# Sound Effects! vs Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads)

The clearest difference is rating: Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads) at 4.6 against Sound Effects!'s 3.4. Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads) also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1). Sound Effects!'s advantage is review sentiment (63% vs 50%) and ratings volume (51 vs 12). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Sound Effects! sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads) asks for nothing beyond the download.

Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads) holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 51 and 12 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 63% of Sound Effects!'s written reviews are positive against 50% of Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads)'s, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Sound Effects! ships an update every 5 months, Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads) every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Sound Effects! | Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.4 (51 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sound-effects/id537432480/reviews) | **[4.6 (12 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thunderstorm-simulator-wads/id1482707561/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **51** | 12 |
| Positive reviews | **62.8% of reviews** | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Every 4 months** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 28 MB | 75 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 15.0.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [TMSOFT](https://appshunter.io/developer/288669797) | [Scott Dodson](https://appshunter.io/developer/1033778296) |

## What reviewers say

### Sound Effects!

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sound-effects/id537432480)

Play and mix multiple sound effects for any situation, from meetings to jokes. Customize your soundboard with over 50 stock sounds and import your own audio files. Perfect for entertainment and even podcasting.

**Highlights:** Play and mix multiple sounds, Import custom audio files, Customizable soundboard layouts, Sound catalog for quick access, Sound timers for delayed playback, Supports multiple sound formats

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $0.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Fun to use
- 💡 Useful for podcasts and entertainment
- 🚀 Simple and straightforward layout
- 👍 Good sound quality

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Ads disrupt usage
- 🔋 Limited sound selection
- 🐛 Bugs and glitches
- 👎 Low-quality sound effects

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to save favorites
- Sounds not working properly
- Compatibility issues across devices
- Ads taking over the screen

**Requested features**

- More sound effects
- Ability to record and import custom sounds
- Improved layout and navigation
- Removal of ads or paid version


### Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads)

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thunderstorm-simulator-wads/id1482707561)

Create a personalized thunderstorm experience to aid relaxation and sleep. Customize rain intensity, thunder frequency, lightning effects, and background sounds. Includes a sleep timer with audio fade-out.

**Highlights:** Customizable thunderstorm types, Adjustable rain and thunder sounds, Toggleable lightning effects, Background ambient sounds, Sleep timer with fade-out, Bluetooth and AirPlay support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Sound Effects! free?

Sound Effects! is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads) free?

Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads) is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Sound Effects! or Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads)?

Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads) is rated higher. Sound Effects! averages 3.4 out of 5 from 51 ratings, while Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads) averages 4.6 from 12 ratings.

### Do Sound Effects! or Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads) have ads?

Both Sound Effects! and Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads) show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Sound Effects! or Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads)?

Sound Effects! ships an update every 5 months, and Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads) every 4 months. Most recently, Sound Effects! was updated on October 21, 2026 and Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads) on October 24, 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.*