If you need to read planned lines while streaming, choose a teleprompter workflow that keeps the text close to your camera without accidentally sending it to viewers. A small floating prompt window suits many solo OBS setups; text reflected in front of the lens or a second-screen workflow may suit you better if eye-line or remote control matters more.
There is no overall winner established by controlled head-to-head testing here. The recommendations below are based on vendor documentation, so treat product capabilities as claims to verify on your own computer, browser and capture setup before a live broadcast.
What to look for in a live-streaming teleprompter
Start with where the words will appear, not a feature count. A floating window near your webcam is inexpensive and easy to reposition, but its visibility in the stream depends on what OBS captures. A physical beamsplitter display can put text in front of the lens, but adds hardware and mounting considerations. A phone or second monitor can give an operator control without placing a prompt over the host’s desktop.
Then match the tool to your operating system and delivery style. Some products provide fixed-rate auto-scroll; others describe timed or voice-following movement. Fixed scrolling is predictable but does not know when you pause. Voice-following may adapt to your pace, but should be rehearsed with the microphone and room you will actually use. Manual scrolling can be more dependable for short sponsor reads or introductions where you want to pause on a cue.
Check how the tool behaves in the exact browser and device you will use. Floating Teleprompter documents an always-on-top window for desktop Chrome and Edge; its documentation says other browsers and phones use fullscreen instead. It also says scripts remain in local browser storage. Those are vendor statements, not an independent privacy audit. Read the Floating Teleprompter documentation and test browser permissions and storage behaviour yourself.
The important practical axes are prompt placement, capture risk, scroll control, remote operation, privacy claims, and setup effort. The table is a workflow shortlist, not a ranking from comparative testing.
| Workflow or tool | Fits when | Documented features | Check before relying on it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Floating Teleprompter | You want a simple floating prompt on a desktop | Browser-based auto-scroll, mirror mode and always-on-top on desktop Chrome or Edge | Other browsers and phones use fullscreen; verify the capture source and local-storage expectations |
| ScriptCue | You use Windows and need sponsor cues or planned segments | Vendor documents a floating window over OBS, Streamlabs and full-screen games, plus document imports | A selected window or game capture is needed to exclude the prompt; whole-display capture can show it |
| Cuefyr | You want speech-following scroll in a floating window | Vendor describes voice-following and use with OBS Studio and Streamlabs Desktop | Test with the same microphone and avoid display capture if prompt privacy matters |
| OBS Teleprompter | You prefer browser-first controls or remote viewing | Documentation describes adjustable auto-scroll, background-app mode and viewing on another device | Confirm capture behaviour yourself; the documentation reviewed does not establish exclusion from every capture setup |
| Castrix | You have an operator, phone remote or multiple displays | Vendor describes QR-paired screens, phone and Bluetooth-clicker control, and manual, timed and voice modes | It is a browser studio rather than just a notes window; confirm current terms before subscribing |
| Elgato Prompter | You specifically want a physical display near the lens | Vendor lists a display, beamsplitter glass, mounting options and Camera Hub | It is hardware, and voice sync has published computer requirements |
A price or trial is not a permanent feature. For example, Castrix’s product page lists a seven-day full-feature trial and Individual pricing of $8 per month or $80 per year; confirm availability and regional terms on the Castrix site before making a decision. ScriptCue’s page lists £9 monthly or £59 annually. These are vendor-listed amounts, not a comparison of value, and can change. If cost is decisive, check the vendor’s current page rather than relying on a saved article.
A separate prompt window near the webcam
For a solo streamer using OBS, a small floating window placed just under or beside the webcam is often the simplest starting point. You can see your next line without looking down at a desk or switching away from your streaming controls. Keep the strip narrow and the type large enough to read at your normal viewing distance. A wide prompt several inches from the lens can make your eyes travel visibly across the screen.
ScriptCue is a documented fit for a Windows user who wants a floating window for sponsor reads, introductions or segments. Cuefyr is worth considering if adapting scroll to speech is more important than keeping a fixed pace. Floating Teleprompter is a practical free starting point if its desktop-browser behaviour fits your setup. These are category recommendations from feature documentation, not assertions that one product delivers better on-camera performance.
Set the prompt close to the camera before adjusting its speed. Put your webcam at the same height as your eyes, move the prompt window until the text sits near the lens, then record a short private test. Watch the playback rather than trusting how it feels while reading. If your eyes move too much, make the prompt narrower, reduce the number of words visible, or reposition the camera and window together.
A one-line cue can be more useful than a full script on screen. For example, a small business host might display “welcome, today’s offer, where to find details” and speak naturally between those points. A devotional host might keep the order of a programme or a pronunciation reminder visible. You still need to look up and deliver the transitions; the prompt is a memory aid, not a substitute for rehearsing.
Keep the prompt out of the stream capture
A prompt window being separate on your desktop does not mean it is separate in the outgoing stream. In OBS, a camera source or a specific window/game source can capture only that selected content. A whole-display or monitor capture can include every visible window, including your prompt and private notes. ScriptCue and Cuefyr both describe this distinction in their documentation.
Before going live, inspect the OBS preview and make a private recording using the scene and sources you plan to use. Move the prompt, open a notification, and confirm what appears in the recording. Do this again after changing monitors, capture sources or display scaling. A source that excluded the prompt yesterday may not be the source you have selected today.
For example, if your scene contains a webcam source and graphics, a floating prompt on the desktop may not appear at all, depending on how the scene is configured. If the scene uses display capture to show a browser demonstration, the prompt may appear in that capture. Keep a clean scene for the host camera, and use a separate scene or selected window for desktop demonstrations where possible.
This is also a privacy check. A prompt can contain an unreleased offer, a guest’s name, a phone number or production notes. Do not assume a capture method excludes it until you have checked the actual output. You can find broader setup guidance in this article on getting a YouTube live stream ready. For a 24/7 recorded loop that runs separately from a live host presentation, the relevant issues differ; see how to reduce CPU use in an FFmpeg loop.
When you need text near the lens
If you need the words directly in front of the lens, a floating browser window may still leave your eyes looking down or sideways. A physical teleprompter places a display behind beamsplitter glass, reflecting the text towards you while allowing the camera to see through the glass. It is a different category from an online prompt, and is useful when lens-level placement matters more than a browser-only workflow.
Elgato Prompter is one documented physical desk option. Elgato lists a 9-inch integrated display, beamsplitter glass, webcam and smartphone mounting, and Camera Hub software on its official product page. This does not mean you need that hardware for software prompting. Consider it when you have repeated on-camera delivery, desk space and a compatible mounting arrangement; compare the full current product information before buying.
Hardware adds setup steps. Check how the display will connect to your computer, whether it fits your camera and lens, how the camera is mounted, and whether the text is readable at your working distance. A physical rig may be awkward if you move between locations or stream from a laptop. A window or second display is easier to pack away, even if it cannot put text as close to the lens.
Elgato describes Voice Sync for its Prompter, with hardware requirements of an NVIDIA RTX 2060 or newer on Windows, or Apple M1 or newer on macOS. Treat that as a compatibility requirement from the vendor and verify the current Elgato Prompter documentation for your model and software version. Do not assume a voice feature is available simply because the product has a display.
Remote controls and multi-screen workflows
A second display helps when you can read from it without a large eye movement, or when an operator rather than the presenter controls the script. OBS Teleprompter documents remote viewing on another device. Castrix describes QR-paired screens, phone remote control, a Bluetooth clicker and manual, timed and voice modes. That combination may suit a small production in which a producer advances cues while the host stays on camera.
Before choosing a remote workflow, decide who owns the controls. If you are alone, a phone remote or clicker can help you pause or move a cue without reaching for the mouse. If someone else is operating, agree on how they signal a section change, what happens if the host goes off-script, and whether the presenter can override the scroll. Rehearse those hand-offs in the actual call or studio rather than assuming a remote will pair and behave as expected.
Voice-following is not the same as a human operator. Cuefyr describes local speech processing and a prompt that follows speech; Elgato describes its Voice Sync feature; Castrix lists voice mode. Those are vendor descriptions. Room noise, microphone choice, pauses and ad-libs can affect any speech-dependent workflow. Cuefyr advises checking that the same microphone is selected in the prompter and OBS. Run a test using your normal mic, and keep manual controls available if you need to recover a missed line.
For a fixed script, timed scroll can be enough if you rehearse to its pace. For a live lesson, interview or news update, speech-following or manual control gives you more room for pauses. For a short sponsor read, fixed speed can be predictable once you have practised it. You can also use a simple cue card or a paper run-of-show if the setup would otherwise add more failure points than it removes.
Match a tool to your setup
Use your actual computer, camera and streaming software as the filter. A Windows user who wants a floating prompt over OBS could begin with ScriptCue or Cuefyr, then test capture and microphone behaviour. A desktop Chrome or Edge user looking for a straightforward free prompt can try Floating Teleprompter, while confirming that the floating feature is supported in that browser. If you do not want to install or mount anything, start with a browser workflow and a private recording.
If you work across displays, need an operator, or want phone-based control, inspect Castrix or the remote-viewing features documented by OBS Teleprompter. If direct lens placement is the priority, compare physical hardware such as Elgato Prompter rather than expecting a floating window to behave like beamsplitter glass. If you are using a phone, tablet or an unusual browser, first test whether the tool supports the display mode you need.
Privacy and offline behaviour deserve a deliberate check. Floating Teleprompter says its script remains in local browser storage and that it can work offline after initial loading. This is a vendor claim; it does not establish how every browser backup, sync or account setting behaves. If a script contains sensitive material, avoid putting it into a tool until you have read its terms and understand where the text is stored. Also check what happens if the network drops during a live session.
A subscription can make sense when its specific control or multi-screen features save setup time. It is not automatically better than a free floating prompt. The Castrix and ScriptCue amounts listed earlier are from vendor pages and may change; no current price should be treated as universal across regions. Check trial length, renewal terms, cancellation process and supported devices directly before entering payment details.
The prompt itself is only one part of a live setup. If your channel uses a planned premiere rather than a live host, you may want a workflow that handles scheduling changes; see how to cancel or reschedule a YouTube Premiere. For a recurring 24/7 stream, think separately about the video loop and the on-camera delivery: a teleprompter does not keep a stream running when your computer or connection fails. This guide to understanding cloud hosting costs for a 24/7 stream covers a different operational choice.
If your host reads from a scripted segment while other material plays continuously, decide whether the audience is watching a live camera, a pre-recorded video, or a combination. That distinction affects your scene design and the amount of on-camera reading required. Do not add a teleprompter to a workflow that needs only a stable playlist; use it where a presenter genuinely needs cues.
Rehearse the prompt and camera position
Build a rehearsal around the likely failure points. Open the streaming scene, select the microphone you will use, position the prompt, and deliver a short segment with pauses and one intentional ad-lib. Record privately and inspect the viewer’s perspective. Confirm that the prompt is not visible, the camera framing still works, and the script moves at a pace you can speak naturally.
Try more than one scroll method if the product offers them. Fixed-rate movement can run ahead during a pause; manual scrolling can lag if your hand is busy; timed scrolling assumes a pace; voice-following depends on detection. Practise a transition such as moving from an introduction to a sponsor read, and learn how to pause, resume or jump to the next cue. If a feature misses a line, know how to continue without staring at the controls.
Do not rehearse only at the start of a session. A longer live programme may involve changing scenes, checking chat, taking a break or returning to a planned segment. If those tasks expose the desktop, keep private notes out of any display capture and make the intended scene obvious. A simple run-of-show with scene names and operator cues may prevent more mistakes than extra software.
Finally, test the setup after meaningful changes: a browser update, a new monitor, a moved webcam, a different microphone or a revised OBS scene. A prompt that worked in a private test is not a guarantee about the next session. Make the capture check part of your pre-live routine, alongside audio and scene checks. For a continuous devotional stream, you may also need to verify that the visual loop itself remains stable; see how to prevent a black screen in a 24/7 aarti stream.
Choose based on the problem you need to solve, then verify it under your own conditions.
Before committing, compare the operating options on the pricing page. When the file and channel are ready, start free — 24-hour trial, no card.
FAQ
Will a teleprompter work with OBS?
Many can be used alongside OBS, but that does not mean OBS will automatically exclude the prompt from the stream. A selected camera, window or game source can behave differently from whole-display capture. Record a private test using the same scene and capture source you plan to use live.
Will viewers see my prompt window?
They may if your scene captures the whole display or monitor where the prompt appears. A selected window or camera source may leave it out, depending on your configuration. Check the preview and a private recording rather than relying on the product description alone.
Is voice-following better than auto-scroll?
It depends on how you speak and what the segment requires. Fixed auto-scroll is predictable, while voice-following may adapt to pauses and changes in pace but needs testing with your microphone and room. Keep a manual pause or recovery method available.
Do I need a physical teleprompter for eye-line placement?
No. A narrow floating prompt close to the webcam may be enough for a short script or talking points. Physical beamsplitter hardware is worth considering when putting text directly in front of the lens matters more than portability, cost or a simple browser setup.