Best Teleprompter Software for Mac, Windows & Web (2026)

If you're recording at a desk or presenting from a laptop, you might want teleprompter software on your computer instead of a phone app. Here's what's actually worth using on Mac, Windows, and in the browser in 2026, plus when hardware or a tablet is the better call.

Quick comparison

Tool	Runs on	Free tier	Stands out for
QPrompt	Windows, macOS, Linux	Fully free, open source	Mirror mode, transparent background for video calls
Teleprompter Pro	macOS, iPhone, iPad	Paid	Mirror mode, remote control, same app on iOS
Speakflow	Browser (any OS)	Free tier	Voice-activated scrolling in the browser
Teleprompter.com	Browser (any OS)	Basic, no signup	Quick one-off scripts
Elgato Prompter	Hardware + Mac/PC software	Camera Hub software is free; hardware required	Built-in 9-inch display, Voice Sync scrolling

Desktop options

Mac

No single Mac teleprompter app stands out, but you have workable options. QPrompt (best known on Windows) also runs natively on macOS, and it's completely free and open source: mirror mode, speed control, countdown timer. Teleprompter Pro, from the developer behind the popular Video Teleprompter app on iOS, has a Mac version with mirror mode and remote control, which is convenient if you keep scripts on both Mac and iOS.

For voice-controlled scrolling on a Mac setup, your realistic choices are Speakflow in a browser tab, the Elgato Prompter's Voice Sync (hardware, below), or VoiceScroll on an iPad positioned next to your Mac. See our iPhone & iPad teleprompter guide for that setup.

Windows

QPrompt is the first thing to try: open-source, free, and it gets the job done. Mirror mode, speed control, countdown timer, and it can make its background transparent, useful for reading over other windows. Teleprompter Pro for Windows (a separate app from the Mac one) adds Bluetooth remote support if you want someone else controlling the scroll.

Browser (any OS)

Speakflow has voice-activated scrolling that works in the browser. Good for teams that need to share scripts. Teleprompter.com is simpler but works without signing up. For more no-install options, see our roundup of free browser-based teleprompter tools.

Hardware prompters

Hardware teleprompter rigs use a beam splitter glass in front of your camera lens. A monitor below displays mirrored text, and the glass reflects it so you see the text while looking directly at the lens. The camera shoots through the glass. This is what news anchors use.

The best-known desk option in this category is the Elgato Prompter: a compact unit with a built-in 9-inch display that sits in front of a webcam, mirrorless, or DSLR. Its free Camera Hub software (Mac and Windows) manages scripts and includes Voice Sync, which scrolls only while you're actually speaking.

Most people don't need hardware. A phone or iPad mounted near your camera lens works fine for YouTube, presentations, and most professional video. Your eyes will shift slightly, but unless you're doing broadcast TV, nobody notices.

Voice-controlled apps make the phone/tablet setup much more practical. You don't need an operator adjusting scroll speed, and you don't need to rehearse to match a fixed pace.

Reading from a laptop on video calls

For Zoom, Teams, or Meet, you don't need mirror mode or special hardware. You're reading straight off the screen. Put a browser teleprompter in a narrow window directly under your webcam so your eye line stays close to the camera, and bump the font size up. QPrompt's transparent background mode also lets the script float over your meeting window.

Which setup for which situation

• Solo video creator: a voice-controlled phone app like VoiceScroll mounted near the camera.
• Conference presentations: iPad on the podium or laptop with Speakflow.
• Desk recording with real eye contact: Elgato Prompter or a beam-splitter rig with QPrompt.
• Broadcast studio: Hardware rig with dedicated software.
• Video calls: Browser-based tool on your main monitor, camera positioned near the text area.