# WeatherBug vs Lightning Tracker

The clearest difference is rating: WeatherBug at 4.8 against Lightning Tracker's 4.3. WeatherBug also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 4 months) and ratings volume (2.2M vs 574). Lightning Tracker's advantage is review sentiment (76% vs 61%) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. WeatherBug sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Lightning Tracker sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

WeatherBug holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: WeatherBug has 2.2M ratings behind it against 574, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 61% of WeatherBug's written reviews are positive against 76% of Lightning Tracker's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

WeatherBug ships an update every 2 weeks, Lightning Tracker every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | WeatherBug | Lightning Tracker |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (2.2M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/weatherbug-weather-forecast/id281940292/reviews)** | [4.3 (574 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightning-tracker/id1473753714/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **2.2M** | 574 |
| Positive reviews | 61.1% of reviews | **75.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#4** | — |
| Size | 237 MB | 127 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [WeatherBug](https://appshunter.io/developer/281940295) | [Elecont LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/401533969) |

## What reviewers say

### WeatherBug

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/weatherbug-weather-forecast/id281940292)

**Currently charting:** #4 Top Free · Weather, #28 Top Grossing · Weather (US App Store)

Get accurate, real-time weather forecasts and severe storm alerts powered by a global professional weather network. Visualize conditions with interactive maps, track lightning, and stay informed about pollen, air quality, and more.

**Highlights:** Real-Time Pinpoint Forecasts, Enhanced Interactive Map, Severe Weather Alerts, Lightning Proximity Alerts, Pollen Count, Air Quality Information

**Features:** Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Ad Free Subscription | $1.99 | per month |
| Annual Ad Free Subscription | $10.99 | per year |
| Ad Free Subscription Holiday Promo | $10.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Accurate weather forecasts
- 👍 User-friendly interface
- ⚡️ Reliable lightning and storm tracking
- 📍 Customizable location settings
- 🌤️ Detailed weather information (humidity, UV, air quality)

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inconsistent data updates
- 🔋 Battery drain issues
- 🤔 Contradictory weather information between hourly and daily forecasts
- 🗺️ Inaccurate radar and location mapping in some areas
- 💤 Slow app loading times

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on startup
- Widget functionality issues
- Incorrect location and weather data for some areas

**Requested features**

- Improved radar and storm tracking coverage
- Ability to disable unnecessary notifications
- More accurate and up-to-date weather data
- Metric unit support for international users


### 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


## Frequently asked questions

### Is WeatherBug free?

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

### Is Lightning Tracker free?

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

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

WeatherBug is rated higher. WeatherBug averages 4.8 out of 5 from 2.2M ratings, while Lightning Tracker averages 4.3 from 574 ratings.

### Do WeatherBug or Lightning Tracker have ads?

Both WeatherBug and Lightning Tracker show ads.

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

WeatherBug ships an update every 2 weeks, and Lightning Tracker every 4 months. Most recently, WeatherBug was updated on September 24, 2026 and Lightning Tracker on September 21, 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.*