How to use it
- Paste your script. It’s saved in this browser as you type, so it’s still here next time. It isn’t uploaded.
- Set the pace in words per minute. Conversational speech runs at about 150 words a minute (that’s the figure Voices.com gives, citing the National Center for Voice and Speech), and reading from a screen tends to be a little slower. Start at 140, do a practice run, and nudge it with ↑ and ↓ while you read.
- Make the text big. Bigger text means fewer words on screen, so your eyes move less and it’s less obvious on camera that you’re reading. The pace stays the same whatever size you pick.
- Press Start, then F for full screen. Read the words as they cross the orange line.
Reading without looking like you’re reading
- Put the text right under the lens. On a laptop, shrink the browser window to a strip and drag it to the top of the screen, just below the camera. The closer the words are to the lens, the more it looks like eye contact.
- Narrow the column. Set Width to 50 or 60% so your eyes don’t sweep left to right. Sideways eye movement is what gives readers away.
- Sit further back. From a metre away, small eye movements barely show.
- Write how you talk. Short sentences, contractions, one idea a line. Leave a blank line where you want to pause.
Using it with a teleprompter glass
A beam-splitter teleprompter reflects a screen off angled glass in front of the camera, which flips the image. Tick Mirror so the text reads the right way round in the glass. If your rig puts the screen above the lens instead of below, tick Flip upside down too. Put the phone or tablet in full screen and turn off auto-lock.
How long will my script take?
The line under the controls tells you, at the pace you’ve set. For a more detailed breakdown, with a way to measure your own reading speed, use the script length calculator.
FAQ
Is this teleprompter free?
Yes, with no sign-up, no time limit and no watermark. It runs entirely in your browser.
Does it work on a phone or iPad?
Yes. Open the page in Safari or Chrome, paste your script and tap Start, then Full screen. Turn off auto-lock so the screen doesn’t sleep while you read.
What speed should a teleprompter be?
Conversational speech is about 150 words a minute, and reading a script is usually a little slower. Start at 140, do one practice run and adjust with the arrow keys. Slow down for technical content and speed up for short social videos.
How do I mirror the text for a teleprompter glass?
Tick Mirror before you start, or press M while it runs. If your rig has the screen above the lens, tick Flip upside down as well.
Is my script saved?
Only in your own browser, so it’s there when you come back on the same device. It’s never uploaded.