Finding the best TikTok lights isn’t easy. There are different types of light to choose from. You have to decide if you want white or colored lights. And you need a light that suits the type of TikTok videos you want to make. That’s why we’ve created a list of all the best lights you can use for TikTok, Instagram, and Twitch.
What Is the Best TikTok Light?
The Sensyne Ring Light with Tripod is the best TikTok light overall. It pairs an even, shadow-free 10-inch ring with a stand that extends from 15.7 to 50 inches (40 to 127 cm), a phone holder that rotates 360 degrees, and a wireless remote that fires from 30 ft (9 m) away.
What Are the Best TikTok Lights?
There are plenty of TikTok lights that will add more pizzazz to your social media content.
You can use ring lights in all shapes and sizes for even facial lighting. They are the secret to soft and even lighting in your videos. They don’t overpower the subject or dazzle the viewer.
Ring lights make your face glow and your eyes sparkle. They’re exactly what you need for face-to-camera videos like makeup tutorials. They also work extremely well with vlogging cameras and streaming cameras.
There are ring lights on tripods. You can get tabletop ring lights for desk setups. And there are ring lights that clip onto your smartphone or laptop.
You can also go with light panels for a professional lighting setup. These give you excellent flexibility when positioning the lights. You can place them on either side of you, with lighting from high and low angles. This is also true of softbox lighting.
Strip lights are another way to spice up your TikTok lighting. They can transform the atmosphere of any room. And you can create any mood in your TikTok videos.
You can have different colored strip lights. And you can set them to change color automatically or in time with music. So they are ideal for any video content. And they are fantastic for TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and Twitch.
And then there are pocket lights. These are battery-powered RGB panels small enough to live in a jacket pocket, with magnets on the back so they clip to anything metal. They matter because everything else on this list needs a wall socket, and a lot of TikTok gets filmed nowhere near one.
Here’s a quick look at all the best TikTok lights. The section after looks at all the TikTok lights in more detail so you can find the perfect lighting for your social media content. And we also have a FAQ section at the end with more info.
5 Best TikTok Lights
Here are all the best TikTok lights in detail. We’ve included a wide range of lights. We have everything from ring lights to strip lights. There are lights for all budgets. And we have lights for all types of social media content.
Whether you’re a vlogger, streamer, or influencer, there’s a TikTok light for you.
1. Sensyne Ring Light with Tripod
| Brand |
Brand
Sensyne
|
| Light Type |
Light Type
Ring light
|
| Ring Size |
Ring Size
10 inches / 25.4 cm
|
| Other Key Features |
Other Key Features
Bluetooth remote, tripod, smartphone holder
|
| Best For |
Best For
Social media content made with a smartphone
|
The Sensyne ring light is a fabulous yet affordable option for TikTok and social media. It’s a complete lighting set that gives you fantastic lighting options. So it’s a versatile piece of equipment also used by Youtubers and Twitchers.
The 10-inch (25.4 cm) ring is just what you need for TikTok videos. It gives you excellent lighting when shooting face-to-camera media from close range.
It illuminates your face. So you stand out from the background. The even lighting removes unwanted shadows. And it also puts a sparkle in your eye for an added wow factor.
The light gives you three color modes. You get warm, natural, and cool light. And then, there are ten brightness levels for each mode. So you have 30 light settings to get the perfect light in any environment.
The tripod extends from 15.7 to 50 inches (40 to 127 cm). So it sits on a desk for a talking-head clip and stands on the floor for a full-body dance video. Each leg has three sections, and you can adjust them with the quick-release locks.
A smartphone holder sits in the middle of the ring. It can be adjusted for any Android or iPhone. And it rotates 360 degrees, so portrait, landscape, and overhead shots all come off the same setup.
There’s a handle for panning and tilting the head. And a wireless remote fires the shutter from up to 30 ft (9 m) away. That is the difference between filming yourself and asking someone to press record.
Where it runs out of road is scale. A 10-inch ring only lights one person at close range, and there is no way to soften or shape it further. If you shoot two people, product flat lays, or anything wider than your own face, look at the panels or the softbox kit below. For a solo creator on a phone, though, this is everything you need to succeed on TikTok’s competitive platform. It is a small price to pay for social media success!
2. Govee Bluetooth LED Strip Lights
| Brand |
Brand
Govee
|
| Light Type |
Light Type
LED strip lights
|
| Total Length |
Total Length
16.4 ft / 5 m
|
| Other Key Features |
Other Key Features
Govee app, RGBIC color effects, scene modes and music sync
|
| Best For |
Best For
Atmosphere setting and moody environmental lighting
|
The Govee Bluetooth LED strip lights will transform your TikTok videos. You can create a dramatic environment to shoot your video content.
The custom settings give you total control when lighting your environment. And with different color patterns and scene modes, you can really go wild.
This set gives you 16.4 ft (5 m) of LED lighting built from bright 5050 RGBIC LED chips. Govee also sells 32.8 ft (10 m) and 65.6 ft (20 m) versions if one room needs a longer run. Measure before you buy, because this strip is not cuttable.
The strip has an adhesive back, so you don’t need to buy glue or tape. Govee also puts screws and clips in the box for a run along a shelf edge or a ceiling line that has to stay up.
The Govee Home app divides the strip into 15 segments, and you can set every one of them to a different color. You control it over Bluetooth from up to 33 ft (10 m) away, on Android or iOS, with 64 scene modes to choose from.
You can select different colors. And you get new chasing and crossing modes for animated lighting with the RGBIC color effects. (Watch a video about RGBIC by Govee to learn more about it.)
You can even sync the lights with music, across 11 separate music modes. They pulse, fade, and flash with the rhythm. It’s ideal for streamers and vloggers who incorporate music into their videos.
What this model will not do is take a voice command. Govee states plainly that it does not support Alexa, because it talks to your phone over Bluetooth rather than joining your Wi-Fi. If you want to change the mood mid-stream without picking your phone up, buy Govee’s Wi-Fi version instead. For everyone else, this is the cheapest way to turn a plain bedroom wall into a backdrop worth filming against.
Strip lights and ring lights are loads of fun. But LED panel lights make excellent TikTok lights as well. And the UBeesize LED Light Panels offer the best value for your money.
These video lights give you fantastic lighting options, providing light from different directions. And they give your streaming and vlogging content the professional look you want. Plus, they have excellent build quality.
Each panel runs cool and draws almost nothing, and an inline cable control dials the brightness anywhere from 10 to 100%. That soft, even output is ideal for interviews and conference calls. But you can also use it for TikTok tutorials and reviews.
A 1/4-inch ball head tilts each panel through 180 degrees. And you get eight color filters, two each of white, red, blue, and orange. So different color filters can be used together. And you get even more color options.
Both LED panels come with their own retractable stand. They work anywhere from 23.6 to 57.7 inches (60 to 146.5 cm), which covers a desk edge and a standing eye-level shot with the same kit.
They can stand alone, or you can use them on a tabletop. And the lighting units are powered by a USB cable that plugs into a wall outlet or computer. That last part is also the catch. There is no battery in either panel, so this is a kit for a room with a socket in it, not for filming outdoors.
4. Skytex Softbox Lighting Kit
| Brand |
Brand
Skytex
|
| Light Type |
Light Type
Continuous lights with softboxes
|
| Softbox Dimensions |
Softbox Dimensions
20 x 28 inches / 50 x 70 cm
|
| Other Key Features |
Other Key Features
Tripod stands, remote controls, tricolor dimmable bulbs, carry case
|
| Best For |
Best For
Professional lighting for photography and video media
|
If your TikTok business is taking off, you’ll need a lighting setup that’s a bit more professional. And the Skytex softbox lighting kit takes your lighting to the next level.
The set is great value for money. And it has everything you need for professional lighting for your viral media.
The 85W bulbs are tricolor and dimmable in themselves, so no gels or filters are involved. They run from 2700K to 6400K, and you can select a brightness level anywhere between 1 and 100%.
The set includes two softbox heads. (A softbox diffuses the light emitted from the bulb.) So it gives softer and more even lighting than the uncovered bulbs.
And the softboxes give perfect lighting for talking-head videos, interviews, and makeup tutorials.
You can adjust the lights using the included remote controls. And the aluminum stands run from 26 to 79 inches (66 to 200 cm), so you can drop one low for an under-light or raise it above head height for a soft key.
The lamp heads also have 210 degrees of rotation for more creative options. And the 8.5 ft (2.5 m) cables give you real room to move the stands around.
Two things to know before you buy. Every lamp plugs into a wall outlet on its own cable, so this kit stays where the sockets are. And the remotes ship without batteries, so buy a pair with the kit or you will be twisting the bulbs by hand on day one.
Having two lights is a luxury that allows for more possibilities when setting up your lighting for Tiktok. So investing in professional lighting like the Skytex lighting kit is worth it.
5. Aputure Amaran MC
| Brand |
Brand
Aputure
|
| Light Type |
Light Type
Pocket RGBWW LED
|
| Size |
Size
3.7 x 2.4 x 0.7 in / 93 x 61 x 17 mm
|
| Other Key Features |
Other Key Features
Sidus Link app, 9 FX presets, built-in magnets, USB-C PD and Qi wireless charging
|
| Best For |
Best For
Portable accent and fill light away from a desk
|
Everything above this entry needs a wall socket. The Aputure Amaran MC doesn’t. It’s a full-color RGBWW light roughly the size of a credit card, 3.7 x 2.4 x 0.7 inches (93 x 61 x 17 mm), with magnets in its back, so it sticks to a fridge or a lamp post and lights the shot from wherever you put it.
The quality is the surprise. It runs from 3200K to 6500K with CRI and TLCI scores of 96+, and it gets there with five colors of LED rather than the usual three: red, green, blue, plus a tungsten white and a daylight white. That is why skin tones hold up on it when a cheap RGB panel turns people green. Full HSI control gives you 360 degrees of hue and 100 levels of saturation, so you can match a wall color instead of guessing at it.
For TikTok specifically, the FX mode is the reason to own one. Nine built-in effects run straight off the light, and the Sidus Link app on your phone lets you tune every parameter of each one. A single MC taped behind you doing the TV effect sells a whole scene that no static lighting setup can. It charges over USB-C Power Delivery in 1.5 hours, or on any Qi wireless pad in 3.5.
The honest limit is output. This is a 5W light, so it is a fill or a background wash. It is never your key light for a full-body shot. Run it at full brightness and the battery gives you a little over two hours (drop it low and you get more than 15). And it costs several times what the Sensyne ring light kit does while lighting a much smaller area. Buy it as your second or third light, once you’re filming away from the desk.
FAQs About The Best TikTok Lights
This section looks at some of the most important questions about TikTok lights. The answers will help you find the best TikTok lights to maximize your online reach.
What Is the Best Type of Light for TikTok?
Several types of light can boost the quality of your TikTok videos. Each type of light is better suited to different types of TikTok content. But some are versatile, giving you brilliant lighting options for any social media content.
Ring Lights
A ring light has become an essential piece of gear among serious TikTokers. They are lights in the shape of a ring. And they work the same way as a glamour mirror with bulbs circling it.
Ring lights give you even lighting across your face, removing unwanted shadows. And it also puts a sparkle in your eyes. This is why they are popular with TikTokers, makeup artists, and vloggers.
They can also be used for portraits and self-portraits. And the flattering lighting makes them a popular choice with live streamers too.
Strip Lights, Light Panels, and Softboxes
Strip lights are the best way to transform your environment. The colorful and varied lighting they provide allows you to set any mood.
You can set strip lights to specific colors. Or you can use modes that change colors automatically. And they can also interact with music. String or fairy lights give you a similar effect.
Light panels give you excellent control over lighting. You can position them anywhere in your scene. You can have one on either side of you for balanced lighting. Or you can have a high or low-angle light setup.
You can also use softboxes with light panels to bring softer and more natural light to your scene.
© Igor Vetushko (Depositphotos.com)
What Other Accessories Do I Need for Better TikTok Lighting?
Ring and panel lights need a stand to keep them in position. Thankfully, all the ring and panel lights on our list include a tripod or mount. That means you get a complete lighting set with one purchase.
You don’t have to use the kit tripod, though. Often, forking out a little extra will get you a better-quality tripod.
Look at our best photography tripod list if you want something sturdier than a kit stand. And our best travel tripod picks are the ones to read if you film away from home and need something that folds down small.
Light reflectors are another useful tool for TikTok lighting. They work well with ring lights, panel lights, and continuous lights. Or you can use them to harness natural light for more illumination. Our guide to using light reflectors shows you where to hold one.
Do TikTok Lights Sync With Music?
The Govee strip lights do. Their app carries 11 separate music modes, so the strip can pulse, fade, and flash with the beat of whatever is playing in the room.
Syncing lights with music brings dynamism and drama to your video content. It looks great in live streams. And it’s also a lot of fun when you’re having a party.
Ring lights, panel lights, and softboxes don’t sync to sound. They do have temperature, brightness, and color options. But these lights have a different purpose. They are meant to give constant illumination.
The Aputure Amaran MC sits between the two. It doesn’t listen to your music, but its nine FX presets animate on their own. A flickering faulty bulb, a lightning strike, or a TV glow is often what a beat-synced strip is really being used for.
Conclusion: The Best TikTok Lights
The best TikTok lights transform your video content. They make your videos more professional and attract more attention. And that brings you more success on social media. They can also be used for other social platforms. So you can use them for YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook.
The Sensyne ring light is our top choice as the best TikTok light. It gives you flattering, even lighting that removes shadows and puts a sparkle in your eyes. It provides a complete lighting setup with a tripod, remote, and phone holder for a fraction of the price of a pro rig. And it’s the investment your TikTok channel needs.
If you already have your face lit, spend the next money on the room rather than on a second key light. The Govee strip is the cheapest way to give a plain wall a color, the Skytex softboxes are the step up when you outgrow a single ring, and the Aputure Amaran MC is the one to pack when you start filming somewhere that has no sockets.
