning Tracker‎4 screens

Verdict

The call

Lightning Alarm and Lightning Tracker‎ both sit at 4.5 stars, but that hides the real split: 80% of Lightning Alarm's written reviews are positive against 8% of Lightning Tracker‎'s. Lightning Alarm also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 5 months) and ratings volume (889 vs 156). Lightning Tracker‎'s advantage is chart position (#207 vs unranked). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Lightning Alarm sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per year and Lightning Tracker‎ sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for Lightning Alarm against 4.4 for Lightning Tracker‎. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Lightning Alarm has 889 ratings behind it against 156, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 80% of Lightning Alarm's written reviews are positive against 8% of Lightning Tracker‎'s.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Lightning Alarm ships an update every 2 months, Lightning Tracker‎ every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
Lightning Alarm versus Lightning Tracker‎: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLightning AlarmLightning Tracker‎
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (889 ratings) — better4.4 (156 ratings)
Positive reviews80.5% of reviews — better8.3% of reviews
Number of ratings889 — better156
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 5 months
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank—#207 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.4 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size79 MB62 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperInfoplaza BVGoing Merry LLC

Customer experience

Lightning Alarm

All ratings889 ratings
Positive88.3%
Neutral5.2%
Negative6.5%
Written reviews533 reviews
Positive80.5%
Neutral5.3%
Negative14.3%

Lightning Tracker‎

All ratings156 ratings
Positive84.6%
Neutral3.2%
Negative12.2%
Written reviews12 reviews
Positive8.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative91.7%

Bugs and requests

Lightning Alarm

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Notifications not working
  • Map tiles not loading properly
  • App crashing on launch

Requested features

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

Lightning Tracker‎

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Lightning Alarm

Subscriptions1
  • Lightning Alarm Premium$2.991 Year
One-time3
  • 1 month ad free$0.99
  • 3 months ad free$1.99
  • 1 year ad free$2.99
6 purchases

Lightning Tracker‎

Subscriptions6
  • Premium Monthly$0.991 Month
  • Premium Weekly$1.997 Days
  • Premium Weekly$2.997 Days
Show 3 more
  • Premium Yearly$6.991 Year
  • Premium Yearly$9.991 Year
  • Premium Yearly$19.991 Year

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 4.4 from 156 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 5 months. Most recently, Lightning Alarm was updated on September 25, 2026 and Lightning Tracker‎ on September 23, 2026.

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