NotebookLM (now Gemini Notebook) alternatives for studying in 2026: 6 options for what you actually need

If you're searching for "NotebookLM alternatives", the first thing to know is that NotebookLM isn't called that anymore. On July 16, 2026 Google renamed it Gemini Notebook. Same product, new name and logo: your notebooks are still there and it's still a standalone app.

The second thing: before switching tools, figure out what you're actually missing. Gemini Notebook is very good at what it does, and in September 2026 it added study features. Many of the alternative lists out there were written before that and compare against a product that no longer exists as described.

This list is ordered by what you need, not by which tool is "the best". Disclosure: ExamFlow is ours. We include it because it's the alternative we know inside out, and we also tell you when it's not the right fit.

What Gemini Notebook does well today (October 2026)

To keep the comparison fair:

• It works on your sources. Upload PDFs, docs, web pages, videos or audio and ask questions. Answers cite the source they come from.
• Summaries, mind maps and reports from what you upload.
• Audio and video overviews. The two-voice "podcast" is still one of the best ways to review on the commute, and there are now one-minute videos.
• Quizzes and flashcards. Since September 2026 it generates them inside interactive overviews. Quizzes are multiple choice for now; Google has announced short-answer and fill-in-the-blank.
• There's a free plan, with daily usage limits.

And inside the Gemini app there are study notebooks: they give you an initial quiz, find your weak spots and suggest lessons on them.

If what you want is to understand dense material, it's probably still the best free tool. Don't drop it just to drop it.

Why people look for alternatives

The reasons we hear most often:

1. They need essay questions graded with a score, not just multiple choice.
2. They want what they got wrong to come back. A question missed on Tuesday should show up again on Friday without having to remember to ask.
3. They want spaced-repetition flashcards: the system decides what to review today.
4. They have an oral exam and need to practice explaining topics out loud.
5. They want their syllabus organized by topic, not by loose sources, to choose what goes into each exam.

If any of these sound like you, here are the options.

1. ExamFlow: preparing for an exam with your own notes

Best for: university finals and long syllabi, when there's an exam date and many topics.

ExamFlow is an AI study web app, built in Spain. You upload your notes (PDF, Word or photos, handwritten included) and it organizes them by topic. From those topics it generates multiple-choice and essay exams and case studies, summaries, outlines and spaced-repetition flashcards.

What sets it apart from Gemini Notebook:

• It grades essay answers with an indicative score, in the style of the AI teacher you choose.
• The questions you miss come back in later exams until you get them right.
• Recite: you explain the topic out loud and the AI scores it on six criteria (coverage, accuracy, structure, depth, terminology and argumentation). Built for oral exams.
• Civil service exams: official syllabi with practice tests by topic.

Cons: there's no two-voice podcast or video, and for reading and exploring material for the first time Gemini Notebook is more comfortable. It's paid after the free 14-day trial (no card): a one-off €4.99 pack or plans from €7.49 to €14.99 a month. Details on pricing.

For the point-by-point comparison, see ExamFlow vs NotebookLM.

2. ChatGPT or Claude with projects: getting questions answered

Best for: understanding a concept that won't click and asking as you go.

Both let you create projects where you keep your files and chat about them, similar to a Gemini notebook. ChatGPT's study mode also asks you questions instead of handing you the answer.

Cons: they're general assistants. They don't keep track of which topics you've mastered or schedule reviews: follow-up is on you. More in Is ChatGPT good for studying?.

3. Anki: memorizing, for free

Best for: things you need to know by heart: vocabulary, dates, formulas, legal articles.

Anki has been the spaced-repetition standard for twenty years. It's free on desktop, Android and web (the iPhone app is paid) and its algorithm is among the best there is.

Cons: you make the cards yourself, one by one or with add-ons. It doesn't generate exams or grade essays, and the learning curve is real. We compare it with Quizlet in ExamFlow vs Anki vs Quizlet.

4. Quizlet: simple flashcards and tests

Best for: high school and languages, and anyone who wants something that works without setup.

It has millions of sets made by other students, game modes and a Learn mode that mixes question types. Its AI features create cards from your notes.

Cons: other people's sets aren't always reliable, and the best features are on the paid plan. For long syllabi and essay questions it falls short.

5. Knowt: free flashcards from PDFs

Best for: anyone looking for a free Quizlet alternative that builds cards and practice tests from PDFs or lecture videos.

Its free plan is generous: unlimited Learn mode, practice tests and spaced repetition.

Cons: it's built mainly for US students. If you study in another language or for a niche exam, you'll find little ready-made material.

6. RemNote: notes and review in one place

Best for: college students who take digital notes and want to turn them into flashcards as they write.

It combines a note editor with spaced repetition and PDF annotation. Cards come from your own notes, no copy-pasting.

Cons: it makes you change how you take notes, and AI features and unlimited PDF annotation are paid.

Summary table

Which one to pick

• You have a final with many topics: ExamFlow to practice and review; Gemini Notebook or ChatGPT for one-off questions.
• You have an oral exam: ExamFlow, for Recite. If there's also a lot to memorize, add Anki.
• You only need to memorize facts: Anki if you don't mind setting it up; Quizlet or Knowt for something instant.
• You want to understand new material: stay with Gemini Notebook. That's what it's best at.
• You take digital notes in class: RemNote.

What no tool changes

None of these apps studies for you. What makes the difference is practicing by retrieving information (not rereading) and going back to what you got wrong before you forget it. The method is in how to study smarter with active recall and spaced repetition, whatever tool you use.

For more categories of apps (focus, organization), see the best apps to study in 2026.

Bottom line

Gemini Notebook, formerly NotebookLM, is the best free option for understanding your material. If what you're missing is preparing for the exam (graded essays, review of what you miss, oral practice), ExamFlow is built for that. If you only need to memorize, Anki, Quizlet or Knowt have you covered. Try them with your real notes: it's the only way to know which one works for you.