NotebookLM
Grounded AI notebook that answers only from your own sources
Our verdict
The best free way to interrogate a reading list, provided you bring the sources yourself.
NotebookLM loads your documents, sites, videos and slides into a model that answers strictly from them, with every sentence linked back to the passage it came from. Audio Overviews turn a stack of papers into a podcast-style discussion, which is genuinely good for skimming.
How we scored it
What we liked
- ✓Answers only from your sources
- ✓Audio Overviews for skimming
- ✓Free plan is genuinely useful
What to watch
- ✕You have to supply the sources
- ✕No open-web browsing on the free plan
Key features
- ◆Audio Overviews
- ◆Mind maps
- ◆Study guides and quizzes
- ◆Multi-format sources
- ◆Source-linked citations
- ◆Shared notebooks
Best for
Head-to-head
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