# Lightning Simulator vs Fire Simulator (w/Ads)

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Fire Simulator (w/Ads) at none against Lightning Simulator's 2. Fire Simulator (w/Ads) also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.8) and iOS requirement (15.0.0 vs 18.0). Lightning Simulator's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (101 vs 1). On price, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Lightning Simulator sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Fire Simulator (w/Ads) asks for nothing beyond the download.

Fire Simulator (w/Ads) holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Lightning Simulator has 101 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Lightning Simulator ships an update every 4 months, Fire Simulator (w/Ads) every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Lightning Simulator | Fire Simulator (w/Ads) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (101 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightning-simulator/id930358531/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fire-simulator-wads/id1522554940/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **101** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 86.8% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 months** | Every 5 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 42 MB | 62 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **15.0.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Foxbit Software Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/919379298) | [Scott Dodson](https://appshunter.io/developer/1033778296) |

## What reviewers say

### Lightning Simulator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightning-simulator/id930358531)

Simulate a lightning storm with visual effects using your device's backlight and LED flash, accompanied by realistic thunder audio. Customize storm distance and set sleep timers for a unique ambiance.

**Highlights:** Backlight and LED flash simulation, Realistic thunder audio, 5 unique storm types, Customizable storm distance, Adjustable sleep timers

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Storm Expansion Pack | $1.99 | one-time |
| Lightning Pro | $1.99 | one-time |


### Fire Simulator (w/Ads)

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fire-simulator-wads/id1522554940)

Create a calming ambiance with realistic fire effects and soothing background sounds. Customize fire types, flicker rates, colors, and volume to suit your mood. Includes a sleep timer and Bluetooth/AirPlay support for an enhanced experience.

**Highlights:** Realistic fire simulations, Customizable fire types (candle, lava, fireplace, campfire), Adjustable flicker rate and brightness, Background sound options (birds, cicadas, crickets, frogs), Sleep timer with audio fade-out, Bluetooth and AirPlay support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Lightning Simulator free?

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

### Is Fire Simulator (w/Ads) free?

Fire Simulator (w/Ads) is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Lightning Simulator or Fire Simulator (w/Ads)?

Fire Simulator (w/Ads) is rated higher. Lightning Simulator averages 4.8 out of 5 from 101 ratings, while Fire Simulator (w/Ads) averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Lightning Simulator or Fire Simulator (w/Ads) have ads?

Fire Simulator (w/Ads) shows ads; Lightning Simulator does not.

### Which is updated more often, Lightning Simulator or Fire Simulator (w/Ads)?

Lightning Simulator ships an update every 4 months, and Fire Simulator (w/Ads) every 5 months. Most recently, Lightning Simulator was updated on October 8, 2026 and Fire Simulator (w/Ads) on October 9, 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.*