# Lightning Tracker vs StrikeCast

The clearest difference is rating: Lightning Tracker at 4.3 against StrikeCast's 3.0. Lightning Tracker also leads on ratings volume (574 vs 2) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). StrikeCast's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 4 days vs every 4 months). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Lightning Tracker sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and StrikeCast sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Lightning Tracker holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Lightning Tracker has 574 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Lightning Tracker ships an update every 4 months, StrikeCast every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Lightning Tracker | StrikeCast |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.3 (574 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightning-tracker/id1473753714/reviews)** | [3.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/strikecast-lightning-tracker/id6779354721/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **574** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 75.6% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#174** |
| Size | 127 MB | 63 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Elecont LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/401533969) | [Kirill Proskurin](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896493011) |

## 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


### StrikeCast

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

**Currently charting:** #174 Top Grossing · Weather (US App Store)

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 | $12.99 | per month |
| Lightning Tracker: Distance Pro | $33.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Lightning Tracker free?

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

### Is StrikeCast free?

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

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

Lightning Tracker is rated higher. Lightning Tracker averages 4.3 out of 5 from 574 ratings, while StrikeCast averages 3.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Lightning Tracker or StrikeCast have ads?

Lightning Tracker shows ads; StrikeCast does not.

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

Lightning Tracker ships an update every 4 months, and StrikeCast every 4 days. Most recently, Lightning Tracker was updated on September 21, 2026 and StrikeCast on September 14, 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.*