Best MacBook Notch Teleprompter Apps in 2026 (Compared)

For years, people complained about the MacBook notch. Turns out it's one of the best things to happen to video creators. By placing your script text directly next to the FaceTime camera, notch teleprompter apps let you read while maintaining natural eye contact — no expensive hardware, no awkward glancing at notes off-screen.

In 2026, there are five apps competing in this space: CueNotch, Moody, Notchie, NotchPrompter, and Textream. Here's how they compare.

Comparison Table

CueNotch — Best Overall Value

CueNotch is the newest entrant in this category, but it packs the most features per dollar. At $29 for a lifetime license, it's less than half the price of Moody while offering everything the competitors do and more. Ghost Mode keeps it invisible during screen sharing on Zoom, Teams, Meet, Loom, and OBS. Voice-synced scrolling follows your speech in real time so you never have to fiddle with scroll speed.

What sets CueNotch apart is its AI-powered Magic Polish feature, which takes stiff or robotic scripts — the kind you get from ChatGPT or meeting notes — and rewrites them to sound conversational and natural when spoken aloud. It also includes Liquid Border Pulse, a subtle visual effect around the notch, and emotion-aware color highlighting that changes based on the tone of your script.

CueNotch is the only paid app in this list that offers both a 7-day free trial with full Pro features and a permanent free tier (3 activations per day, 100-word limit). You can genuinely test it before buying, which none of the other paid competitors offer.

Moody — The Established Choice

Moody is the app that popularized the notch teleprompter concept. At $59 lifetime, it's the most expensive option on this list, but it's also the most established. It has a solid track record of updates, a loyal user base, and a polished interface that's been refined over time. If you value a proven product with a longer history, Moody is a safe bet.

Feature-wise, Moody covers the essentials well: Ghost Mode for invisible screen sharing, voice-synced scrolling, and a clean reading experience in the notch area. It doesn't offer AI features, a free trial, or a free tier, so you're committing $59 upfront without being able to test first.

Moody is a good app and has earned its reputation. For users who are already invested in it and happy, there's little reason to switch. But for new buyers comparing options in 2026, the lack of a trial and the higher price point are worth considering. See our detailed CueNotch vs Moody comparison for a deeper dive.

Notchie — Clean and Focused

Notchie gained attention through Product Hunt and has built a following with its clean, focused interface. It does the core job well: notch-based teleprompter with Ghost Mode and voice-synced scrolling. The UI is minimal and well-designed, which some users prefer over more feature-rich alternatives.

Pricing varies, and like Moody, Notchie doesn't offer a free trial or free tier. It's a solid choice if you want a straightforward teleprompter without extra bells and whistles. However, it lacks AI features and the kind of visual polish options (like emotion highlighting) that CueNotch provides.

If you're the type who values simplicity and a focused feature set, Notchie is worth a look. It does what it promises and does it well.

NotchPrompter — Best Free Option (With Caveats)

NotchPrompter is a free, open-source notch teleprompter. It works well for basic use cases and supports macOS 13+, making it accessible on older machines. If you just need to put some text near your camera and scroll through it manually, NotchPrompter gets the job done at zero cost.

The trade-offs are significant, though. NotchPrompter doesn't support Ghost Mode, which means it will appear in Loom recordings, Zoom screen shares, and other screen capture tools. It only offers manual scrolling — no voice sync. And because it's not distributed through the App Store, you'll get a macOS Gatekeeper warning when you first open it, since the app isn't signed with an Apple developer certificate.

For casual, personal use where screen recordings aren't a concern, NotchPrompter is a perfectly functional free option. But for professional use, the lack of Ghost Mode is a dealbreaker.

Textream — Dynamic Island Style

Textream is the newest free option, taking a Dynamic Island-inspired approach to the notch teleprompter. It's open source and completely free. The interface feels modern and playful, pulling from the visual language Apple introduced with iPhone's Dynamic Island.

Like NotchPrompter, Textream doesn't support Ghost Mode or voice-synced scrolling. It also requires macOS 15 (Sequoia) or later, which limits its audience to users on the latest OS. It's not available on the App Store, so you'll need to download and install it manually.

Textream is an interesting project worth watching. If you're already on macOS 15 and want a free, visually distinct teleprompter for personal use, it's a fun option. But for professional workflows, the missing features (Ghost Mode, voice sync) are hard to overlook.

The Verdict: Which One Should You Pick?

Best Overall: CueNotch

CueNotch offers the most complete package at the lowest price among paid apps. Ghost Mode, voice sync, AI Magic Polish, emotion highlighting, Liquid Border Pulse, a 7-day free trial, and a permanent free tier — all for $29. It's the best starting point for anyone new to notch teleprompters. Read our three-way comparison of the paid apps for more detail.

Best Free Option: NotchPrompter

If you need a free teleprompter and don't care about screen recording visibility, NotchPrompter is the most functional free choice. Just be aware it shows up in recordings and requires bypassing Gatekeeper. For a deeper look at free options, see our guide to free Mac teleprompter apps.

Best if Money Is No Object: Moody

Moody is the most established app in the category with a proven track record. At $59, it's the priciest option, but you're paying for maturity and polish. If you want the safest, most battle-tested choice, Moody is it.