Textream: Free macOS Teleprompter with Dynamic Island
Textream: Free macOS Teleprompter with Dynamic Island
Whether you’re hosting a live stream, conducting a remote interview, or delivering a keynote, staying on script without breaking eye contact can be a real challenge. Textream solves that by turning your Mac into a lightweight, privacy‑first teleprompter.
Official site: textream.fka.dev
GitHub repo: f/textream
What is Textream?
Textream is a free, open‑source macOS application that displays your script in a sleek overlay. The overlay looks like a Dynamic Island—Apple’s modern floating UI—meaning it sits above every other app while remaining invisible to viewers during screen shares or recordings.
Key features:
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Word Tracking | On‑device speech recognition highlights each word as you say it—no cloud or latency. |
| Classic Auto‑Scroll | Constant‑speed scrolling at 0.5–8 words/s; no mic required. |
| Voice‑Activated | Scroll while you speak, pause when you’re silent. |
| Overlay Choices | Dynamic‑Island notch, floating window, or fullscreen for external displays or Sidecar iPads. |
| Language Support | Choose from dozens of spoken languages for speech recognition. |
| External Display Modes | Mirror or teleprompter full‑screen on external monitors, with optional hiding from screen‑share. |
| Import & Save | Drop .pptx files to pull presenter notes; save scripts as .textream files for later reuse. |
| Multilingual & Accessibility | Supported fonts include OpenDyslexic for dyslexia‑friendly reading. |
| Privacy‑First | All processing occurs on‑device; no data leaves your Mac. |
Who Is It For?
| Role | How Textream Helps |
|---|---|
| Streamers | Read sponsor segments, announcements, and talking points without turning the camera. |
| Interviewers | Keep questions visible while maintaining eye contact with the guest. |
| Presenters | Deliver keynotes or demos confidently, never losing your place. |
| Podcasters | Follow show notes, ad reads, or topic outlines hands‑free while recording. |
Quick Start Guide
1. Install
From the App Store
Textream is not distributed via the Mac App Store, so you’ll need to download a DMG from GitHub Releases or install via Homebrew.
brew install f/textream/textream
From GitHub
- Clone the repo:
git clone https://github.com/f/textream.git - Open the project:
cd textream/Textream open Textream.xcodeproj - Build and run with ⌘R.
2. First Launch
Since the app is outside the App Store, macOS may block it. Run once in Terminal:
xattr -cr /Applications/Textream.app
Then right‑click the app → Open. macOS will remember your choice thereafter.
3. Prepare Your Script
Paste directly into the editor, or drop a .pptx file to extract notes, or a .textream file saved earlier.
4. Choose a Mode
- Word Tracking (default): Highlight words as you speak.
- Classic: Consistent scrolling.
- Voice‑Activated: Pauses on silence.
5. Pick an Overlay
- Pinned to Notch (Dynamic Island): Shows in the top notch.
- Floating Window: Drag anywhere; can follow the cursor.
- Fullscreen: Works on any connected monitor or Sidecar iPad.
6. Start Speaking
Hit Play. The overlay slides down, and words highlight in real‑time. When you finish, it closes automatically.
Behind the Scenes
Textream uses Apple’s Speech framework for on‑device speech recognition—no internet required. The project is written entirely in Swift 5 for macOS with Xcode 16+. Every UI element lives in SwiftUI, and the overlay is driven by custom MarqueeTextView that lays out words while tracking the microphone input.
The code is 99 % Swift, a modest 1 % Bash for GitHub Actions build scripts. A simple release workflow publishes DMG files to gh-pages and pushes updates to the App Store Connect via brew. The repository stays fully open‑source under the MIT license, encouraging community contributions.
Customization Tips
| Customization | How to Do It |
|---|---|
| Font & Color | Settings → Font Family / Size × Highlight Color |
| Overlay Size | Drag to resize, or use the size sliders |
| Voice Language | Select your preferred locale in settings |
| Scrolling Speed | Adjust 0.5–8 words/sec in classic/voice‑activated modes |
| External Display | Choose from connected screens or Sidecar in the overlay menu |
| Glasses Effect | Enable translucent background for a frosted look |
Privacy & Security
All audio and text stays on your Mac. Textream does not log your speech or script, nor does it send data to any server. The Homebrew or GitHub installation also uses the MIT license, ensuring that contributors cannot add hidden telemetry.
Community & Feedback
- GitHub Issues: File bug reports or feature requests.
- Pull Requests: Contribute UI improvements, language packs, or bug fixes.
- Discord / Slack: Join the community channel to discuss use‑cases.
Conclusion
Textream bridges the gap between simple script‑reading and a full‑blown streaming production suite. Its dynamic Island overlay gives you that professional, invisible teleprompter feel, while staying lean and open‑source. Whether you’re live‑streaming, conducting a podcast, or delivering a corporate presentation, Textream keeps your words flowing without breaking eye contact.
Try it today for free—no ads, no data collection, just reliable performance on macOS.