The best teleprompter apps for iPhone in 2026, compared honestly

Five apps dominate the App Store search for "teleprompter". Four of them are free to download and paid to use. This guide lists what each one charges as of September 2026, what the free tier actually lets you do, and where Rolltake (which I make) fits, including the things it does not do.

How this comparison was done

Prices, ratings, and in-app purchase lists below were read from each app's US App Store listing on 12 September 2026. Feature gates come from the listings' own descriptions and from the apps' review pages. Where a limit is reported by reviewers rather than stated by the developer, the text says so. App Store pricing changes often, so treat the numbers as a snapshot and check the listing before you buy.

One disclosure up front. Rolltake is my app. I have tried to be fair to the others, and I have listed the things they do that Rolltake does not.

The short version

Prices and ratings from apps.apple.com, US storefront, 2026-09-12. The App Store lists multiple purchases under the same name for these apps; ranges show the lowest and highest listed.

Rolltake

Rolltake is free with no subscription, no ads, no account, and no in-app purchases. It scrolls a script under a fixed reading line placed just below the front camera, records the front camera while the script runs (text is never in the video), and takes play, pause, and speed commands from an Apple Watch or a Bluetooth remote. Mirror and vertical flip are included for beam-splitter rigs. Scripts import from .txt and .md files and stay on the phone.

What it does not do: there is no voice-following scroll, no PDF or Word import, no cloud sync between devices, no auto captions, and no iPad-specific layout. It is an iPhone teleprompter first. The rating is 5.0 from three ratings, which is honest to report as "new" rather than "proven". Read the free teleprompter app guide for the full feature list.

Free · No account

Teleprompter Pro (formerly Teleprompter+ and Teleprompter Premium)

Teleprompter Pro by Teleprompter Apps Ltd is the category's incumbent: 4.7 stars from about 15,000 ratings. The free download lets you compose unlimited scripts, scroll full screen, customise the display, and control it from a web browser. The listing puts "Import PDF, Word, Powerpoint, txt and rtf files" and "Mirroring" for professional rigs under the Pro subscription, along with auto captions. In-app purchases on the listing run from $6.99 up to $159.99.

The main complaint in reviews is the move from one-time purchases to a subscription after the app changed hands, so if you bought a version years ago, check what your purchase still unlocks. Its strengths are file-format breadth and remote options (keyboards, game controllers, a second iOS device, a browser).

Video Teleprompter

Same developer, different product. Video Teleprompter is camera-first: the script sits on the edge of the screen nearest the front camera, and the app records while you read. It carries the highest rating of the five, 4.8 from about 6,500 ratings, and the listing offers in-app purchases from $3.99 to $159.99, with a "Pro Upgrade" that unlocks the paid features. Reviewers praise the developer's responsiveness. The recurring gripe is a speed slider that some users find jumpy, and remote control that only works from another iOS device.

BIGVU Teleprompter Captions AI

BIGVU is the most-rated app here, 4.7 from about 35,000 ratings, and it is really a video production service with a teleprompter inside. Scripts live in a web-synced editor, captions are generated server-side, and the paid tiers add branding and AI script writing. The listed purchases are Starter Monthly at $24.99, Starter 6 months at $79.99, Pro 6 months at $99.99, Pro Yearly at $139.99, and a yearly plan at $89.99.

The free tier's limits are not stated on the listing. Reviewers consistently report a watermark on free exports and frequent upgrade prompts. BIGVU needs an internet connection for most of what it does, which matters if you record in places without one.

PromptSmart Pro

PromptSmart Pro is the only paid-up-front app in the group: $29.99 to download, 4.6 stars from about 12,000 ratings, with an Extended add-on listed at $3.99 (monthly) and $34.99 (yearly). Its signature feature is VoiceTrack, which listens to you and scrolls at your speaking pace, offline, in English only. The listing caps scripts at 5,000 words and suggests VoiceTrack sessions of about 30 minutes.

When VoiceTrack works it is the most natural way to read. Reviews describe it stalling or skipping in noisy rooms and with accents, so rehearse with it before a paid shoot. Mirroring, narrow margins, and camera controls are part of the Extended add-on, which pushes the real price above $60 in the first year if you need a beam-splitter rig.

Which one should you pick?

You film with the iPhone's own camera and want everything free. Rolltake. Recording, remotes, and mirror mode are all included, and there is nothing to unlock.

You need PDF or Word import. Teleprompter Pro, on its Pro subscription. Rolltake reads .txt and .md only; paste from anywhere else.

You want the app to follow your voice. PromptSmart Pro. Nothing else in this list does it, and the one-time price is fair if VoiceTrack suits your room.

You publish for a brand and need captions and cloud scripts. BIGVU, if the subscription fits the budget and you always have a connection.

You want the script glued to the lens edge and a track record. Video Teleprompter, with its Pro upgrade.

Whichever you choose, the technique matters more than the app. Set the reading line near the lens, keep lines short, and treat speed as a live control. The guide on reading a teleprompter naturally covers that, and if you want to test the scroll before installing anything, try the web teleprompter in your browser.

Frequently asked questions

Rolltake is free with no in-app purchases, subscription, ads, or account. Teleprompter Pro, Video Teleprompter, and BIGVU are free to download but sell subscriptions or upgrades for recording, import, mirroring, or captions. PromptSmart Pro costs $29.99 up front.

Rolltake, Teleprompter Pro, Video Teleprompter, and PromptSmart Pro do not, as far as their listings and reviews indicate. BIGVU reviewers report a watermark on free exports; the listing itself does not state the free-tier limits.

PromptSmart Pro, through VoiceTrack, in English only. Rolltake uses fixed speed levels that you can change live from the phone, an Apple Watch, or a Bluetooth remote.

Teleprompter Pro imports PDF, Word, PowerPoint, txt, and rtf under its Pro subscription. Rolltake imports .txt and Markdown (.md) files from the Files app, or you paste text into the editor.

Yes. Every price, rating, and purchase name was read from the US App Store listing on 12 September 2026. They change often; the listing is the source of truth.