CogniGuide vs NotebookLM: Study Tools From Your Sources Compared
Written by the CogniGuide team, so we are biased; we link our sources for every NotebookLM fact. Last checked October 28, 2026.
NotebookLM is excellent and free for researching across many sources at once, with grounded chat and Audio Overviews, and it can make flashcards, quizzes and mind maps too. CogniGuide is narrower and focused on review: it schedules your flashcards with spaced repetition, keeps every deck, quiz and map in one study dashboard, and exports quizzes for teachers.
| Feature | CogniGuide | NotebookLM |
|---|---|---|
| Mind maps | Yes. Overview maps free; detailed maps on Plus. PDF/PNG export. | Yes. |
| Flashcards | Yes, from your files or notes. Up to 15 cards per deck free, 150 on Plus. | Yes, generated from your sources. |
| Quizzes | Yes, multiple choice with explanations. Up to 10 questions free, 30 on Plus. PDF, Word, QTI and Moodle XML export on Plus. | Yes, generated from your sources. |
| Spaced repetition | Yes, FSRS scheduling for every deck. | Not advertised. |
| What you can upload | PDF, Word (.docx), PowerPoint (.pptx), text/Markdown, images, or a typed topic. No YouTube or web links. | Many source types, including PDFs, Google Docs and Slides, websites and YouTube; up to 50 sources per notebook on the free plan. |
| Chat with your sources | No. | Yes, with citations to your sources. |
| Free plan | 5 creations a week (up to 3 a day). Free account required; no credit card. | Free with a Google account; 100 notebooks. |
| Paid plans | Plus $9.99/month or $99.90/year (USD). | Higher limits through Google's paid AI plans. |
Choose NotebookLM if
- You are researching across many documents and want to ask questions about them.
- You want Audio Overviews to listen to your material.
- You want everything free inside your Google account.
Choose CogniGuide if
- You want flashcards scheduled for review so you know what is due each day.
- You prefer a study dashboard built around decks, quizzes and maps.
- You need quiz exports (PDF, Word, QTI, Moodle XML).
Try CogniGuide on your own notes
Make flashcards, a quiz or a mind map from a PDF, slides or notes. The free plan needs an account but no credit card. See pricing.
Sources
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