Real vs Blixtra
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Real
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.
- 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
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See lightning the moment it strikes, and know the instant it's headed for you. Most lightning apps blink a few dots on a plain map and call it a day. MesoSky Lightning is a different animal: a real-time storm instrument that fuses satellite lightning detection with high-definition radar into one fast, beautiful screen. If you take the sky seriously, this is the lightning tracker you've been waiting for. REAL-TIME STRIKES, STRAIGHT FROM ORBIT • Live cloud-to-ground and in-cloud flashes from the GOES-18 and GOES-19 satellites' Geostationary Lightning Mapper. Strikes appear moments after they happen. • Every strike is color-coded by strength, so one glance tells a distant flicker from a violent close hit. • Tap any strike for the full story: a strength gauge, optical energy, footprint size, exact distance, and how long ago it struck. WIDGETS! Lock Screen, Home Screen WATCH APP with MAP! YOUR STRIKE BUBBLE • Draw a radius around your live location, or pin any spot, from 1 to 100 miles. • See the nearest strike's distance and direction, the total count around you, and how many are strong or intense, all updating live. ALERTS THAT RESPECT YOU • Get a push the instant lightning enters your bubble, even with the app closed. • You set the rules: how often you're notified (every 5, 15, or 30 minutes) and for how long (the next hour, 6 hours, 12 hours, or until you turn it off). • No spam, no nagging. Just the heads-up you actually want. HIGH-DEFINITION RADAR UNDERNEATH • Full-resolution NEXRAD Level 2 base reflectivity, rendered live. The same data meteorologists use, auto-tuned to the closest radar to you. • Dial in the dBZ filter and opacity to see exactly the storm you care about. READ THE STORM AT A GLANCE • Intensity glow that heats up where the strongest strikes cluster. • Footprint and activity overlays that turn storm chaos into a clear read. RIGHT ON YOUR WRIST • A live lightning map on your Apple Watch, centered on you or anywhere you pan, with every strike color-coded by strength just like the phone. • Tap any strike on your wrist for its strength, distance, direction, age, and footprint. • Set your time window (15, 30, or 60 minutes) and toggle intensity coloring right from the watch. • Watch face complications keep the strike count, the closest strike's distance and direction, and how many are strong or intense one glance away. • Your complications stay current, so a flick of the wrist is always a fresh read on the sky. BUILT BEAUTIFULLY • A clean, fast, glass interface designed to be understood in a flash. Full dark, fluid motion, and haptics throughout. • Your location is used only to center the map and power your alerts. Never sold, never used to track you. Whether you're a storm chaser, pilot, golfer, coach, or a parent watching the sky over the ballfield, MesoSky Lightning gives you the clearest, fastest read on the sky in your pocket. — Terms of Use (EULA): https://mesosky.com/terms/ Privacy Policy: https://mesosky.com/privacy/ MesoSky Lightning Pro is a $0.99/month auto-renewing subscription with a 3-day free trial. Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation and renews automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the period ends. Manage or cancel anytime in Settings.
Blixtra
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See lightning across Sweden as it happens. Blixtra turns live lightning data into a clear, native map. Follow new strikes, understand their strength and explore recent activity without unnecessary clutter. • Follow live cloud-to-ground and in-cloud strikes across Sweden • See new strikes pulse on the map, with haptic feedback on supported devices • Open a strike for its exact time, nearest place, peak current, strength and polarity • Understand kA and polarity with clear, plain-language explanations • Replay the latest three hours and choose your playback speed • Enjoy a focused Apple-native experience on iPhone and iPad • Use the complete app in English or Swedish Whether a storm is approaching or you are simply curious about the sky, Blixtra makes Sweden’s lightning activity easy to explore. Lightning is dangerous. Blixtra is an informational visualization and must not be used as a safety, warning or emergency service. Follow guidance from local authorities.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Blixtra at none against Real's 1. On price, update cadence, ads and device support 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
Both are free to download. Real sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $0.99 per month. Blixtra asks for nothing beyond the download.
Real ships an update every 5 days, Blixtra every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Real | Blixtra |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.9 (11 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 11 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 5 days — better | Every 6 days |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 17.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 19 MB | 34 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | +4 |
| Developer | Robert Abraham | Palusa |
In-app purchases
Real
- Unlock all Features$0.991 Month
Blixtra
No in-app purchases









