Gemini Notebook review
Formerly NotebookLM: an AI that answers from your sources
- Free + paid plans
- Web, iPhone & iPad, Android
Does it deserve #4?
Is Gemini Notebook worth it?
For most people, yes. Gemini Notebook scores 8.7/10 and ranks #4 in AI Assistants. It's best for students, researchers and professionals digesting long documents. Skip it if you want a general chatbot that answers anything from the open web. Price: Free with a Google account; Google AI Plus, Pro and Ultra plans raise the limits.
The verdict
Gemini Notebook, called NotebookLM until July 2026, is an AI research assistant that sticks to the material you give it. Add PDFs, Google Docs and web links, and it answers with citations pointing back to your sources. It can also turn them into podcast-style Audio Overviews, video explainers, slides, flashcards or reports. The free tier is roomy. It can still get things wrong, so check those citations.
- Answers with inline citations
- Audio and Video Overviews
- Slides, flashcards and reports
- Deep Research for finding sources
- Live Voice on mobile
Score breakdown
Overall = features 30% · design 20% · speed 20% · value 15% · privacy 15%. Why these weights?
What's new
- Oct 2026Search across notebooks by meaning, plus drag-and-drop sources on iPad
- Sep 2026Live Voice, an in-app voice recorder and short Video Overviews in 70+ languages
- Jul 2026NotebookLM was renamed Gemini Notebook, and notebooks now sync with the Gemini app
Privacy 7.0/10
Google says personal accounts' data isn't used for training unless you send feedback, which human reviewers may read. The App Store label links contact info, content, IDs and usage to you.
What we like
- Answers grounded in your own documents
- Turns notes into audio, video and flashcards
- Free tier allows 100 notebooks
What could be better
- AI can still misread or overreach your sources
- Higher limits come only through Google AI plans
- Feedback you send can be read by human reviewers
Students, researchers and professionals digesting long documents
you want a general chatbot that answers anything from the open web
Questions about Gemini Notebook
Is Gemini Notebook worth it in 2026?
For most people, yes. Gemini Notebook scores 8.7/10 and ranks #4 in AI Assistants. It's best for students, researchers and professionals digesting long documents. Skip it if you want a general chatbot that answers anything from the open web. Price: Free with a Google account; Google AI Plus, Pro and Ultra plans raise the limits.
Is NotebookLM the same as Gemini Notebook?
Yes. Google renamed NotebookLM to Gemini Notebook in July 2026; it's the same product, and old links redirect.
Is Gemini Notebook free?
Yes. The free tier allows 100 notebooks with up to 50 sources each, and Google AI Plus, Pro and Ultra plans raise those limits.
Does Google train AI on my notebooks?
Google says data from personal accounts isn't used for training unless you share feedback, and data from organizations is never used.
What are the best alternatives to Gemini Notebook?
The closest alternatives are Gemini, ChatGPT and Perplexity. See all of them ranked on our Gemini Notebook alternatives page.
Where does Gemini Notebook rank?
Gemini Notebook ranks #4 of 10 in our AI Assistants ranking, with an overall score of 8.7 out of 10.