Comparison

TornadoSpy vs Element

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

TornadoSpy

Instantly report and view tornado sightings worldwide with real-time radar snapshots. This app provides valuable lead time for users to escape storms, featuring user-submitted and official reports filtered for accuracy.

Highlights
  • Track tornado movement worldwide
  • Report nearby tornadoes
  • Radar snapshot of sightings
  • Official National Weather Service reports
  • Share and view tornado photos
  • Filter sightings by spotter ratings
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

TornadoSpy with AccuSpy™ technology gives you the power to report and view official and user spotted tornadoes instantly which includes a radar snapshot of the sighting. On 5/10/10, a TornadoSpy user spotted the Oklahoma City tornado 20 MINUTES before the NOAA report, which gave other TornadoSpy users valuable lead time to escape the storm. This is a frequent occurrence since user reports are submitted and viewable immediately. - Featured on the front page of USAToday on 5/31/11. - Over 150,000 confirmed alerts sent out - Over 40,000 TornadoSpy spotters in addition to professional spotters from the national weather service. Sightings are filtered through state-of-the art AccuSpy™ technology to prevent false alerts and only send you the most accurate sightings. Features: - Track tornado movement worldwide on the built-in map - Report nearby tornadoes with a simple touch - Includes radar snapshot of sightings - Includes official reports from National Weather Service storm spotters - Share and view tornado photos in seconds - Filter sightings by spotter ratings - View previous tornadoes - Write storm report notes - Users can rate sightings submitted by other users - Landscape or portrait orientations - AccuSpy™ state-of-the art storm spotting Download now, and become a part of the fastest and largest worldwide storm spotting network. Demo video can be seen at justintimeapps.com/ts.html Check out these other apps from justintimeapps: HailSpy TornadoSpy+ TornadoSpy+HD (For the iPad) CoordCalc For every tornado outbreak this year in the US, there have been corresponding reports in TornadoSpy. You can verify this by using the history feature in the app. There is also NOT a subscription fee, and the app currently has a large enough user base such that it has provided alerts up to 30 minutes before the standard NOAA sightings are issued. Also, the Missouri tornado mentioned in the comments was published (picture and all) well before the NOAA sighting. Add alerts@justintimeapps.com to your address book to assure that you receive alerts.

About

Element

Experience weather like never before with a visually powerful and simple forecast. This app provides hyper-local, high-definition radar, detailed 24-hour and 7-day predictions, and customizable alerts for everything from light rain to severe storms and wildfires. Stay confidently ahead of any weather headed your way.

Highlights
  • High-definition radar with 24-hour storm predictions
  • Hyper-local 24-hour and 7-day forecasts
  • AI-powered hurricane path tracking
  • Customizable weather alerts
  • Selectable forecast elements (temperature, air quality, etc.)
  • Lock and Home Screen widgets
  • Live wildfire tracking and smoke visualization
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Introducing Element – a new way to experience the forecast. Built around what you care about, not what an app decides to show you. From light rain to severe storms, see the weather in a visual experience you design yourself. Element's proprietary weather engine draws from multiple trusted sources – NOAA, National Weather Service, and more – delivering hyper-local, up-to-the-minute high-definition radar and forecasts you can rely on. Pick your data. Build your layout. Track only what matters to you – and stay confidently ahead of anything headed your way. CUSTOMIZABLE FORECASTS Build your forecast around what matters to you. Choose from simple glanceable views to deep, layered dashboards – infinite combinations across layouts, data types, and detail levels. No clutter, no compromise. - Temperature & Feels Like - Precipitation Chance & Amount - Air Quality - Wind Speed & Gusts - UV Index - Pressure - Sunrise & Sunset Times - Moon Phases - Humidity & Dew Point - Cloud Cover - Visibility - Hurricanes & Tropical Systems - Wildfires & Smoke - Tides RADAR IN HIGH DEFINITION Track weather across a full range of layers – precipitation, wind, air quality, humidity, pressure, and more – in high-definition radar that moves as naturally as the elements themselves. Up to 24-hour storm predictions, so you always know what's coming and when. HYPER-LOCAL, ALL-WEATHER FORECASTS Element's advanced forecast engine delivers precise forecasts for your exact location. Track daily conditions and severe weather with detailed 24-hour and 7-day predictions – from your morning commute to approaching hurricanes – with unmatched accuracy. SEVERE WEATHER ALERTS From light rain to Category 5 hurricanes, Element keeps you informed with timely, precise alerts powered by trusted sources – so you only get the updates that matter, when they matter most. LOCK & HOME SCREEN WIDGETS Glanceable, live weather where you need it most. Element's Lock and Home Screen widgets deliver real-time updates right on your iPhone – so you're always prepared at a glance. WILDFIRE & SMOKE TRACKING See wildfires live on the map. Element layers active fire zones and drifting smoke so you get a real-time view of spread and air quality impact. Track multiple fires and set critical alerts as conditions change. LIVE PRECIPITATION Follow precipitation without opening the app. See real-time rain and snow updates on your Lock Screen and Dynamic Island – showing exactly when precipitation will start, ease, or stop, minute by minute. Element transforms weather into a visual experience as natural as checking the sky – whether you're planning your day, scheduling adventures, or exploring new places. Element is free to download. Premium features require a subscription or one-time purchase. Subscriptions include a free seven-day trial and can be cancelled anytime via Apple Support. Terms of Service: https://www.elementweather.com/tos Privacy Policy: https://www.elementweather.com/privacy

Screenshots

TornadoSpy4 screens
Element4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Element at Free against TornadoSpy's $1.99. Element also leads on rating (4.5 vs 3.8) and ratings volume (1.4K vs 12). TornadoSpy's advantage is review sentiment (69% vs 24%) and ads (none vs shown). On in-app purchases, monetization model, chart position and iOS requirement 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

Element is free to download; TornadoSpy costs $1.99 up front. TornadoSpy sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and Element sells 15 in-app purchases, starting at $4.95 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Element holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Element has 1.4K ratings behind it against 12, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 69% of TornadoSpy's written reviews are positive against 24% of Element's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

TornadoSpy ships an update every 2 months, Element every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on October 23, 2026.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
TornadoSpy versus Element: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTornadoSpyElement
Price$1.99Free — better
Rating3.8 (12 ratings)4.5 (1.4K ratings) — better
Positive reviews69.4% of reviews — better24.5% of reviews
Number of ratings121.4K — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#84 — better#191
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.0 — better16.2
Further details — not scored
Size23 MB482 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJustin TimeETCETERA WEATHER, LLC

Customer experience

TornadoSpy

All ratings12 ratings
Positive58.3%
Neutral16.7%
Negative25.0%
Written reviews36 reviews
Positive69.4%
Neutral8.3%
Negative22.2%

Element

All ratings1,380 ratings
Positive89.6%
Neutral3.6%
Negative6.8%
Written reviews98 reviews
Positive24.5%
Neutral16.3%
Negative59.2%

Bugs and requests

TornadoSpy

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Element

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Failing to connect to servers
  • Incorrect location data
  • Delayed delivery of weather updates

Requested features

4 requests
  • Expand coverage to more countries
  • Add customizable weather alerts
  • Improve route-based forecasting
  • Introduce a more affordable pricing model

In-app purchases

2 purchases

TornadoSpy

One-time2
  • Fast Animated Radar (US)$0.99
  • Extreme Weather Radio$0.99
15 purchases

Element

Subscriptions14
  • Monthly subscription7 Days trial$4.951 Month
  • Monthly subscription$4.991 Month
  • Monthly subscription7 Days trial4 variants$4.991 Month
Show 11 more
  • Monthly subscription7 Days trial$5.001 Month
  • Element Family Premium7 Days trial$6.991 Month
  • Element Premium Yearly$19.991 Year
  • Yearly subscription7 Days trial$29.991 Year
  • Element Premium Yearly$35.001 Year
  • Yearly subscription7 Days trial2 variants$39.991 Year
  • Yearly subscription7 Days trial$44.951 Year
  • Yearly subscription7 Days trial$44.991 Year
  • Yearly subscription7 Days trial$45.001 Year
  • Yearly subscription7 Days trial$49.991 Year
  • Element Family Premium7 Days trial$59.991 Year
One-time1
  • Element Lifetime Subscription$79.99

Questions

Is TornadoSpy free?
TornadoSpy costs $1.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Element free?
Element is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, TornadoSpy or Element?
Element is rated higher. TornadoSpy averages 3.8 out of 5 from 12 ratings, while Element averages 4.5 from 1.4K ratings.
Do TornadoSpy or Element have ads?
Element shows ads; TornadoSpy does not.
Which is updated more often, TornadoSpy or Element?
TornadoSpy ships an update every 2 months, and Element every 2 weeks. Most recently, TornadoSpy was updated on October 23, 2026 and Element on October 23, 2026.
Which is more popular, TornadoSpy or Element?
TornadoSpy currently peaks at #84 in the App Store charts, and Element at #191. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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