10 Best NotebookLM Alternatives
Everyone’s talking about NotebookLM.
But guess what? It’s not the only option out there.
Sure, Google’s new AI-powered note-taking tool has made a splash, but here’s the thing: there are plenty of other powerful alternatives you might be missing. If you’re like me, constantly juggling notes, ideas, and research, you’ll want something that fits your workflow just right.
That’s why I’m here to break it down.
Whether you need something smarter, simpler, or just plain different—I’ve got you covered with the top 10 NotebookLM alternatives. Let’s dive into the tools that can change how you manage your knowledge, without limiting yourself to the latest buzz.
Saner.AI helps you easily note, recall, and generate insights from your uploaded documents or synced Google Docs. With a simple note and to-do list app, powered by best-in-class AI Assistants, it helps you get things done efficiently
Pros
- Quickly import data from note apps like Evernote, Notion, Apple Notes, Markdown, and Google Docs
- A personal AI that deeply understands your information to make insight extraction easier
- An intuitive design that reduces context switching and distractions
- Automatically suggests tags for easy categorization
- Combines note-taking, task management, and AI assistance in one platform
- Designed with ADHD users in mind, reducing overwhelm
Cons
- Requires internet access for full functionality
Pricing
- Free
- Starter: Monthly at $7.89/month, Annually at $5.89/month
- Standard: Monthly at $15.89/month, Annually at $10.89/month
Who is it suitable for?
Saner.AI is particularly well-suited for:
- Intensive knowledge workers who need to manage large amounts of information efficiently from multiple sources, such as entrepreneurs, researchers, managers, and content creators
- Individuals with ADHD or those who struggle with information organization and time management
- Anyone looking to streamline their workflow without spending too much time learning a new tool.
How to start using it?
- Visit the Saner.AI website and sign up for an account
- Explore the app’s features, starting with basic note-taking and task creation.
- Try out the integrated internet search functionality to streamline your workflow.
2. MyMind
MyMind is a design-focus tool that helps users save and organize ideas, inspiration, and knowledge without traditional folders or tags. It uses AI to automatically organize and categorize content in the background.
Pros
- AI-driven organization—no manual tagging needed.
- Great for capturing inspiration, images, and links.
- Clean, distraction-free interface focused on minimalism.
Cons
- Limited customization and control over content organization.
- Less suited for complex knowledge management or task planning.
Price
- Starts at $6.99/month.
Suitable for:
Creatives, designers, or anyone who wants a simple, minimalist way to save ideas and inspiration without the clutter of complex folders or systems.
How to start:
Sign up on their website, start saving ideas, images, articles, and notes, and let the AI organize them in the background.
Notion is a popular all-in-one workspace for notes, databases, tasks, and knowledge management, with some AI features for summarizing and generating content.
Pros
- Versatile all-in-one workspace
- Extensive template library
- Strong collaboration features
Cons
- It can be overwhelming for new users
- AI features require additional payment
Pricing
- Free plan available, Premium plan starts at $8/month, Notion AI is $8/month additional
Suitable for:
All-in-one users, teams, and project managers
How to start:
Sign up for Notion, choose a template, or start from scratch, and begin organizing your information using its flexible database and page structure.
4. Evernote
Evernote is a classic note-taking app with rich organizational features for capturing, storing, and searching information across devices. They start to have some AI capabilities
Pros
- Cross-platform synchronization.
- Supports various media types
- AI search
- Web clipper for easy content-saving
Cons
- It can be overwhelming for new users
- The free plan is limited
- Limited functionality for AI-driven knowledge management.
Pricing
- Free plan available
- Paid plans from $14.99/month
Suitable for:
General users looking for a well-established note-taking app with AI enhancements
How to start:
Sign up on their website and start creating notes or importing content.
5. Narafy
Narafy uses AI to generate summaries, insights, and actionable content from research and documents.
Pros
- AI-driven summaries and insights.
- Useful for users dealing with research or extensive documents.
Cons
- Limited to document analysis rather than broader knowledge management.
- Less flexible than tools like Notion or Obsidian.
Price
- N/A
Suitable for:
Researchers or knowledge workers who need quick summaries and insights from large texts.
How to start:
Sign up on their website and start uploading documents for AI-powered insights.
6. Mem
Mem.ai uses AI to answer your questions
Pros
- AI Bot to chat with your documents
- Collaborative features
Cons
- The learning curve for advanced features
- Premium version required for full experience
Pricing
- $14.99/month for individual plan
Suitable for:
Organized note-takers, knowledge workers, and teams
How to start:
Sign up on their website, start adding notes, and let the AI help organize your knowledge.
7. Obsidian
Obsidian is a local-first, markdown-based note-taking app that focuses on linking notes to form a personal knowledge graph.
Pros
- Local storage of notes
- Highly customizable
- Bidirectional links and graph view for visualizing connections.
Cons
- Steep learning curve
- Lacks built-in AI tools (third-party plugins may be available).
Price
- Free for personal use, Premium plan starts at $50/year
Suitable for:
Advanced users, developers, and privacy-conscious individuals
How to start:
Download and install from their website, and begin creating markdown notes and linking them to build a knowledge graph.
8. Tana
Tana is a structured data tool that combines note-taking with networked knowledge and task management.
Pros
- Combines networked thinking with structured databases
- Strong task management features integrated into notes.
- AI features
Cons
- Still in early access
- Can be complex for beginners
Price
- Monthly at $18/month, Annually at $14/month
Suitable for:
Knowledge workers, researchers, and those who enjoy structured data
How to start:
Join the waitlist on Tana’s website, and once granted access, explore its unique approach to organizing information.
9. Afforai
Afforai focuses on AI-driven document analysis and summarization, useful for managing and understanding large documents.
Pros
- AI-driven document summarization and question-answering.
- Easy to use for processing large amounts of information.
Cons
- Primarily focused on document management, not broader knowledge or task management.
Price
- Premium plan starts at $3.99/month
Suitable for:
Users who need to quickly process and summarize large documents or reports.
How to start:
Sign up on their website, upload documents, and start using the AI for analysis and summaries.
10. Roam Research
Roam Research is a note-taking tool that emphasizes networked thought and bidirectional linking of notes, making it ideal for building a knowledge graph.
Pros
- Powerful bidirectional linking
- Graph view visualizes the relationships between ideas.
Cons
- Steep learning curve
- Not many updates recently
Price
- Premium plan starts at $15/month
Suitable for:
Deep thinkers, researchers, and academics who want to spend time linking their notes
How to start:
Sign up for Roam Research, start with daily notes, and gradually build your network of interlinked ideas.
IV. Choosing the Right NotebookLM Alternatives 💡
NotebookLM might be making waves, but it’s not the only game in town. Whether you’re after smarter AI, a more intuitive experience, or something that fits your unique workflow, these alternatives can deliver what you’re looking for—without the hype.
So, don’t settle for just one option.
Explore, experiment, and find the tool that works best for you.
After all, productivity isn’t about following the crowd—it’s about finding your groove.
