# Thunderly vs StrikeCast

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Thunderly at none against StrikeCast's 3. Thunderly also leads on ratings volume (2.6K vs 5) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.0). StrikeCast's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 3 weeks). On price, rating, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. StrikeCast sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Thunderly asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.3 for Thunderly against 4.2 for StrikeCast. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Thunderly has 2.6K ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Thunderly ships an update every 3 weeks, StrikeCast every 4 days. Both last shipped on October 22, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Thunderly | StrikeCast |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.3 (2.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thunderly/id1341334743/reviews)** | [4.2 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/strikecast-lightning-tracker/id6779354721/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **2.6K** | 5 |
| Positive reviews | 57.7% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 113 MB | 67 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Jan Plesek](https://appshunter.io/developer/579661449) | [Kirill Proskurin](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896493011) |

## 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


### StrikeCast

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/strikecast-lightning-tracker/id6779354721)

This app provides real-time lightning strike distance and live alerts on a map. Save locations to receive notifications when lightning is detected nearby, even when you're away. It offers a clean interface with no ad clutter.

**Highlights:** Real-time lightning strike distance, Live map of lightning activity, Customizable alerts for saved locations, Distance in miles or kilometers, Approaching and moving-away trends (Pro), Animated weather radar (Pro)

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| StrikeCast Pro | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| StrikeCast Pro | $9.99 | per month |
| Lightning Tracker: Distance Pro | $29.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Thunderly free?

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

### Is StrikeCast free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Thunderly or StrikeCast?

Thunderly is rated higher. Thunderly averages 4.3 out of 5 from 2.6K ratings, while StrikeCast averages 4.2 from 5 ratings.

### Do Thunderly or StrikeCast have ads?

Neither Thunderly nor StrikeCast shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Thunderly or StrikeCast?

Thunderly ships an update every 3 weeks, and StrikeCast every 4 days. Most recently, Thunderly was updated on October 22, 2026 and StrikeCast on October 22, 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.*