How to use a free online teleprompter

You don't need an app or a subscription to read a script to camera. A browser teleprompter does the same job: you paste the text, pick a size and a speed, and read while it scrolls.

What an online teleprompter does

A teleprompter scrolls your script at a steady pace so you can look into the lens and still say every word. An online one runs in a browser tab. There is nothing to install, and it works the same on a laptop, a desktop, an Android phone or an iPad.

Zett Prompter is free and needs no account. Scripts are saved in your browser on the device you use, so nothing is uploaded anywhere.

Set it up in two minutes

1. Open the prompter at prompter.tryzett.com and click New Script.
2. Paste your text. The first line becomes the title. You can rename it later.
3. Pick the text size. Bigger is easier to read from a distance. Around 60–90 px works for a laptop at arm's length.
4. Set the margins so the lines stay close to the centre of the screen. Short lines mean less eye movement on camera.
5. Choose how it moves. A fixed speed, a total duration (for example 30 seconds), or voice follow.
6. Press Space to start. A short countdown gives you time to look up.

Settings that make a difference on camera

• Reading line. Put it about a third of the way down the screen, close to the camera lens. Your eyes stay near the lens and the audience doesn't see you reading.
• Line spacing. A little extra space (1.3–1.5) makes it easier to find your place again after a pause.
• Fade at the edges. Fading the lines above and below keeps your attention on the current sentence.
• Speed. Most people read aloud at 130–160 words per minute. The speed calculator tells you how long your script takes.

Using it with a camera, phone or prompter glass

With a webcam, keep the browser window high on the screen, just under the camera. With a phone, put the prompter on a laptop or tablet right behind the phone. With a real teleprompter rig and beam-splitter glass, the text has to be mirrored. Open the output window and keep it mirrored. The mirroring guide walks through it.

Do you need a paid teleprompter app?

For most videos, no. Paid apps add cloud sync and team features. For reading a script on camera, a browser prompter covers everything you need: mirroring, timing, voice follow and remote control.

Questions