# OpenSnow vs My Lightning Tracker & Alerts

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: My Lightning Tracker & Alerts at none against OpenSnow's 3. My Lightning Tracker & Alerts also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs every 11 days) and ratings volume (67K vs 9.1K). OpenSnow's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, rating, review sentiment and chart position there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. OpenSnow sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $49.99 per year. My Lightning Tracker & Alerts asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for OpenSnow against 4.8 for My Lightning Tracker & Alerts. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: My Lightning Tracker & Alerts has 67K ratings behind it against 9.1K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 80% of OpenSnow's written reviews are positive against 75% of My Lightning Tracker & Alerts's.

OpenSnow ships an update every 11 days, My Lightning Tracker & Alerts every 5 days. Both last shipped on November 2, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | OpenSnow | My Lightning Tracker & Alerts |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (9.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/opensnow/id780890907/reviews) | **[4.8 (67K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/my-lightning-tracker-and-alerts/id1175031987/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 9.1K | **67K** |
| Positive reviews | **80.4% of reviews** | 74.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 11 days | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Best chart rank | **#10** | #26 |
| Size | 126 MB | 54 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **17.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Cloudnine Weather, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/487445927) | [JRustonApps B.V.](https://appshunter.io/developer/549019599) |

## What reviewers say

### OpenSnow

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/opensnow/id780890907)

**Currently charting:** #10 Top Grossing · Weather, #37 Top Free · Weather (US App Store)

Get the most accurate snow forecasts, detailed snow reports, and severe weather maps. Access 15-day forecasts, local expert insights, and offline 3D maps for snow depth, avalanche risk, and more. Track storms with advanced radar and AI-powered weather systems.

**Highlights:** 15-Day Snow Forecast, Local Expert Snow Reports, 3D & Offline Weather Maps, AI-Powered Weather System, Severe Weather Tracking, Mountain Webcams, Snow Depth & Avalanche Risk Maps

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| OpenSnow Legacy | $49.99 | per year |
| OpenSnow Base | $49.99 | per year |
| OpenSnow Base Legacy | $49.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Accurate snow forecasts
- 📊 Detailed weather data and maps
- 🗺️ Comprehensive coverage of ski resorts
- 💻 Intuitive and user-friendly interface
- 🤖 Reliable and consistent forecasts

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Subscription model can be expensive
- 🌐 Limited coverage outside of North America
- 🕰️ Occasional delays in updating snow conditions
- 🤖 Inconsistent accuracy in long-term forecasts
- 🔒 Paywall restricts access to some features

**Reported bugs**

- Occasional crashes or freezes on certain devices
- Inconsistencies in the display of weather data and forecasts

**Requested features**

- Expand coverage to more international ski resorts
- Improve offline functionality and data availability
- Introduce more customization options for user preferences
- Enhance integration with other outdoor activity planning apps
- Provide more detailed snow and weather data for backcountry use


### My Lightning Tracker & Alerts

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/my-lightning-tracker-and-alerts/id1175031987)

**Currently charting:** #26 Top Free · Weather (US App Store)

Monitor global lightning strikes in near real-time with live maps and notifications for your area. Track thunderstorms, view historical strike data, and share strike information with friends. Includes weather radar to monitor incoming storms.

**Highlights:** Real-time global lightning strike detection, Live thunderstorm map visualization, Customizable lightning alerts, Historical lightning strike data, Integrated weather radar, Strike sharing with friends

**Features:** iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Accurate lightning tracking
- 🚀 Real-time notifications
- 💡 Customizable alert radius
- 👍 Intuitive and easy to use
- 👍 Helpful for outdoor activities and safety

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Delayed or missed notifications
- 🐛 Radar feature issues (static, missing tiles)
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 🔒 Potential security concerns
- 💰 Intrusive full-screen ads in free version

**Reported bugs**

- Freezing or crashing issues
- Inconsistent performance after updates
- Location tracking not working as expected

**Requested features**

- Add wind direction and speed to radar
- Provide historical lightning strike data
- Implement Apple Watch support
- Allow setting multiple saved locations
- Add option to only notify on closer strikes


## Frequently asked questions

### Is OpenSnow free?

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

### Is My Lightning Tracker & Alerts free?

My Lightning Tracker & Alerts is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, OpenSnow or My Lightning Tracker & Alerts?

My Lightning Tracker & Alerts is rated higher. OpenSnow averages 4.7 out of 5 from 9.1K ratings, while My Lightning Tracker & Alerts averages 4.8 from 67K ratings.

### Do OpenSnow or My Lightning Tracker & Alerts have ads?

My Lightning Tracker & Alerts shows ads; OpenSnow does not.

### Which is updated more often, OpenSnow or My Lightning Tracker & Alerts?

OpenSnow ships an update every 11 days, and My Lightning Tracker & Alerts every 5 days. Most recently, OpenSnow was updated on November 2, 2026 and My Lightning Tracker & Alerts on November 2, 2026.

### Which is more popular, OpenSnow or My Lightning Tracker & Alerts?

OpenSnow currently peaks at #10 in the App Store charts, and My Lightning Tracker & Alerts at #26. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*