# Lightning Tracker vs VarkausAir

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: VarkausAir at none against Lightning Tracker's 1. VarkausAir also leads on ads (none vs shown). Lightning Tracker's advantage is update cadence (every 4 months vs every 16 months) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.6). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Lightning Tracker sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. VarkausAir asks for nothing beyond the download.

Lightning Tracker ships an update every 4 months, VarkausAir every 16 months. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Lightning Tracker | VarkausAir |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.3 (574 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightning-tracker/id1473753714/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **574** | — |
| Positive reviews | 74.6% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 months** | Every 16 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 127 MB | 59 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Elecont LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/401533969) | [Envitech LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/669683184) |

## What reviewers say

### Lightning Tracker

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightning-tracker/id1473753714)

Visualize real-time lightning strikes across North and South America on a dynamic map. Receive predictive alerts for strike patterns and intensity, with estimated arrival times for your location. Monitor current and historical lightning activity to stay informed and protected.

**Highlights:** Live lightning map, Real-time strike visualization, Predictive lightning alerts, Estimated time of arrival (ETA) for strikes, Monitor saved locations, 6-hour strike history

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads & Limits | $2.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Accurate and real-time lightning tracking
- 👍 Helpful for safety and planning outdoor activities
- 💡 Useful for weather monitoring and storm tracking
- ⭐ Excellent app overall

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional bugs and glitches
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 📢 Intrusive ads in free version
- 🚫 Lack of important features like distance, alerts, and history

**Reported bugs**

- App not detecting lightning strikes even when visible
- Frequent crashes and freezes
- Issues with app updates and functionality changes

**Requested features**

- Add distance/radius information for lightning strikes
- Implement push notifications/alerts for lightning within a certain radius
- Provide historical data and the ability to view past lightning activity
- Improve overall app stability and performance


### VarkausAir

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/varkausair/id1564047990)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Lightning Tracker free?

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

### Is VarkausAir free?

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

### Do Lightning Tracker or VarkausAir have ads?

Lightning Tracker shows ads; VarkausAir does not.

### Which is updated more often, Lightning Tracker or VarkausAir?

Lightning Tracker ships an update every 4 months, and VarkausAir every 16 months. Most recently, Lightning Tracker was updated on October 20, 2026 and VarkausAir on October 4, 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.*