The ColdRead alternative that's fast to set up
ColdRead is cheap and fully on-device, which is great for privacy. But it's a reader only: no camera recording, no web, iOS and macOS just. ActOnCue reads your scene on cue, records your tape, runs in any browser, and syncs across your devices.
How the two compare
Where ActOnCue does more, and the two places ColdRead wins: privacy and price.
| Feature | ActOnCue | ColdRead |
|---|---|---|
| PlatformsWhere the app runs | iOS, web | iOS, macOS |
| Cue trackingHow reliably (and fast) the reader comes in on your cue, plus its line-advancement fallbacks (AI or timer) when it mishears | High | Medium |
| PDF / document importImport a script instead of typing it in (inc. badly formatted scripts) | ||
| Camera recordingRecord your tape in the app | iOS only | |
| Real human audioRecord or upload real human reads, not AI | ||
| Line-learning modeLearn your lines and get off-book | Audio + visual | |
| Voice libraryHow many AI reader voices you can choose from | 81 | On-device voices (low quality) |
| LanguagesLanguages the reader can speak | EN, AR, ES, FR, DE, IT, PT, RU | All Apple |
| Browser supportSupports all web browsers (inc. mobile and Firefox) | ||
| Syncs across devicesStart on one device, pick up on another | On-device only | |
| Where scripts liveStored in the cloud or on your device | Cloud | On-device |
| Peer reader communityFree WhatsApp group: post reader requests and read for others | ||
| PricingOn the recommended or monthly tier | $10/m ($0.35/hr for reading and speech generation at $0.19/min) | $11.99/m |
| Free tierWhat you get before paying | $1 of credit | 8 lines per scene |
| Pay-as-you-goPay only for your usage | ||
| Credit rolls overUnused monthly credit carries to next month | Up to $30 |
Comparison based on publicly available information about ColdRead as of August 2026. Features and pricing can change, so check each app for the latest.
See what you'd pay
ColdRead is a flat monthly fee. ActOnCue is pay-as-you-go, so it's cheaper at typical loads, though a flat offline plan can win at heavy volume. Set your real load.
18 script pages a month · your own audio has no voice-generation fee
At 6 auditions a month
Save $8 / mo
ActOnCue: Assumes each page is about 1 minute of the reader's dialogue (you typically need the reader for about half the lines). The reader session fee (30 min at $0.35/hr) plus $0.19/min for AI voices. ColdRead: $6.99 - $10.99/mo flat (midpoint shown). ColdRead is a flat, offline plan, so at heavy volume it can come out cheaper.
What you get with ActOnCue
The reasons actors move over, at a glance.
Record your self-tape
- ColdRead reads the scene but doesn't record it. With ActOnCue the reader and camera share one iOS screen, so you rehearse and capture a submission-ready tape in one place.
Rehearse in any browser
- ColdRead is iOS and macOS only. ActOnCue also runs in any modern browser, so you can rehearse on any laptop or device.
Synced across devices
- Start on the web, record on iOS. Everything stays in sync. ColdRead keeps everything on the single device.
A richer voice library
- Choose from a large library of natural voices, or record the reader in a human voice you pick and direct.
Audio and visual line learning
- Get off-book before you tape with hide-and-reveal, first-letter prompts, and a reader that cues you aloud.
A community of readers
- Post a reader request in our WhatsApp group and find a human partner when you want a real read.
Privacy and price
ColdRead keeps everything on-device with no account, which is excellent for privacy, and it's a little cheaper. If keeping your scripts entirely off any server is your top priority, ColdRead is a strong pick. ActOnCue is cloud-based, and that's exactly what lets it sync across devices and record your tape in the app.
Your questions, answered
Feel free to contact us with your ideas or questions!
Does ColdRead record self-tapes?
No. ColdRead reads the scene for you but doesn't record video. ActOnCue records your self-tape in its iOS app, with the reader and camera on one screen.
Is there a ColdRead alternative that also records?
Yes. ActOnCue does what ColdRead does, reads the other lines on cue, and also records your tape, runs in the browser, and syncs across your devices.
Is ColdRead more private?
Yes. ColdRead is fully on-device with no account, which is excellent for privacy. ActOnCue is cloud-based, which is what lets it sync across devices and record your tape in the app. If keeping scripts entirely off any server is your priority, ColdRead is a strong pick.
Which is cheaper, ActOnCue or ColdRead?
ColdRead is a little cheaper, $6.99 to $10.99/mo flat, versus $10/mo or pay-as-you-go from $0.35/hr for ActOnCue. The difference is what you get: recording, web access, and sync.
A self-tape reader that also records
Upload your sides and rehearse with the reader in under a minute.