Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Ollama VS NotebookLM

Compare Ollama VS NotebookLM and see what are their differences

Ollama logo Ollama

The easiest way to run large language models locally

NotebookLM logo 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.
  • Ollama Landing page
    Landing page //
    2024-05-21
Not present

Ollama features and specs

  • User-Friendly UI
    Ollama offers an intuitive and clean interface that is easy to navigate, making it accessible for users of all skill levels.
  • Customizable Workflows
    Ollama allows for the creation of customized workflows, enabling users to tailor the software to meet their specific needs.
  • Integration Capabilities
    The platform supports integration with various third-party apps and services, enhancing its functionality and versatility.
  • Automation Features
    Ollama provides robust automation tools that can help streamline repetitive tasks, improving overall efficiency and productivity.
  • Responsive Customer Support
    Ollama is known for its prompt and helpful customer support, ensuring that users can quickly resolve any issues they encounter.

Possible disadvantages of Ollama

  • High Cost
    Ollama's pricing model can be expensive, particularly for small businesses or individual users.
  • Limited Free Version
    The free version of Ollama offers limited features, which may not be sufficient for users who need more advanced capabilities.
  • Learning Curve
    While the interface is user-friendly, some of the advanced features can have a steeper learning curve for new users.
  • Occasional Performance Issues
    Some users have reported occasional performance issues, such as lag or slow processing times, especially with large datasets.
  • Feature Overload
    The abundance of features can be overwhelming for some users, making it difficult to focus on the tools that are most relevant to their needs.

NotebookLM features and specs

  • 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 of NotebookLM

  • 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 of Ollama

Overall verdict

  • Overall, Ollama is considered a valuable tool for teams that need a robust project management solution. Its user-friendly interface and extensive feature set make it a strong contender in the market.

Why this product is good

  • Ollama is a quality service because it offers a comprehensive platform for managing projects and collaborating with teams remotely. It includes features such as task management, communication tools, and integration capabilities with other software, which streamline workflows and enhance productivity.

Recommended for

    Ollama is recommended for businesses and teams seeking an efficient project management solution. It is especially useful for remote teams, startups, and any organization looking to enhance collaboration and project tracking capabilities.

Ollama videos

Code Llama: First Look at this New Coding Model with Ollama

More videos:

  • Review - Whats New in Ollama 0.0.12, The Best AI Runner Around
  • Review - The Secret Behind Ollama's Magic: Revealed!

NotebookLM videos

Google made a new AI note app - NotebookLM review

More videos:

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

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Ollama and NotebookLM)
AI
84 84%
16% 16
Developer Tools
100 100%
0% 0
Utilities
0 0%
100% 100
Productivity
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Ollama seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 173 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Ollama mentions (173)

  • How to Run AI Locally: Complete Developer Guide 2025
    Ollama is the Docker of AI modelsโ€”simple, powerful, and developer-friendly. - Source: dev.to / about 2 hours ago
  • Forget MCP, Use OpenAPI for external operations
    We also need a model to talk to. You can run one in the cloud, use Hugging Face, Microsoft Foundry Local or something else but I choose* to use the qwen3 model through Ollama:. - Source: dev.to / 8 days ago
  • Serverless AI: EmbeddingGemma with Cloud Run
    Now we will use Docker and Ollama to run the EmbeddingGemma model. Create a file named Dockerfile containing:. - Source: dev.to / 9 days ago
  • Qwen3-Omni
    For the physical hardware I use the esp32-s3-box[1]. The esphome[2] suite has firmware you can flash to make the device work with HomeAssistant automatically. I have an esphome profile[3] I use, but I'm considering switching to this[4] profile instead. For the actual AI, I basically set up three docker containers: one for speech to text[5], one for text to speech[6], and then ollama[7] for the actual AI. After... - Source: Hacker News / 12 days ago
  • How to Set Up Ollama: Install, Download Models, and Run LLMs Locally
    In short, Ollama is a local LLM runtime; itโ€™s a lightweight environment that lets you download, run, and chat with LLMs locally; Itโ€™s like VSCode for LLMs. Although if you want to run an LLM on a container (like Docker), that is also an option. The goal of Ollama is to handle the heavy lifting of executing models and managing memory, so you can focus on using the model rather than wiring it from scratch. - Source: dev.to / 12 days ago
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NotebookLM mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of NotebookLM yet. Tracking of NotebookLM recommendations started around Jun 2025.

What are some alternatives?

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

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GPT4All - A powerful assistant chatbot that you can run on your laptop

Perplexity.ai - Ask anything