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.
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.
- Customizable thunderstorm types
- Adjustable rain and thunder sounds
- Toggleable lightning effects
- Background ambient sounds
- Sleep timer with fade-out
- Bluetooth and AirPlay support
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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
HOLD Please
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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
Verdict
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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
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.
| Parameter | Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads) | HOLD Please |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (12 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 12 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months — better | Every 4 months |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 13.0.0 — better | 26.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 75 MB | 24 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Scott Dodson | David Mickey |
In-app purchases
Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads)
No in-app purchases
HOLD Please
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads) free?
Is HOLD Please free?
Do Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads) or HOLD Please have ads?
Which is updated more often, Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads) or HOLD Please?
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