Paper vs NotebookLM
NotebookLM helps you read.
Paper helps you study.
NotebookLM is great at understanding your sources. Paper goes further — with flashcards, quizzes, spaced repetition, and a Notion-style editor so you can actually study and take notes in the same place.
Feature
Paper(paper.ac)
NotebookLM
Sources & input
Upload PDFs
YouTube videos
Paste a link, get transcript + study tools
Websites
Import a web page as a source
Word docs & PowerPoint
Upload .docx, .pptx, .txt, .rtf
Notion import
Bring your existing notes with you
One-click import with pages, tables, and hierarchy
AI features
Chat with sources
Ask questions about your uploaded content
Summaries
Audio overview
AI-generated podcast-style summary
Citations
Answers reference specific pages or timestamps
Source-range scoping
Restrict AI to a specific page range or timestamp window
Per-source scoping — e.g. only pages 12-20 of a PDF
Active study
Flashcards
Auto-generated from your sources
Spaced repetition
Anki-style review scheduling
Quizzes
Multiple choice + true/false, auto-graded
Quiz mode
Kahoot-style interactive quiz sessions
Workspace
Block editor
Write notes alongside your sources
Notion-style with slash commands and drag-and-drop
Read-only — no editor
Organize by workspace
Group pages into workspaces
Notebooks only — no hierarchy
Collaboration
Share workspaces with classmates
File manager
Browse all uploads across your workspace
Platform
Free tier
Unlimited during beta
Free with Google account
Works without Google account
Mobile-friendly
More than a reader.
Upload your lectures and PDFs. Get flashcards, quizzes, and a workspace to actually study — not just read.