Buying guide

Aputure vs amaran vs Godox vs Nanlite: LED Lights Compared

How Aputure, its amaran sub-brand, Godox and Nanlite compare on apps, mounts, output and control, with example lights at each level and advice on which ecosystem to build around.

Updated 27 September 2026 7 min read By Electronic Australia

Short answer Aputure vs amaran is not a contest between rivals: amaran is Aputure's lower-cost sub-brand, and both are controlled by the same Sidus Link app. Aputure's STORM lights add professional control such as DMX and CRMX, locking ProLock mounts and more power options. Godox covers the widest price spread with its own app, and Nanlite sits alongside with its NANLINK app and an FM mount on the Forza 60B II.

All four brands make LED video lights that look similar on paper, so the useful questions are practical. Which app will control your lights together? Which modifiers will fit? How much output do you need for your room? This guide sets out how the brands relate, what the step up from amaran to Aputure gets you, and how Godox and Nanlite compare, using lights we carry as examples.

How the brands and ranges line up

Brand	Ranges in our catalogue	App	Typical mount on point-source lights
Aputure	STORM, MC Pro, Accent	Sidus Link, amaran app	ProLock Bowens, Mini ProLock on STORM 80c
amaran (by Aputure)	COB, Ray, Ace, Pano, Verge, Halo, T-series tubes, PT pixel tubes, F-series mats	Sidus Link, amaran app	Bowens on COB models, varies elsewhere
Godox	SL, ML, Litemons LA, LE and LP, KNOWLED	Godox Light	Bowens on SL60II and Litemons LA300, Godox mount on ML
Nanlite	Forza, FS, FC, PavoTube II, PavoSlim	NANLINK	FM mount with Bowens adapter on Forza 60B II

Families are not strict tiers. A high model number is not automatically a more professional light, and features such as DMX, internal batteries and colour modes change from model to model. Always check the specific light.

Aputure vs amaran: what the step up gets you

Because amaran is part of Aputure, the two share an app ecosystem. Aputure says Sidus Link can control all Aputure and amaran lights released since the LS 300d II, and the simpler amaran app runs on the same Sidus Mesh technology and also controls both brands. In practice you can run an amaran fill and an Aputure key from the same phone.

amaran: capable lights for creators

amaran COB 200d S: Aputure lists 200 watts output at 5600K, CRI 96+ and TLCI 99+, a Bowens mount and Bluetooth control through Sidus Link. A straightforward daylight key for a studio or larger room.
amaran Ray 60c and 120c: compact full-colour lights. Aputure's own support pages note that these two are not DMX-enabled, so they suit app control rather than a lighting desk.
amaran Ace 25c: a small panel with a listed maximum of 32 watts, a 2300K to 10,000K range, CRI and TLCI of 95+ and a built-in 33.3 Wh battery. It suits on-camera, desk and fill work.
amaran T2c: a tube light powered by an external battery that can be swapped for a charged one mid-shoot.

Aputure STORM: production features

STORM 80c: 80 watts output with a colour temperature range of 1800K to 20,000K, CRI 97 and TLCI 99 according to Aputure. It uses a Mini ProLock mount, takes DMX, RDM and CRMX control, and runs from AC, a USB-C power bank or a V-mount battery on an optional bracket.
STORM 400x: 400 watts output, 2500K to 10,000K, CRI and TLCI of 95 or more, a ProLock Bowens mount, and control through Sidus Link, DMX with RDM, and CRMX wireless DMX.

In short, amaran covers most YouTube, podcast and small studio needs. Aputure makes sense when you need wired or wireless DMX for a crew, more power options on location, or a locking mount for heavy modifiers. If you run lights from batteries, our V-mount battery guide explains capacity and flight rules.

Aputure and amaran lights mentioned in this guide

Aputure vs Godox, and amaran vs Godox

Godox is a separate company with its own ecosystem. Its lights use the Godox Light app, so you cannot group them with Aputure or amaran fixtures in Sidus Link. If you plan to build a kit over time, staying with one app is worth considering.

Godox SL60IIBi: Godox lists 75 watts maximum power, 2800K to 6500K bi-colour, CRI 96 or more and TLCI 97 or more, a Bowens mount and app control over 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth. The daylight SL60IID is listed at 70 watts and 5600K.
Godox ML60IIBi: about 70 watts input, 2800K to 6500K, CRI 96 and TLCI 97 averages. It uses a Godox mount with a Bowens adapter option, and runs from an AC adapter, an NP-F970 battery or a V-mount battery.
Godox Litemons LA series: larger lights in daylight, bi-colour and RGB versions. Godox lists the LA300R at 330 watts input, 1800K to 10,000K, a Bowens mount, and DMX through an optional adapter cable.
Godox KNOWLED: Godox's professional cinema range, including the M600Bi Pro monolight, F400Bi and F600Bi panels and the AT200Bi tube.

Compared with amaran, Godox offers more choice at each output level, from small SL and ML lights through to KNOWLED. Compared with Aputure's STORM line, the question is usually about control and ecosystem: if your crew already runs Sidus Link, adding Godox means a second app. You can see the full Godox range and the Aputure and amaran range on their brand pages.

Nanlite vs Aputure

Nanlite uses the NANLINK app. The Forza 60B II is listed by Nanlite at 72 watts, 2700K to 6500K, CRI 96 and TLCI 98. It uses Nanlite's FM mount, and Nanlite's US listing includes a Bowens-mount adapter and an NP-F battery grip, plus DMX and RDM control. That makes it a compact, portable key. Check what is in the box for the kit you buy, because the adapter is what lets full-size Bowens softboxes fit.

Nanlite's PavoTube II tubes are a common alternative to amaran's T-series, and Nanlite publishes a DMX reference guide for the PavoTube II 15C and 30C. Higher up, the FS and FC series are larger point-source lights. Against Aputure, the trade-off mirrors Godox: capable lights, but a separate app and, on some models, a different mount.

Godox and Nanlite lights mentioned in this guide

Bowens mount lights and other mounts

The mount decides which softboxes, lanterns and reflectors will fit. Bowens S-type is the broad standard, and a Bowens light gives you the widest choice of modifiers from any brand.

Bowens: amaran COB 200d S, Godox SL60IIBi, Godox Litemons LA300R. Standard Bowens softboxes fit directly.
Aputure ProLock: Aputure's locking version of Bowens, used on the STORM 400x.
Mini ProLock: the smaller mount on the STORM 80c. Full-size Bowens modifiers need an adapter, such as the Aputure Mini ProLock to Bowens adapter.
Godox mount: used on the ML series, with a Bowens adapter option.
Nanlite FM mount: used on the Forza 60B II. Use FM-mount modifiers, or Bowens modifiers through the adapter.

Also check weight. A large softbox on a small light can strain the mount, so match modifier size to the light. Our softbox and modifier guide covers sizes and shapes, and modifiers are in light modifiers.

Output classes and when each makes sense

Wattage is a rough guide only. Aputure separates maximum output from maximum power draw, while other makers may quote only power draw, so compare like with like and look at published lux figures where you can.

Class	Examples we carry	Suits
Under 40 W	amaran Ace 25c, small panels and tubes	On-camera, desk streaming, fill, background accents
60 to 80 W	Godox SL60IIBi, Godox ML60IIBi, Nanlite Forza 60B II, Aputure STORM 80c	Key light in a small room with a 60 to 90 cm softbox
100 to 200 W	amaran COB 200d S	Larger rooms, 90 to 120 cm softboxes, two-person setups
300 W and up	Aputure STORM 400x, Godox Litemons LA300R	Studios, large modifiers, competing with daylight

For a single presenter in a bedroom, 60 to 80 watts in a softbox is usually plenty. For guidance on placing those lights, see our lighting for YouTube videos guide, or browse the full continuous lighting range.

Questions

Is amaran made by Aputure?

Yes. amaran is Aputure's sub-brand, aimed at creators and smaller productions at lower prices. Aputure says Sidus Link controls all its Aputure and amaran lights released since the LS 300d II, so the two brands can be grouped and controlled together. Aputure's own STORM range adds professional features such as DMX, CRMX and ProLock mounts on the models that list them.

Can I control Godox and Aputure lights in one app?

Not through the brands' own apps. Aputure and amaran use Sidus Link or the amaran app, Godox uses Godox Light and Nanlite uses NANLINK. Lights that support DMX can be run together from a lighting desk or DMX controller, but that is a step up in complexity. If phone control matters, keep your kit within one ecosystem.

Will Godox softboxes fit amaran lights?

If both use a standard Bowens mount, yes. The amaran COB 200d S and Godox SL60IIBi are both Bowens mount, so Bowens softboxes from either brand fit. Lights with Mini ProLock, Godox mount or Nanlite FM mount need a matching modifier or an adapter. Check the weight of large modifiers against what the light can support.

Which is better for a first YouTube light, amaran or Godox?

Both make suitable first lights. Compare the specific models on output, colour range, CRI and TLCI, and mount. The Godox SL60IIBi and amaran COB 200d S are both Bowens mount with high published colour accuracy. The bigger decision is which app you want to build around as you add more lights.

Sources

Specifications and background were checked against these pages when the guide was last updated. Always confirm compatibility on the product page before ordering.

Aputure vs amaran vs Godox vs Nanlite: LED Lights Compared

How the brands and ranges line up