Comparison · Updated July 2026

The voice-following teleprompter, on Mac and Windows

PromptSmart invented voice-following teleprompting, and on iPhone and iPad it's still the reference. But if you record or present from a computer — especially a Windows PC — you're outside its world. Lumi brings the same voice-follow idea to macOS, Windows, and the browser, adds a recorder and screen-share-proof Meeting Mode, and offers a lifetime license.

Get Lumi for $27

One-time payment · or $9/mo subscription · macOS, Windows & Web

Why people look for a PromptSmart alternative

Credit where it's due: PromptSmart pioneered voice-tracking teleprompters, its VoiceTrack technology is patented, and it works offline. The reasons users go shopping for an alternative are mostly about platform and pricing, and they show up consistently in public App Store reviews:

  • No Windows app. PromptSmart covers iOS, iPad, and Mac. If your studio or office machine runs Windows — or your team is mixed — there's simply no version to install, and no full web prompter to fall back on.
  • The move from one-time purchase to subscription. PromptSmart originally sold as a paid app, then migrated to subscriptions — a change that generated visible backlash in its App Store reviews from long-time buyers.
  • Opaque pricing. The official site keeps plan prices behind a login, which makes comparison shopping harder than it should be.
  • Stability complaints on some devices. Recent reviews mention crashes on iPhone and VoiceTrack behaving inconsistently on newer iPads. Every app has bug reports — but for a tool you rely on mid-take, they matter.
  • Prompting only. Recording your delivery, or keeping a script hidden during a Zoom screen share, means adding other tools on top.

Lumi vs. PromptSmart, feature by feature

Lumi compared with PromptSmart
LumiPromptSmart
Script follows your voice FlowPrompt, pause & resume VoiceTrack (patented)
Works offline Desktop apps On-device
Windows app Windows 10+ No
macOS app macOS 13+ Yes
iPhone / iPad app No Its home turf
Works in the browser app.getlumi.pro No full web prompter
Built-in video recorder Yes No
Hidden on Zoom/Meet/Teams screen share Meeting Mode No
Monthly price$9/mo≈ $9.99/mo (Starter)
Annual option—≈ $99.99/yr
Lifetime option $27 one-time Discontinued

PromptSmart prices as listed in July 2026; its site places current pricing behind a login, so verify current terms on their site before deciding.

The core difference: mobile-first pioneer vs. desktop-first workflow

The honest way to frame this comparison is by where you stand when you speak. PromptSmart was born on the iPhone and iPad, and that's where it shines: a phone on a tripod, the script tracking your voice, everything on one device. Lumi was built for the other scenario — you're at a computer, the script needs to sit right at the camera line so your eyes don't wander, and half the time you're not filming at all, you're on a call.

That desktop context is why Lumi bundles what PromptSmart doesn't: a built-in recorder so a scripted take is one tool instead of two, and Meeting Mode, which keeps your script invisible in Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams screen shares and recordings. Your scripts stay local on your machine, and FlowPrompt's voice control works offline in the desktop apps — the same no-internet reliability PromptSmart users value.

Who should still pick PromptSmart

If you present or film from an iPhone or iPad, stay with PromptSmart. Lumi has no mobile app, and PromptSmart's years of mobile refinement, on-device VoiceTrack, and iPad-friendly layouts make it the natural choice for tripod-and-phone creators. Pick Lumi when the machine in front of you is a Mac or a Windows PC — for recording talking-head video, running webinars, or presenting on calls where the script must never leak into the share.

Frequently asked questions

Which follows your voice better, Lumi or PromptSmart?+
Both do the job well when you stick to the script. PromptSmart's patented VoiceTrack pioneered the category and has years of refinement behind it; Lumi's FlowPrompt was designed around real-world speech — it pauses when you stop or get interrupted and resumes when you pick the script back up. Some App Store reviewers report VoiceTrack behaving inconsistently on recent iPads, so if you present from desktop, testing both with your own script is the fairest way to decide.
Does either app need an internet connection?+
Both work offline for the core prompting experience. PromptSmart's VoiceTrack runs on-device, and Lumi's FlowPrompt works offline in the desktop apps for macOS and Windows. Lumi's browser version at app.getlumi.pro naturally requires a connection.
Does PromptSmart work on Windows?+
No. PromptSmart is built for iOS, iPadOS, and Mac — there is no Windows app and no full web prompter. Lumi ships native apps for macOS 13+ and Windows 10+, plus a browser version, so a mixed Mac/PC setup is covered by one license.
Can I record video inside the app?+
Lumi is a teleprompter and recorder in one app: you read your script and capture the take without switching tools. PromptSmart focuses on prompting; recording your delivery typically means running a separate camera or recording app alongside it.
How do the prices compare?+
PromptSmart's site places pricing behind a login, but its listed plans run about $9.99/month or $99.99/year for Starter and $19.99/month for Team (as listed in July 2026 — verify current terms on their site). Lumi is $9/month (cancel anytime), or a one-time $27 lifetime license if you'd rather never see a renewal.
Who is PromptSmart still the better choice for?+
Anyone who presents from an iPhone or iPad. PromptSmart's mobile apps are mature and its VoiceTrack works fully on-device — Lumi has no mobile app, so if your rig is a phone on a tripod, PromptSmart remains the stronger pick.

Try voice-follow on your desktop

Full access on macOS, Windows, and the web. $9/mo — or $27 once, forever.

Get Lumi for $27Watch the demo

One-time payment, yours forever · or $9/mo subscription