# Lightning Alarm vs Lightning Tracker & Radar Map

The clearest difference is ads: Lightning Tracker & Radar Map at none against Lightning Alarm's shown. Lightning Tracker & Radar Map also leads on update cadence (daily vs every 2 months) and chart position (#93 vs unranked). Lightning Alarm's advantage is review sentiment (80% vs 50%) and ratings volume (890 vs 120). On price, rating, in-app purchases and monetization model 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 & Radar Map sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per 7 days. 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 4.6 for Lightning Tracker & Radar Map. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Lightning Alarm has 890 ratings behind it against 120, 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 50% of Lightning Tracker & Radar Map's.

Lightning Alarm ships an update every 2 months, Lightning Tracker & Radar Map daily. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Lightning Alarm | Lightning Tracker & Radar Map |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (890 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightning-alarm/id1015876499/reviews) | **[4.6 (120 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightning-tracker-and-radar-map/id6758670572/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **890** | 120 |
| Positive reviews | **80.5% of reviews** | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Daily** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Best chart rank | — | **#93** |
| Size | 79 MB | 81 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Infoplaza BV](https://appshunter.io/developer/419311197) | [Nikolai Iakubovskii](https://appshunter.io/developer/1771308263) |

## 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 & Radar Map

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightning-tracker-and-radar-map/id6758670572)

**Currently charting:** #93 Top Free · Weather, #127 Top Grossing · Weather (US App Store)

This app displays live lightning strikes and storm zones on a map, powered by satellite data. It helps you understand storm activity, track movement, and receive alerts for saved locations to ensure outdoor safety.

**Highlights:** Live lightning map, Storm zone tracking, Saved place alerts, 24-hour history (Premium), 30-30 safety timer, NOAA satellite data

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

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Lightning Tracker Premium | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| Lightning Tracker Premium | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Lightning Tracker Premium | $19.99 | per year |
| Lightning Tracker Premium | $26.99 | per year |
| Lightning Tracker Premium | $29.99 | per year |
| Lightning Tracker Premium | $29.99 | per year |
| Lightning Tracker Premium | $44.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Lightning Alarm free?

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

### Is Lightning Tracker & Radar Map free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Lightning Alarm or Lightning Tracker & Radar Map?

Lightning Tracker & Radar Map is rated higher. Lightning Alarm averages 4.5 out of 5 from 890 ratings, while Lightning Tracker & Radar Map averages 4.6 from 120 ratings.

### Do Lightning Alarm or Lightning Tracker & Radar Map have ads?

Lightning Alarm shows ads; Lightning Tracker & Radar Map does not.

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

Lightning Alarm ships an update every 2 months, and Lightning Tracker & Radar Map daily. Most recently, Lightning Alarm was updated on November 6, 2026 and Lightning Tracker & Radar Map on November 7, 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.*