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MindManager VS NotebookLM

Compare MindManager VS NotebookLM and see what are their differences

MindManager

With MindManager, flexible mind maps promote freeform thinking and quick organization of ideas, so creativity and productivity can live in harmony.

Rating
0 reviews
Alternatives Is it good?
NLM
NotebookLM

AI-first notebook by Google, available in the U.S., blends large language models and user-chosen data. Apply for access to explore intelligent insights and enhance your note-taking experience.

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Rating
0 reviews
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happySEO
Create ai humanized SEO content tailored for ecommerce and small businesses with HappySEO tools. From ai writer to keyword research and analyze tools. sponsored
Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, NotebookLM seems to be more popular. It has been mentioned 10 times since March 2021.

social mentions
0 vs 10
Brainstorming And Ideation popularity
100% vs 0%

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

MindManager
NLM
NotebookLM
Website mindmanager.com notebook.google.com
Pricing
Official pricing
—
Listed in
Idea Management Brainstorming And Ideation Digital Whiteboard Team Collaboration +1
Text To Speech AI TTS AI Voice +1

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

MindManager 5 features
NLM
NotebookLM 4 features
  • Visual Organization
    MindManager allows users to create detailed visual maps that help in organizing thoughts, plans, and projects in a coherent and visually engaging way.
  • Collaboration Features
    The tool offers robust collaboration features allowing multiple users to work on the same mind map in real-time, which is beneficial for team projects.
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    MindManager provides support for Windows, Mac, and mobile devices, ensuring that users can work across different platforms seamlessly.
  • Integration Capabilities
    It integrates well with other productivity tools like Microsoft Office, Project Management Software, and various cloud services, enabling more streamlined workflows.
  • Task and Project Management
    The software includes advanced task management features such as Gantt charts, timelines, and workflow diagrams, which are useful for project planning and management.

Possible disadvantages

  • Cost
    MindManager is relatively expensive compared to other mind mapping tools, which might be a deterrent for individual users or small businesses.
  • Complexity
    New users may find it complicated to use initially due to its wide range of features and tools, leading to a steep learning curve.
  • Resource Intensive
    The software can be resource-intensive, requiring a significant amount of system memory and processing power, which might be an issue on older or lower-end computers.
  • Limited Mobile Functionality
    While MindManager is available on mobile devices, its functionality is somewhat limited compared to the desktop version, which can hinder productivity on the go.
  • Customization Limitations
    Although it offers many features, some users report that there are limits to customization, particularly in terms of visual styles and templates.
  • Integration with Google Workspace
    NotebookLM is seamlessly integrated with Google Workspace, allowing users to efficiently embed and access documents from Google Docs, Sheets, and other Workspace apps.
  • AI-Powered Assistance
    The platform uses AI to provide smart suggestions and insights, enhancing productivity by auto-completing tasks and reducing manual effort.
  • Real-Time Collaboration
    NotebookLM supports real-time collaboration, allowing multiple users to work on the same notebook simultaneously, similar to Google Docs.
  • Flexibility and Customizability
    Users can customize their notebooks with various widgets and functionalities to suit their specific workflow needs.

Possible disadvantages

  • Limited Offline Access
    NotebookLM primarily operates online, which can be a limitation for users requiring offline access to their documents and tools.
  • Privacy Concerns
    As with many AI-powered and cloud-based tools, there are potential privacy concerns related to data security and the handling of personal information.
  • Steep Learning Curve
    The integration of advanced features might present a steep learning curve for new users unfamiliar with Google Workspace or AI functionalities.
  • Dependence on Google Ecosystem
    Users who do not regularly use Google Workspace may find limited utility in NotebookLM due to its strong integration with Google's ecosystem.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

MindManager
NLM
NotebookLM

Overall verdict

  • MindManager is considered a good choice for users who need robust visualization tools integrated with project management capabilities. Its ease of use, coupled with powerful features, caters well to both individuals and organizations looking for a comprehensive mind mapping solution.

Why this product is good

  • MindManager is a versatile mind mapping and visualization tool that helps users organize complex ideas into structured formats. It offers a wide array of features such as flowcharts, concept maps, project planning, and collaborative tools. This makes it beneficial for individuals and teams looking to enhance productivity, creativity, and strategic planning.

Recommended for

  • Project managers who need to organize tasks and timelines.
  • Students and educators seeking to enhance learning and teaching through visual aids.
  • Business professionals aiming to brainstorm and present ideas effectively.
  • Teams looking for collaborative tools to improve workflow and compliance.
  • Anyone in need of a detailed yet intuitive way to map thoughts and concepts.

Overall verdict

  • NotebookLM is a genuinely useful AI-powered research and note-taking tool from Google that excels at grounding responses in your own uploaded documents, reducing hallucinations and making it reliable for studying, research, and summarization.

Why this product is good

  • It grounds all answers in your uploaded sources, so responses cite specific documents and reduce AI hallucinations
  • Supports a wide range of source types including PDFs, Google Docs, websites, YouTube videos, and pasted text
  • The Audio Overview feature can turn your notes into a podcast-style conversation for easier learning
  • Great at summarizing, generating study guides, FAQs, timelines, and briefing documents from your materials
  • Free to use with a generous set of features backed by Google's Gemini models
  • Inline citations make it easy to verify where information comes from

Recommended for

  • Students studying from textbooks, lecture notes, and research papers
  • Researchers and academics organizing and synthesizing large volumes of source material
  • Writers and journalists managing notes and reference documents
  • Professionals who need to quickly summarize reports, contracts, or documentation
  • Anyone who wants an AI assistant that answers based on their own trusted sources rather than the open web

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

MindManager 3 videos + Add
NLM
NotebookLM 2 videos + Add

3 Things we love in MindManager 2020!

More videos

  • - MindManager 2019 for Windows - Demo
  • - Introducing MindManager 2020

Google made a new AI note app - NotebookLM review

More videos

  • - Don't Pay for NotebookLM Plus Until You Watch This!

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
MindManager
NLM
NotebookLM
100% 100%
Brainstorming And Ideation
0% 0%
0% 0%
AI
100% 100%
100% 100%
Idea Management
0% 0%
0% 0%
Productivity
100% 100%

User comments

Share your experience with using MindManager and NotebookLM. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

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Reviews and articles

External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.

MindManager no reviews yet
NLM
NotebookLM no reviews yet
  • Best mind map software of 2021
    www.techradar.com · Jul 2021

    As an enterprise-focused program MindManager is capable of integrating with Microsoft Office and indeed the overall interface will be very familiar to Word and PowerPoint users, right down to the built-in text editor...

We have no reviews of NotebookLM yet. Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

MindManager 0 mentions
NLM
NotebookLM 10 mentions

Tracking MindManager since Mar 2021.

  • Associate Cloud Engineer Certification Path
    Gemini Notebook only generates content based on your sources and will not hallucinate or provide false or unrelated information. I cannot overemphasize the importance of this platform while following through with this certification... - Source: dev.to / about 1 month ago
  • How to Summarize PDFs Locally with Open-Source LLMs (No API, No Data Leaving Your Machine)
    You just need a few summaries occasionally. Standing up Ollama, a model, and an extraction pipeline to summarize five PDFs is overkill. If privacy isn't the constraint, a free web tool does it in seconds — ChatPDF and NotebookLM if you... - Source: dev.to / 2 months ago
  • Tools I'm Using in 2026 (and what I've stopped using from 2025)
    Last year I was heavily into Perplexity but for most of 2026 I've actually been using NotebookLM a lot more. Perplexity is still useful for just daily news, but when I want to research, when I want to summarise, when I want to learn...... - Source: dev.to / 4 months ago

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Alternatives to MindManager and NotebookLM

When comparing MindManager and NotebookLM, you can also consider the following products.

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