# Real vs Before It Strikes

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Before It Strikes at none against Real's 1. On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Real 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 — 4.9 for Real against 5.0 for Before It Strikes. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 11 and 7 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

Real ships an update every 5 days, Before It Strikes weekly. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Real | Before It Strikes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.9 (11 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/real-time-lightning-by-mesosky/id6780237797/reviews) | **[5.0 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/before-it-strikes-lightning/id6783021228/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **11** | 7 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 days** | Weekly |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 19 MB | 37 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **17.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Robert Abraham](https://appshunter.io/developer/413734177) | [Cody Negri](https://appshunter.io/developer/428171414) |

## What reviewers say

### 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 |


### 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 Real free?

Real 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, Real or Before It Strikes?

Before It Strikes is rated higher. Real averages 4.9 out of 5 from 11 ratings, while Before It Strikes averages 5.0 from 7 ratings.

### Do Real or Before It Strikes have ads?

Neither Real nor Before It Strikes shows ads.

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

Real ships an update every 5 days, and Before It Strikes weekly. Most recently, Real was updated on October 31, 2026 and Before It Strikes 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.*