Lyrics Runner VST vs LivePrompter: The Honest Comparison

LivePrompter and Lyrics Runner VST both put lyrics on a screen for the singer, but they're built around very different assumptions about how you work. This is the honest side-by-side, written for vocalists and producers who actually have to decide today.

Different jobs, not direct rivals

LivePrompter is an open-source PDF teleprompter for live musicians — it reads chord charts and lyrics you've prepared as PDFs. Lyrics Runner VST is a real-time scrolling lyrics teleprompter VST3 plugin — it loads inside your DAW and the playhead drives the scroll.

Where LivePrompter wins

• It's free and open source.
• It runs on Windows, macOS and Linux as a standalone app.
• If you already maintain a PDF chart library, it slots right in.

Where Lyrics Runner VST wins

• No PDF prep — paste lyrics, set start and end time, done.
• Auto-scroll is synced to the DAW timeline (Cubase, Logic, Ableton, Pro Tools, FL Studio, Studio One, Reaper).
• Designed around the singer's eyeline — type size, lead-in, scroll smoothing tuned for vocals.
• One workflow for tracking, mixing and stage — no second app to learn.

Pricing reality

LivePrompter is free; Lyrics Runner VST is $109 lifetime (currently $79 on the launch deal) with a 30-day money-back guarantee. If your time is worth anything, the per-session setup difference usually pays for the license within a few sessions.

Which one should you pick?

If you only need a PDF chart reader for live shows and you're comfortable with open-source tooling, LivePrompter is a great free option. If you record vocals — or you want one tool that handles both studio and stage — Lyrics Runner VST is the more modern choice.