ring light vs softbox vs led panel – Alan Spicer

Q: Which is better for YouTube: ring light or softbox?

For most creators, a softbox or soft key light is more flattering and forgiving. Ring lights can work, but they can look flatter and can cause glasses glare.

Q: Why does a ring light make my face look flat?

Ring lights are often placed directly in front of you, which reduces natural shadows that create depth. Moving the light off-axis or choosing a soft key light can help.

Q: Will better lighting make my phone camera look better?

Yes. Lighting reduces noise and makes phone footage look sharper and cleaner, often more than a camera upgrade would.

Disclosure: Some links on this page may be affiliate links (including Amazon). If you choose to buy through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend gear and upgrade paths I genuinely believe are sensible for creators.

Written by Alan Spicer

YouTube Certified Expert (Audience Growth, Channel Management, Content Strategy)
YouTube & Digital Media Consultant (including work with Coin Bureau brands)
Built repeatable growth systems across multiple channels (including 0→20k in 2 months and 15k→100k in 8 months)
Recipient of 6× YouTube Silver Play Buttons

My bias: I prefer lighting that is flattering, consistent, and easy to repeat. The “best” light is the one that makes you look good without adding friction to filming.

Ring Light vs Softbox vs LED Panel: Which Is Best for YouTube? (UK)

If you’ve ever searched “best YouTube light”, you’ve seen three options everywhere: ring lights, softboxes, and LED panels.

The problem is most advice skips the part that matters: your room size, your filming style, and your face/glasses. In a small room, the “wrong” light doesn’t just look slightly worse — it can look harsh, cause glare, or make the background a shadowy mess.

This guide gives you a calm decision framework: which light to buy, where to place it, and what to avoid.

Jump to:

Quick answer ·
Related searches ·
60-second decision tree ·
Comparison table ·
Which one should you buy? ·
Best placement (small room friendly) ·
Glasses glare fixes ·
Background/shadow fixes ·
What not to do ·
Who this is not for ·
Gear links ·
Related reading ·
FAQs

Quick answer (snippet-friendly)

If you only buy one light for YouTube, a soft key light (softbox-style) is the safest choice for most creators and most rooms. Choose an LED panel if you need compact and controllable (ideally with diffusion). Choose a ring light if you like the look and you don’t struggle with glasses glare — ring lights can be quick, but they often look flatter and reflect more.

The 60-second decision tree

You want the most flattering “safe” look → Softbox / soft key light.
You have a tiny space or travel setup → LED panel (with diffusion).
You want quick, centred light for face-only content → Ring light (watch for glare/flatness).
You wear glasses and get glare → Softbox or diffused LED panel, placed higher and off to the side.
Your background is a wall behind you → Prioritise separation (move forward, add a practical light behind).

Rule of thumb: one well-placed soft key light beats three badly placed lights.

Ring light vs softbox vs LED panel (comparison table)

Light type	Best for	Strength	Common downside	Small-room friendliness
Softbox / soft key light	Talking head, general YouTube filming	Most flattering, forgiving skin tones	Can be bulky	High (if you can fit a stand)
LED panel	Desks, tight spaces, travel, flexible mounting	Compact, controllable, often dimmable	Can look harsh without diffusion	Very high (best when space is tight)
Ring light	Face-forward, beauty, quick centered lighting	Fast to set up, even front light	Can look flat; glare in glasses; “ring catchlight” look	Medium (works, but easier to look “samey”)

Which one should you buy? (calm recommendations)

Your situation	Best choice	Why	What to watch out for
Most creators, most rooms	Softbox / soft key light	It’s the most forgiving and flattering choice	Make sure it’s not blasting straight-on from the camera
Tiny room / desk corner / travel	LED panel (with diffusion)	Compact and easy to position off-axis	Undiffused panels can look harsh up close
Beauty / centred face content	Ring light	Even front light can be convenient	Glasses glare and a flatter look are common
Glasses glare drives you mad	Softbox or diffused LED panel	Easier to place higher and off to the side	Don’t place the light directly behind the camera
Your background looks messy/flat	Any key + a small practical behind you	Separation creates depth fast	Keep background tidy and intentional

Best placement (small-room friendly)

Start with this placement:

Put the light 45° to the side of your face (not directly above the camera).
Keep it slightly above eye level, angled down gently.
Make your face the brightest thing in frame.

Then do this:

If your background has harsh shadows: move yourself further from the wall (even 30–60cm helps).
If you look shiny: move the light a little further away and/or soften it more.
If you look flat: add a small practical light behind you for separation.

Glasses glare fixes (fast)

Glasses glare is almost always a placement issue. Try these in order:

Raise the light and angle it down a bit more.
Move it further to the side (more off-axis).
Move the light further away and increase brightness slightly.
Avoid light directly behind the camera (most glare starts there).

Quick check: if you can see a bright circle/rectangle in your lenses, the camera can too.

Background & shadow fixes (the “small room” pain)

In small rooms you often end up near a wall, which makes shadows look harsher and makes the shot feel cramped.

Fixes (in order):

Move away from the wall (yes, even a little).
Angle the key light so shadows fall out of frame.
Soften the key light (diffusion or larger source).
Add a background practical (lamp/low-power LED) to create depth.

What not to do

Don’t use ceiling lights as your main light. They create harsh under-eye shadows.
Don’t mix random colour temperatures. Daylight + warm lamps + cold LEDs = odd skin tones.
Don’t buy multiple lights before you nail placement. Angle beats quantity.
Don’t sit with your back against a wall. You’ll fight shadows forever.
Don’t expect lighting to fix bad audio. Audio and lighting are separate bottlenecks.

Who this is not for

Creators building a permanent studio rig with ceiling mounts and complex modifiers
People chasing cinema lighting setups purely for the gear hobby
Anyone hoping a light will replace a consistent filming routine

Gear links

If you want scenario-based picks and bundles, start here:

Creator Gear hub

These guides pair well with this decision:

If you want Amazon UK searches (tagged so the session is credited):

FAQs (People Also Ask style)

Which is better for YouTube: ring light or softbox?

For most creators, a softbox/soft key light is more flattering and forgiving. Ring lights can work, but they can look flatter and can cause glasses glare.

Are LED panel lights good for YouTube?

Yes, especially in small rooms or travel setups. They work best with diffusion so the light isn’t harsh.

What’s the best light if I wear glasses?

A softbox or a diffused LED panel placed higher and off to the side is usually easiest for reducing glare.

Why does a ring light make my face look flat?

Because it’s often placed directly in front of you, which reduces natural shadows that create depth. Moving the light off-axis or choosing a soft key light can help.

How do I stop harsh shadows behind me?

Move away from the wall, soften the key light, and angle it so shadows fall out of frame. Adding a small background practical can also reduce the “shadow problem”.

Do I need two lights for YouTube?

Not usually. One good key light placed well can be enough. Add a bounce fill or a small background light only if needed.

Is a ring light good for streaming?

It can be if you like the look, but many streamers prefer a soft key light for a more natural result and fewer reflections.

What colour temperature is best for YouTube lighting?

Consistency matters most. Avoid mixing daylight, warm lamps, and cool LEDs. Pick a dominant source and match around it.

Will better lighting make my phone camera look better?

Yes — lighting is one of the biggest ways to improve phone footage. It reduces noise and makes the image look sharper and cleaner.

Softbox vs LED panel: which is better for a small room?

If you can fit it, a softbox is usually more flattering. If space is tight, a diffused LED panel is often the better practical choice.

Do I need three-point lighting?

Not in most small rooms. Focus on one good key light and background separation first.