# Bolted vs Real

The clearest difference is monetization model: Real at free against Bolted's free with in-app purchases. Real also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs fortnightly). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Bolted sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and Real sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $0.99 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 Bolted against 4.9 for Real. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 9 and 11 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

Bolted ships an update fortnightly, Real every 5 days. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Bolted | Real |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bolted-lightning-tracker/id6776672963/reviews)** | [4.9 (11 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/real-time-lightning-by-mesosky/id6780237797/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 9 | **11** |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 8 MB | 19 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.5 | **18.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Hitt Foundry LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/550918800) | [Robert Abraham](https://appshunter.io/developer/413734177) |

## What reviewers say

### Bolted

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bolted-lightning-tracker/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 | $24.99 | per year |


### Real

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/real-time-lightning-by-mesosky/id6780237797)

Track lightning strikes in real-time with live satellite data and high-definition radar. Get instant alerts when storms are near your location and customize notification settings for a clear, fast view of the sky.

**Highlights:** Live satellite lightning detection, High-definition radar overlay, Customizable strike bubble alerts, Color-coded strike intensity, Watch app with live map, Lock screen and home screen widgets

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock all Features | $0.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Bolted free?

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

### Is Real free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Bolted or Real?

Bolted is rated higher. Bolted averages 5.0 out of 5 from 9 ratings, while Real averages 4.9 from 11 ratings.

### Do Bolted or Real have ads?

Neither Bolted nor Real shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Bolted or Real?

Bolted ships an update fortnightly, and Real every 5 days. Most recently, Bolted was updated on October 31, 2026 and Real on October 31, 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.*