# Kagi vs Gemini Notebook

> Kagi: Ad-free, subscription-funded search engine with built-in AI assistant and summarization tools
> Gemini Notebook: Google's Gemini Notebook, formerly NotebookLM, answers questions and builds summaries from your own sources

- Kagi profile: https://finderatlas.com/tools/kagi
- Gemini Notebook profile: https://finderatlas.com/tools/notebooklm
- Comparison page: https://finderatlas.com/compare/kagi-vs-notebooklm
- Last reviewed: November 2026

## Verdict

Kagi and Gemini Notebook are both AI Assistants tools. Gemini Notebook scores higher in FinderAtlas's editorial review (8.7 vs 8.1 out of 10), led by value for money. Both have a free plan or trial. Only Kagi offers an API.

### Choose Kagi if

- You want a tool built for people who want ad-free, personalizable search results and are willing to pay a subscription to get them.
- No advertising; revenue comes from subscriptions.
- Site-level raise, lower and block controls let users tune results.

### Choose Gemini Notebook if

- You want a tool built for summarizing and questioning your own documents.
- Answers cite the uploaded sources, so claims can be checked against the original text.
- Free Standard tier with 100 notebooks and 50 sources per notebook.

## Pricing

| | Kagi | Gemini Notebook |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pricing model | Free trial | Freemium |
| Free plan or trial | Yes | Yes |
| Starting price | $0 | $0 |

## Features

| Feature | Kagi | Gemini Notebook |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Ad-free search | Yes | Not listed |
| Site personalization | Yes | Not listed |
| Lenses | Yes | Not listed |
| Kagi Assistant | Yes | Not listed |
| Quick Answer and Summarize Page | Yes | Not listed |
| Developer APIs | Yes | Not listed |
| Orion browser | Yes | Not listed |
| Kagi Translate and Kagi News | Yes | Not listed |
| Source-grounded chat | Not listed | Yes |
| Audio Overviews | Not listed | Yes |
| Video Overviews | Not listed | Yes |
| Study tools | Not listed | Yes |
| Reports, slide decks and infographics | Not listed | Yes |
| Multiple source types | Not listed | Yes |
| Cloud computer | Not listed | Yes |
| Gemini app sync | Not listed | Yes |
| Sharing and public notebooks | Not listed | Yes |

## Platforms

| Platform | Kagi | Gemini Notebook |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | No | No |
| macOS | No | No |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | No |
| Browser Extension | No | No |

## Kagi strengths

- No advertising; revenue comes from subscriptions.
- Site-level raise, lower and block controls let users tune results.
- Lenses give quick topic-specific filtering such as Academic or Forums.
- Ultimate bundles access to Claude, GPT and Gemini models in Assistant.
- Public APIs and an MCP server support developer use.
- Transparent funding history published by the company.

## Kagi limitations

- No permanent free tier: the trial is limited to 100 searches.
- The $5 Starter plan caps searches at 300 per month, which users report running out of quickly.
- Reviewers report that lens use and loading more results can count as extra searches.
- Full AI model access requires the $25 Ultimate plan.

## Gemini Notebook strengths

- Answers cite the uploaded sources, so claims can be checked against the original text
- Free Standard tier with 100 notebooks and 50 sources per notebook
- Wide range of outputs, including Audio Overviews, Video Overviews, mind maps, flashcards, quizzes and slide decks
- Accepts PDFs, websites, YouTube videos, audio files, Google Docs and Google Slides
- Available on web, iOS and Android, and synced with the Gemini app

## Gemini Notebook limitations

- Works from the sources you add and is not built for live web news search
- Higher limits require a Google AI subscription; Ultra starts at $99.99 per month
- The cloud computer for code execution started with Ultra and Workspace AI Ultra Access customers, with Pro rollout still described as upcoming
- No public API for the consumer product, and the renamed brand can make older guides and app listings confusing

## FAQ

**Is Kagi better than Gemini Notebook?**

It depends on your workflow. Kagi is built for people who want ad-free, personalizable search results and are willing to pay a subscription to get them. Gemini Notebook is built for summarizing and questioning your own documents.

**What are the key feature differences between Kagi and Gemini Notebook?**

Kagi: Ad-free, subscription-funded search engine with built-in AI assistant and summarization tools. Gemini Notebook: Google's Gemini Notebook, formerly NotebookLM, answers questions and builds summaries from your own sources.

**Does Kagi or Gemini Notebook have a free plan?**

Yes, both do. Kagi is free trial and Gemini Notebook is freemium, and each has a free plan or trial.

**Which is cheaper, Kagi or Gemini Notebook?**

Both can be used for free. Paid plans differ in limits and features, so compare the tiers in the pricing table above.