Best Tally Light Under $100 — Including Free Options
All options by budget
Any phone as a tally display. Works over the internet — remote guests on Zoom get tally too. No hardware purchase, no install, no account. Open the app, share a QR code, tap Live.
- Unlimited displays — any phone already owned
- Works over internet, 5G, cellular — not LAN-only
- Remote guests (Zoom, Teams) included
- 30-second setup on any production
Buy a cheap tablet as a dedicated permanent tally display. Cue Light runs in Chrome (sideloaded). Mount next to your camera. USB-C power keeps it on indefinitely. 7" screen visible at arm's length.
- Dedicated hardware feel, browser-based price
- 7" screen — larger than a phone
- Permanently on USB power
- See permanent display setup guide
Dedicated LED hardware unit. Connects to a local WiFi network. Integrates with Tally Arbiter for automatic switching. LAN-only — won't work for remote guests or off-network crew.
- Dedicated LED — doesn't depend on a phone screen
- Automatic tally via Tally Arbiter
- Requires local WiFi network and server setup
Open-source ESP8266 hardware project. Genuinely cheap, but requires purchasing components, flashing firmware, and soldering. Great for makers, not for operators who need a working tally today.
- Cheapest dedicated hardware option
- Open source, fully customisable
- Requires electronics skills and build time
- LAN-only
What you don't get under $100
| Product | Price | Internet tally | Auto switching | Remote guests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cue Light | Free | ✓ | Manual tap | ✓ |
| Fire 7 + Cue Light | ~$50 | ✓ | Manual tap | ✓ |
| Tally-MA | ~$45/unit | ✗ LAN only | ✓ Via Tally Arbiter | ✗ |
| vTally DIY | ~$15/unit | ✗ LAN only | ✓ Via Tally Arbiter | ✗ |
| Companion Buddy | $44/unit | ✗ LAN only | ✓ Via Companion | ✗ |
| Cuebi | $185/unit | ✗ LAN only | ✓ Native switcher | ✗ |
Every hardware option under $100 is LAN-only. Internet-native tally that works for remote guests is currently only available as a browser-based solution.
More questions
Yes — Cue Light (free) is the most practical option for church productions. Volunteers scan a QR code on their existing phones, no hardware purchase required. Works even if someone is at a remote campus on a different network.
Free. Open Cue Light on your phone, prop it next to your camera, tap Live when you start recording. A $50 Amazon Fire 7 makes a nice dedicated display if you want something permanent.
Yes — Cue Light. Paste the display link in the Zoom chat before the call. The guest opens it in a browser tab and sees fullscreen green when they're live. Free, no hardware, works on any device.
The best tally light under $100 is free
Any phone. Works over the internet. Remote guests included. 30 seconds to set up.
Start free — no signup