# Lightning Tracker vs HamPulse

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Lightning Tracker at 75% against HamPulse's 0%. Lightning Tracker also leads on price (Free vs $4.99) and ratings volume (604 vs 2). HamPulse's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.3) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). On device support there is nothing between them.

Lightning Tracker is free to download; HamPulse costs $4.99 up front. Lightning Tracker sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. HamPulse asks for nothing beyond the download.

HamPulse holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Lightning Tracker has 604 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 75% of Lightning Tracker's written reviews are positive against 0% of HamPulse's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Lightning Tracker ships an update every 4 months, HamPulse daily. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Lightning Tracker | HamPulse |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $4.99 |
| Rating | [4.3 (604 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightning-tracker/id1473753714/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hampulse/id6765716663/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **604** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | **74.6% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Daily** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | **#38** |
| Size | 127 MB | 31 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Elecont LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/401533969) | [Jorge Fabian Lozano](https://appshunter.io/developer/1881745533) |

## 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


### HamPulse

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hampulse/id6765716663)

**Currently charting:** #38 Top Paid · Weather (US App Store)

Visualize amateur radio propagation, DX maps, and space weather on your Apple TV. Monitor real-time HF conditions, track satellites, and receive weather alerts with customizable map layers and detailed dashboards.

**Highlights:** Real-time HF propagation dashboard, World map with customizable layers, Band condition predictions (VOACAP), PSK Reporter integration for digital modes, Spot Browser for POTA, SOTA, DX Cluster, Satellite tracking with pass predictions, Space weather monitoring, Severe weather alerts

**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 HamPulse free?

HamPulse costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Lightning Tracker or HamPulse?

HamPulse is rated higher. Lightning Tracker averages 4.3 out of 5 from 604 ratings, while HamPulse averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Lightning Tracker or HamPulse have ads?

Lightning Tracker shows ads; HamPulse does not.

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

Lightning Tracker ships an update every 4 months, and HamPulse daily. Most recently, Lightning Tracker was updated on November 6, 2026 and HamPulse on November 5, 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.*