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The best teleprompter works a little bit like magic. It shows your script or notes in a way that lets you read them while looking straight into the camera. Teleprompters have been the most popular tool for both amateur and professional videographers for a long time, and there are a lot of different kinds to suit every need and budget.
Teleprompters might not be the most interesting piece of gear. But they are needed for news shows, videos with talking heads, and a lot more. It’s important to have a teleprompter that works and is easy to use so that it doesn’t slow down a shoot. We bought and tried out more than a dozen of the best-selling teleprompters, and here are our top picks.
Best Teleprompters Comparison Table
| Teleprompter Model | Reading Range | Max Tablet Size | Dimensions | Weight | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glide Gear TMP 100 | 10 feet | 10.5″ | 9″ x 8″ | 1.75lb | $149.00 |
| Desview T3 Teleprompter | 10 feet | 10.5″ | 9.6″ x 8.2″ | 1.98lb | $229.00 |
| Padcaster Parrot Teleprompter | 10 feet | 12.9″ | 11.3″ x 9.3″ | 1.5lb | $279.00 |
| Desview T2 Broadcast Teleprompter | 10 feet | 10.5″ | 9.8″ x 8.5″ | 2.42lb | $329.00 |
| NEEWER Teleprompter X12 | 10 feet | 12″ | 10″ x 8.8″ | 3.7lb | $289.99 |
| Pergear Q1 Mini Portable Teleprompter | 6.5 feet | 6.9″ | 6.6″ x 3.9″ | 0.53lb | $49.99 |
Glide Gear TMP 100
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Compatibility | Smartphones, tablets, and small cameras |
| Dimensions | 8.6 x 7.5 x 1.7 inches |
| Weight | 1.5 pounds |
| Maximum device size | 10.5 inches |
| Glass size | 8 x 8 inches |
We recommend the Glide Gear TMP100 if your main job is to make videos for YouTube. When making a YouTube video, this is the best teleprompter to help you look both professional and natural as you look straight down the camera. It’s easy to set up and doesn’t require any tools.
There are also many ways to mount it to your tripod. Behind the glass, there’s plenty of room for all kinds of cameras, even those with long lenses. The tray in front can hold devices up to 10.5 x 9.5 inches, which is big enough for most phones and tablets but not the iPad Pro.
The Good
- works with a variety of devices
- Easy to carry and not too heavy
- Compared to other teleprompters, this one is more affordable.
The Bad
- Only works with smaller gadgets
- The size of the glass isn’t very big.
Desview T3 Teleprompter
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Compatibility | Smartphones and tablets |
| Dimensions | 9.7 x 8.5 x 2.6 inches |
| Weight | 2.75 pounds |
| Maximum device size | 10.5 inches |
| Glass size | 11 x 7 inches |
If you only make YouTube videos every once in a while, you might want something a little cheaper than our number one pick. Check out the Desview T3 in this case. You can use any tablet or phone with a diameter of up to 11 inches.
There is a Bluetooth remote that lets you turn the page, pause, and speed up or slow down, but at first it can be hard to figure out how to use it. You also get custom-made shading rings for phones to stop light from getting around the lens and flaring the beamsplitter glass.
The Good
- Large glass size for better visibility
- Metal body and strong construction
- It works with a lot of different devices.
The Bad
- Heavier and more difficult to move than some other choices
- only available on smaller devices
Padcaster Parrot Teleprompter
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Compatibility | Smartphones and tablets |
| Dimensions | 11 x 9 x 3 inches |
| Weight | 3.3 pounds |
| Maximum device size | 11 inches |
| Glass size | 10 x 9 inches |
The best choice is the Padcaster Parrot Smartphone Teleprompter. The Parrot can be attached to any smartphone, is easy to set up, and shows clear text. This teleprompter is half the price of the Glide Gear TMP 100 but uses the same 30R/70T beam splitter glass.
t is also very light, which adds to its great versatility (read: 0.4 lb). The free Parrot app can also be controlled better with the Parrot Bluetooth Remote. And it comes with thirteen mounting rings that can be used with lenses of any size.
The Good
- The angle and height of this large glass can be changed.
- The package includes a tripod and a remote control.
- works with a variety of devices
The Bad
- Not very light or small
- Compared to some other choices, it’s pricey.
Desview T2 Broadcast Teleprompter
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Compatibility | Smartphones, tablets, and cameras |
| Dimensions | 14.5 x 10.6 x 5.5 inches |
| Weight | 6.8 pounds |
| Maximum device size | 12 inches |
| Glass size | 11.8 x 7.9 inches |
If you want a beam splitter glass that lets up to 97% of light through, the Desview T2 Broadcast Teleprompter should be on your short list. This one is shaped like a trapezoid, so you can see more and the instructions are easy to read. In addition to DSLR shooting, it works with all flexible tablets (less than 8 inches) and smartphones.
People who care about portability would love the T2 because it weighs only 340g and is easy to carry. This one is great for live streamers who like to shoot from their phones because it works with smartphone shooting. It only costs $89 and comes with a free remote control and nine adapter rings for professional lenses.
The Good
- Large glass size for better visibility
- It has a remote control and a hood that can be folded up.
- works with a variety of devices
The Bad
- Some options are heavy and hard to move around.
- Compared to some other choices, it’s pricey.
NEEWER Teleprompter X12
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Compatibility | Smartphones, tablets, and cameras |
| Dimensions | 13.5 x 9.7 x 5.5 inches |
| Weight | 4.6 pounds |
| Maximum device size | 12 inches |
| Glass size | 10.5 x 8.3 inches |
This NEEWER has a beautiful HD display that lets in 75% of the light, making the text so clear that you can read it from up to 10 feet away. But the RT-110 remote takes this to a whole new level of convenience. It pairs with your smartphone and lets you easily pause, speed up, slow down, and turn pages, so there’s never a break in your speech that doesn’t sound right.
The Good
- The height and angle of the large glass can be changed.
- Includes a remote and a bag to carry it.
- works with a variety of devices
The Bad
- Heavier and more difficult to move than some other choices
- Compared to some other choices, it’s pricey.
Pergear Q1 Mini Portable Teleprompter
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Compatibility | Smartphones |
| Dimensions | 6.7 x 4.3 x 2.2 inches |
| Weight | 0.4 pounds |
| Maximum device size | 6 inches |
| Glass size | 3.1 x 3.5 inches |
The DSLR shading plate from Pergear is a lifesaver when you’re trying to read in bright conditions like direct sunlight. It’s easy to adjust both horizontally and vertically to get the perfect shooting angle. We thought this was great for journalists, whether they are professionals or not, because it is light, easy to carry, and quick to put away.
This also comes with a small remote and a place on top to put an extra ring light or microphone. There is also no limit to how many documents this can support, but each document is limited to 50,000 characters.
The Good
- Very light and easy to carry
- Compared to other teleprompters, this one is more affordable.
- Setup and use are simple.
The Bad
- Only works with mobile phones
- Some users may find it hard to read because the glass is so small.
FAQs
Which is the best teleprompter?
One of the best-known teleprompter apps is BigVu. There is a free version, but it has their watermark on it, so you’ll have to deal with that. The app works on desktop, iOS, and Android devices. They also have editing tools, which are great if you want to make short videos quickly and in one place.
How do I choose a teleprompter?
The first thing to think about is how far away the teleprompter is from the person on camera. This will help figure out how big of a teleprompter is needed. Up to 6 meters (19 feet) away, you’ll need a 17-inch screen, and up to 4 meters (13 feet), you’ll need a 10-inch screen.
What do YouTubers use to read script?
Teleprompters aren’t used by many YouTubers because scripting takes time and makes them less productive. Instead of making a list of bullet points, you can speed up the production by going with the flow. But most YouTubers will use a teleprompter when making video courses or other paid content.
Do anchors use teleprompters?
An anchor is a trained person who gives the news live during a TV show. The anchor sits at a desk in front of the camera and reads from a teleprompter to explain what is going on in each part of the show.