What do the best teleprompters actually do? They transform the way you present content to camera, displaying your script in a way that you can read it while staring straight into the lens.
That way, you can maintain eye contact with your audience without ever fumbling your words. And that means you'll look confident, informed, and knowledgeable about your subject. This makes the best teleprompters absolutely essential for looking professional while streaming or recording video content.
Teleprompters work by displaying your script as scrolling text, like the crawl at the start of a Star Wars film. These words are reflected on a sheet of special glass, in front of your camera or phone, so you can read them while looking straight at the lens (rather than your eyes darting off-camera).
This glass is known as a beam splitter, and it literally splits the text away from the camera so that it's invisible to the viewer. Here's how the process works on our pick for the best teleprompter, the Glide Gear TMP100:
Best teleprompters: Top picks
My pick for the all-round best teleprompter is the one I use most of all: the Glide Gear TMP 100. 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.
If you're a corporate user then I recommend the Proaim P-TP300, which is large enough to accommodate mid-size camcorders as well as larger tablets than the TMP 100 can handle.
And if you don't use a camera, and just want something for a smartphone, then the Glide Gear TMP 50 is exactly what you need, offering excellent quality in a phone-friendly form factor.
The best teleprompters
If you create video content that involves someone presenting to camera, 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 – 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, too, and comes with a convenient travel bag that offers good protection for the glass. In short, this has everything you need to read from a script or notes – and look good while doing so.
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.
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.
Traveling around a lot, and want something nice and light? Then go for the Padcaster Parrot Teleprompter, which is cheap, simple, and very compact. Made of lightweight plastic, this teleprompter weighs just 64g, making it perfect for slipping in a bag when you’re on the move. Bear in mind, though, that it does feel a little flimsy, the glass is relatively small, and the buttons are a little clicky, which may interfere with the audio on your recording.
On the plus side, you can mount almost any DSLR using one of the included 13 mounting rings. You also get a glass cleaning kit and a Bluetooth Remote, which allows you to pause, play, and adjust speed remotely. And overall, this is the best teleprompter if portability is your priority.
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.
If you’re creating a corporate video, you might be willing to spend a little more. The Proaim P-TP300 is expensive, but it is purpose-designed for meetings, instructional videos, news reporting, seminars, advertisements, and other business uses. And looks impressive enough to leave clients feeling they’re in good hands.
Despite its large screen, which is readable from up to 15 feet away, it’s lightweight and easy to assemble and transport. It's compatible with DSLRs and small to mid-sized camcorders, such as the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K. The tablet tray is a generous 10.6 x 8.2 inches, making it compatible with any iPad 1-4. And you even get a pair of cotton fabric hand gloves to help protect the glass.
If you're primarily using an iPad for filming, here's our top pick. Well constructed with an all-aluminum frame, this lightweight teleprompter includes an adjustable opaque hood that enhances reading. You also get a bag for carrying it, a remote for operating it, and a companion app. It's easy to assemble and works well in practice.
This collapsible teleprompter is suitable for models including the iPad 10-inch, iPad 10.2-inch, iPad Air 10.5-inch, iPad Pro 11-inch, and iPad mini (there is a bigger 13in version available for larger iPads). It's also compatible with a range of Samsung tablets, phones, handheld cameras, and video and photo tripods.
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.
What makes a good teleprompter?
Is a teleprompter worth it?
If you present content to camera, whether you work from a script or you refer to prompts and notes, a teleprompter makes the single biggest difference between scrappy amateur video and a slick, professional-looking production. Whether you make vlogs for YouTube, stream live on Twitch or perform presentations for your business, teleprompters instantly up your game.
What is the difference between teleprompter and autocue?
A teleprompter is a piece of equipment that enables you to display text on a screen in front of a camera. Autocue refers to the process – manual or automated – that makes the text scroll as you read it. Typically you will download autocue software to your phone or tablet, which you then mount on the teleprompter; some of these apps are automated, and scroll the text as you speak the words, while others enable you to scroll the text manually at your own pace.
How we test teleprompters
We evaluate the best teleprompters based on a number of factors – primarily, how effective they are at at their job. We're looking for good quality beam-splitting glass that renders text invisible while not impeding image quality, with a screen that's a usable size so that the words can actually be read. It's also important that a variety of cameras, phones and tablets can physically fit.
We test the equipment in real-world shooting environments, from filming for personal video content and YouTube channels to recording professional work. Build quality is of particular importance, given that expensive camera kit and expensive tablets are typically both mounted. Portability and the ease of setup and breakdown are also crucial factors that we test.
