Camera mode vs Prompter mode: what's the difference?

Camera mode: record and read on the same device

Camera mode is designed for creators who want a single-device recording workflow. When you switch to Camera mode in Teleprompter-Scrolling Scripts, the app opens the built-in camera on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac and places your scrolling script directly over the live camera preview. You see both the camera view and your script text on the same screen simultaneously.

The script scrolls at the speed you set, and you read while the camera records. The saved video contains only what the camera captured — no text overlay, no watermark. The teleprompter text is composited onto the preview for your eyes only during recording and is not burned into the output file.

This setup is ideal for YouTube videos, TikToks, Instagram Reels, UGC content, talking-head recordings, and any workflow where your iPhone, iPad, or Mac is the recording device. Camera mode handles recording, script display, and scroll control in one interface so you never have to switch between apps mid-take.

Prompter mode: script display for external camera setups

Prompter mode turns your device into a dedicated script display without activating the camera or recording anything. The script fills the screen, scrolls at your chosen speed, and the app does nothing else — no camera feed, no video file. This is the right mode when a different device handles recording.

Common Prompter mode setups include: Zoom calls and webinars where your webcam captures the recording and your phone shows the script nearby; teleprompter for Zoom presentations where you need to reference talking points accurately; Loom recordings where your Mac records through its built-in camera while a phone or tablet beside you shows the script; and DSLR or mirrorless camera setups where the camera is on a tripod and an iPad propped between you and the lens serves as the teleprompter display.

Prompter mode works on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. On Mac, you can also use the free browser teleprompter at teleprompter.works/online in a Prompter-style configuration — paste your script, position the window near the webcam, and scroll during recording.

Which mode should you choose?

The decision comes down to one question: what device is recording you?

• Your iPhone, iPad, or Mac is the camera — use Camera mode. It handles recording and script display in one workflow with no switching between apps.
• A separate webcam, DSLR, or external camera is recording you — use Prompter mode. Your phone or tablet becomes the teleprompter display while the other device handles video capture.
• Zoom, Loom, or video call software is recording — use Prompter mode on a nearby device, or open the browser teleprompter on a second screen.

For a full breakdown of both options and their use cases, see the complete guide to choosing teleprompter modes.

How to switch between modes

Open Teleprompter-Scrolling Scripts on iPhone, iPad, or Mac. On the script editing or playback screen, look for the mode selector — it toggles between Camera and Prompter. Tap or click to switch. The interface updates immediately: Camera mode shows a live camera preview with the script overlaid; Prompter mode shows the script full-screen with no camera feed.

You can switch modes at any point without losing your script. Settings like scroll speed, font size, and text area position carry over between modes, so you do not need to reconfigure each time you switch.