Are ring lights good for video calls and streaming?

For face-lighting on Zoom calls and webcam streams, reviewers across home-office and streaming communities broadly agree ring lights work well because they spread even, shadow-minimizing light. However, several videography-focused commenters caution that a ring light used as the only light source can look flat or amateurish, and that a soft panel or key light often reads as more cinematic. For simple video calls, a smaller clip-on or desk light is usually plenty.