Getting started with Prompter, the teleprompter app for iPhone: your first video

4 min read · Updated November 3, 2026

A good teleprompter app for iPhone lets you look into the camera, say exactly what you planned, and skip the dozen retakes that come from forgetting your next line. This guide walks you through your first recording with Prompter, from a blank script to a finished video in your Photos library, in about ten minutes.

What you need before you start

All you need is your iPhone, a script (even a rough one), and a few minutes somewhere reasonably quiet. Prompter does not ask you to create an account and does not upload anything to a server, so you can open the app and get going straight away.

If you do not have a script yet, read our guide on how to write a script for a talking-head video first. A short, well-shaped script makes your first take far easier.

Step-by-step: your first recording

1. Write or paste your script. Open the script editor and type your text, or paste it from Notes, an email, or a document. Your scripts are stored only on your device, so drafts stay private.
2. Allow the permissions. The first time you start the prompter, iOS asks for access to the camera and microphone so Prompter can record you. If you plan to use Follow voice, it also asks for speech recognition. You can change these later in the iPhone Settings app.
3. Choose how the text moves. Pick auto-scroll and set a speed that feels comfortable, or switch on Follow voice, free on your first 3 recordings and unlimited with Pro (more on both below).
4. Frame yourself. Your script appears over the live front camera, so you can check your framing and read at the same time. Position the phone so the text sits close to the lens.
5. Record. Tap record and a 3-2-1 countdown gives you a moment to settle, breathe, and look up before the first word.
6. Find your video. When you stop, the recording is saved to your Photos library, ready to trim, share, or upload.

Auto-scroll or Follow voice?

Auto-scroll (free)

Auto-scroll moves your script up at a steady pace. Use the speed control to match how fast you naturally talk. A good rule: if you find yourself chasing the text, slow it down; if you are waiting for the next line, speed it up. Do a short test read before your real take to find the sweet spot.

Follow voice (first 3 recordings free, then Pro)

Follow voice listens as you speak and scrolls with you. Words you have already said are dimmed, so you always know where you are, and if you pause to think, the text waits. It uses on-device speech recognition, which means it works offline and nothing you say leaves your phone. It works in the language of your script, including English and Russian.

Follow voice is especially helpful if you change pace a lot, ad-lib a little, or simply find a fixed scroll speed stressful. Our guide on how to read a teleprompter without sounding like you're reading explains why a script that follows you tends to sound more natural.

Tips for a better first video

• Hold the phone at eye level. A tripod, a stack of books, or a phone stand works well. Shooting from below is rarely flattering, and it pulls your eyes away from the lens.
• Find good light. Face a window or a soft lamp. Light behind you turns you into a silhouette.
• Choose a quiet room. Soft furnishings absorb echo, and a quiet space helps both your audio and Follow voice.
• Keep the first script short. Thirty to sixty seconds is plenty while you get used to reading and talking at once.
• Do one practice run. Read through once without recording, then record for real. The second read almost always sounds better.

Free vs Pro in brief

The free version includes the script editor, the prompter over your live camera, auto-scroll with speed control, and recording with a countdown. You can also try Follow voice free on your first 3 recordings. Free recordings include a small "Made with Prompter" watermark.

Pro adds unlimited Follow voice, mirror mode for beam-splitter teleprompter rigs, and clean video without the watermark. Pro is available as Monthly ($7.99), Yearly ($49.99 with a 7-day free trial), or Lifetime ($99.99, one-time). See the pricing page for details, or browse all features.

If something does not work

If the camera preview is black or recording will not start, check that Prompter has camera and microphone access in Settings. If Follow voice does not react, confirm that speech recognition is allowed and that your script is in the language you are speaking. For anything else, visit our support page.

Key takeaways

• Write or paste your script in the editor; it stays on your device with no account needed.
• Allow camera and microphone access, plus speech recognition if you use Follow voice.
• Use free auto-scroll with a tested speed, or Follow voice (3 free recordings, then Pro) to let the text follow you.
• Record after the 3-2-1 countdown and find the video in Photos.
• Eye-level phone, soft light, and a quiet room make the biggest difference.