Lumens and LED are often compared, but they measure different things.
Lumens indicate how bright a light appears. The higher the lumen rating, the more visible light a bulb produces. This measurement applies to all lighting technologies, including incandescent, halogen, fluorescent, and LED.
LED, which stands for light emitting diode, refers to how the light is generated. It is not a measure of brightness. An LED bulb can produce a wide range of lumen outputs, from a soft 300 lumens for a bedside lamp to several thousand lumens for larger fixtures or commercial settings.
The confusion comes from efficiency. LEDs produce more light using less energy than traditional bulbs. For instance, a 10 watt LED can provide brightness similar to a 60 watt incandescent bulb. Because of this, many people associate LEDs with being brighter, even though brightness is determined by lumens, not the technology itself.
When choosing a bulb, focus on lumens to decide how bright you want the light to be, then select LED technology for energy efficiency, longevity, and lower operating costs.
So which is brighter? Lumens measure brightness. LED simply describes the type of bulb producing the light.