Every teleprompter app claims to be free. What differs is what the free tier actually includes: some hold back mirror mode, some cap script length, some watermark your footage until you subscribe. This comparison covers seven options for 2026 and is specific about the catches, including for our own tool.
Full disclosure: LilPrompter is our product. It is ranked first for the browser use case because that is the niche it is built for, and the limitations column is filled in for it like everything else. If your workflow needs in-app recording or voice-paced scrolling, one of the others may fit better, and we say which.
The Comparison Table
| Tool | Install | Signup | Mirror mode free | Watermark | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LilPrompter | None (browser) | No | Yes | Never | Any browser |
| CuePrompter | None (browser) | No | Yes | Never | Any browser |
| QPrompt | Download | No | Yes | Never | Win/Mac/Linux |
| Teleprompter.com | App or web | Yes | Limited | On free recordings | iOS/Android/Mac/Web |
| BIGVU | App | Yes | Paid | On free plan | iOS/Android/Web |
| PromptSmart Lite | App | No | No | No | iOS/Android |
| CapCut prompter | App | Yes | No | No | iOS/Android |
Free-tier details change often. This table reflects what we found testing in July 2026; check each tool's pricing page before relying on a specific limit.
The Seven, In Detail
1. LilPrompter
Free browser teleprompter, no signup
What you get free
- Every feature free: speed, fonts to 128px, mirror mode
- Multiple scripts with tabs
- Voice commands for start, stop, reset
- Scripts saved locally, no account
- Works on Mac, Windows, iPhone, iPad, Android
Limitations
- No in-app video recording, you record with your camera app
- No voice-paced scrolling that follows your reading
- Needs a browser, no offline desktop install
Best for: Anyone who wants a prompter working in the next thirty seconds, on any device, with nothing installed.
2. CuePrompter
The long-running free web prompter
What you get free
- Free browser scrolling, no signup
- Mirror and color options
- Been around for decades, dead simple
Limitations
- Dated interface and controls
- No script tabs or local script management
- Premium tier upsells for modern features
Best for: A quick, no-frills scroll when formatting and script management don't matter.
3. QPrompt
Free open-source desktop teleprompter
What you get free
- Genuinely free and open source, donation supported
- Windows, Mac, and Linux builds
- Rig-friendly output options
Limitations
- Requires download and install
- No mobile version
- More settings to learn than web tools
Best for: Studio setups that want an installed, offline desktop app with no strings.
4. Teleprompter.com
Polished freemium app across platforms
What you get free
- Free starter tier with basic prompting
- In-app recording and captions (paid tiers)
- Cloud sync across devices with an account
Limitations
- Account required
- Free recordings watermarked
- Core conveniences sit in Pro/Max subscriptions
Best for: Creators who want in-app recording and cloud script sync and will likely pay for it.
5. BIGVU
Teleprompter plus video editor and AI tools
What you get free
- Free plan to try the prompter and editor
- Voice-paced scrolling on paid plans
- Strong caption and social export tooling
Limitations
- Free plan watermarks and limits video
- Account required, pushes to subscription quickly
- Heavy app for people who only need prompting
Best for: Marketers who want prompting, editing, and captions in one paid pipeline.
6. PromptSmart Lite
Free taste of voice-tracking prompting
What you get free
- VoiceTrack follows your speech on supported scripts
- No watermark, records nothing
- Simple mobile prompting
Limitations
- Script length capped on Lite
- Full VoiceTrack and features need the paid Pro app
- Mobile only
Best for: Trying voice-paced scrolling, where the text follows your actual reading.
7. CapCut's Built-In Teleprompter
Prompter inside the CapCut mobile camera
What you get free
- Included free in the CapCut app
- Script overlays the camera while you record
- Zero extra tools if you live in CapCut
Limitations
- Only works with CapCut's own camera
- Script panel covers part of your framing
- No mirror mode, awkward for long scripts
Best for: Creators already recording and editing everything inside CapCut on a phone.
Which One Should You Choose?
- You want a prompter right now, free, on whatever device is in front of you: LilPrompter or CuePrompter. We think LilPrompter's script tabs and controls make it the stronger of the two, but we are biased and both cost nothing to compare.
- You want an installed desktop app for a studio: QPrompt.
- You want to record inside the prompter app and will pay: Teleprompter.com or BIGVU.
- You want text that follows your voice: PromptSmart, and budget for Pro.
- You edit everything in CapCut on your phone: use its built-in prompter, and read our CapCut teleprompter review for its limits.
If you are still deciding, the zero-cost test is the browser route: open the free teleprompter, paste a script, and record one take. You will know within a minute whether scrolling text solves your problem before you evaluate anything paid.