Comparison

Lightning Tracker‎ vs StrikeCast

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

Head to head
About

Lightning Tracker‎

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
Currently charting
Read full description

Track and monitor lightning strikes in realtime nearby to your location, with Lightning Tracker Live. Lightning strikes are presented on a map view, where you can tap on each marked lightning strike for more details, including: • Time of strike • Distance from your current location Lightning strikes will appear on the map view in realtime & will expire after 15 minutes, keeping you up to date with only the latest lightning activity all the time. The app will also work when in the background, periodically checking for any lightning strikes & notifying you if any do occur. As a default setting, the app will check/monitor at a radius of 25 miles within your location for lightning activity. This can be customized in the app settings from anywhere between 1 & 50 miles. Your chosen radius value will be saved for future use. Other features include an option to view your current weather conditions. We hope that you find this app useful. Please reach out to us via email support if you have any feedback or questions. Subscription: Your subscription will automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. If your subscription is subject to any promotional discount, the discount will expire upon the end of the current period and you'll be charged the standard rate upon renewal. Go to your iTunes Account under subscriptions to manage your membership and to turn auto-renew off. Your iTunes Account will be charged when the purchase is confirmed. Privacy Policy: https://goingmerry.xyz/privacy-policy/ Terms of Use: https://goingmerry.xyz/terms-conditions/

About

StrikeCast

This app provides real-time lightning strike distance and live alerts on a map. Save locations to receive notifications when lightning is detected nearby, even when you're away. It offers a clean interface with no ad clutter.

Highlights
  • Real-time lightning strike distance
  • Live map of lightning activity
  • Customizable alerts for saved locations
  • Distance in miles or kilometers
  • Approaching and moving-away trends (Pro)
  • Animated weather radar (Pro)
Currently charting
Read full description

How close is the lightning? StrikeCast: Lightning Tracker puts the answer front and center. See the approximate distance to the nearest detected strike in miles/km, follow activity on a clean live map, and set alerts for the places you care about. DISTANCE AT A GLANCE • See the nearest detected strike without searching through the map • View distance in miles or kilometers • Check when the latest nearby strike was detected • Explore latest strikes and lightning hotspots • Built on NOAA GOES satellite lightning data ALERTS FOR PLACES THAT MATTER Save a location and choose an alert radius. StrikeCast can notify you when lightning is detected nearby, even when you are somewhere else. Monitor home, work, school, or any place you want to keep an eye on. CALM, CLEAR DESIGN No noisy dashboard and no ad clutter. When the area is quiet, StrikeCast says so. When lightning is nearby, the distance stays easy to find. UPGRADE TO PRO • Real-time strike data with no added free-tier delay • Approaching and moving-away trends • More saved locations and flexible alert radii • Animated weather radar • 12-hour thunderstorm forecast • Extended lightning range PRIVACY FIRST No ads. No cross-app tracking. Your location is used to calculate distance and power the alerts you choose. Lightning detection has inherent latency and location uncertainty. Distances are approximate. StrikeCast is informational and is not a substitute for official weather warnings or emergency guidance. Privacy Policy: https://strikecast.app/privacy Terms of Use (EULA): https://strikecast.app/terms

Screenshots

Lightning Tracker‎4 screens
StrikeCast4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Lightning Tracker‎ at 4.4 against StrikeCast's 3.0. Lightning Tracker‎ also leads on ratings volume (156 vs 2). StrikeCast's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 4 days vs every 5 months). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and chart position 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 Tracker‎ sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month and StrikeCast sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Lightning Tracker‎ holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Lightning Tracker‎ has 156 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Lightning Tracker‎ ships an update every 5 months, StrikeCast every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
Lightning Tracker‎ versus StrikeCast: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLightning Tracker‎StrikeCast
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (156 ratings) — better3.0 (2 ratings)
Positive reviews8.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings156 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsEvery 4 days — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#190#174 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS17.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size62 MB63 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGoing Merry LLCKirill Proskurin

Customer experience

Lightning Tracker‎

All ratings156 ratings
Positive84.6%
Neutral3.2%
Negative12.2%
Written reviews12 reviews
Positive8.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative91.7%

StrikeCast

All ratings2 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

In-app purchases

6 purchases

Lightning Tracker‎

Subscriptions6
  • Premium Monthly$0.991 Month
  • Premium Weekly$1.997 Days
  • Premium Weekly$2.997 Days
Show 3 more
  • Premium Yearly$6.991 Year
  • Premium Yearly$9.991 Year
  • Premium Yearly$19.991 Year
3 purchases

StrikeCast

Subscriptions3
  • StrikeCast Pro$4.997 Days
  • StrikeCast Pro$12.991 Month
  • Lightning Tracker: Distance Pro3 Days trial$33.991 Year

Questions

Is Lightning Tracker‎ free?
Lightning Tracker‎ is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is StrikeCast free?
StrikeCast is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Lightning Tracker‎ or StrikeCast?
Lightning Tracker‎ is rated higher. Lightning Tracker‎ averages 4.4 out of 5 from 156 ratings, while StrikeCast averages 3.0 from 2 ratings.
Do Lightning Tracker‎ or StrikeCast have ads?
Lightning Tracker‎ shows ads; StrikeCast does not.
Which is updated more often, Lightning Tracker‎ or StrikeCast?
Lightning Tracker‎ ships an update every 5 months, and StrikeCast every 4 days. Most recently, Lightning Tracker‎ was updated on September 23, 2026 and StrikeCast on September 14, 2026.
Which is more popular, Lightning Tracker‎ or StrikeCast?
Lightning Tracker‎ currently peaks at #190 in the App Store charts, and StrikeCast at #174. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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