Use-Case Guides · 6 min read
How to Use a Teleprompter on Zoom and Video Calls
Reading notes on Zoom means looking away from the camera. A teleprompter fixes that. Picture-in-picture, second-monitor, and phone setups for corporate calls.
Tom Baranowicz
Creator of GoTeleprompter · Updated
The biggest problem with reading notes on Zoom is eye contact. The moment you glance at your notes, on paper, a second monitor, or a sticky note, your eyes leave the camera and your audience notices. A teleprompter keeps your script scrolling right next to (or behind) the lens, so you look engaged even while reading every word. For the short setup checklist, see teleprompter for Zoom meetings.
Four Setup Methods
Method 1: The Mac app, right under your webcam
On a Mac running macOS 26 or later, the GoTeleprompter Mac app is built for this. The prompter floats on top of Zoom, even in full screen, and Move Below Camera docks it as a strip just under the webcam. With Voice Follow, the script scrolls as you speak and waits while you answer a question.
The prompter can also be hidden from screen sharing, so you can share your whole screen and keep your notes to yourself. Some apps that capture your entire screen may still show it. Do a quick test share before going live.
Method 2: Picture-in-picture on one laptop
On Windows, a Chromebook, or an older Mac, the free web teleprompter has picture-in-picture on Chrome, Edge, and Firefox. Open it, start PiP, and drag the floating script beside Zoom near the webcam. Share slides or the Zoom window, not the full desktop: the PiP window is visible if you share your whole screen.
Method 3: Web Teleprompter on a Second Monitor
This is the easiest approach if you have an external monitor or a laptop plus a separate webcam.
- Open the GoTeleprompter web tool in a browser window.
- Move the browser window to the monitor where your webcam sits. Position the teleprompter text as close to the camera lens as possible.
- Set font size to 30+ pt so you can read from arm's distance without squinting.
- Set speed to 120–130 WPM, Zoom calls benefit from a more deliberate pace than recorded video.
- Open Zoom on your other screen (or on the same screen in a split view). Start the scroll just before you begin speaking.
Method 4: Phone App Next to the Webcam
If you only have one screen, tape or mount your phone directly next to your laptop webcam. Load your script in GoTeleprompter (in prompter mode, no recording needed), set the scroll speed, and read from the phone while Zoom uses your laptop camera.
The phone screen is small enough that your eyes barely move, making this nearly invisible to your audience.
Recommended Settings for Zoom
| Setting | Recommendation | Why |
|---|---|---|
| WPM | 120–135 | Meetings are slower-paced than video; deliberate = professional |
| Font size | 30–40 pt | Readable at arm's length without leaning forward |
| Line spacing | 1.8–2x | Prevents losing your place when glancing between notes and camera |
| Margins | Wide (narrow reading column) | Keeps text near the center of the screen, closer to the webcam lens |
Corporate Use Cases
- Investor updates. Quarterly results delivered smoothly, on time, and without "um" fillers.
- All-hands presentations. Company-wide messages land better when the speaker sounds confident and prepared.
- Sales pitches. Hit every value proposition in the right order without fumbling.
- Training sessions. Consistent delivery across multiple sessions, new hires in January get the same quality as those in June.
- Webinars. Script the intro, the key points, and the close, so a 45-minute session stays on track.
Tips for Natural Zoom Delivery
- Pause the scroll during Q&A. When someone asks a question, tap to pause. Resume when you are back on script.
- Don't read everything. Use the teleprompter for prepared sections (intro, key messages, close) and speak freely during discussion segments.
- Practice once before the call. A single dry run in the web teleprompter catches awkward phrasing before your audience hears it.
For detailed advice on reading naturally with any teleprompter, see our natural delivery guide.
Ready to record? GoTeleprompter is free to start on iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
FAQ
- How do I use a teleprompter on Zoom?
- Open the free web teleprompter and, on Chrome, Edge, or Firefox, start picture-in-picture so the floating script sits beside Zoom near the webcam. Or use a second monitor or a phone next to the camera. Set 120–130 WPM and start scrolling just before you speak.
- Will people on the call see my teleprompter?
- Only if you share the teleprompter window, picture-in-picture, or your full desktop. Share a specific window (slides or Zoom) instead, or keep the script on a second monitor or phone beside the webcam. The GoTeleprompter Mac app can hide from screen sharing in apps that respect it (do a test share first); the web teleprompter and its picture-in-picture window are always visible to capture.
- What speed should I use for Zoom presentations?
- Around 120–130 WPM. Meetings and presentations benefit from a slower, more deliberate pace than social video, giving you room to pause and emphasize.
Free online teleprompter