Comparison

Lightning Tracker vs Meow Weather

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

Head to head
About

Lightning Tracker

This app provides real-time lightning strike data on a live map, offering alerts for nearby activity. It helps users plan outdoor activities and stay aware of approaching storms with detailed strike information and weather radar integration.

Highlights
  • Live lightning strike map
  • Nearby strike alerts
  • Ground and intracloud strike types
  • Weather radar integration
  • Closest strike distance and age
  • Optional monthly Pro subscription
Read full description

Lightning Alerts is a live lightning tracker and storm map for nearby strike awareness, powered by enterprise-grade lightning data. Open the map without creating an app account. Check recent strike activity before travel, golf, hiking, boating, surfing, fishing, open-water activities, or everyday weather planning. The map can show both ground-reaching and intracloud strikes. Ground mode helps filter cloud flashes so busy storms are easier to read. What you can see: - Live map of recent strike activity - Nearby alerts for your location or a saved place - No app account required to open the map - Ground-reaching and intracloud strike types - Ground mode to reduce cloud-flash noise - Closest-strike distance, age, direction, and street context - Strike strength, polarity, and detailed strike type - Polarity filter: show only positive or only negative ground and cloud strikes - Strength filter and Find > Strongest in view - Find > Strike history: the last 7 days around your location or saved place, with storm replays - Camera aim: where to point your camera and how far to tilt it for red sprites above a distant storm - Weather radar with strikes on the same map - Save one place you care about - Clear controls for alerts, ads, privacy, and analytics - Optional monthly Pro subscription: no ads and unlimited storm replays Use Lightning Alerts before you head outside, while storms are nearby, or when you want a clearer view of activity around a place. Choose the strike filter, inspect the closest strike, and use notifications to return to the live map when activity changes. Photographers and sprite chasers can show only positive ground strikes, which are less common and often stronger. Tap a strike to see its distance and direction. Lightning Alerts is a weather awareness tool, not an emergency warning system. Always follow official weather alerts, local rules, and venue safety guidance. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Meow Weather

Get accurate weather forecasts with charming cat illustrations that change with the conditions. This app offers live widgets and a comforting interface, making daily weather checks a delightful experience.

Highlights
  • Cat weather illustrations change with real-time conditions
  • Accurate forecasts powered by Apple Weather
  • Live home screen widgets
  • Automatic location detection
  • Clean and comfortable design
  • Multiple illustration styles
Features
Read full description

Check the weather with adorable cats. Live widgets bring cute cat scenes to your home screen. 350+ illustrations that change with real weather. Make your daily weather check a little warmer. Meow Weather transforms everyday forecasts into a relaxing and delightful experience. With adorable cat illustrations, every time you open the app feels a bit more comforting. Whether it’s sunny, rainy, or snowy, your cat companion changes with the weather—bringing small moments of joy to your day. Features Cat Weather Illustrations Hundreds of cat illustrations change based on real-time weather, making forecasts more lively and engaging. Multiple illustration styles are supported, with more continuously being added. Accurate Forecasts Powered by Apple Weather, providing current conditions, hourly forecasts, and a 10-day outlook. Automatic Location Weather updates automatically based on your current location—no manual setup required. Widgets Stay updated at a glance with home screen widgets for quick and easy access to weather information. Clean & Comfortable Design A simple, calming interface that delivers clarity while creating a relaxing visual experience. Why Meow Weather Most weather apps are just tools. Meow Weather feels more like a companion. While giving you the forecast, it also brings a little comfort and warmth to your everyday life. Subscribe to Meow Weather Premium to unlock more cat illustrations and additional features. Weather data is provided by Apple Weather (WeatherKit). Some features require location access. Terms of Use: https://www.notion.so/Terms-of-Use-31c7f4f8e34280f7906ff14378b3f86c?source=copy_link Privacy Policy: https://www.notion.so/Privacy-Policy-31c7f4f8e34280e38d96f6b04590e550?source=copy_link

Screenshots

Lightning Tracker4 screens
Meow Weather4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Meow Weather at none against Lightning Tracker's shown. Lightning Tracker's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs weekly). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume 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 1 in-app purchase, starting at $2.99 per month and Meow Weather sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Lightning Tracker against 5.0 for Meow Weather. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 2 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Lightning Tracker ships an update every 2 days, Meow Weather weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Lightning Tracker versus Meow Weather: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLightning TrackerMeow Weather
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (2 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings22
Update frequencyEvery 2 days — betterWeekly
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details — not scored
Size20 MB185 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLightning Alerts Oy炜超 张

Customer experience

Lightning Tracker

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Meow Weather

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews15 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Lightning Tracker

Subscriptions1
  • Ad-free monthly7 Days trial$2.991 Month
2 purchases

Meow Weather

Subscriptions2
  • Premium – Monthly3 Days trial$0.991 Month
  • Premium – Yearly7 Days trial$6.991 Year

Questions

Is Lightning Tracker free?
Lightning Tracker is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Meow Weather free?
Meow Weather is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Lightning Tracker or Meow Weather?
Lightning Tracker and Meow Weather are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 2 and 2 ratings respectively.
Do Lightning Tracker or Meow Weather have ads?
Lightning Tracker shows ads; Meow Weather does not.
Which is updated more often, Lightning Tracker or Meow Weather?
Lightning Tracker ships an update every 2 days, and Meow Weather weekly. Most recently, Lightning Tracker was updated on October 28, 2026 and Meow Weather on October 25, 2026.

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