Comparison

Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads) vs HOLD Please

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads)

Create a personalized thunderstorm experience to aid relaxation and sleep. Customize rain intensity, thunder frequency, lightning effects, and background sounds. Includes a sleep timer with audio fade-out.

Highlights
  • Customizable thunderstorm types
  • Adjustable rain and thunder sounds
  • Toggleable lightning effects
  • Background ambient sounds
  • Sleep timer with fade-out
  • Bluetooth and AirPlay support
Read full description

Summon a thunderstorm on your smart device. Relax and fall fast asleep to the sounds of rain and thunder. The camera flashes when lightning strikes. THUNDERSTORMS • Strong Thunderstorm — Heavy rain with frequent lightning and thunder nearby • Normal Thunderstorm — Steady rain with a full range of lightning and thunder • Weak Thunderstorm — Light rain with occasional lightning and thunder far off • Passing Thunderstorms — Rain and lightning intensity changes as the storms pass Rain • Toggle rain sound effects • Change rain audio: Default, Heavy, Steady, Light, On Tin Roof • Change rain volume Lightning/Thunder • Toggle thunder sound effects • Change thunder volume • Change delay lightning (Wireless audio delay offset) • Toggle delay thunder • Toggle lightning light effects • Change lightning transition effects • Change lightning/thunder occurrence: Default, Occasional, Normal, Frequent Passing Thunderstorms • Change starting storm for Passing Thunderstorms: Weak, Normal, Strong • Change cycle time for Passing Thunderstorms: 15m, 30m, 60m Background Sounds • Toggle background sounds: Birds, Cicadas, Crickets, Frogs • Change background sounds volume ADDITIONAL FEATURES • Sleep Timer — Set a timer with a gradual audio fade-out. • Bluetooth and AirPlay Support — Connect to Bluetooth speakers directly, or connect to speakers with AirPlay using the Control Center. Adjust the Delay Lightning setting to offset wireless audio delay. Please contact me at support@thunderstorm.scottdodson.dev if you experience any issues. I'd love to hear your thoughts and appreciate you taking the time to rate and review the app. I want to continue to improve Thunderstorm Simulator and create a great experience for you and future users. Thank you! —Scott *Ad-free version: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/thunderstorm-simulator/id1200949907

About

HOLD Please

Features
Read full description

HOLD Please A stage manager's soundboard for the modern theatre. HOLD Please is a one-tap voice cue board built for stage managers, ASMs, tech directors, and rehearsal callers. Instead of shouting across a noisy house or hunting for a microphone, just tap a button — a clear, pre-recorded voice cue plays through the room. Each button toggles play/stop, lights up red while it's broadcasting, and falls back to green when it's done. Cues are grouped into six sections so you can find what you need fast: • Stage Cues — Hold Please, Continue, Places, Freeze, Take it back, Thank you • Timing — 5/10/15/30 minute calls and breaks, "to places," "to curtain" • Production — Action, Cut, Rollem, Stand clear, That's a wrap, In 3, 2, 1 • Movement & Lighting — stage left/right/up/down, find your light, hold for lighting, tech difficulties, the show will resume • Quiet & Wrap — quiet backstage, quiet in the house, return for notes, done for tonight • Calling the Show — Go, Standby, LX, SFX, Stage Left/Right, Be Quiet (forceful)

Screenshots

Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads)3 screens
HOLD Please3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: HOLD Please at none against Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads)'s shown. Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads)'s advantage is iOS requirement (13.0.0 vs 26.0). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads) ships an update every 3 months, HOLD Please every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads) versus HOLD Please: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterThunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads)HOLD Please
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (12 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings12 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 months — betterEvery 4 months
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationAd-supported—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.0.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size75 MB24 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperScott DodsonDavid Mickey

In-app purchases

None

Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads)

No in-app purchases

None

HOLD Please

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads) free?
Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads) is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is HOLD Please free?
HOLD Please is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads) or HOLD Please have ads?
Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads) shows ads; HOLD Please does not.
Which is updated more often, Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads) or HOLD Please?
Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads) ships an update every 3 months, and HOLD Please every 4 months. Most recently, Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads) was updated on September 23, 2026 and HOLD Please on September 8, 2026.

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