# LightningMaps vs Lightning Tracker‎

The clearest difference is rating: LightningMaps at 5.0 against Lightning Tracker‎'s 4.4. LightningMaps also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 6) and ads (none vs shown). Lightning Tracker‎'s advantage is ratings volume (172 vs 1). On price, update cadence, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Lightning Tracker‎ sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. LightningMaps asks for nothing beyond the download.

LightningMaps holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Lightning Tracker‎ has 172 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

LightningMaps ships an update every 8 months, Lightning Tracker‎ every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | LightningMaps | Lightning Tracker‎ |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightningmaps/id6463732506/reviews)** | [4.4 (172 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightning-tracker/id6670211416/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **172** |
| Positive reviews | — | 8.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 8 months | **Every 4 months** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 13 MB | 64 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.4** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Andrii Rudenko](https://appshunter.io/developer/1701313432) | [Going Merry LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1820776999) |

## What reviewers say

### LightningMaps

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightningmaps/id6463732506)

Pinpoint the exact location and distance of real-life lightning strikes using your phone's sensors. Simply tap when you see a flash and again when you hear thunder to instantly reveal the strike's coordinates. It's like having a personal lightning detector in your pocket.

**Highlights:** Pinpoint lightning strike locations, Measure distance to strikes, Intuitive tap-based interface, Real-time tracking, Safety guidelines included

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Lightning Tracker‎

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightning-tracker/id6670211416)

Monitor real-time lightning strikes on a map with detailed information like time and distance. Receive background notifications for nearby activity and customize your detection radius. View current weather conditions alongside lightning alerts.

**Highlights:** Real-time lightning strike map, Strike details (time, distance), Background monitoring and notifications, Customizable detection radius (1-50 miles), Current weather conditions view, Lightning strike expiration (15 minutes)

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

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Monthly | $0.99 | per month |
| Premium Weekly | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium Weekly | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium Yearly | $6.99 | per year |
| Premium Yearly | $9.99 | per year |
| Premium Yearly | $19.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is LightningMaps free?

LightningMaps is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Lightning Tracker‎ free?

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

### Which has better reviews, LightningMaps or Lightning Tracker‎?

LightningMaps is rated higher. LightningMaps averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Lightning Tracker‎ averages 4.4 from 172 ratings.

### Do LightningMaps or Lightning Tracker‎ have ads?

Lightning Tracker‎ shows ads; LightningMaps does not.

### Which is updated more often, LightningMaps or Lightning Tracker‎?

LightningMaps ships an update every 8 months, and Lightning Tracker‎ every 4 months. Most recently, LightningMaps was updated on October 8, 2026 and Lightning Tracker‎ on October 12, 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.*