# SwellCam vs Lightning Camera

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Lightning Camera at 50% against SwellCam's 0%. Lightning Camera also leads on rating (4.3 vs 1.0) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 8 months). SwellCam's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 15.6). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Lightning Camera sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. SwellCam asks for nothing beyond the download.

Lightning Camera holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Lightning Camera has 40 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of SwellCam's written reviews are positive against 50% of Lightning Camera's.

SwellCam ships an update every 8 months, Lightning Camera every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SwellCam | Lightning Camera |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/swellcam/id1233949910/reviews) | **[4.3 (40 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightning-camera-thundercatch/id6736884627/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **40** |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | **50.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 8 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 34 MB | 30 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Shenzhen SwellPro Technology Co.,LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1113943094) | [Sezer Iltekin](https://appshunter.io/developer/1658372419) |

## What reviewers say

### SwellCam

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/swellcam/id1233949910)

This application connects to a specific 4K camera designed for a drone. It allows users to control and utilize the camera's features for capturing aerial footage.

**Highlights:** 4K camera integration, Drone camera control, Aerial footage capture

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Lightning Camera

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightning-camera-thundercatch/id6736884627)

This app automatically captures photos of lightning strikes as they happen. Simply open the application and let it detect and photograph lightning for you. It's designed for easy use by anyone interested in weather phenomena.

**Highlights:** Auto lightning detection, Automatic photo capture, Easy to use interface, No photography skills required, Weather fan tool

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ThunderCatch PRO Weekly | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| ThunderCatch PRO Annual | $12.99 | per year |
| ThunderCatch PRO Yearly | $12.99 | per year |
| ThunderCatch PRO Lifetime DC | $19.99 | one-time |
| ThunderCatch Pro Lifetime | $49.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SwellCam free?

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

### Is Lightning Camera free?

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

### Which has better reviews, SwellCam or Lightning Camera?

Lightning Camera is rated higher. SwellCam averages 1.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Lightning Camera averages 4.3 from 40 ratings.

### Do SwellCam or Lightning Camera have ads?

Neither SwellCam nor Lightning Camera shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SwellCam or Lightning Camera?

SwellCam ships an update every 8 months, and Lightning Camera every 2 weeks. Most recently, SwellCam was updated on October 19, 2026 and Lightning Camera on October 23, 2026.

---

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