# Lightning Camera vs Lightning Vault

The clearest difference is price: Lightning Camera at Free against Lightning Vault's $14.99. Lightning Camera also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 3 months) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 18.6). Lightning Vault's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Lightning Camera is free to download; Lightning Vault costs $14.99 up front. Lightning Camera sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Lightning Vault asks for nothing beyond the download.

Lightning Camera ships an update every 2 weeks, Lightning Vault every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Lightning Camera | Lightning Vault |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $14.99 |
| Rating | **[4.3 (38 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightning-camera-thundercatch/id6736884627/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **38** | — |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 30 MB | 13 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 18.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Sezer Iltekin](https://appshunter.io/developer/1658372419) | [Kirill Khanzhinov](https://appshunter.io/developer/1841965583) |

## What reviewers say

### Lightning Camera

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightning-camera-thundercatch/id6736884627)

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:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ThunderCatch PRO Weekly | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| ThunderCatch PRO Annual | $12.99 | per year |
| ThunderCatch PRO Yearly | $12.99 | per year |
| ThunderCatch PRO Lifetime DC | $19.99 | one-time |
| ThunderCatch Pro Lifetime | $49.99 | one-time |


### Lightning Vault

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightning-vault/id6757088820)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Lightning Camera free?

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

### Is Lightning Vault free?

Lightning Vault costs $14.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Lightning Camera or Lightning Vault have ads?

Neither Lightning Camera nor Lightning Vault shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Lightning Camera or Lightning Vault?

Lightning Camera ships an update every 2 weeks, and Lightning Vault every 3 months. Most recently, Lightning Camera was updated on September 28, 2026 and Lightning Vault on September 19, 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.*