# AccuWeather vs Lightning Tracker

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Lightning Tracker at 75% against AccuWeather's 27%. Lightning Tracker also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.0). AccuWeather's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 4 months) and ratings volume (1.5M vs 604). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. AccuWeather sells 7 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.

AccuWeather holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: AccuWeather has 1.5M ratings behind it against 604, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 27% of AccuWeather's written reviews are positive against 75% of Lightning Tracker's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

AccuWeather ships an update fortnightly, Lightning Tracker every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on November 12, 2026 and November 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | AccuWeather | Lightning Tracker |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (1.5M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/accuweather-weather-forecast/id300048137/reviews)** | [4.3 (604 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightning-tracker/id1473753714/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.5M** | 604 |
| Positive reviews | 27.1% of reviews | **74.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#2** | — |
| Size | 178 MB | 127 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [AccuWeather International, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/300048140) | [Elecont LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/401533969) |

## What reviewers say

### AccuWeather

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/accuweather-weather-forecast/id300048137)

**Currently charting:** #2 Top Free · Weather, #3 Top Grossing · Weather (US App Store)

Get real-time weather alerts and hyperlocal forecasts with proven Superior Accuracy™. This award-winning app offers live radar, lightning alerts, and detailed storm tracking to help you stay informed and prepared for any weather event.

**Highlights:** Real-time weather alerts, Hyperlocal forecasts, Live radar and storm tracker, Lightning strike tracking, Minute-by-Minute® updates, RealFeel® Temperature, Personalized weather experiences

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| AccuWeather Premium (Monthly) | $1.99 | per month |
| AccuWeather Premium+ (Monthly) | $4.99 | per month |
| AccuWeather Premium (Yearly) | $12.99 | per year |
| AccuWeather Premium+ (Annual) | $29.99 | per year |
| AccuWeather Premium+ (Annual) | $29.99 | per year |
| AccuWeather Premium+ Family Plan | $79.99 | per year |
| Platinum Restore | Free | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🌟 Accurate weather forecasts
- 🔍 Detailed weather information
- 📊 Reliable data source
- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 🌤️ Useful weather visualizations

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔄 Inconsistent forecast accuracy
- 🕰️ Cluttered and confusing navigation
- 💰 Excessive paid subscription requirements
- 📢 Intrusive and frequent advertisements
- 🔌 Increased battery consumption

**Reported bugs**

- Radar data not loading properly
- Hourly forecast not displaying correctly
- Location services not working as expected

**Requested features**

- Customizable home screen and data views
- Improved push notification system
- Expanded weather data (e.g. wind, pollen, tides)
- Option to revert to previous app layout


### 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 AccuWeather free?

AccuWeather 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, AccuWeather or Lightning Tracker?

AccuWeather is rated higher. AccuWeather averages 4.6 out of 5 from 1.5M ratings, while Lightning Tracker averages 4.3 from 604 ratings.

### Do AccuWeather or Lightning Tracker have ads?

Both AccuWeather and Lightning Tracker show ads.

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

AccuWeather ships an update fortnightly, and Lightning Tracker every 4 months. Most recently, AccuWeather was updated on November 12, 2026 and Lightning Tracker on November 11, 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.*