The 7 Best Teleprompter Apps Available Today (2024 Guide)

The Best Teleprompter Apps in 2023: An Expert‘s Guide

As a digital technology expert, I‘ve seen firsthand how valuable teleprompter apps can be for all types of content creators. Whether you‘re a YouTuber, TikTok influencer, corporate presenter, or motivational speaker, using a teleprompter allows you to deliver your message smoothly and confidently while maintaining eye contact with your audience. It‘s like having an invisible assistant feeding you your lines so you never miss a beat.

But with so many teleprompter apps available across iOS, Android, web browsers, and desktop platforms, it can be overwhelming to know which one to choose. Each app offers different features at different price points. How do you pick the right teleprompter app for your specific needs and budget?

Don‘t worry, I‘m here to break it all down for you. I‘ve tested over a dozen of the most popular teleprompter apps on the market to bring you my top recommendations, complete with a detailed look at their key features, strengths, weaknesses, and ideal use cases. By the end of this guide, you‘ll have all the information you need to select the perfect teleprompter app for your content creation workflow. Let‘s dive in!

What to Look For in a Teleprompter App

While every teleprompter app will let you read from a scrolling script, they are not all created equal. Here are the key features I recommend looking for to get the most productivity and flexibility out of your teleprompter app:

1. Script importing and editing: The best teleprompter apps make it easy to import your pre-written scripts from a variety of sources, such as cloud storage services (iCloud, Google Drive, Dropbox), email, or by copy/pasting from your notepad app. Once imported, you should be able to edit the text right within the app.

2. Text customization: To optimize your reading experience, look for robust options to personalize the text format, such as font style, size, color, line spacing, and more. Some apps let you apply different formatting to individual words or sections.

3. Scroll speed control: Adjusting the scrolling speed of your script is crucial for keeping pace with your natural reading cadence. The app should allow you to preset speeds as well as adjust on the fly. More advanced apps can automatically match the scrolling to your voice.

4. Camera integration: If you‘ll be using your teleprompter app while filming videos, it‘s very helpful to have the script overlaid right on your camera preview within the app. Some apps display the text above or below the camera, while others use a transparent background to make it seem like you‘re looking directly at the lens.

5. Flexible display options: For maximum versatility, consider where and how you‘ll be reading your scripts. Many teleprompter apps work with dedicated teleprompter hardware that reflects the text on a glass in front of the camera lens. The best apps are fully compatible with these professional setups in addition to working on your phone or tablet screen.

With these key features in mind, let‘s take a look at my top teleprompter app picks for different scenarios:

Best iOS Teleprompter App: Teleprompter Premium
If you‘re creating content primarily on iPhone and iPad, you can‘t go wrong with Teleprompter Premium. This iOS-exclusive app offers an elegant, intuitive interface for importing and editing your scripts. You can bring in text from iCloud, email, or copy/paste, and the formatting is preserved. From there, you have full control over font size, color, line spacing, and more.

One of my favorite Teleprompter Premium features is the ability to customize the text appearance for individual words or sections using Markdown syntax. For example, you can make keywords bold or change the color of a sentence for emphasis. This is great for making key points stand out at a glance and improving your delivery.

The app‘s scrolling options are best-in-class, with ultra-precise speed adjustments and several auto-pacing modes. You can set the text to automatically start scrolling when you begin speaking, and dynamically match your pace thanks to voice recognition.

For recording videos, Teleprompter Premium provides an outstanding camera experience. Your script scrolls directly over the camera view with your choice of a dark or light transparent background. You can customize the safe zones to ensure the text never interferes with your framing. It‘s a very intuitive setup that lets you read naturally while maintaining perfect eye contact.

Teleprompter Premium also shines when used with professional hardware setups. It‘s fully compatible with wireless remotes, foot pedals, and Bluetooth keyboards for hands-free control. You can output the text to an external display or glass teleprompter in landscape or portrait orientation. This flexibility makes it a top choice for solo creators as well as production teams.

The only downside of Teleprompter Premium is the lack of an Android version. But if you‘re in the Apple ecosystem, this app is the gold standard and well worth the $19.99 price tag. From its best-in-class features to its thoughtful UI design, Teleprompter Premium is my iOS pick for elevating your content to pro level.

Best Android Teleprompter App: Nano Teleprompter
Android users aren‘t left out in the cold when it comes to high quality teleprompter apps. My top recommendation for Android is Nano Teleprompter, a powerful yet straightforward app available on the Google Play store for a very reasonable $3.99 one-time purchase.

Nano Teleprompter covers all the essentials, with easy script importing (including PDF support), a highly readable text interface, and smooth, responsive scrolling. You can‘t apply different fonts or colors, but you can adjust the text size and line spacing to get it just how you like. One convenient touch is a button to quickly jump the text back a few sentences in case you need to redo a take.

The app‘s camera mode uses a clever floating text window that you can resize and position anywhere on the screen. This allows you to put the script right below your camera lens for a natural eyeline. You can also expand the text window to fill the screen and scroll in both portrait and landscape orientations. It works seamlessly with the front and rear cameras.

While you don‘t get quite as many bells and whistles as iOS‘s Teleprompter Premium, Nano Teleprompter delivers the core functionality in a highly usable package. And at just a few bucks, it‘s an easy investment for any Android-based content creator looking to up their game.

Best Browser-Based Teleprompter: TeleprompterPro
If you prefer to work from your laptop or desktop computer, a browser-based teleprompter app is the way to go. My recommendation is TeleprompterPro, a powerful web app that runs smoothly in any modern browser.

Since there‘s nothing to download or install, you can access TeleprompterPro from anywhere, on any device – all you need is an internet connection. The app has a clean, minimalist interface that puts your script front and center. Importing text is as simple as copying and pasting it in.

For video recording, TeleprompterPro takes advantage of your webcam to display the script text directly under the camera. This creates the effect of you looking straight at the lens as you read, for much better audience engagement than if your eyes were darting to the side. You can also output the text to a second screen or external teleprompter device.

TeleprompterPro provides a solid set of customization options, including font size, line spacing, text alignment, background and text colors, and more. You can control playback with keyboard shortcuts or your mouse scroll wheel. All of your configuration settings are saved in your browser, so you can pick up right where you left off.

While you don‘t get mobile-specific features like voice pacing or camera overlays, TeleprompterPro is an excellent choice for computer-based creators. The basic version is free to use, with a one-time $15 purchase to unlock premium features.

Most Feature-Packed Teleprompter App: BIGVU
For content creators who want an all-in-one solution, BIGVU is a powerful teleprompter app available for iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac. What sets BIGVU apart is its extensive set of features beyond just the core prompter functionality.

In addition to a highly customizable text interface with support for multiple languages and scripts, BIGVU offers a built-in video editor with tools for trimming clips, adding captions, and enhancing your appearance with filters and effects. You can record in resolutions up to 4K and export your videos optimized for every major social media platform.

My favorite BIGVU feature is the AI-powered script generator. Simply provide a rough outline of what you want to say, and the app will automatically flesh it out into a full, natural-sounding script. It‘s a huge time saver, especially for content like news summaries or product reviews where you‘re working from a fact sheet.

BIGVU also makes it easy to collaborate with a team. You can share scripts with colleagues for feedback, and use commenting and version history to keep everyone on the same page. The app integrates with cloud storage services for seamless media management.

All of these powerful features do come at a cost. BIGVU offers a free basic plan, but to unlock the app‘s full potential you‘ll need to subscribe to a premium plan starting at $14.99/month. For professional creators and teams, the productivity gains can definitely be worth it. But if you just need a simple prompter without the extra bells and whistles, one of the more affordable options will likely suffice.

Best Value Teleprompter App: Elegant Teleprompter
Straddling the line between capability and affordability is Elegant Teleprompter, a no-frills app that delivers great core functionality without breaking the bank. Available for $4.99 on iOS and Android, it‘s a solid choice for budget-conscious content creators.

Elegant Teleprompter keeps things simple with a streamlined interface for writing or pasting in your scripts. You can adjust the font size, contrast, and scrolling speed to your liking. In the camera view, your script appears over a transparent background so you can read while seeming to look straight ahead. The text automatically inverts when using your front-facing camera.

While it may lack advanced features like voice pacing and video editing, Elegant Teleprompter nails the basics at an unbeatable price. If you‘re just getting started with a teleprompter or only need it for occasional use, this app will get the job done without any added complexity.

The Pros and Cons of Using a Teleprompter App

Now that we‘ve looked at some of the best teleprompter apps on the market, let‘s step back and consider the overall advantages and disadvantages of using a teleprompter for your content.

Pros:

• Helps you present your content smoothly and confidently without losing your place
• Eliminates the need to memorize a script, saving time and mental energy
• Allows you to maintain eye contact with the camera for better audience engagement
• Can show you your script while taking up minimal space on your device screen
• Most apps are affordable and easy to use compared to dedicated teleprompter hardware
• Some apps include bonus features like script templates and editing tools

Cons:

• May require some practice to read naturally and not sound robotic or over-rehearsed
• Depending on your eyeline, it may still be obvious to the viewer that you‘re reading
• If the app crashes or device dies mid-take, you may not be able to recover your place
• Scrolling text can be distracting if you‘re trying to speak extemporaneously
• Some advanced features like 4K recording require a paid subscription
• Need to make sure your device is fully charged and has enough storage space for scripts

Tips for Teleprompter Success

To get the most out of your teleprompter app, here are a few tips I‘ve learned from my years of experience:

1. Rehearse your script ahead of time. While a teleprompter can keep you on track, it‘s not a replacement for proper preparation. The more familiar you are with your script, the more naturally you‘ll be able to read it. Run through it a few times to get the cadence down.

2. Record in short chunks. If you try to read a long script in one go, you‘re more likely to make mistakes that require reaching for the pause button or backtracking. By breaking your content up into small, discrete sections, you can minimize retakes and awkward pauses.

3. Use emphasis. Rather than reading in a monotone, find opportunities to vary your inflection and emphasize key words. Some teleprompter apps let you bold or color-code text for visual cues. You can also use short pauses before or after important points. A little vocal variety goes a long way toward keeping your audience engaged.

4. Position your camera right. For the most natural results, place your prompter text as close to the camera lens as possible. You want your eyeline to be just slightly off-center from the lens so it‘s not obvious you‘re reading. If you wear glasses, check for distracting screen reflections.

5. Have a backup plan. No technology is infallible, so it‘s always smart to have a plan B in case something goes wrong with your teleprompter. Print out a hard copy of your script or have a co-presenter on standby to feed you lines the old-fashioned way. A little redundancy can save you a major headache.

The Future of Teleprompters

As teleprompter apps grow more sophisticated, I‘m excited to see how new technologies will be integrated to assist content creators. AI is already being used to automatically generate and refine scripts, and I suspect this will only become more prevalent and powerful in the future.

I can envision an AI system that can watch you on camera and provide real-time feedback on your pacing, tone, and body language to help you deliver your lines more effectively. It could learn your natural speech patterns and suggest alternate wordings to make your content sound less generic. By tracking audience engagement metrics, it could even dynamically reorder talking points for maximum impact.

Combined with higher quality mobile cameras and mics, teleprompter apps are quickly becoming viable alternatives to professional studio equipment for many types of content. It will be very interesting to follow this trend and see how far software can level the playing field.

Closing Thoughts

Whether you‘re an experienced presenter or just starting out, a teleprompter app can be an invaluable tool to communicate your message at a higher level. By taking the guesswork and hesitation out of delivering your script, you‘ll be able to focus on making an authentic connection with your audience.

Remember, your teleprompter is there to support and guide you, not to replace your personality or expertise. Think of it as a co-pilot that keeps you on course while you concentrate on smooth sailing. With practice and the right app, you‘ll be well on your way to creating professional-grade content from anywhere.

Do you have a favorite teleprompter app I didn‘t mention? Or maybe a killer tip for improving your on-camera performance? Let me know in the comments below! I‘m always eager to learn from my fellow creators.

Until next time, keep those cameras rolling and those scripts scrolling. You‘ve got this!