Comparison

iLightningCam 2 Lite vs Lightning Camera

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

Head to head
About

iLightningCam 2 Lite

Capture stunning lightning strike photos in real-time with your iPhone or iPad. This app automatically detects and photographs lightning, offering both automatic and manual ISO controls for expert users. Enjoy a user-friendly interface and advanced detection capabilities.

Highlights
  • Real-time lightning detection
  • Automatic day/night mode switching
  • Manual ISO adjustment for experts
  • Double-shot and blend image options
  • High-quality image capture (low quality in Lite version)
  • Modern design
Features
Read full description

iLightningCam 2 - The Second Generation - Real-time lightning photography with iPhone made easy. It enables everyone to take spectacular pictures of real lighting strikes with an iPhone or iPad! This is the free Lite version of iLightningCam 2! It offers all features of the full app, but pictures can only be saved with low quality (640x480 - 0,3 MP). For full resolution please buy our complete new iLightningCam 2! After three years of development, iLightningCam 2 follows the unique iLightningCam, which was the only app with ISO control since 2012 with more than 160 000 users. iLightningCam 2 features: - Full AUTO Mode! No user input needed! The app changes automatically between day and night mode Continuous calculation of best ISO settings based on the last strikes - Original Photo Resolution, no tricks, no interpolation! - Much better detection! - Double-shot , + one image as blend of first and second shot! - New modern design! - For experts: ISO ranges are fully manually adjustable, if wished! iLightningCam 2 uses true real-time recognition of lightning strikes. Once recognized, your iPhone takes a picture of the recognized lightning in up to 8MP. And yes - your iPhone or iPad is fast enough! You only need a good view on a real thunderstorm. The app works free hand. Just point your iPhone towards the scene/part of the sky/thunderstorm where you expect the next lightning, start the iLightningCam 2 and wait, the app will automatically press the trigger if a lightning is detected in your view. Warning: Lightning storms are life threatening for you and your phone!!! Take care using this app! Do not take any risks and avoid exposure to thunderstorms! Use this app only in lightning and storm protected places. You are solely responsible for your actions and adverse consequences. Read full safety warning in the instructions page, before using this app. Who is it not for: It is not for children and it is not for mentally handicapped persons, as they may have not the ability to protect themselves against lightning or the associated storm.

About

Lightning Camera

This app automatically captures photos of lightning strikes as they happen. Simply open the application and let it detect and photograph lightning for you. It's designed for easy use by anyone interested in weather phenomena.

Highlights
  • Auto lightning detection
  • Automatic photo capture
  • Easy to use interface
  • No photography skills required
  • Weather fan tool
Features
Read full description

ThunderCatch detects lightning and automatically takes photos when it strikes. Whether you're a weather fan or just want to capture lightning, open the app and let ThunderCatch do the rest. - Auto Lightning Detection: The app snaps a photo as soon as lightning is detected. - Easy to Use: Just tap to start, and ThunderCatch handles everything. - Simple Interface for Everyone: No photography skills needed, anyone can use it. Terms of use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

iLightningCam 2 Lite4 screens
Lightning Camera4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Lightning Camera at 4.3 against iLightningCam 2 Lite's 3.8. Lightning Camera also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 9 months). iLightningCam 2 Lite's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5) and review sentiment (60% vs 50%). On price, ratings volume, ads and device support 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

Both are free to download. Lightning Camera sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. iLightningCam 2 Lite asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Lightning Camera holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 25 and 38 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 60% of iLightningCam 2 Lite's written reviews are positive against 50% of Lightning Camera's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

iLightningCam 2 Lite ships an update every 9 months, Lightning Camera every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 5, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
iLightningCam 2 Lite versus Lightning Camera: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameteriLightningCam 2 LiteLightning Camera
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.8 (25 ratings)4.3 (38 ratings) — better
Positive reviews60.0% of reviews — better50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings2538 — better
Update frequencyEvery 9 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS9.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size15 MB30 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperFlorian StiassnySezer Iltekin

Customer experience

iLightningCam 2 Lite

All ratings25 ratings
Positive64.0%
Neutral16.0%
Negative20.0%
Written reviews40 reviews
Positive60.0%
Neutral7.5%
Negative32.5%

Lightning Camera

All ratings38 ratings
Positive76.3%
Neutral7.9%
Negative15.8%
Written reviews18 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral11.1%
Negative38.9%

In-app purchases

None

iLightningCam 2 Lite

No in-app purchases

5 purchases

Lightning Camera

Subscriptions3
  • ThunderCatch PRO Weekly$4.997 Days
  • ThunderCatch PRO Annual$12.991 Year
  • ThunderCatch PRO Yearly$12.991 Year
One-time2
  • ThunderCatch PRO Lifetime DC$19.99
  • ThunderCatch Pro Lifetime$49.99

Questions

Is iLightningCam 2 Lite free?
iLightningCam 2 Lite is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Lightning Camera free?
Lightning Camera is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, iLightningCam 2 Lite or Lightning Camera?
Lightning Camera is rated higher. iLightningCam 2 Lite averages 3.8 out of 5 from 25 ratings, while Lightning Camera averages 4.3 from 38 ratings.
Do iLightningCam 2 Lite or Lightning Camera have ads?
Neither iLightningCam 2 Lite nor Lightning Camera shows ads.
Which is updated more often, iLightningCam 2 Lite or Lightning Camera?
iLightningCam 2 Lite ships an update every 9 months, and Lightning Camera every 2 weeks. Most recently, iLightningCam 2 Lite was updated on October 5, 2026 and Lightning Camera on October 11, 2026.

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