Are live plants or fake plants better for a fish tank?

Across specialist planted-tank communities, live plants are generally preferred because they consume nitrates, oxygenate the water, and provide softer cover for fish. Verified-purchase reviewers and r/Aquariums threads note that silk and plastic plants are valid for low-light tanks, travel-prone owners, or species that uproot or shred live plants, but plastic plants with stiff edges can damage long-finned fish like bettas, so silk is generally recommended over hard plastic when artificial is the choice.