# Flash Boom vs Lightning Tracker

The clearest difference is rating: Flash Boom at 5.0 against Lightning Tracker's 4.3. Flash Boom also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ads (none vs shown). Lightning Tracker's advantage is ratings volume (574 vs 1) and review sentiment (75% vs 60%). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Lightning Tracker sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Flash Boom asks for nothing beyond the download.

Flash Boom holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Lightning Tracker has 574 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 60% of Flash Boom'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.

Flash Boom ships an update every 6 weeks, Lightning Tracker every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 27, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Flash Boom | Lightning Tracker |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flash-boom/id320959981/reviews)** | [4.3 (574 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightning-tracker/id1473753714/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **574** |
| Positive reviews | 60.0% of reviews | **74.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 weeks** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 17 MB | 127 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.3** | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Edward Danley](https://appshunter.io/developer/315123663) | [Elecont LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/401533969) |

## What reviewers say

### Flash Boom

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flash-boom/id320959981)

This app estimates the distance to lightning strikes by timing the interval between seeing the flash and hearing the thunder. It provides a simple, quick way to gauge your proximity to a storm and advises taking cover if you are within 5 miles.

**Highlights:** Lightning distance estimation, Flash and thunder timing, Distance in miles and kilometers, Safety advisory for close lightning, Simple tap interface

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### 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 Flash Boom free?

Flash Boom is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Lightning Tracker free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Flash Boom or Lightning Tracker?

Flash Boom is rated higher. Flash Boom averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Lightning Tracker averages 4.3 from 574 ratings.

### Do Flash Boom or Lightning Tracker have ads?

Lightning Tracker shows ads; Flash Boom does not.

### Which is updated more often, Flash Boom or Lightning Tracker?

Flash Boom ships an update every 6 weeks, and Lightning Tracker every 4 months. Most recently, Flash Boom was updated on September 27, 2026 and Lightning Tracker on October 12, 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.*