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

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 strikes - Strength filter and Find > Strongest in view - 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 that removes ads 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

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)
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 5.0 against StrikeCast's 4.2. StrikeCast's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (5 vs 1). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model 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 $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, 5.0 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: StrikeCast has 5 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Lightning Tracker ships an update every 2 days, StrikeCast every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Lightning Tracker versus StrikeCast: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLightning TrackerStrikeCast
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better4.2 (5 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings15 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 days — betterEvery 4 days
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size19 MB66 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLightning Alerts OyKirill Proskurin

Customer experience

Lightning Tracker

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

StrikeCast

All ratings5 ratings
Positive80.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative20.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Lightning Tracker

Subscriptions1
  • Ad-free monthly$0.991 Month
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 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while StrikeCast averages 4.2 from 5 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 2 days, and StrikeCast every 4 days. Most recently, Lightning Tracker was updated on October 15, 2026 and StrikeCast on October 2, 2026.

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