How a Zoom teleprompter overlay works
A standard webcam feeds your video directly into Zoom. The overlay method adds one step: SyncedCue sits between your webcam and Zoom, takes your camera feed, renders your script text as a transparent overlay on top of it, and outputs the combined feed as a virtual camera.
In Zoom's video settings, you select SyncedCue as your camera source instead of your default webcam. From that point, every Zoom call uses the overlay feed.
What this means in practice:
You open your Zoom call and see yourself with your script text floating over your image — scrolling automatically as you speak via voice activation. The people on the call open the same Zoom call and see you without the overlay — your standard camera feed, your background, no visible script.
The overlay is a one-way effect. It exists only in your view. There is no setting your audience can change to see it.
The same setup works identically in Microsoft Teams and Google Meet — any video platform that accepts virtual camera sources, which is every major platform currently in use.
Why the second monitor method falls short
The most common teleprompter setup for Zoom calls is a second monitor or tablet placed beside the laptop screen, showing the script at a similar height to the camera.
This works — you can read the script and present from it. But it has one persistent problem: your eyes point at the second monitor, not the camera. The camera is on the laptop. The script is beside the laptop. Looking at the script and looking at the camera are two different directions.
Everyone on the call sees this as a subtle but persistent gaze shift — eyes that track slightly left or right every time you read. Most will not consciously identify it as teleprompter use. They register it as distraction, as looking away, as slightly reduced presence.
The overlay method eliminates this structurally. The script is on the same screen as the Zoom window and the camera indicator. Looking at the script and looking at the camera are the same direction. You do not need to consciously manage eye contact — it is maintained by default because the text is where the camera is.
How to set it up — step by step
Step 1: Open SyncedCue in your browser. No download required. Works on any device with a modern browser.
Step 2: Load your script. Paste your script or choose from a template — presentation script, pitch script, meeting notes. Format in short paragraphs for easier reading during the call.
Step 3: Enable Zoom background mode. In SyncedCue settings, activate the virtual camera overlay. You will see your script appear over your camera feed in the SyncedCue window.
Step 4: Open Zoom and go to Settings → Video. Under Camera, select SyncedCue from the dropdown list of available camera sources. If SyncedCue does not appear, refresh the browser and reopen Zoom settings.
Step 5: Enable voice scroll. Switch scroll mode to voice-activated in SyncedCue. The script will now advance as you speak — no manual speed control needed during the call.
Step 6: Test before the call. Start a test meeting or record a short clip. Confirm the overlay is not visible in the recording — it should not be. Confirm voice scroll advances naturally with your speech.
Total setup time: under ten minutes. Once the Zoom camera source is saved it defaults to SyncedCue for every subsequent call until you change it back.
What the overlay looks like from your side
From your side of the call, the overlay appears as semi-transparent text floating over your own camera image in the SyncedCue window. You can adjust:
Font size — larger for longer viewing distances, smaller for dense scripts where you need more text visible at once.
Contrast and opacity — how prominently the text appears over your background. Higher contrast makes the text easier to read; lower contrast makes it less visually intrusive in your own view.
Scroll position — where on the screen the active text appears. Positioning it near the top of the frame keeps it close to the camera indicator, minimising the distance between your reading gaze and the lens.
Voice scroll handles the advancement automatically. When you pause, the scroll pauses. When you resume speaking, the scroll resumes. You never need to touch a keyboard or remote control during the call.
Which Zoom teleprompter is best
Several teleprompter tools offer Zoom integration. Here is the honest comparison:
SyncedCue — browser-based, no download, Zoom overlay via virtual camera, voice scroll, Day Pass at $4.99. The only in-browser implementation.
Speakflow — browser-based, Zoom overlay available on Plus plan ($15/month), requires account signup. No day pass option.
Teleprompter Pro — native iOS/Mac app, no Zoom overlay feature, Apple only.
CuePrompter — no Zoom overlay, basic scroll only.
Promptr — no Zoom overlay, basic scroll only.
For most people who want a Zoom teleprompter without installing software, SyncedCue is the only option. For people who already pay for Speakflow Plus, their overlay works similarly — the decision is whether the $15/month plan is justified by regular use.