Studios often depend on a good teleprompter in order for the anchors to look professional while reading the news. Some staffs may use a monitor system tied into a computer and type the words into the system for playback.

Today the Apple iPad has made it simple to create a teleprompter setup fast and easy. Currently there are many free apps to upload to an iPad or other similar device that will operate as a teleprompter. This setup runs around $500 – $600. However that is assuming that you already have a tripod and an iPad. If you add those costs into the total, it is around $800-$900, which is still around $300-$500 cheaper than the conventional teleprompter.

Visioprompt is a free application that allows you to type or copy and paste in your script. Once you have your script in the app, all you have to do is hit play and it turns your iPad into a teleprompter.

Many companies make iPad holders for cameras and tripods so that the iPad then can be connected.

If you do not want to run your teleprompter through an iPad, you will need to purchase a teleprompter set that includes a monitor and the glass hood setup. The iKan Teleprompter has this setup. It comes with a 20″ LCD monitor, a teleprompter hood, and Prompter Pro 2.0 software. Unfortunately when you begin to add additional electronic components it will raise the cost up to around $1,500.