# Real vs Lightning Tracker

The clearest difference is monetization model: Real at free against Lightning Tracker's freemium. Real also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs every 4 weeks). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Real sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $0.99 per month and Lightning Tracker sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. 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 Real against 5.0 for Lightning Tracker. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6 and 8 respectively.

Real ships an update every 5 days, Lightning Tracker every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Real | Lightning Tracker |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/real-time-lightning-by-mesosky/id6780237797/reviews) | [5.0 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightning-tracker-radar-map/id6789006775/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 6 | **8** |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 days** | Every 4 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Size | 19 MB | 40 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **17.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Robert Abraham](https://appshunter.io/developer/413734177) | [Kurt Higa](https://appshunter.io/developer/1735394078) |

## 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 |


### Lightning Tracker

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightning-tracker-radar-map/id6789006775)

Track lightning strikes in real-time with live maps and receive push notifications before storms arrive. View precipitation radar, storm intensity hotspots, and NOAA's severe weather outlook. Rewind up to 24 hours of storm activity.

**Highlights:** Live lightning strike map, Push notifications for lightning alerts, 2-hour precipitation radar playback, Storm intensity hotspots, NOAA severe storm outlook, 24-hour storm rewind

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Lightning Tracker Pro Weekly | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Lightning Tracker Pro Annual | $19.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Real free?

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

### Is Lightning Tracker free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Real or Lightning Tracker?

Real and Lightning Tracker are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 6 and 8 ratings respectively.

### Do Real or Lightning Tracker have ads?

Neither Real nor Lightning Tracker shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Real or Lightning Tracker?

Real ships an update every 5 days, and Lightning Tracker every 4 weeks. Most recently, Real was updated on October 17, 2026 and Lightning Tracker on October 22, 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.*