The best TikTok lights in 2023

Best TikTok lights
(Image credit: cottonbro via Pexels)

The best TikTok lights will make a real difference to the quality of your videos. Look at the videos of your favourite creators, and if they frequently share videos where they address the camera, chances are good that you’ll spot the tell-tale circular reflection of a ring light in their eyes. It’s one of the simplest steps you can take to improve your videos.

LED lights are generally the best choice – they’re energy-efficient, they’re not too costly, and they provide an effective way to light simple videos. They come in different configurations – not only is there the popular ring light, but also strip lights and panels. Some come with useful accessories like softboxes to make the light more flattering, or clips to attach them to a phone. 

As with most things, the more you pay, the more you get. A basic, cheap TikTok light will do the job, but upping your budget gives you access to advanced features like colour temperature control, dimmable bulbs and more. We’ve included lights for all different budgets in this guide, from expensive kits designed for professional videographers to simple LEDs that cost less than $10.

Our guide to the best ring lights for photos contains lots of lights that are suited to TikToks, and is worth having a look through. Also, if you’ve been looking for a way to hold your phone still while you craft your masterworks, see our list of the best smartphone tripods. Meanwhile, read on for a guide to the best TikTok lights.

The best TikTok lights

Why you can trust Creative Bloq Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

best TikTok lights: FositanCB

(Image credit: Fositan)

01. Fositan 21-inch LED Ring Light Kit

Bright and versatile, this is one of the best TikTok lights

Specifications

Colour temperature: 2900-6500K
Weight: 3.62KG
Power source: Mains
Dimensions: 62.23 x 53.34 x 9.4cm

Reasons to buy

+
Very bright
+
Three phone holders 

Reasons to avoid

-
Only powered by mains
-
Adjustable settings

The Fositan 21-inch LED Ring Light Kit offers tremendous value for money, and for that reason it’s our pick for the best TikTok light you can get right now. It’s a 21-inch ring light, which is a good size for TikTok use. You can also switch from 2900K to 6500K colour temperatures, allowing you to match the ambient light of the environment and keep colours consistent.

The light also has multiple phone-mounting points, which is useful if you’re shooting from multiple angles. The downside is that there’s no battery – you need to be plugged into the mains, which does restrict your options a little. However, the included remotes are handy and mean that you don’t always need to be physically close to the light, and the telescopic stand gives you a lot of options to set the height of the light. 

best TikTok lights: SupernightCB endorsed

(Image credit: Supernight)

02. Supernight LED Strip Light

Powerful LED strip lights that can transform your TikTok videos

Specifications

Colour temperature: 16 colour RGB
Weight: 473g
Power source: Mains
Dimensions: 10.79 x 20.95 x 5 cm

Reasons to buy

+
Wide range of RGB colours 
+
Can be cut to length 

Reasons to avoid

-
Multiple strips need connecting adapters
-
Mains power only

The Supernight LED strip light comes on a 10m roll, which packs in a whopping 600 LEDs for consistent lighting along the strip. It comes with a 44-key remote to control the 16 colour options, five-light patterns and their cycle speeds. There are six custom keys to freely adjust the exact colours to taste.

Flexible, lightweight and waterproof, these are ideal for lighting the home either inside or outside as they come with a self-adhesive backing to attach to surfaces. For particularly small, hard-to-light areas just cut along the dedicated cutting points (every 6 LEDs) to change the length without damaging the lights.

best TikTok lights: NeewerCB endorsed

(Image credit: Neewer)

03. Neewer Dimmable Bi-color LED Light

One of the most versatile TikTok lights on Amazon

Specifications

Colour temperature: 3200-5600K
Weight: 2.35kg
Power source: Mains and battery
Dimensions: 32.5 x 30.5 x 7.5 cm

Reasons to buy

+
Mains and battery power
+
Sturdy construction

Reasons to avoid

-
Mains cable too short
-
Doesn’t come with battery

The Neewer dimmable Bi-color LED light is built in a stylish and sturdy metal casing making it more robust than its plastic competitors. It has the ability to switch colour temperature with the aid of two control knobs at the back, which switch between white and yellow LEDs in dimmable amounts. 

It’s versatile for home studio and outdoor use thanks to the ability to switch between mains and battery power. It also comes with a diffusion panel which softens the light – perfect for portraits. This panel is ideal for those wishing to light themselves or the background, with a small, compact design and U-shaped light stand mount to allow for fast tilting up and down.

Best TikTok lights: Diyife Ring Light

(Image credit: Diyife)

04. Diyife Ring Light

The best ultra-cheap TikTok ring light

Specifications

Colour temperature: Not specified (fixed)
Weight: 69.7g
Power source: Rechargeable lithium-ion battery
Dimensions: 10.4 x 10 x 3.6 (box)

Reasons to buy

+
Tiny and affordable
+
Charges via micro USB
+
Broadly compatible phone clip

Reasons to avoid

-
Minimal brightness control

If you’re on a really tight budget, the Diyife Ring Light is available for a single-digit price in dollars or pounds, and will get the job done. It may not have colour temperature control, or much brightness control beyond three basic settings, but it does provide a decently attractive light for selfies and self-taping. It comes with a clip that can attach to pretty much any smartphone or tablet, and its lithium-ion battery is rechargeable via micro USB, making it easy to give yourself a little more power when needed. Small enough to take anywhere, the Diyife Ring Light is a cheap and easy ring light that you can pick up and throw in a bag at a moment’s notice.

best TikTok lights: Manfrotto

(Image credit: Manfrotto)

05. Lumimuse 8

Tiny but powerful, the Lumimuse 8 comes with bluetooth connectivity

Specifications

Colour temperature: 5600K
Weight: 160g
Power source: Battery
Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.9 x 2.8cm

Reasons to buy

+
Tiny and portable
+
Bluetooth connectivity 

Reasons to avoid

-
Not as bright as some
-
Coloured gels not variable 

The tiny Lumimuse 8 LED light is Manfrotto’s upgraded version, which includes Bluetooth connectivity. Using the app, one can link a smart device to the light to control dimming from 0-100%, as well as access other functions such as flash, timers, photo and video modes. 

There’s no in-built control for colour temperature, and the main light stands white at 5600K, but there are two orange filters to help balance the light against tungsten or fluorescent bulbs. Since it weighs just 0.16kg, you can easily pop one (or several) in your pocket to light videos on the go. It's great for use as a key or fill light and can be placed anywhere for lighting accents.

best TikTok lights: Andoer

(Image credit: Andoer)

06. Andoer Softbox Light

The Andoer soft box LED is perfect for portraits and selfies

Specifications

Colour temperature: 3000-6000K
Weight: 4.68kg
Power source: Mains
Dimensions: ‎: 70.5 x 28.6 x 24.9 cm

Reasons to buy

+
Flattering, soft light
+
Powerful LEDs  

Reasons to avoid

-
Heavy
-
Bigger than most 

The Andoer Softbox light comes with a powerful 150W LED light. It has a wide colour temperature range from 3000-6000K, making it ideal for matching with existing lighting or with ambient lighting in a room. 

Though big and bulky, the soft box makes light diffuse and flattering, mimicking window light that falls gracefully across the subject. It comes with a light stand standing from 68cm to 200cm in height and even has an infrared remote to turn the light on and off, dim it and change colour temperature.

best TikTok lights: Rotolight

(Image credit: Rotolight)

07. Rotolight NEO 2

One of the best TikTok lights for advanced creators

Specifications

Colour temperature: 3150-6300K
Weight: 750g
Power source: Mains and batteries
Dimensions: 27.9 x 21.7 x 10.9cm

Reasons to buy

+
Super accurate colour rendition 
+
Consistent and flash mode 

Reasons to avoid

-
Much pricier than others
-
Not suited to novices

Designed to be portable but still pack a punch, the NEO 2 by Rotolight really goes all out to quash the competition. Able to run on 6 standard AA batteries or mains power, this LED light serves as both a continuous light for video and even has a HSS sync flash option for fine-tuned stills. 

The colour gamut is wide and is so accurate it's ideally suited for the Television Lighting Consistency Index, meaning your TikTok videos are going to look superb. It also has some CineSFX which mimic types of lighting effects such as lightning, fire, TV and gunshots.

best TikTok lights: Aputure

(Image credit: Aputure)

08. Aputure AL-M9 Mini

Powerful lighting in a tiny package for a reasonable price

Specifications

Colour temperature: 5500K
Weight: : 140g
Power source: Battery
Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.6 x 1.1cm

Reasons to buy

+
Tiny and lightweight
+
Perfect for travel shooting 

Reasons to avoid

-
No in-built colour change
-
Not the brightest 

Good things come in small packages, and if you’re either on a budget or need something to take with you while travelling, the Aputure AL-M9 Mini might be the light for you. At just 140g, you probably won’t even notice it in your pocket. 

Powered by batteries alone, it’ll last for 105 minutes at 100% brightness, so plenty long enough to light multiple videos for social media. At 900 lumens, it isn’t the brightest on this list of the best TikTok lights, but it's ideal for close-up fill work for selfies, products and macro videos. What it lacks in power, it makes up for with a very attractive price.

best TikTok lights: Lepro

(Image credit: Lepro)

09. Lepro Warm White LED Strips 10m

Brighten up the background with these incredibly versatile LED striplights

Specifications

Colour temperature: 3000K
Weight : 99g
Power source: Mains or 12V battery
Dimensions: 500 x 0.8 x 0.2 cm

Reasons to buy

+
Can cut and extend
+
Cheaper than others 

Reasons to avoid

-
Can’t change colour
-
Two 5m strips 

It’s not always about lighting yourself in a TikTok video. Sometimes you’ve got to pay attention to the lighting in the background too, and that’s exactly where the Lepro warm LED lights come in.

Coming in two 5m strips, they can be cut along the dedicated cut points to resize them or to connect up several strips to fit around doorways, windows, or anything else. It’s always possible to use them to light the main subject too by cutting them up and using them up close. They come with a sticky back, so you can place them straight to surfaces without any faff.

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Jason Parnell-Brookes

Jason Parnell-Brookes is an Internationally award-winning photographer, educator and writer. He won Gold in the Nikon Photo Contest 2018/19 and was named Digital Photographer of the Year in 2014. Jason is a qualified teacher, Masters graduate and works with many high profile international clients. For Creative Bloq, he writes about cameras, photography and video and photo editing.