📝 Study and homework tools · ✍️ Writing help
Gemini Notebook (formerly NotebookLM)
By Google. Visit Gemini Notebook (formerly NotebookLM)
Desk research from the maker's own pages. Not yet tried by us. Checked 2026-10-24.
Gemini Notebook, the new name for NotebookLM, is a research and study assistant. A student uploads PDFs, web pages, YouTube videos, audio or Google Docs, then chats with them and gets answers with citations back to the sources. It can turn sources into study guides, mind maps, flashcards and podcast-style audio overviews. It sticks closer to the student's own materials than a general chatbot does.
Our take: A strong study aid for teens working from their own readings; younger children should use it only through a school account.
| Ages it suits | 13+ on a personal account; all ages through school accounts |
|---|---|
| What its terms say about age | Open to users above the age of consent in supported countries (13 in the US); you must verify your age in your Google Account. Stricter content rules apply under 18, and some features are 18+. For Google Workspace for Education accounts it is available to all ages. (terms) |
| Price | Free, with paid extras. Free; higher limits with Google AI Plus ($4.99), Pro ($19.99) or Ultra ($99.99+) a month (Oct 2026) |
| Works on | Web, iPhone and iPad, Android |
| Account | The child's own account |
| Ads | Not stated |
| In-app purchases | Yes |
| The AI in it | Gemini models answer questions and make study guides, audio overviews and mind maps grounded in the files the student uploads. |
What's good
- Answers cite the student's own sources
- Not trained on your data unless you give feedback
- Many study formats
- Free
Watch for
- Audio overviews can stand in for reading
- Can still make mistakes
- Requires Google age verification
- Some features 18+
Data and privacy
Google says your data is not used to train Gemini Notebook unless you send feedback, in which case the full interaction may be reviewed; it may process data to prevent abuse. Read the privacy policy.
Does it work?
No independent study with children or teens was found.
In the Big Index
- The maker in the who's who: Google
Alternatives to Gemini Notebook (formerly NotebookLM)
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
Anki
Ankitects Pty Ltd (AnkiWeb); AnkiDroid by volunteers · ages about 12+ (self-directed learners)
Excellent for older, motivated students who will build their own decks; too bare for most young children.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
Atom Learning
Atom Learning Ltd (UK) · ages about 7-16 (UK Year 3 to GCSE)
Useful for UK families set on the 11+ or GCSEs; families outside the UK or not chasing selective schools can skip it.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
Bluebook
College Board · ages grades 8-12 (about 13-18)
Every student taking the digital SAT, PSAT or AP Exams should practice in it; families should read the monitoring rules before installing it on a personal laptop.
Desk researchFree, with paid extras
Brainly
Brainly · ages grades 7-12
May suit teens who want structured homework practice and parents who want a human in the loop; ad tracking and public posting are drawbacks for younger children.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
Brainscape
Brainscape · ages all ages; most useful about 10+
A clean, ad-free flashcard choice for students who can read and self-study; little here for young children.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
CENTURY
CENTURY-TECH Limited (UK) · ages about 6-16 (KS1 to GCSE), plus post-16
A sensible home or school add-on for UK families; families outside the UK curriculum will find less fit.
Where these facts come from
- https://notebooklm.google/
- https://support.google.com/notebooklm/answer/16164461?hl=en
- https://gemini.google/subscriptions/
Prices, terms and features change. Nobody paid to be listed, nothing here is an affiliate link, and Peabody never rates itself. Where we and the maker disagree, the maker's own pages are the ones to trust.