# Lightning Tracker vs Bolted

The clearest difference is ads: Bolted at none against Lightning Tracker's shown. Bolted also leads on ratings volume (5 vs 1). Lightning Tracker's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs fortnightly). On price, rating, review sentiment and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Lightning Tracker sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $0.99 per month and Bolted sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Lightning Tracker against 5.0 for Bolted. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Bolted has 5 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

Lightning Tracker ships an update every 2 days, Bolted fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Lightning Tracker | Bolted |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightning-tracker-live-map/id6755661220/reviews) | [5.0 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bolted-lightning-alerts/id6776672963/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **5** |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 days** | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 19 MB | 6 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.0** | 18.5 |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Lightning Alerts Oy](https://appshunter.io/developer/1855340618) | [Hitt Foundry LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/550918800) |

## What reviewers say

### Lightning Tracker

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightning-tracker-live-map/id6755661220)

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Ad-free monthly | $0.99 | per month |


### Bolted

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bolted-lightning-alerts/id6776672963)

Receive real-time lightning alerts and safety guidance. Create custom zones to monitor, get shelter countdowns, and receive notifications when it's safe to go outside. Features include live activity updates and Apple Watch integration.

**Highlights:** Real-time lightning monitoring, Custom Watch Zones, Shelter countdowns, Live Activity updates, Apple Watch integration, Customizable notification frequency

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Bolted Pro Monthly | $3.99 | per month |
| Bolted Pro Annual | $39.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Lightning Tracker free?

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

### Is Bolted free?

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

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

Lightning Tracker and Bolted are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 5 ratings respectively.

### Do Lightning Tracker or Bolted have ads?

Lightning Tracker shows ads; Bolted does not.

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

Lightning Tracker ships an update every 2 days, and Bolted fortnightly. Most recently, Lightning Tracker was updated on October 15, 2026 and Bolted on October 9, 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.*