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On a video call, reading notes from a second screen means looking away from the camera. To everyone else, it can seem as though you are distracted, even when you are concentrating hard. Presentations, client pitches and recorded training videos make the problem more obvious.
A teleprompter solves it by placing your script or meeting window directly in front of the lens. Angled glass reflects the text towards you while the camera looks straight through it, so you can read and keep eye contact at the same time. This guide explains how the different designs work and how to choose the best teleprompter for a home office, whether you present weekly or record content for clients.
The 7 Features That Actually Matter
1. Display Source
Basic teleprompters use your phone or tablet as the text display. Advanced models include a built-in screen that connects to your computer like a second monitor. A built-in screen lets you show any window, including a meeting chat or slides, not just a scrolling script.
2. Beam Splitter Glass
The angled glass is the heart of every prompter. Most use a 70/30 beam splitter, which lets most of the light reach the camera while reflecting enough to read. Coatings that reduce ghosting make text clearer and keep the camera image sharp.
3. Screen or Device Size
Larger glass and displays let you read from further away with less squinting. Check the maximum phone or tablet size a prompter accepts, as some top out around 10 inches.
4. Camera Compatibility
Prompters mount to cameras using lens adapter rings, brackets or backplates. Webcams, mirrorless cameras and smartphones each fit differently, so check the supported lens sizes, focal lengths and maximum camera dimensions before buying.
5. Control and Software
Phone and tablet prompters usually rely on a free app with a Bluetooth remote to scroll text. Built-in-screen models often add desktop software for formatting text and chat. Check whether the software supports your operating system.
6. Mounting and Stability
A prompter adds weight in front of your camera. You will need a tripod, desk stand or arm that holds it steady at eye level. Some models include mounting hardware, while others assume you already own a stand.
7. Portability and Build
Aluminium frames feel sturdier than plastic and resist flexing. Folding designs and carry bags help if you record in different rooms or take the prompter to client sites.
Tablet Teleprompter or Built-In Screen?
Tablet and phone teleprompters cost less and use a device you already own. You load your script into an app, place the device under the glass and control the scroll speed with a remote. They suit recorded videos, webinars and presentations where you follow a prepared script.
Their limitation is flexibility. The tablet only shows what the app displays, so you cannot easily see a meeting window or chat at the same time. They also work best with cameras that accept lens adapter rings rather than small clip-on webcams.
Built-in-screen prompters connect to your computer and behave like an extra monitor. You can drag a video call, slide notes or a chat window onto the prompter and look at people directly while they speak. That makes them more useful for live meetings, though they cost more and depend on compatible ports and software.
You do not need a word-for-word script to benefit. Many people place a short list of talking points on the prompter, or simply the video call itself, so they can glance at notes while still facing the camera. That lighter approach often sounds more natural than reading every sentence.
If you mostly record short scripted videos, a tablet prompter is often enough. If you spend hours on live calls and want natural eye contact, a built-in screen is easier to live with.
How to Set Up a Teleprompter for Video Calls
Start with the camera. Mount it on a stable tripod, desk stand or camera arm so the lens sits at eye level, then attach the prompter in front of it. If you use a dedicated webcam, check that the prompter’s hood or backplate fits around it without blocking the view.
Sit at a comfortable distance where you can read the text without leaning forward. Larger text, a narrower column and a slower scroll speed all help your eyes move less, which looks more natural on camera.
Lighting matters more with a prompter, because the glass can pick up reflections. Place your video conference light slightly to the side rather than directly behind the camera, and close blinds that reflect into the glass.
Keep your microphone out of the shot but close to your mouth. A microphone boom arm lets you position it just below the frame, while acoustic panels reduce echo in sparse rooms.
Think about where your second screen sits, too. With a built-in-screen prompter, your computer treats the prompter as another display, so arrange it in your display settings to sit directly above or beside your main monitor. That makes dragging windows across feel natural.
Practise before an important call. Reading naturally from a prompter takes a little time, so record a short test and adjust the text size and scroll speed until your speech sounds relaxed.
Budget Tiers: What to Expect at Each Price Point
Under $80
Expect compact prompters for phones and small tablets, with a basic beam splitter, lens adapter rings and a simple remote. They are ideal for trying a prompter without a large investment.
$80 to $150
This band brings aluminium frames, larger glass for 12- to 13-inch tablets, sun hoods and carry bags. Text is easier to read from a normal sitting distance.
$150 to $250
Prompters with built-in monitors appear here. They connect to a computer or phone and remove the need for a separate tablet.
Over $250
Premium models combine built-in screens with dedicated desktop software, broad camera support and features designed specifically for live video calls.
Our Picks
Best Budget
LENSGO TC7 9.7-Inch Teleprompter
The LENSGO TC7 accepts tablets up to 9.7 inches and smartphones, and it mounts to cameras using eight included lens adapter rings. A remote works with a free app on iOS and Android to start, pause and change the scroll speed. It folds quickly for storage.
It relies on your own phone or tablet for the text, so it cannot display a live meeting window. It is best suited to scripted recordings and presentations.
Best Mid-Range Value
Desview P13 13-Inch Teleprompter
The Desview P13 holds tablets up to 13 inches in an aluminium frame, giving larger text that is easier to read from a normal sitting position. Its 70/30 beam splitter glass reduces ghosting, and a Bluetooth remote pairs with the free Desview app. A detachable sun hood and carry bag are included.
Like other tablet prompters, it shows only what your tablet app displays. It weighs nearly 4 pounds, so it needs a sturdy tripod or stand.
Best Overall
NEEWER X11 2-in-1 Teleprompter with Monitor
The NEEWER X11 adds a built-in 9-inch screen behind 11-inch beam splitter glass, so you no longer need a tablet. It connects to a computer over USB-C and can work as a second display on Windows and macOS. It can also mirror a compatible phone or act as a phone-based prompter.
Connecting through the supplied HDMI adapter requires a driver, and the computer needs a USB 3 port. A tripod or desk stand is sold separately, and voice-following scrolling is not supported.
Best Splurge
Elgato Prompter
The Elgato Prompter pairs a built-in 9-inch display with a 70/30 beam splitter and connects to your computer with a single USB-C cable for power and video. You can drag any window onto it, including a video call, and use Elgato’s free Camera Hub software to format scripts and chat. Backplates and nine step-up rings support webcams and mirrorless cameras.
Elgato lists Windows 11 or macOS 13.3 or newer and a USB 3.0 port as requirements, and Mac setup installs DisplayLink software. A stand or arm is not included, and some advanced features need recent graphics hardware.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Ignoring camera fit. Check lens sizes, focal lengths and maximum camera dimensions before buying.
Forgetting the stand. Many prompters need a separate tripod or arm to sit steadily at eye level.
Using text that is too small. Tiny text forces your eyes to scan visibly. Enlarge it and narrow the column.
Scrolling too fast. A rushed script makes you sound rehearsed. Slow the speed and pause naturally.
Overlooking reflections. Lights and windows behind the camera can glare on the glass.
Expecting a tablet prompter to show meetings. Tablet models display app text, not your call window.
Skipping software checks. Built-in-screen models depend on drivers and operating-system support.
Not practising. Reading from a prompter feels unusual at first. Rehearse before important calls.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do teleprompters work with webcams?
Many do, but fit varies. Built-in-screen models often include webcam backplates, while tablet prompters suit cameras with threaded lenses better.
Can I use a teleprompter on Zoom or Teams calls?
Yes. A built-in-screen prompter can display the meeting window so you see participants while looking into the lens. If you also need to show paper notes or sketches, a document camera handles that job better.
Does a teleprompter reduce video quality?
Good beam splitter glass lets most light through, but you may need slightly brighter lighting to compensate.
Do I need a tablet for a teleprompter?
Only for tablet-style models. Prompters with built-in screens connect directly to your computer.
How far should I sit from a teleprompter?
Sit where you can read comfortably without leaning in, usually at a normal desk distance. Larger screens let you sit further back.
Will people notice I am reading?
With large text, a narrow column and a steady pace, eye movement is minimal and hard to spot on camera.
Can a teleprompter replace a green screen or lighting?
No. It improves eye contact, but lighting and background still shape your image. A green screen and good lighting complete the setup.
Final Thoughts
A teleprompter is one of the simplest ways to look more confident on camera, whether you are presenting to clients or recording training videos. Decide first whether you need to see live meetings or just a script, then check camera fit, mounting and software support. The best teleprompter for a home office is the one that suits your camera and keeps your eyes on the lens without adding complicated setup to every call.
Start with clear lighting, a steady stand and a few practice runs. Once those basics are in place, even a modest prompter can make your calls and recordings feel noticeably more natural.