# Lightning Tracker vs Before It Strikes

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Before It Strikes at none against Lightning Tracker's 1. Before It Strikes also leads on ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (7 vs 1). Lightning Tracker's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs weekly). On price, rating, review sentiment and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Lightning Tracker sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $0.99 per month. Before It Strikes asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Lightning Tracker against 5.0 for Before It Strikes. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Before It Strikes has 7 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, Before It Strikes weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Lightning Tracker | Before It Strikes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightning-tracker-live-map/id6755661220/reviews) | [5.0 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/before-it-strikes-lightning/id6783021228/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **7** |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 days** | Weekly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 19 MB | 37 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Lightning Alerts Oy](https://appshunter.io/developer/1855340618) | [Cody Negri](https://appshunter.io/developer/428171414) |

## 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 |


### Before It Strikes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/before-it-strikes-lightning/id6783021228)

This app provides real-time severe weather alerts and lightning prediction. It offers a 30-minute safety countdown after lightning strikes and displays high-resolution 3D radar. Receive instant National Weather Service warnings for any saved location.

**Highlights:** Lightning safety countdown, Official NWS alerts, Hi-res 3D radar, Storm Center overview, Heads-up storm notifications, Apple Watch integration

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Lightning Tracker free?

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

### Is Before It Strikes free?

Before It Strikes is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Lightning Tracker or Before It Strikes?

Lightning Tracker and Before It Strikes are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 7 ratings respectively.

### Do Lightning Tracker or Before It Strikes have ads?

Lightning Tracker shows ads; Before It Strikes does not.

### Which is updated more often, Lightning Tracker or Before It Strikes?

Lightning Tracker ships an update every 2 days, and Before It Strikes weekly. Most recently, Lightning Tracker was updated on October 15, 2026 and Before It Strikes on October 10, 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.*