Octo vs NotebookLM
Study your sources, or learn a subject from scratch.
NotebookLM, which Google renamed Gemini Notebook in July 2026, helps you understand material you already have. Octo starts from what you want to learn and builds the course for you. They solve different problems.
What NotebookLM offers
Google describes NotebookLM as an AI-powered research assistant designed to help you refine and organize your ideas. In July 2026 Google renamed it Gemini Notebook. You upload sources, such as PDFs, websites, YouTube videos, audio and Google Docs, and it works from them: flashcards and quizzes made from your sources, a Learning Guide that walks you through problems, and Audio and Video Overviews. It has a free tier.
What Octo does differently
NotebookLM works best when you already have the material. Octo is for when you know what you want to learn but not what to read:
- You say what you want to learn in one sentence.
- Octo interviews you about your goal, your level and your deadline.
- It designs a curriculum, which you can reshape before anything is written.
- It writes every lesson for you. For subjects that change fast, it also searches the web as it writes, and lists the pages it used on the course's sources page.
- You finish with a certificate anyone can verify.
You can still attach your own documents when you start an Octo course, and the tutor will use them.
Side by side
| NotebookLM (Gemini Notebook) | Octo | |
|---|---|---|
| Starts from | Sources you upload | One sentence about what you want to learn |
| Structure | Study aids from your material | A course of modules and lessons, planned for you |
| Where the content comes from | Your sources | Written for you; for fast-moving subjects, researched on the web with the pages listed |
| Your own material | The core of the product | Optional: attach documents when you start |
| Certificate | None mentioned | A verifiable certificate for every course you finish |
When to use which
Use NotebookLM to understand a stack of material you already have: papers, notes, a textbook. Use Octo to learn a subject when you do not yet know what the material should be, and want the whole path laid out around your goal.
Sources
Checked on the date below. Products change, so follow the links for the current picture.
- Google: NotebookLM is now Gemini Notebook
- Gemini Notebook Help
- Google: new study tools in NotebookLM
NotebookLM and Gemini are trademarks of Google. Octo is not affiliated with Google.
Updated September 24, 2026