Comparison

Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads) vs LIGHTLINK Lightshows Mobile

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

LIGHTLINK Lightshows Mobile

Create custom, song-specific light shows for your Nanoleaf panels by connecting your Spotify Premium account. Experience concert-quality lighting designed by professionals, going beyond basic sound reactivity.

Highlights
  • Custom song-specific light shows
  • Connects Spotify Premium
  • Professional lighting designer programming
  • Works with Nanoleaf Aurora, Canvas, Shapes, and LINES
  • Immersive concert-quality experience
  • Beyond sound-reactive or screen mirroring
Read full description

Do you love going to concerts? Ever dreamed of building a Deadmau5 cube in your basement? If so, LIGHTLINK is the perfect addition to your RGB setup. LIGHTLINK connects YouTube video with your Nanoleaf, Govee, WLED, Twinkly, Yeelight, and OpenRGB Lights to create an immersive and engaging light show in your living room. Elevate your experience beyond sound reactive or screen mirroring with light shows perfectly designed for each song and video. Why is LIGHTLINK different from your Rhythm module or other sound-reactive apps? The technology used in any auto-reactive automation can only listen and hear the loud and soft parts of your music. There is no real intelligence beyond that. LIGHTLINK goes beyond Artificial Intelligence and goes old school back to Human Intelligence. Each of the light shows that you watch on LIGHTLINK is programmed by a Billboard award-winning professional lighting designer. That means that you get the same quality light show that you would expect to see at your favorite concert.....and it doesn't cost you hundreds of dollars. Music is ultimately about emotion and how it makes you feel. Computers, hardware, and AI can't feel........yet. For now, we've got the human advantage. After carefully listening to each piece of music we interpret it for you and paint those emotions in light on your Nanoleaf Triangles, Squares, Hexagons, and Lines. We're new, but here is what some of our favorite Redditors have to say about GoLightLink: -"I gotta say this is one of the most unique and interesting ideas I've seen on Reddit for quite some time, really great work mate." u/Pa1D -"Whenever I saw those led, I thought meh! But after seeing your setup, I think I need to convince my wife I need this in my life" u/EricAndersonL -"That’s so sick. Love it" u/jv0731 -"This is mental! Absolute props for it." u/Mountain_eer -"Well that’s the coolest thing ever" u/princeboot -"F*** it, this is getting a gold lol" u/forestman11 -"This is too damn good" u/_exrio_ -"This is genuinely amazing. How did you do this?!" u/harris_008 Once you connect your RGB hardware, no input is required from you other than choosing your favorite songs from LIGHTLINK's extensive playlists. Each song and video has a unique light show programmed by our award-winning lighting designers. Sit back and relax or invite your friends over for a party. Let us take control of the lights and transport you to light show heaven. EULA can be found here: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads)3 screens
LIGHTLINK Lightshows Mobile4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads) at 4.6 against LIGHTLINK Lightshows Mobile's 3.6. Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads) also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and update cadence (every 3 months vs every 6 months). LIGHTLINK Lightshows Mobile's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume 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. LIGHTLINK Lightshows Mobile sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $2.99 per month. Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads) asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads) holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 12 and 31 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 50% of Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads)'s written reviews are positive against 58% of LIGHTLINK Lightshows Mobile's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads) ships an update every 3 months, LIGHTLINK Lightshows Mobile every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and June 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads) versus LIGHTLINK Lightshows Mobile: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterThunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads)LIGHTLINK Lightshows Mobile
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (12 ratings) — better3.6 (31 ratings)
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews57.6% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1231 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 months — betterEvery 6 months
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationAd-supported — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.0.0 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size75 MB29 MB
Age rating12+9+
DeveloperScott DodsonSteve Sodemann

Customer experience

Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads)

All ratings12 ratings
Positive83.3%
Neutral8.3%
Negative8.3%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

LIGHTLINK Lightshows Mobile

All ratings31 ratings
Positive64.5%
Neutral6.5%
Negative29.0%
Written reviews33 reviews
Positive57.6%
Neutral6.1%
Negative36.4%

In-app purchases

None

Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads)

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

LIGHTLINK Lightshows Mobile

Subscriptions1
  • LightLink Premium7 Days trial$2.991 Month

Questions

Is Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads) free?
Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads) is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is LIGHTLINK Lightshows Mobile free?
LIGHTLINK Lightshows Mobile is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads) or LIGHTLINK Lightshows Mobile?
Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads) is rated higher. Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads) averages 4.6 out of 5 from 12 ratings, while LIGHTLINK Lightshows Mobile averages 3.6 from 31 ratings.
Do Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads) or LIGHTLINK Lightshows Mobile have ads?
Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads) shows ads; LIGHTLINK Lightshows Mobile does not.
Which is updated more often, Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads) or LIGHTLINK Lightshows Mobile?
Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads) ships an update every 3 months, and LIGHTLINK Lightshows Mobile every 6 months. Most recently, Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads) was updated on September 23, 2026 and LIGHTLINK Lightshows Mobile on June 30, 2026.

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