I tested Open Notebook for a week: the open-source alternative that made me rethink Google NotebookLM

Google NotebookLM is a powerful AI annotation tool, but it depends on remote servers and Google data policy. Unconnected with this dependency, an author of the XDA Developers decided to test Open Notebook, an open-source and self-hosted alternative for seven days. The result? The experiment was good enough to make him hesitate to go back.

Open Notebook vs NotebookLM: detailed comparison

Open Notebook is a functional replica of the NotebookLM concept: you upload documents (PDFs, articles, annotations) and the AI answers questions based on this content. The crucial difference is that it runs entirely on its own server — either a Raspberry Pi, a VPS or even locally on its computer. The author tested on a home server and noted that, after the initial configuration, the flow of responses was comparable to the Google version. The main advantage mentioned is total data control, without sending anything to third parties.

Open Notebook for daily use in AI: why is it relevant

For professionals dealing with sensitive information — lawyers, doctors, journalists — self-hosting represents a huge gain in privacy. The [XDA Developers] (https://www.xda-developers.com/replaced-notebooklm-with-open-notebook/) article highlights that although Open Notebook requires basic knowledge of Docker and terminal, effort is rewarded by the tranquility of knowing that no data is being used to train other models. This echoes recent discussions in the sector, such as the startup Corgi that denied an open source code copy, but here the focus is the real transparency of the code.

Challenges to replace NotebookLM with Open Notebook

It wasn't all perfect. The author reports that the Open Notebook interface is more basic and lacks some refinements, such as integration with Google Drive or the ability to process YouTube videos — native features of NotebookLM. In addition, the installation required manual adjustments and, at times, the responses took a few seconds longer to be generated. Still, for everyday tasks such as summarizing articles or extracting citations, performance was considered “good enough”.

What is missing from Open Notebook to replace NotebookLM?

For the average user, the technical barrier is still high. But for enthusiasts and developers, Open Notebook already offers a solid foundation. The project is actively maintained at GitHub and accepts contributions. The author suggests that soon, with plugins and improvements in UX, the tool can become the default choice for those who prioritize privacy without giving up artificial intelligence applied to annotations.

Open Notebook FAQ

Is Open Notebook free?

Yes, the software is totally free and open source. You just have to pay for the server where you're going to host it if you don't want to run locally.

Do I need to know how to program to use Open Notebook?

Basic knowledge of Docker and command line is recommended. There are step-by-step tutorials in official documentation, but it is not a plug-and-play tool like NotebookLM.

What are the minimum hardware requirements?

The author used a 4 GB RAM server and an Intel Core i3 processor. The installation consumes about 2 GB of storage. For heavier use, at least 8 GB of RAM is recommended.