If you are a streamer or someone who frequently watches streams then you can understand the importance of good lighting and probably interested in best lights for streaming. Streamers have to sell themselves as a brand and the quality of their streams plays an important role in expanding and catching the attention of an audience. No matter how good the content you may provide in your videos, if the quality of your streams is not up to par then you will most likely struggle to retain your viewers.
Now with streaming slowly gaining traction among the newer generations, it is slowly turning into a profession and several professional streamers have popped up. With their quality equipment and their investment in their streams, the audience is naturally drawn to their vivid and crisp streams, leaving those who do not follow suit in the dust.
If you are planning to stream on Twitch or YouTube then you must have a good and reliable Lighting setup in your home. If you are a newbie, then you might have wondered how one can make their streams look professional. Lighting setup plays a huge part in this. A good amount of Lighting is especially important if you will be using a green screen or a background eraser where it helps create a smoother transition of body outlines to the background.
What you should know is that there are two types of Lighting: softbox and desktop Lighting. You do not have to be confused about their difference. The only variation is the difference in size between them. A softbox light is generally larger and takes up a lot of space while a desktop light is mobile and can simply be placed on a table or mounted on your webcam.
The latter helps you save money as well as space and is perfect if you are working in a small area.
If you are worried that you might be on the backend you do not have to worry since professional-grade Lighting is more accessible than ever. Even if you go for a good model you do not have to worry about going bankrupt to create quality content. Instead, you can think about it as an investment for your channel.
With that in mind, we have gone through a diverse amount of Lighting and selected the best Lighting for streamers. If you plan to buy some soon, make sure that you check it out.
Table of Contents
Best Lights for Streaming Checklist
1- HPUSN Streaming Softbox Lighting Kit Pro
2- Emart 60 LED Continuous Portable Photography Lighting Kit for Streaming
3- NEEWER 160 LED CN-160 Dimmable Ultra High Power Light
4- Neewer 2 Packs Dimmable 5600K USB LED Video LightS with Adjustable Tripod
5- Fovitec – 1x 20″ x 28″ Softbox Continuous Lighting Kit
6- Linco Lincostore Photography Photo Table Top Studio Lighting Kit
7- VIEWOW 8″ Ring Light with Tripod Stand – Dimmable
8- QIAYA Selfie LED Ring Lights
9- MOUNTDOG 1350W Photography Continuous Softbox Lighting Kit
10- LimoStudio Photography Continuous Lighting Kit
Best Lights for Streaming
1. Emart 60 LED
The Emart is a tabletop LED panel light that is also equipped with multiple colour diffusers and is quite small and portable. These lamps provide wider lights and their accurate colour temperatures are what set them apart from other models.
They help streamers create clear and superior lighting in real-time by providing the user with a wide range of colour temperatures which includes both 3300K and 5500K.
Since the output of these lamps is much higher than what you’d expect, they require to be plugged into power outlets instead of being charged by USB so make sure that you have a power outlet at your streaming setup.
The manufacturers are kind enough to provide the customer with a 655 inches long cable which makes sure that it can easily reach the power outlet even if it is rather far away.
If you juxtapose these lamps with their price then you’ll find that they provide quite a bit of power. Its small and portable nature makes it an even better option since you are spared the effort of setting it up.
The only problem you might face is that it does not come with a dimmer like many of its peers which overall is not that much of a downer.
Emart 60 LED
Pros
- The lamps are quite bright for their price range
- It comes with multiple LED diffusers that can help you create a variety of effects
- The whole device is small and portable which makes it easy to set up
Cons
- It lacks a dimmer like many of its peers
2. NEEWER 160 LED CN-160 Dimmable Light
If your sole focus is on lighting and you are not interested in effects then this one’s for you. This LED light provides you with bright lights, quick outputs and finer control over your lighting adjustment instead of focusing on colour lighting effects.
There is indeed no replacement for good old lighting and NEEWER delivers just that for the sake of those who want the minimum.
This model’s main focus is on giving bright lighting and there can be no doubt that it is great on that front.
Recently there is a trend of streamers streaming their videos from a darkroom and new streamers will be better able to base their videos in this style with this lamp.
To give you an example of how bright this lamp is, you will not even need any other light in the room that you are streaming in to make a great video. That’s how bright it is.
Its colour diffuser can only provide the user with white videos or a vintage orange effect and it is easily capable of achieving a colour temperature of up to 3200K.
The only downside that can be found in this is that it is powered by AA batteries which are prone to running out frequently. This might be a hassle for some users.
NEEWER 160 LED CN-160 Dimmable Light
Pros
- One of the brightest lights which can be found in this process segment
- Vintage orange and luminous white videos can be made using the colour diffuser
- The lamp is capable of achieving colour temperatures of up to 3200K
Cons
- Its power source is AA batteries which are prone to running out frequently
3. Neewer 2 Packs Dimmable 5600K
Many streamers prefer to have dynamic lightning especially those who stream games where the focus is more on the game instead of the person.
This is the reason why many of the streamers have started experimenting boldly with coloured lights in their streams.
The Neewer considers this and manages to climb up to the expectations splendidly. Instead of investing in a specially made coloured lamp, you can use this model which is created to switch through various colour plates.
The lamps are equipped with a diffuser and have a multitude of coloured panels like white, red, blue, and yellow that lets the streamer change the colour of lighting instantly for an added impact on the audience.
Although the LED panels in this thing are smaller than your average lighting solution these lamps also have a ton of other useful features like 180 rotations. These lights are charged by a USB plug and are ideal for those who are looking to experiment with their lighting.
Their dimmable 5600K lights are impressive in themselves even if you discount the colour effects. The bulbs are of 10 watts and you are also provided with a tripod set up which is perfect if you want to use it on a desk.
Neewer 2 Packs Dimmable 5600K
Pros
- Its Dimmable 5600K lights are quite bright
- The colour options in this device are expansive
- A 10-watt output that is powered by USB
- Tripod set up for use on a desk
Cons
- The LED panels are smaller than your average lamps
4. Fovitec – 1x Lighting Kit
The Fovitec offers its users a lot of customization options for your lighting needs based on the physical set up of your home which makes them especially great for those who like to tweak and twist their setups. According to your needs, you can choose to have one, two or three softboxes.
The last one would be the ideal choice if you are looking for a professional look while streaming. They’ll adequately cover all your sides without any shadowing since one of them is specially designed to provide light from above.
The light bulbs are durable and will last fairly long. They are ideal for professional as well as everyday use and the softboxes can be mounted tall or wide depending on your set up. The bulbs give a nice daylight colour which is perfect if you are streaming during night-time or in a dark and closed-off room.
The Fovitech comes with 5 bulbs and you are handed complete control over them. You can adjust them as you wish so you can have the lighting output that best suits your needs at a particular time.
With so many adjustments, you are covered for any special environmental needs that you might have. The power output for these is 100 watt and the Luminosity rating is 1500 lumens. The softbox varies from a height of 2.3 to 7.6 feet in height and comes with a 210-degree rotation.
The bulbs are fluorescent and will make sure that you are provided adequate lighting during your streams.
Fovitec - 1x Lighting Kit
Pros
- 210 degrees rotation
- Have a lot of customisation options so you are covered for all your needs
- Durable and long-lasting setup
Cons
- Since there are a lot of customisations, the set up can be a daunting task for some
5. Linco Lincostore Studio Lighting
This kit is unique even among professional kits due to its ability to collapse into itself and pack away in just a time of 30 seconds. This sets it apart from its peers and makes its set up and breakdown a jiffy even for a new streamer.
As this lighting system requires no skills at all to operate, people who are just starting in streaming or those who move around to a lot of situations for collaborations will find it suitable for their needs.
Its light and compact nature is exactly what those kinds of people need from a portable set up. This is a tabletop light which makes it more preferable for those who are just starting with their streams.
The light comes with a 5500K lighting system and its 15-inch morning glory softbox diffuser gives the videos you stream a professional feel.
However, if you are someone who wants to experiment with their streams and like a lot of colour options or effects then you might not find this device suitable and a larger umbrella lamp is recommended.
Linco Lincostore Studio Lighting
Pros
Cons
6. VIEWOW 8″ Ring Light with Tripod Stand
If you want a versatile lighting solution to your content problems and if you regularly collaborate with other people then this lamp is for you.
It comes with a ring light and a stand along with 3 different colour modes and 10 levels of brightness which make sure that your videos will look like they were made professionally.
The light in this lamp operates within a range of 3200k and 6500K which provides a great range of lighting for those who want to experiment with lighting and is bright enough even for use in daylight.
This is why it is perfect for those who want an all in one solution for those who are just starting or those who want to include a lot of diverse content in their stream over time. The ring light is capable of 360 degrees rotation and will be sure to fit perfectly in just about any stream setup.
The kit also doubles up as a smartphone stand and its 3 pronged stands firmly locks itself into the ground making sure that there is no disturbance during the stream.
The only downside which can be found is that the included remote is not able to rotate the ring light.
VIEWOW 8″ Ring Light with Tripod Stand
Pros
- It has a wide range of lighting for those who want to experiment with lighting
- It can be rotated by 360 degrees for great angles
- It’s 3 pronged stand roots firmly into the ground and can also hold a smartphone
Cons
- The remote which is included is not able to rotate the ring lights
7. QIAYA Selfie Light Ring Lights
If you want simplicity, then it probably doesn’t get any simpler than a classic ring light. In this category, the QIAYA ring light is one of the best that there is. Ring lights have managed to stay in the game because of their simple nature, their ease of availability, lesser costs, lesser setup time and greater efficiency.
They are efficient and get the job done if we are talking about a small lighting solution for a stream. The QIAYA is a powerful light for its size and is perfect for those who instead of bothering to go for professional lighting kits want a simple LED light that can be recharged through a USB.
Its small and compact nature makes it easy to store and use. This ring light works smoothly whether it is with your gaming ring, your streams of your cell phone and provides great lighting on the go.
Although it is not the most powerful light that is out there it manages to get its job done splendidly. It comes with 4 different brightness levels and works very well even with a cell phone.
Its easily rechargeable nature makes sure that you can charge it even during your travels.
VIEWOW 8″ Ring Light with Tripod Stand
Pros
- Can be recharged easily through USB
- It comes with 4 different brightness levels which are great for someone of its size
- It can work very well even with a mobile phone
- It is small and easy to store and transport which make it perfect for travel
Cons
- Its light is not very powerful so you will not get much light in a bright area
8. MOUNTDOG 1350W
This lighting kit is pretty adjustable and is capable of rotating a full 210 degrees. Its tripod stand can also extend between 27 to 80 inches which makes it quite useful. It is completely compatible with the standard 110 volt light bulbs which can be found in the market.
This Lighting kit is bound to deliver if simple lighting is your only problem since colour and temperature adjustment in this model is not very easy.
The lighting box is covered with a premium nylon slip that gives your stream that soft lighting look which will make sure that your videos look different from the rest of the pack.
Another benefit of this kit is that it is very easy to assemble and breakdown which makes it quite handy for outdoor use and for those who are just starting.
This kit requires no fuss over colour temperature or the technical knowledge that is needed to set up many other lighting solutions.
If you are looking for something that is both useful and is easy to use straight out of the box then this is a great choice for you.
MOUNTDOG 1350W
Pros
- Easy to set up, use and disassemble
- It is lightweight and portable which is perfect for travel
- It has great soft lighting effect
- Its adjustability is quite great
Cons
- The colour and temperature adjustment is not easy
9. LimoStudio Photography Lighting
If there ever was a lighting kit in a streamer’s dream, then this is it. This 3 pieces professional kit is something which can easily fill the shoes which come with such high expectations.
This is a true professional-grade kit that comes with a 33-inch umbrella reflector and an 86 inches stand that will make sure that you get lights from high angels.
This kit is great for those who want to distinguish themselves from the horde that uses low-level setups as this lighting solution makes sure that your videos have a professional and cinematic look to them.
Its 45-watt bulb is capable of producing images that are vivid and crisp even in daylight which makes it perfect for outdoor locations.
To that end, it is also provided with a carrying case for convenience.
The light provided from this lamp is great and you will not require any other light source if this remains at work.
The tripod that comes with it is extremely sturdy and pet-proof which makes it effective for beginners as well as professionals.
It’s the only downside can be considered the fact that it might not work very well with lower quality outlets that are incapable of supporting powerful bulbs.
LimoStudio Photography Lighting
Pros
- The lighting is brilliant and provides crisp and vivid images even in broad daylight
- The tripod stand that comes with it is durable and sturdy
- It is supplied with a carrying case for convenience that makes it easy to carry and store
Cons
- Its bulb may not work very well with lower quality outlets that are incapable of supporting more stronger bulbs
10. HPUSN Softbox Lighting Kit
If you want to compare lighting solutions, then professional photography kits simply cannot be outdone. Do not let their highest costs deter you, their performance will give dividends and make sure that you do not regret your decision.
If you are a professional streamer then this is a must on your list even if it might seem like overkill for a simple streamer.
The HPUSN softbox lighting kit is highly recommended. It is an amazing long term solution to all your lighting problems.
It is equipped with 2 85W CFL bulbs and each bulb has a life of 8000 hours which guarantees that you won’t have to spend anything for a while.
This high energy-saving solution is a no brainer if you want to go in for a long haul with your streaming. If you have some experience in streaming than you must know how quickly those hours pile up.
The longevity of your lighting solution should not be taken lightly as you might know how an ill-timed lighting failure can ruin your stream.
The HPUSN kit comes with 210-degree rotatable softbox and provides you with affordable and professional-grade lighting and its long-lasting and energy-efficient bulb will make sure that you are set up for many years ahead.
Although it is a great option, it has a slightly complicated setup which might be a daunting task for beginners in this field.
HPUSN Softbox Lighting Kit
Pros
- Professional and affordable lighting solution
- Long-lasting and energy-efficient
- Has a 210-degree rotatable softbox
Cons
- It has a complicated setup which might be intimidating to new streamers
Lights for Streaming Buyers Guide
It doesn’t hurt to check out all the specifications of the device that you are about to buy with your hard-earned money whether you are new to the game or a veteran.
If you want to improve the quality of your streams then there are some things that you have to keep in mind before you make your purchase.
Control: While having great specs is important in your setup, they are not as important as your control over the output of the lights. For example, if you are in a dark place, an extremely bright setup might ruin your video instead of improving it.
Having the ability to dim or brighten your lights at a moment’s notice is crucial if you want to make it through the streaming business in one piece.
Spacing: Yeah, you brought a great setup but now you find yourself lacking a proper place to use your new purchase. This will put all your efforts down the drain.
Unless you have a dedicated space reserved especially for streaming, you must understand the dimensions of your new setup.
You also have to consider that you might want to travel and your setup has to be light and compact enough to be pulled around without any hassle of special arrangements.
Stream Type: While you might consider PS4 or gaming when you hear the word streaming, many other people also ply their trade with streaming and their requirements are completely different from their counterparts.
Each type of stream requires different lighting setups. While streamers who stream games might prefer LED lighting, those who are more cinematic will prefer dynamic lighting.
Lights: The thing for which you will be blowing your money. A good lighting setup got to have good lights otherwise it’d just be a huge amount of waste.
There are many types of lights and you might not want the more powerful systems depending on your requirements. If you want something small with less power you can go with desktop lightings.
Power: While a lot of LED lights come with the option of running on batteries, it is a mixed bag at best.
You’ll want your lighting solution to be able to run on an external power source for longer sessions and make sure that there is no decrease in the quality of the light as the batteries start to run out.
Colour Temperature: This means how cool or warm your light appears. The ability to change the temperature of your colour will let you match the light of your stream with your external environment and ensure that your stream looks natural and in tune with its surroundings.
Diffusion: It means softening your light which is something that’ll happen if the light source is left bare without any sort of covering.
For a start, if you cannot see your bulbs through the sheets covering them then you are good to go.
Frequently Asked Questions
Conclusion
In terms that even a noob would understand: Lighting makes your image look great. If you are serious with your streams then you are going to need something suitable for your streaming setup.
Thankfully we are currently in the age of great technology and you can get yourself some amazing lighting solutions at dirt cheap rates that would’ve made professional photographers from a decade back utterly jealous.
All of the options that are listed above are great and work perfectly. All you have to do is choose which one is suited best for you and go on and start your first stream.