NotebookLM

What Is It, In Plain Words?

NotebookLM is a free Google tool that reads documents you give it and then answers questions about them, in plain words, with links back to the exact part of the document.

It's handy for long guides and manuals. Avoid uploading anything with private financial or health details.

What You Can Use It For

• Long guides. Upload a product manual and ask, "How do I set the timer?"
• Making sense of leaflets. Add a long public guide and ask for the key points.
• Audio summaries. It can make a spoken summary you can listen to, like a short radio chat.

Getting Started Step By Step

On A Computer

1. Open your web browser and go to notebooklm.google.com. Check the address carefully, because look-alike sites exist.
2. Sign in with your Google account.
3. Click Create new notebook (or New).
4. Add a source: upload a PDF, paste text, or add a web link.
5. Type a question in the box at the bottom. Click the little numbers in the answer to see where it came from.

On A Phone Or Tablet

1. Open the App Store (iPhone and iPad) or Google Play (Android).
2. Search for NotebookLM and check it's made by Google. Copycat apps exist.
3. Tap Get or Install, then open it.

Things To Try Typing

Copy any of these, or change the details to suit you.

What It Costs

NotebookLM is free with a Google account. You get more use with a paid Google AI plan:

Prices checked 16 October 2026 on the official Google AI plans page. Prices can change, so check there before you pay.

Privacy And Safety

• What it keeps. Your notebooks and the files you upload are saved in your Google account until you delete them.
• Don't upload bank statements, medical records or anything with ID numbers.
• Never type passwords, PINs, bank or card numbers, your National Insurance number (UK) or Social Security number (USA).
• Check important answers about health, money or the law with your doctor, pharmacist, bank or a qualified adviser.

Good Points And Watch-Outs

Good Points

• Answers point to the exact part of your document.
• Audio summaries help if reading is tiring.
• On a computer, hold Ctrl (or Cmd on a Mac) and press + to make the words bigger. On a phone, it follows your text size setting.

Watch-Outs

• It can still misread a document. Check the quoted parts.
• It takes a little longer to learn than a normal chatbot.
• Only as good as the documents you give it.

Similar Tools

• Claude: good at reading long documents and writing carefully.
• Gemini: Google's assistant, handy if you use Gmail or an Android phone.
• ChatGPT: the best-known chatbot, with a simple app and voice mode.

Common Questions

Is NotebookLM free?

Yes, with a Google account. A Google AI Pro plan gives higher limits.

What can I upload?

PDFs, Google Docs, pasted text, web links and more. Avoid private financial or medical documents.

Is NotebookLM the same as Gemini?

No. Both are from Google, but NotebookLM only answers from the documents you give it.