# Lightning Alarm vs Lightning Tracker‎

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 (#198 vs unranked). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases 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 6 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Lightning Alarm | Lightning Tracker‎ |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (889 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightning-alarm/id1015876499/reviews)** | [4.4 (156 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightning-tracker/id6670211416/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **889** | 156 |
| Positive reviews | **80.5% of reviews** | 8.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 5 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#198** |
| Size | 79 MB | 62 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.4** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Infoplaza BV](https://appshunter.io/developer/419311197) | [Going Merry LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1820776999) |

## 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/id6670211416)

**Currently charting:** #198 Top Grossing · Weather (US App Store)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Monthly | $0.99 | per month |
| Premium Weekly | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium Weekly | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium Yearly | $6.99 | per year |
| Premium Yearly | $9.99 | per year |
| Premium Yearly | $19.99 | per year |


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