Teleprompter basics
What is a teleprompter, and how does it work?
A teleprompter is a screen that shows a speaker's script right at the camera lens, so they can read it word for word while looking at the audience. Most use a sheet of angled glass that reflects the words toward the speaker while the camera films straight through it.
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The short answer
- A teleprompter displays your script in front of the camera lens, so you can read it while looking straight at your viewers.
- Classic teleprompters use beam-splitter glass: a screen faces up, glass at 45 degrees reflects the words to you, and the camera films through the glass from behind.
- The speaker sees bright text floating over the lens. The camera sees only clear glass, so viewers never see the script.
- News anchors, politicians, YouTubers, teachers and business presenters use teleprompters to deliver scripts without memorizing them.
- A teleprompter app does the same job on a phone or tablet, by scrolling the script just under the front camera.
How does a teleprompter work?
A classic camera teleprompter has three parts: a screen, a sheet of special glass and a hood. The screen lies flat under the lens, facing up, and shows the script. The glass sits above it at a 45-degree angle, right in front of the lens.
That glass is a beam splitter. It reflects part of the light and lets the rest pass through: the script bounces toward the speaker, while the camera behind it films straight through. A fabric hood closes the gap between the glass and the camera, so stray light and reflections stay out of the shot.
A reflection flips everything left to right, so the screen shows the script mirrored. After the glass, it reads the right way around. Depending on how the rig is built, the text may also need to be turned upside down.
What does a teleprompter look like to the speaker?
From the speaker's side, the script seems to float on the glass, right over the lens. You see a few lines of large, bright text, usually white on black, moving slowly up. Behind the words, you can still faintly see the camera.
From the camera's side, it's just a pane of tinted glass. Speech teleprompters at podiums work the same way: two glass panels stand on either side of the lectern, with screens at their base. The speaker turns from one to the other, and the audience sees what looks like two clear panes.
Why do your eyes stay on the lens?
Because the words sit directly in front of the camera, reading them means looking into the lens. On video, that comes across as eye contact. Viewers feel you're talking to them, not to a page.
Distance matters too. The farther you are from the camera, the less your eyes travel across each line, and the less anyone notices you're reading. Up close, a narrow column of text does the same job.
What is a teleprompter used for?
- TV news and live broadcasts. Anchors read the news while looking at viewers.
- Speeches. Politicians and keynote speakers deliver long remarks without notes.
- YouTube, TikTok and Instagram videos. Creators record talking-head videos without memorizing every line.
- Video calls and online classes. Teachers and presenters keep their key points in view on Zoom, Google Meet or Microsoft Teams.
- Business videos. Sales messages, product demos, training and company updates.
- Voice-overs and podcasts. A script on screen keeps the read clean, even with no camera at all.
Is there a teleprompter app for your phone?
Yes. A teleprompter app turns a phone or tablet into a prompter, with no glass needed. The script scrolls on the screen right under the front camera while the camera records you. The words aren't literally over the lens, but they're so close that at arm's length your gaze reads as eye contact.
Most apps scroll at a steady speed you set. Some follow your voice instead: the text moves as you speak and waits when you stop. Our guide to the voice-activated teleprompter explains how that works.
Scrollglass is a teleprompter app for iPhone and iPad, coming soon to the App Store. Its Eye Line keeps the line you're reading right under the camera, so your eyes stay on the lens. If you own a glass rig, Prompt mode shows the script on its own, mirrored or upside down.
How to read from a teleprompter naturally
- Write the way you talk. Short sentences, everyday words, contractions. If a line feels stiff out loud, rewrite it.
- Keep lines short. A narrow column means your eyes barely move from side to side.
- Read it out loud first. One or two rehearsals catch the tongue-twisters before the camera does.
- Set a real pace. A comfortable pace for most people is roughly 130 to 160 words per minute. Find yours with the words per minute calculator.
- Pause on purpose. Breathe at the end of each thought. A beat of silence looks confident.
For a step-by-step setup, read how to use a teleprompter app.
Frequently asked questions
What is a teleprompter in simple words?
A teleprompter is a screen that shows you what to say while you look at the camera. The words scroll up as you speak, so you can read a script without seeming to read it. It's also called a prompter.
Can the audience see the teleprompter text?
No. On a camera teleprompter, the camera films through the glass and the text is reflected only toward the speaker. At a podium, the audience sees what looks like two clear panes of glass.
Who controls the speed of a teleprompter?
It depends on the setup. In TV studios, an operator often scrolls the text to match the speaker. On your own, you set a steady speed, or use an app that follows your voice.
Is reading from a teleprompter hard?
No, but it takes a little practice. A few rehearsals, a script written the way you talk and a speed that matches your pace get most people there.
Is there a teleprompter app for iPhone?
Yes. Scrollglass is a teleprompter app for iPhone and iPad, coming soon to the App Store. Writing, reading and rehearsing are free forever, and recording is free for 7 days from your first take, then $29.99 once. See pricing.