# Weather & Radar vs Lightning Tracker

The clearest difference is update cadence: Weather & Radar at fortnightly against Lightning Tracker's every 4 months. Weather & Radar also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.3) and ratings volume (305K vs 574). Lightning Tracker's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.0). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Weather & Radar sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month and Lightning Tracker sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Weather & Radar holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Weather & Radar has 305K ratings behind it against 574, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 75% and 76% positive.

Weather & Radar ships an update fortnightly, Lightning Tracker every 4 months. Both last shipped on September 25, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Weather & Radar | Lightning Tracker |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (305K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/weather-and-radar/id545993260/reviews)** | [4.3 (574 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightning-tracker/id1473753714/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **305K** | 574 |
| Positive reviews | 74.7% of reviews | **75.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#15** | — |
| Size | 243 MB | 127 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [WetterOnline - Meteorologische Dienstleistungen GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/407957034) | [Elecont LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/401533969) |

## What reviewers say

### Weather & Radar

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/weather-and-radar/id545993260)

**Currently charting:** #15 Top Free · Weather, #130 Top Grossing · Weather (US App Store)

Stay informed with accurate hourly and daily weather forecasts, including detailed radar maps for rain, snow, and lightning. Receive personalized alerts, track air quality, and get specialized information for winter sports and coastal conditions.

**Highlights:** Hourly & daily weather forecast, All-in-one weather maps, Rain, snow, wind, lightning radar, Weather alerts & storm tracker, Ski & winter sports info, Coastal conditions, Personalized notifications

**Features:** Family Sharing, Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $1.49 | per month |
| Yearly | $8.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🌟 Accurate weather forecasts
- 📊 Detailed weather information
- 🗺️ Comprehensive radar maps
- ⏱️ Timely updates
- 🔍 Localized weather data

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🌐 Location issues and inaccuracies
- 📢 Intrusive ads
- 🔍 Limited customization options
- 🕰️ Slow response times
- 🐛 Occasional bugs and crashes

**Reported bugs**

- Radar map not updating correctly
- Temperature readings not matching other sources
- Notifications not working as expected

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Ability to change temperature units
- More detailed weather history
- Improved widget functionality
- Better integration with other weather services


### 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 Weather & Radar free?

Weather & Radar is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Lightning Tracker free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Weather & Radar or Lightning Tracker?

Weather & Radar is rated higher. Weather & Radar averages 4.7 out of 5 from 305K ratings, while Lightning Tracker averages 4.3 from 574 ratings.

### Do Weather & Radar or Lightning Tracker have ads?

Both Weather & Radar and Lightning Tracker show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Weather & Radar or Lightning Tracker?

Weather & Radar ships an update fortnightly, and Lightning Tracker every 4 months. Most recently, Weather & Radar was updated on September 25, 2026 and Lightning Tracker on September 25, 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.*