The best teleprompters are vital for anyone reading to camera, as they allow you to read your script while staring straight into the lens. That way, you can maintain eye contact with your audience without ever fumbling your words.
For my sins, I've done a good amount of work in TV, commercials and YouTube using teleprompters (including the industry standard Autocue system) – so I've used a lot of different models, both good and bad.
In this article, I've brought together the very best teleprompters available today, in one handy place. Whether you're shooting with your phone or a dedicated camera, as a professional, semi-pro or hobbyist, you're sure to find what you're looking for below.
Best overall
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. Read more below
Best for occasional use
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. Read more below
Best cheap teleprompter
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. Read more below
Best for smartphones
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. Read more below
Best for corporate use
If you're a corporate user then I recommend the P-TP300, which is large enough to accommodate mid-size camcorders as well as larger tablets than the TMP 100 can hold. It also boasts a large screen and feels very "pro" in both look and handling. Read more below
Best for iPad
Is the iPad your main prompting device? Then this is the way to go. Two versions are available: an adjustable 12-inch that can accommodate smaller models, and a 14-inch for big boy iPads. It also comes with an app and an excellent remote control. Read more below
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Compatibility: Any smartphone or tablet up to 10.5 x 9.5 inches
Glass size: 245 x 190mm (9.6 x 7.5 inches)
Dimensions: 371 x 361 x 11.9mm (14.6 x 14.2 x 4.7 inches)
Weight: 2.25kg (5lbs)
Reasons to buy
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High build quality
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Easy to set up
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10-feet reading range
Reasons to avoid
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Doesn't fit iPad Pro
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.
Compatibility: Smartphone or tablets under 11 inches
Glass size: 186 x 144.5mm (7.3 x 5.7 inches)
Dimensions: 200 x 104.6 x 202.6mm (7.8 x 4.1 x 7.9 inches)
Weight: 440g (15.5oz)
Reasons to buy
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Cheap
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Includes remote control
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Customised shading rings
Reasons to avoid
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Remote a little confusing
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.
Dimensions: 190 x 95 x 190mm (7.5 x 3.4 x 7.5 inches)
Weight: 350g (12.3 oz)
Reasons to buy
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Very cheap
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Lightweight
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Does the job
Reasons to avoid
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Cheap-feeling
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.
Compatibility: Any smartphone or mini tablet up to 7 x 6 inches
Glass size: 177mm x 203mm (7 x 8 inches)
Dimensions: 696 x 279 x 76mm (27.4 x 11 x 3 inches)
Weight: 2lbs (0.9kg)
Reasons to buy
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Small and portable
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Cheap
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Collapsible
Reasons to avoid
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Not great for DSLRs
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.
Compatibility: Any tablet up to 10.6 x 8.2 inches, including iPad, iPad 2, iPad 3 & iPad 4
Glass size: 310 x 180-210mm (12.2 x 7-8.2 inches)
Dimensions: 508 x 432 x 229mm (20 x 17 x 9 inches)
Weight: 3.3kg (7lbs)
Reasons to buy
+
Large screen
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Camcorder compatibility
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Pro look and feel
Reasons to avoid
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Expensive
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.
Compatibility: Many iPads, Samsung tablets, phones, handheld cameras, tripods
Glass size: 254 x 203mm (10 x 8 inches)
Dimensions: 480 x 260 x 230mm (18.8 x 10.2 x 9 inches)
Weight: 3.3lbs (1.5kg)
Reasons to buy
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Suits range of iPads
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Well made
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Easy to assemble
Reasons to avoid
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Overkill for phone use
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.
Compatibility: Smartphones, tablets, laptops with webcam
Dimensions: 348 x 203 x 195 mm (13.7 x 8 x 7.7 inches)
Weight: 900g (2lbs)
Reasons to buy
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Works with many laptops
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Easy to set up
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Robust build quality
Reasons to avoid
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Doesn't fit all 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.
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.
How do teleprompters work?
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. And that means you'll look confident, informed, and knowledgeable about your subject.
What's 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. (Historically, Autocue is the company that developed the original teleprompter system in 1955, originally to help actors with their lines on the TV show I Love Lucy).
Typically you download autocue software to your phone or tablet, which you then mount on the teleprompter. Some 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.
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.
The editor of Digital Camera World, James has 21 years experience as a journalist and started working in the photographic industry in 2014 (as an assistant to Damian McGillicuddy, who succeeded David Bailey as Principal Photographer for Olympus). In this time he shot for clients like Aston Martin Racing, Elinchrom and L'Oréal, in addition to shooting campaigns and product testing for Olympus, and providing training for professionals. This has led him to being a go-to expert for camera and lens reviews, photo and lighting tutorials, as well as industry news, rumors and analysis for publications like Digital Camera Magazine, PhotoPlus: The Canon Magazine, N-Photo: The Nikon Magazine, Digital Photographer and Professional Imagemaker, as well as hosting workshops and talks at The Photography Show. He also serves as a judge for the Red Bull Illume Photo Contest. An Olympus and Canon shooter, he has a wealth of knowledge on cameras of all makes – and a fondness for vintage lenses and instant cameras.
