Free alternatives to NotebookLM
3 free programs that can replace NotebookLM, each pairing checked by Radar's AI reviewer or by Radar.
NotebookLM, from Google, is an online research assistant: you upload documents, notes or links and then ask questions, request summaries and find answers based on those sources. Students, researchers, writers and professionals use it to study and digest a lot of reading, and it works through your Google account.
Before moving to Open WebUI, DeepTutor or another option, check:
- The model behind it: in many open-source setups you choose or run the AI model yourself, and the quality of the answers depends on that choice and on your computer.
- Sources: test the kinds of files you really use, such as long PDFs, slides or web pages.
- Citations: see whether answers point back to the passage they came from, so you can verify them.
- Extras: features such as audio overviews or shared notebooks may have no counterpart.
- Your notebooks: save your notes and generated summaries before leaving.
The list below shows the alternatives found.
| Program | Ease | You need | Risk signals | Stars | Downloads this week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cherry StudioOne desktop app to chat with many AI models, run agents, build a local knowledge base and create images. | Ease Binstaller plus one simple step · Windows | Nothing extra | Attention · 2 | 53,131+124 in 5 days | 571,905 |
| DeepTutorA personal AI tutor you run yourself: ask about your own documents, get quizzes, study books, reading help and practice. | Ease Binstaller plus one simple step · Windows | Python, Docker | Attention · 4 | 52,820+8,939 in 5 days | 204 |
| Open WebUIA chat page you run on your own computer for talking to AI models, either local ones or paid ones through an API key. | Ease Cinstall 1 or 2 tools · Windows | Python, Docker | Attention · 4 | 157,407+550 in 5 days | — |
Frequently asked questions
Which free alternative to NotebookLM is the easiest to install?
Cherry Studio has the highest ease rating among the 3 options: B (installer plus one simple step · Windows).
Is there a free alternative to NotebookLM for Windows, Mac and Linux?
Windows: Cherry Studio, DeepTutor, Open WebUI. macOS: Cherry Studio, DeepTutor, Open WebUI. Linux: Cherry Studio, DeepTutor, Open WebUI.
Are the alternatives to NotebookLM really free?
0 of the 3 are completely free; 3 depend on a paid service or key for some features.
How can I tell whether an alternative is trustworthy?
Each card shows the risk signals found, with the evidence. 0 of the 3 have no signal rated attention or high. See also the guide How to find a GitHub project's official repository and avoid fake copies.