Choose Perplexity Spaces if you need real-time web research, current events coverage, collaborative workspaces, and AI-powered search with citations.
Choose NotebookLM if you want to analyze your own documents, love the Audio Overview podcast feature, and need strict source grounding without web distractions.
Perplexity Spaces and NotebookLM are both AI research tools, but they serve fundamentally different purposes. Perplexity Spaces excels at exploring the web and synthesizing information from across the internet. NotebookLM focuses exclusively on your uploaded documents, providing deep analysis without web distractions. Understanding this core difference is key to choosing the right tool.
What is Perplexity Spaces?
Perplexity Spaces is a collaborative research feature within Perplexity AI that lets you organize searches and conversations around specific topics. Each Space can include custom instructions, uploaded files, and saved searches. Powered by real-time web search, Perplexity provides answers with clear citations to source material.
Key characteristics:
Free tier with basic features, Pro at $20/month
Real-time web search with citations
Collaborative Spaces for team research
File uploads and focus modes
Multiple AI model options (Pro tier)
Excellent for current events and factual research
What is NotebookLM?
NotebookLM is Google's AI research assistant that creates a personalized AI grounded exclusively in your uploaded documents. Unlike web-based tools, NotebookLM never pulls information from the internet—every response is sourced from your materials. Its signature Audio Overview feature generates podcast-style discussions about your content.
Key characteristics:
Completely free with Google account
Audio Overview generates AI podcast discussions
Strict source grounding—no external information
Upload PDFs, docs, web pages, YouTube videos
Powered by Google Gemini
Ideal for personal document analysis
Feature Comparison
Feature
Perplexity Spaces
NotebookLM
Pricing
Free / $20/mo Pro
Free
Web Search
Real-time
No
Audio Overview
No
AI podcast
Source Grounding
Web + Files
Strict (files only)
Collaboration
Team Spaces
Sharing only
Current Events
Excellent
Not applicable
Document Upload
Yes
Extensive
AI Model Choice
Multiple (Pro)
Gemini only
Perplexity: The Web Research Engine
Perplexity Spaces shines when you need to research topics across the web. It searches in real-time, synthesizes information from multiple sources, and provides clear citations for every claim. For journalists, analysts, and researchers exploring new topics, Perplexity is unmatched at finding and organizing web information.
NotebookLM: The Document Deep Dive
NotebookLM takes the opposite approach—it ignores the web entirely. This is a feature, not a limitation. By grounding all responses exclusively in your uploaded documents, NotebookLM eliminates AI hallucinations and ensures every answer comes from your sources. The Audio Overview transforms dense material into engaging podcast discussions.
Citations: Both Excel, Differently
Both tools prioritize citations, but from different sources. Perplexity cites web pages it finds during search. NotebookLM cites specific passages from your uploaded documents. Choose based on whether you need external discovery (Perplexity) or internal analysis (NotebookLM).
Pricing Comparison
Perplexity Spaces
Free / $20/mo Pro
✓ Free tier with basic search
✓ Pro: Unlimited searches
✓ Pro: Multiple AI models
→ Pro: File uploads in Spaces
NotebookLM
Free (Google account)
✓ All features included
✓ Audio Overview
✓ Unlimited notebooks
→ Plus tier in Google AI Pro
Who Should Use Each Tool?
Choose Perplexity Spaces If You...
Need real-time web research and current events
Want to explore new topics you know little about
Need collaborative research workspaces
Prefer having multiple AI models to choose from
Research spans many external sources
Want AI-powered search engine replacement
Choose NotebookLM If You...
Want to analyze documents you already have
Love the Audio Overview podcast feature
Need strict source grounding without web noise
Work with research papers, notes, or transcripts
Prefer completely free tools
Want AI that only speaks from your sources
🧠 Before You Decide: Consider This Complement
While Perplexity Spaces and NotebookLM optimize how you launch apps, there's a gap neither fills: managing the knowledge you accumulate across all your tools.
Elephas takes a different approach — instead of launching apps, it creates an AI-powered "Super Brain" from your documents. Every answer cites YOUR files, not internet guesses. It's the perfect complement to whichever launcher you choose.
⚡
System-Wide Access
⌘+Space from any app to query your knowledge base.
📎
Cites Your Sources
Every answer links to the actual document. No hallucinations.
🔗
Syncs Your Apps
Connects to Notion, Obsidian, Apple Notes automatically.
Best for:Knowledge workers managing multiple projectsUsers who want AI that knows their context
Unmatched for exploring new topics. Real-time search, citations, and collaborative Spaces make it the best web research AI.
WINNER FOR DOCUMENT ANALYSIS
NotebookLM
Free. Audio Overview is unique. Strict source grounding ensures no hallucinations. Perfect for your own documents.
These tools serve opposite research needs. Perplexity Spaces is your AI research assistant for exploring the world—searching the web, finding sources, and staying current on any topic. It's ideal when you're starting research or need external information.
NotebookLM is your AI assistant for understanding what you already have—research papers, meeting notes, course materials, or any documents you've collected. The Audio Overview feature transforms how you consume dense material.
Many researchers use both: Perplexity for discovery and gathering sources, then NotebookLM to deeply analyze the materials they've collected. The tools complement each other perfectly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Perplexity Spaces better than NotebookLM?
They serve different purposes. Perplexity Spaces excels at web research with real-time search and collaborative features. NotebookLM is better for analyzing your own documents with the unique Audio Overview feature. Choose based on whether you need web discovery or document analysis.
Which tool is better for research?
Perplexity Spaces is better for exploring new topics, current events, and gathering sources from the web. NotebookLM is superior for deep analysis of documents you already have, like research papers, notes, or transcripts.
Can I use both tools together?
Yes, and this is a powerful workflow! Use Perplexity Spaces to research and discover sources, then upload the most relevant documents to NotebookLM for deep analysis and Audio Overview generation. They complement each other perfectly.
Which is completely free?
NotebookLM is completely free with a Google account—all features including Audio Overview. Perplexity has a free tier but limits searches and features; Pro costs $20/month for unlimited access and additional AI models.
