# Thunderly vs Lightning on Map

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Thunderly at none against Lightning on Map's 2. Thunderly also leads on ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 14.0). Lightning on Map's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 3 weeks). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Lightning on Map sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per 7 days. Thunderly asks for nothing beyond the download.

Thunderly ships an update every 3 weeks, Lightning on Map every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Thunderly | Lightning on Map |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.3 (2.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thunderly/id1341334743/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **2.6K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 57.7% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 113 MB | 79 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 14.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Jan Plesek](https://appshunter.io/developer/579661449) | [Bhakti Dave](https://appshunter.io/developer/1814080271) |

## What reviewers say

### Thunderly

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thunderly/id1341334743)

Visualize real-time lightning strikes globally on an interactive map. Explore weather data like clouds and precipitation, and measure distances to storms. You can even simulate lightning flashes with your camera.

**Highlights:** Real-time global lightning map, Accurate day/night cycle, Real-time clouds and precipitation layers, Lightning history layer (last hour), Zoomable map detail, Storm distance measurement, Simulated lightning flashes

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🌟 Awesome app
- 🌩️ Great for tracking storms
- 🎨 Beautiful graphics
- 🔊 Realistic sound effects
- 🌍 Global coverage

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes frequently
- 🔌 App not working/functional
- 🕰️ App no longer updated
- 🔇 Sound/vibration issues
- 📱 Compatibility problems on older devices

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on launch
- Globe not rendering properly
- Lightning data not updating in real-time
- Incorrect lightning strike detection

**Requested features**

- Add ability to track past lightning strikes
- Implement distance/location-based alerts
- Include weather data and radar
- Add support for landscape mode and iPad
- Provide more customization options


### Lightning on Map

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightning-on-map-lr-tracker/id6745817510)

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Lightning Map One Week | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| Lightning Map One Year | $44.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Thunderly free?

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

### Is Lightning on Map free?

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

### Do Thunderly or Lightning on Map have ads?

Lightning on Map shows ads; Thunderly does not.

### Which is updated more often, Thunderly or Lightning on Map?

Thunderly ships an update every 3 weeks, and Lightning on Map every 4 days. Most recently, Thunderly was updated on October 2, 2026 and Lightning on Map on September 25, 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.*