# AfricaWeather vs Lightning Alarm

The clearest difference is update cadence: Lightning Alarm at every 2 months against AfricaWeather's every 6 months. Lightning Alarm also leads on review sentiment (80% vs 67%) and ratings volume (890 vs 258). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. AfricaWeather sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.49 per year and Lightning Alarm sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for AfricaWeather against 4.5 for Lightning Alarm. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 258 and 890 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 67% of AfricaWeather's written reviews are positive against 80% of Lightning Alarm's.

AfricaWeather ships an update every 6 months, Lightning Alarm every 2 months. Both last shipped on October 26, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | AfricaWeather | Lightning Alarm |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (258 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/africaweather/id474736329/reviews)** | [4.5 (890 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightning-alarm/id1015876499/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 258 | **890** |
| Positive reviews | 67.5% of reviews | **80.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 31 MB | 79 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 16.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [AfricaWeather.com](https://appshunter.io/developer/474736332) | [Infoplaza BV](https://appshunter.io/developer/419311197) |

## What reviewers say

### AfricaWeather

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/africaweather/id474736329)

Get accurate daily weather forecasts, observations, and storm tracking for Africa. Make informed decisions with detailed local conditions, including temperature, wind, and precipitation. Explore interactive maps and receive push notifications for weather alerts.

**Highlights:** Hundreds of weather station observations, 7-day weather forecasts, Sunrise, sunset, and moon information, Hourly temperature, rain, and wind forecasts, Automated video maps, Storm tracker with lightning and satellite layers, Push notifications

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Ad-free Subscription | $2.49 | per year |
| AfricaWeather Pro Subscription | $2.99 | per month |
| Ad-free Subscription | $2.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Accurate weather forecasts
- 📊 Detailed weather information
- 🔔 Useful notifications and alerts
- 🗺️ Comprehensive coverage of South African locations
- 👍 User-friendly interface

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inconsistent or inaccurate weather data
- 💰 Expensive subscription model
- 🔍 Limited free features
- 🌐 Lack of integration with other weather services
- 🕰️ Outdated or slow updates

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes or freezes
- Incorrect location data
- Delayed or missing notifications
- Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions
- Syncing problems between devices

**Requested features**

- Hourly weather forecasts
- Live weather radar
- GPS-based location tracking
- Customizable widgets and home screen integration
- Improved storm and severe weather warnings


### Lightning Alarm

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightning-alarm/id1015876499)

Receive timely notifications about approaching thunderstorms and lightning strikes in your vicinity. This app provides accurate lightning detection and displays real-time information on a map, ensuring safety during outdoor activities.

**Highlights:** Real-time lightning detection, Approaching storm notifications, Lightning distance display, Map view of lightning strikes, Textual storm information, Push message alerts

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Lightning Alarm Premium | $2.99 | per year |
| 1 month ad free | $0.99 | one-time |
| 3 months ad free | $1.99 | one-time |
| 1 year ad free | $2.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- ⭐️ Excellent app
- 👍 Works great
- 🚀 Accurate and precise
- 🔔 Helpful notifications
- 🌩️ Tracks lightning effectively

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App crashes or freezes
- ⚠️ Inaccurate or unreliable
- 🔍 Difficult to set location
- 🔢 Metric units not preferred

**Reported bugs**

- Notifications not working
- Map tiles not loading properly
- App crashing on launch

**Requested features**

- Option to switch between miles and kilometers
- Add multiple locations to track
- Improve map visuals and details
- Customizable alert radius


## Frequently asked questions

### Is AfricaWeather free?

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

### Is Lightning Alarm free?

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

### Which has better reviews, AfricaWeather or Lightning Alarm?

AfricaWeather is rated higher. AfricaWeather averages 4.5 out of 5 from 258 ratings, while Lightning Alarm averages 4.5 from 890 ratings.

### Do AfricaWeather or Lightning Alarm have ads?

Both AfricaWeather and Lightning Alarm show ads.

### Which is updated more often, AfricaWeather or Lightning Alarm?

AfricaWeather ships an update every 6 months, and Lightning Alarm every 2 months. Most recently, AfricaWeather was updated on October 26, 2026 and Lightning Alarm on October 26, 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.*