StudySim / NotebookLM comparison
StudySim vs NotebookLM: an honest comparison for studying
NotebookLM, which Google renamed Gemini Notebook in July 2026, is a free research assistant that can work across up to 50 sources per notebook and turn them into flashcards, quizzes and Audio Overviews. StudySim is a paid study workspace built around one class or exam, with practice quizzes you can set by question type, difficulty and timing, plus flashcards, study guides and two-speaker podcasts. If you want a free tool for broad research, pick NotebookLM; if you want a focused place to prepare for a specific exam, StudySim is worth a look.
Try a free study previewSign-in required. The free preview includes one key idea, three notes, and one practice question. Full quiz generation requires StudySim Pro.
Last verified Oct 23, 2026
Google renamed NotebookLM to Gemini Notebook on July 16, 2026. Google says it is the same standalone product, and old NotebookLM links redirect to the new name. We use both names on this page because many people still search for NotebookLM. Source
Feature comparison
| Feature | StudySim | NotebookLM |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | An AI study workspace for students, organized by class, unit or exam | An AI-powered research assistant designed to help you refine and organize your ideas[2] |
| Free plan | A short preview only: one key idea, three quick notes and one practice question (sign-in required) | Free with a Google account: up to 100 notebooks with up to 50 sources each[3] |
| Paid plan (US) | StudySim Pro: $1 for the first 3 days, then $20/month or $120/year | Higher limits come with Google AI Plus ($4.99/month) or Google AI Pro ($19.99/month), which also bundle other Google services[11] |
| Sources per notebook or study space | Up to 15 | 50 on the free plan, 100 with Google AI Plus, 300 with Google AI Pro[3] |
| Size limit per source | 50 MB per uploaded file | 500,000 words, or 200 MB for uploaded files[5] |
| Supported inputs | PDF, DOCX, TXT, Markdown and PowerPoint files; MP3, WAV and OGG audio; MP4 and WebM video; public YouTube links | PDF, DOCX, TXT, Markdown, CSV, PowerPoint and ePub files; images; audio files; Google Docs, Slides and Sheets; web URLs; public YouTube videos with captions; pasted text[6] |
| Flashcards | Notecards, with a card count you choose and optional generation instructions | Flashcards with difficulty, number and prompt settings; mark cards as got it or missed it; download the deck as a CSV file[7] |
| Quizzes | Multiple-choice, short-answer and long-answer questions, with settings for length, difficulty and timing | Quizzes with difficulty, number and prompt settings, plus hints and an Explain button[7] |
| Study guides | A dedicated study guide tool that organizes your sources into sections and key concepts | Reports, including a study guide report type, which you can export to Google Docs[8] |
| Audio review | Two-speaker podcasts with selectable voices, length controls and custom instructions | Audio Overviews in Deep Dive, Brief, Critique or Debate formats, with language, length and prompt options[9] |
| Video summaries | Not listed | Video Overviews in Explainer and Short formats; the Cinematic format is for users 18 and older[10] |
| Chat with your sources | Not listed | Chat answers grounded in your sources, with inline citations[2] |
| Other outputs | Not listed | Mind maps, data tables and notes, alongside reports[8] |
| Usage limits | Up to 50 generations per tool each day on Pro | Compute-based limits that refresh every 5 hours up to a weekly cap; Google AI Plus gives 2x and Google AI Pro 4x the standard limits[4] |
Verified Oct 23, 2026
When NotebookLM is the better pick
- You need a free tool. NotebookLM's free plan gives you 100 notebooks with up to 50 sources each, while StudySim's free option is only a short preview.
- You are researching across a lot of material. NotebookLM takes up to 300 sources per notebook on Google AI Pro, accepts files up to 500,000 words, and reads web pages, ePubs, images and Google Sheets.
- You want to ask questions and see where each answer came from. NotebookLM's chat cites your sources inline; StudySim does not list a chat feature.
- Your class runs on Google Workspace. NotebookLM pulls in Google Docs, Slides and Sheets, exports reports to Docs, and is available to Workspace for Education users of all ages.
- You want video summaries, mind maps or data tables. StudySim does not make these.
- You want to take your flashcards elsewhere. NotebookLM downloads decks as CSV files; StudySim does not offer an Anki export.
- You already pay for Google AI Pro. Its higher NotebookLM limits are included, so a second subscription may not be worth it.
When StudySim fits
- You are preparing for one class or exam and want the readings, notes, guide, flashcards, quiz and podcast kept together in one study space.
- You want practice quizzes with written answers as well as multiple choice, and control over length, difficulty and timing.
- You want to start with free sample questions for exams such as the TEAS, MCAT, NCLEX or AP courses before uploading your own material.
About StudySim
StudySim is an AI study workspace for students. You create a study space for a class, unit or exam, add your course sources, and generate study guides, flashcards (called Notecards), practice quizzes and two-speaker podcasts from them.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Study tools | Study guides, Notecards (flashcards), quizzes and two-speaker podcasts[source] |
| Quiz formats | Multiple-choice, short-answer and long-answer, with length, difficulty and timing settings[source] |
| Supported sources | PDF, DOCX, TXT, Markdown, PPTX, MP3, WAV, OGG, MP4, WebM and public YouTube links[source] |
| Limits | Up to 15 sources per study space, 50 MB per file, up to 50 generations per tool each day on Pro[source] |
| Free option | A sign-in preview with one key idea, three quick notes and one practice question[source] |
| Pricing | StudySim Pro costs $1 for the first 3 days, then $20/month or $120/year. A credit card is required, and you can cancel from your account at any time.[source] |
| Free practice tests | Original sample questions with explanations for 10 exams, including the TEAS, MCAT, NCLEX, PSAT and AP courses[source] |
Pricing verified against the live pricing page on Oct 23, 2026
Explore StudySim
Clear answers
NotebookLM vs StudySim FAQ
Is NotebookLM the same as Gemini Notebook?+
Yes. Google renamed NotebookLM to Gemini Notebook on July 16, 2026. Google describes it as the same standalone product, and existing NotebookLM links redirect to it.
Is NotebookLM free?+
Yes. Anyone with a Google account in a supported country who is above the age of consent can use the standard plan for free, with up to 100 notebooks and 50 sources per notebook. Google AI Plus, Google AI Pro and qualifying Workspace plans raise those limits.
Can NotebookLM make flashcards and quizzes?+
Yes. NotebookLM's Studio panel creates flashcards and quizzes from your sources, with settings for difficulty, number and a custom prompt. You can download flashcards as a CSV file.
Is StudySim free?+
StudySim has a free preview that shows one key idea, three quick notes and one practice question from your own material. Full study guides, flashcards, quizzes and podcasts need StudySim Pro, which costs $1 for the first 3 days and then $20 a month or $120 a year.
Which is better for exam prep, StudySim or NotebookLM?+
It depends on how you study. NotebookLM is free and handles large research projects with cited answers. StudySim is built around a single class or exam, with quizzes you can set to written or multiple-choice answers, a difficulty level and a time limit. Many students will do fine with NotebookLM's free plan.
Does StudySim have something like Audio Overviews?+
StudySim makes two-speaker podcasts from the sources in a study space. You can pick host voices, set the length and add instructions. NotebookLM's Audio Overviews offer more formats, including a short single-speaker Brief and a Debate.
Can I use NotebookLM and StudySim together?+
Yes. Both accept PDFs, Word files, PowerPoint files and public YouTube links, so you can upload the same course material to each and use whichever tool suits the task.
Sources
- [1]NotebookLM is now Gemini Notebook (Google blog, Jul 16, 2026)(accessed Oct 23, 2026)
- [2]Learn about Gemini Notebook - Gemini Notebook Help(accessed Oct 23, 2026)
- [3]Learn about Gemini Notebook's plans - Gemini Notebook Help(accessed Oct 23, 2026)
- [4]Manage your Gemini Notebook usage limits - Gemini Notebook Help(accessed Oct 23, 2026)
- [5]Frequently asked questions - Gemini Notebook Help(accessed Oct 23, 2026)
- [6]Add or discover new sources for your notebook - Gemini Notebook Help(accessed Oct 23, 2026)
- [7]Generate Flashcards or Quizzes in Gemini Notebook - Gemini Notebook Help(accessed Oct 23, 2026)
- [8]Create a notebook in Gemini Notebook - Gemini Notebook Help(accessed Oct 23, 2026)
- [9]Generate Audio Overview in Gemini Notebook - Gemini Notebook Help(accessed Oct 23, 2026)
- [10]Generate Video Overviews in Gemini Notebook - Gemini Notebook Help(accessed Oct 23, 2026)
- [11]Google AI plans - Google One (US prices)(accessed Oct 23, 2026)
Ready to try StudySim?
Build a practice quiz from your own course material.
Upload your study materials to StudySim and create a personalized quiz that matches your course content.