Gemini Notebook (formerly NotebookLM) Review: Features, Pricing & Alternatives
Google's AI research notebook that answers questions using only the sources you add.
What is Gemini Notebook?
Gemini Notebook, known until July 2026 as NotebookLM, is Google’s AI-powered research and study tool. You add your own sources, such as PDFs, Google Docs, websites, YouTube videos and audio, and the AI answers questions using only those sources, with citations back to the exact passage.
It is famous for Audio Overviews, which turn your sources into a podcast-style conversation between two AI hosts, and it can also create video overviews, mind maps, reports, flashcards and quizzes. In July 2026 Google renamed it Gemini Notebook and connected it with the Gemini app, while keeping it as a standalone product.
Because answers are grounded in your material, it is one of the most trustworthy ways to use AI for studying and research.
Key features of Gemini Notebook
- Source-grounded answersAnswers cite the exact passages in your uploaded documents.
- Audio OverviewsGenerate podcast-style discussions of your sources, including interactive mode where you can ask questions.
- Video OverviewsNarrated visual summaries, with a cinematic style on higher plans.
- Study toolsCreate flashcards, quizzes, study guides, mind maps, reports and data tables.
- Discover sourcesFind and add relevant web sources to a notebook.
- Gemini app integrationAccess and create notebooks inside the Gemini app.
Who is Gemini Notebook best for?
- Students turning lecture notes and readings into study materials.
- Researchers and analysts working across many reports.
- Teams building shared knowledge bases from documents.
Gemini Notebook pricing (October 2026)
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Up to 100 notebooks and 50 sources per notebook, with usage limits |
| With Google AI Plus | Included | Higher limits and more sources per notebook |
| With Google AI Pro | Included ($19.99/month plan) | Much higher limits, up to 300 sources per notebook and premium features |
| With Google AI Ultra | Included | Highest limits and newest features |
| Workspace / Education | Included in eligible plans | Organisation sharing and admin controls |
There is no standalone subscription; higher limits come with Google AI plans.
Gemini Notebook pros and cons
Pros
- Answers grounded in your own sources with citations
- Audio and video overviews are excellent for learning
- Generous free plan
- Now integrated with the Gemini app
Cons
- Only as good as the sources you add
- Limits refresh on a usage budget, which can be confusing
- Name change means many guides still say NotebookLM
How to get started with Gemini Notebook
- Go to notebooklm.google (or open Notebooks in the Gemini app) and sign in.
- Create a notebook and add PDFs, Docs, links or YouTube videos.
- Ask questions and click citations to check passages.
- Generate an Audio Overview or flashcards to study.
Gemini Notebook vs alternatives
Perplexity searches the whole web; Gemini Notebook focuses on your sources. Elicit and Consensus search academic papers.
Notion AI is a good alternative if your notes already live in Notion. See our best AI research tools guide.
Our verdict: is Gemini Notebook worth it?
Gemini Notebook is one of the best free AI tools available, especially for students and researchers. Its source-grounded answers and Audio Overviews make learning from documents faster and more reliable.
Gemini Notebook FAQs
Is NotebookLM still available?
Is Gemini Notebook free?
What are Audio Overviews?
Does it use my data to train models?
Pricing and features change often. Details on this page were last reviewed in October 2026. Always confirm current plans on the official Gemini Notebook (formerly NotebookLM) website.
Best Gemini Notebook (formerly NotebookLM) alternatives
Consensus
An AI search engine that answers questions using peer-reviewed scientific research.
Elicit
AI research assistant that finds, summarises and extracts data from academic papers.
Kagi
Paid, ad-free search engine with personalised results and a multi-model AI Assistant built on its search.
Liner
AI research engine with cited answers, a scholarly search agent and a writing workspace for academics.
Paperpal
AI academic writing assistant for grammar, paraphrasing, citations, plagiarism and pre-submission checks.
Perplexity
An AI answer engine that searches the web in real time and cites every source.
