Confidence monitor or teleprompter: what is the difference?
A confidence monitor is a screen facing the stage that the speaker glances at, usually showing slides, notes or a countdown. A teleprompter shows the full script, word for word, scrolling in step with the speaker. A confidence monitor becomes a teleprompter as soon as an operator feeds it a scrolling script.
Side by side
| Type | Where it sits | Best for | Half day from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Confidence monitors | On the floor at the front edge of the stage, or at the back of the room. | Speakers who walk the stage. Slides and notes, or a full script run by an operator. | $450 |
| Presidential teleprompter | Two clear glass panels, one each side of the lectern. | Scripted speeches from a lectern, with the speaker looking at the room. | $950 |
| Camera teleprompter | In front of the camera lens. | Video, livestreams and any remarks addressed to viewers. | $700 |
Vancouver prices in Canadian dollars before GST, as of October 2026, operator included.
When slides and notes on a monitor are enough
A speaker who knows the material and talks from bullet points needs a reminder, not a script. A confidence monitor showing the current slide, the next slide and a clock does that job.
When the speaker needs the full script
- The wording has been through legal or board review and must be read exactly
- The program is full of names, titles and sponsors that have to be right
- The slot is timed to the minute
- The speaker presents rarely and wants every word in front of them
In each of these, the script scrolls on the monitors or on presidential glass, with an operator following the speaker.
Using your existing monitors
Most conference stages already have confidence monitors from the AV supplier. An operator connects to them by HDMI or SDI and runs the script there, which is the lowest-cost way to add prompting to a general session: $450 for a half day and $750 for a full day. The operator page has the detail.
Which one for a lectern speech
Monitors at the stage edge pull the speaker's eyes down. Presidential glass sits at eye level beside the lectern, so the speaker reads while looking at the audience. The presidential and camera comparison covers that choice.
More guides
- Presidential or camera teleprompter?: Presidential glass for speaking to a room, a camera prompter for speaking to a lens.
- Do you need a teleprompter operator?: For a live event, yes. For a short solo video, an app is often enough.
- How to read a teleprompter: Speak at your own pace and let the operator follow you. Eight habits for first-time speakers.
- How to write a speech for a teleprompter: Short sentences, numbers spelled out, names spelled phonetically and a blank line at every pause.
- How many words is a 10 minute speech?: About 1,300 to 1,500 words, at 130 to 150 words a minute. A table for 2 to 45 minutes.
Get a quote
Send the date, the venue and roughly how many speakers. You get a fixed price and confirmed availability within one business day.
Faster by phone: (604) 671-4096
Or email hello@telepromptersbc.com