# CloudWatcher SkyJournal vs StrikeCast

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: CloudWatcher SkyJournal at none against StrikeCast's 3. StrikeCast's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. StrikeCast sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. CloudWatcher SkyJournal asks for nothing beyond the download.

CloudWatcher SkyJournal ships an update every 5 days, StrikeCast every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | CloudWatcher SkyJournal | StrikeCast |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[4.2 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/strikecast-lightning-tracker/id6779354721/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **5** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 days | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | — | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 3 MB | 66 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Starcrown Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1082624152) | [Kirill Proskurin](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896493011) |

## What reviewers say

### CloudWatcher SkyJournal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cloudwatcher-skyjournal/id6762082151)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### StrikeCast

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/strikecast-lightning-tracker/id6779354721)

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)

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| StrikeCast Pro | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| StrikeCast Pro | $12.99 | per month |
| Lightning Tracker: Distance Pro | $33.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is CloudWatcher SkyJournal free?

CloudWatcher SkyJournal is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is StrikeCast free?

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

### Do CloudWatcher SkyJournal or StrikeCast have ads?

Neither CloudWatcher SkyJournal nor StrikeCast shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, CloudWatcher SkyJournal or StrikeCast?

CloudWatcher SkyJournal ships an update every 5 days, and StrikeCast every 4 days. Most recently, CloudWatcher SkyJournal was updated on September 28, 2026 and StrikeCast on October 2, 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.*