The best teleprompters are essential for anyone speaking on camera. They allow you to read your script while maintaining direct eye contact with the lens. This creates a natural and engaging connection with your audience, helping you deliver smooth, professional dialogue without the distraction of looking down at notes or struggling to remember lines.
Having worked extensively in TV, commercials, and YouTube—often using industry-standard systems like Autocue—I’ve had hands-on experience with a wide range of teleprompters, from top-tier models to those that fall short. Drawing from this experience, I’ve curated this list of the best teleprompters available today.
Whether you're a professional broadcaster, a content creator, or an enthusiast filming with a dedicated camera or smartphone, this guide will help you find the perfect teleprompter to suit your workflow and budget.
The Quick List
My pick for the all-round best teleprompter is the one I use most of all. It's big enough to fit a full-frame camera (I routinely use mine with a Canon EOS R5 and a chunky lens), comes with a well-protected travel case and is easy to set up and use.
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Most of the prompters on this list work by pairing the device up with your iPad or phone and reflecting a script. The Elgato Prompter takes a different tack and uses a built-in screen. Saving you money on additional tech, and lets you keep a hold of your phone.
Being able to look straight down the barrel of the lens while talking fluently and confidently enables you to engage more effectively with your audience.
Only shooting the occasional video? It may not be worth going all out with the TMP 100, but the T3 Teleprompter delivers good quality and good value. It's suitable for devices up to 11 inches and it's pretty user friendly to get to grips with.
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It doesn't work with tablets, but if you're looking for the most budget-friendly way to use your phone or camera then look no further. The build quality is definitely on the plasticky side, but this does make it a very lightweight option.
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If you don't use a camera, and just want something for a smartphone, then Glide Gear's smaller TMP 50 is exactly what you need, offering the same excellent quality and performance of its bigger brother in a phone-friendly form factor.
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The best teleprompters
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Best overall
Suppose you create video content that involves someone presenting to camera. In that case, the Glide Gear TMP100 is the teleprompter I recommend – it's the one I use every time I'm making a YouTube video or filming a presentation.
It's easy to set up and mount to a tripod, it accommodates all kinds of cameras (even DSLRs with long lenses), and the tray that holds your text device can take phones and tablets up to 10.5 x 9.5 inches. In practice, we found it's even okay with slightly larger tablets than that, although admittedly it’s not big enough for the iPad Pro.
The screen is nice and large, enabling you to read the text from up to 10 feet away, and the beam splitter glass is very high quality. It can be easily set up or packed away, and comes with a convenient travel bag that offers good protection for the glass (note though, that it is not a hard shell). In short, this has everything you need to read from a script or notes – and look good doing so.
For more details, see our full Glide Gear TMP100 review
Best teleprompter with its own screen
The Elgato Prompter is a great tool for anyone who makes videos and wants to sound natural and professional on camera. It's really easy to set up and use, and it works with almost any camera. The special app it uses is made just for this teleprompter, so you don't have to worry about finding and downloading weird apps. You just plug it in and start using it! It's customizable too, so you can make it fit your video style.
The way it attaches to the camera is a bit complicated, but it works really well. It would have been nice if they included an attachment for more common lenses, but the way it attaches to the camera works great.
It's not the cheapest option out there, but if you're serious about making videos, it's worth the investment. If you're just starting out, you might want to go for a less expensive option or wait until you're more into making videos before getting this one.
Read our full Elgato Prompter review for more
Best teleprompter for a quick setup
If you’re not confident enough to talk to the camera without notes or a full script, then you could prop up a smartphone near your camera’s screen and read the scrolling script from a free teleprompter app. However, you’ll not be making eye contact with your audience as you’ll be looking at the offset smartphone’s screen and not directly into the camera’s lens. By purchasing a device such as the Neewer Teleprompter X14 iii you can place your camera behind an angled mirror. You can then pop your smartphone on a flat tray in front of the mirror. The scrolling text from the teleprompter app will reflect in the 45º angled mirror (or beam-splitter), so you can look directly into the camera’s lens as you read the reflected scrolling text. This enables you to make a more engaging video as you’ll appear to be making eye contact with your viewers.
Some teleprompters, such as the Elgato Prompter take a little time to set up. The aluminum alloy body of the Neewer Teleprompter X14 iii unfolds from its sturdy storage case as an easy-to-deploy one unit. Simply attach the Teleprompter to a camera tripod using the 1/4” or 3/8” threads and then attach a DSLR or mirrorless camera to the supplied quick-release (QR) plate and pop it onto the rear of the Teleprompter. You can then tuck the DSLR’s lens into the device’s blackout hood. This makes the lens almost invisible as you read the text that scrolls in front of it.
The X14 iii ships with a remote control unit that uses Bluetooth to control the free Teleprompter app that runs on the smartphone or tablet that is reflected on the Teleprompter’s screen. The controller enables you to slow down or speed up the scrolling text as you speak, so you can have the right words on the screen at all times.
Read our full Neewer Teleprompter X14 III review
The best teleprompter for value
If you only do the odd video, you may want something a bit cheaper than number one on our list. In this case, check out the Desview T3. You can use any tablet or smartphone up to 11 inches in diameter. There’s a Bluetooth remote to turn the page, pause, and speed up or down, although this can be a bit confusing at first. You also get customized shading rings for phones and DSLRs to prevent light from sneaking around the lens and flaring the beamsplitter glass. Plus it's pretty easy to set up and use in practice.
Best cheap teleprompter
On a tight budget, and looking for a small and cheap teleprompter? This one won't work with tablets, but does connect to DSLRs (everything from a Canon EOS M to a Sony FS5) and smartphones, including the iPhone, via a flexible lens mount. It comes with a Bluetooth remote control and an iOS or Android app and does the job well.
This model is cheap for a reason: it's made of plastic and not exactly sturdy. But on the plus side that makes it lightweight, and at this low price, you won't find finer. Note: it's titled 'Ambitful Teleprompter Kit' in most places but also (for reasons that are beyond us) appears as 'Keayisofine Teleprompter' or 'Pronstoor Teleprompter' elsewhere.
Best for smartphones
If you never use a camera or tablet for your shooting, just a phone, this is the model for you. This cheap and compact device allows you to film on your phone while using another phone or tablet to project your script onto the glass, with a reading range of up to 10 feet.
It can also work with a camera with a small lens, although you shouldn't really buy it with this in mind as there’s not a lot of space at the back. More broadly, this teleprompter is well-made, with a metal frame. It's collapsible, making it great for travel. And you get a carry bag and protective hood, too.
Best for laptops
What sets this final teleprompter apart is that it can be used with "most computers with built-in webcams", as well as external webcams, cameras, and smartphones. It requires minimal assembly. With tough, all-metal construction, it's nice and rugged, too. However, be aware that the hooks that attach it to the top of your screen require a display that's not much greater than one-inch thick.
FAQs
Why should I buy a teleprompter?
If you present on camera—whether working from a script or using prompts and notes—a teleprompter is the key to transforming your videos from amateur to professional. Whether you're creating YouTube vlogs, streaming live on Twitch, or delivering business presentations, a teleprompter helps you maintain eye contact, stay on track, and present with confidence, instantly elevating your production quality.
How do teleprompters work?
Teleprompters display your script as scrolling text—similar to the iconic opening crawl in Star Wars. This text is reflected onto a special piece of glass positioned in front of your camera or smartphone, allowing you to read while maintaining direct eye contact with the lens.
This glass, known as a beam splitter, works by reflecting the text toward you while remaining invisible to the camera. The result? A smooth, natural delivery that makes you appear confident, well-prepared, and fully engaged with your audience.
What's the difference between teleprompter and autocue?
A teleprompter is a device that displays text on a screen in front of a camera, allowing you to read while maintaining eye contact with the lens. The term Autocue refers to the process—whether manual or automated—that scrolls the text as you read. Originally, Autocue was the name of the company that developed the first teleprompter system in 1955, designed to help actors remember their lines on I Love Lucy.
Today, most teleprompters work with autocue software that you download to a smartphone or tablet, which is then mounted onto the teleprompter. Some apps use voice recognition to automatically scroll the text as you speak, while others let you control the speed manually to match your pace.
How to choose the best teleprompter
Choosing the right teleprompter means finding the right balance of size, functionality, and portability. The screen should be large enough for easy reading while allowing natural eye contact with the camera, preventing strain or distraction. However, a larger screen also means a bulkier teleprompter, which can be less convenient for transport and setup.
Equally important is the quality of the beam splitter glass—the component that reflects the script while remaining invisible to the camera. High-quality glass ensures clear visibility without distortion. Lastly, teleprompters come in a range of prices, so it's important to select one that fits both your needs and budget.
How we test teleprompters
We evaluate the best teleprompters based on several key factors—above all, how well they perform in real-world use. High-quality beam-splitting glass is essential, ensuring that text is clearly visible to the presenter while remaining invisible to the camera and not affecting image quality. The screen size must also be practical, large enough for easy reading without being overly bulky.
Compatibility is another major consideration—we look for teleprompters that can accommodate a range of cameras, smartphones, and tablets. We test each model in real-world shooting environments, from personal video projects and YouTube content to professional productions. Given that teleprompters often support expensive camera gear and tablets, build quality is crucial. We also assess portability, as well as how quick and easy the setup and breakdown process is, ensuring a smooth workflow in any filming scenario.
