Difference between illuminated signs made of NEON Glass or NEON LED tape

Not sure if you fully understand the differences between regular neon and LED tape? There are plenty of myths on the internet about why you should choose one over the other. We aim to give you a clearer picture, so we've identified the most important differences between the two.
You'll find them detailed below, and all of them put together can be your basic guide to how you should approach both types of lighting.

NEON signs have remained popular with businesses around the world because the light they emit is varied and vibrant. Because of its notoriety and status, neon is still chosen by creative people who want to attract attention. In comparison, LED signs are extremely energy efficient and in addition offer a cheaper alternative for people who can't afford to go the neon route.

Brightness - both make light, but the way they are processed gives each a unique visual character. The most obvious difference is that NEON signs use real glass tubes. LED signs, on the other hand, are created using strips of light-emitting diodes which, when inserted, give the illusion of a neon-like effect and are encased in a polymer sleeve to protect each diode.

Attractiveness and aesthetics - both types of signs are good for attracting attention. Some argue that vintage-style neon has a significant edge over LED tape in terms of appearance, which is probably true for certain types of stores. However, the bright, clean and modern look of artificial neon LED signs is proving extremely popular and quickly outperforming the "noble" competitor.

Eye-catching - there's no doubt about it, LED lights are certainly brighter and can be seen to glow in daylight, while the light from glass tube neon panels is considerably softer and more prominent after dark.

Space requirements - not true for all businesses, but small cafes or shops may prefer LED as it is 1/4 to 1/3 thinner than the glass option. They are also very lightweight and can simply be placed on the countertop (with a stand), hung from somewhere or mounted on the wall.

Overall cost - when you include any professional installation, maintenance and replacement requirements in the design and manufacturing, LED is almost always the most cost effective option.

Energy savings - this is where an LED sign is the clear choice, as it can be up to 10 times more energy efficient than the same sign made from glass neon tubes.

Versatility - LED lights come in a much wider range of colours and can be bent much more tightly, giving you better options in terms of sign shapes and styles. The animation options are also better, as is the ability to pair the LED strip with other signage media such as channel letters or UV printing to create something spectacular.

Safety - Glass neon signs can shatter and heat up. Also those who produce NEON glass signs are subject to high health risks after a period of time in this field. LED lights are coated with a flexible material, usually attached to a shatter-resistant acrylic sheet, and do not even heat up.

In conclusion, most of the important aspects depend on how big the sign will be, where it will be installed, the size of the display and what you want it to do.