Best Apps for Actors (Self Tapes, Lines and Casting)

The apps working actors lean on do five jobs: find a reader for self tapes, learn lines, submit to casting, edit and send tapes, and keep track of auditions. Most are free or cheap, and the best self-tape tech is still a live reader. We asked 21 casting directors whether you can pre-record your reader, and 21 how they want tapes sent.

What is the best self tape reader app?

These connect you, by video, with another actor who reads the other lines while you record. Facts below are from each app's own site or App Store page, as of November 2026:

WeAudition co-founder Darren Darnborough explains that available readers show a live beacon, or you send a request (an accent, an age, sitcom experience) and members can respond within minutes. Actor Trade CEO Dylan Mooney says the idea is actors helping actors without charging each other.

Can an app replace a live reader?

Most casting directors would rather it didn't. Of the 21 we asked whether you can pre-record the other lines yourself, six said yes, nine said only as a last resort, and six said no. Meg Morman said a tape with your own voice on every line is one she couldn't send to her director. Seth Yanklewitz said it plays horribly for the viewer.

Three of them, Rachel Sutton, Lisa Zambetti and Ricki Maslar, named WeAudition as the easy fix. Meg Morman and Kahleen Crawford suggest a reader on a video or phone call instead. If you must pre-record, Greg Apps and Amanda Mitchell say fill the gaps and stay in the moment. For the full answers, see our self tape tips.

What is the best app for learning lines?

Our experts' most common method: record the other parts, leave gaps for yours, and repeat. Acting teacher Anthony Brandon Wong says your phone's voice recorder does the job. If you want more:

Rehearsal Pro's creator, voice actor David H. Lawrence XVII, told us to record your own lines with almost no performance, just for timing, so you don't lock in a reading. For more methods, see how to memorise lines.

Which casting apps do actors use?

The big US casting sites each have an iPhone app, so you can answer an audition request away from your laptop. Per their App Store listings and help pages, as of November 2026:

Many casting offices send self-tape requests as Eco Cast invitations through Actors Access. Our Breakdown Services expert's tip: set up your camera, light and sound before an invitation ever arrives. For how the sites compare, see casting sites for actors.

What app should I use to edit a self tape?

Kym Jackson uses iMovie, which is free on iPhone. Her method: import the takes, put them in order, trim each to leave about half a second before your first line and after your last, then export at the highest quality that keeps the file under 100 MB.

Gear-wise she keeps it simple: a phone, a tripod with a phone mount, good light and a plain background. Her phone's microphone is fine, as long as your reader stands as far from the camera as you do. More in our self tape setup guide.

What's the best way to send a self tape?

Follow the casting instructions first; many offices send an upload link. When they don't, WeTransfer, Vimeo and Dropbox came up most among the 21 casting directors we asked. Avoid YouTube: Amanda Mitchell, Meg Morman, David Newman and Bonnie Zane all steered actors away from it. Meg Morman added that some studios won't open Vimeo links.

Make it easy to download, with no maze of passwords. Kahleen Crawford asks you to name each file with your name, the scene and take. Sunny Boling's least favourite is Google Drive.

Do actors use teleprompter apps?

For hosting, presenting and corporate work, yes. PromptSmart+ scrolls as you speak and pauses when you go off script (free download; $8.99 a month or $79.99 a year for full features), and WeAudition has its own voice-tracking prompter.

Host Forbes Riley's advice: practise daily on your phone's prompter, let your voice lift at the end of each line so you don't sound like you're reading, and use a Bluetooth keyboard to pause and talk.

What app should actors use to track auditions?

A spreadsheet works. Kym tracks every audition with the project, casting director and associate, then sorts by casting director to see who keeps bringing her in. Actor and producer Ayelette Robinson adds what you wore, how you felt, the feedback, your tape and every contact you made.

For to-do lists, one of our career strategists likes Trello (free plan, up to 10 boards per workspace) or a simple notes app. Kevin E. West uses only his laptop's calendar, planning each week ahead.

What software do voice actors use?

Our voice over expert teaches with Audacity, which is free for Windows, macOS and Linux. Voice work is usually a single dry track, so you don't need a heavy multitrack package. See how to become a voice actor.

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All rates current from apps.apple.com, weaudition.com, breakdownservices.com and support.castingnetworks.com as of 5 November 2026.