Can Elephas replace multiple productivity tools like Notion, ChatGPT, and note-taking apps?

Elephas excels at consolidating AI-powered knowledge management, writing assistance, and automation into one tool, but it's designed to complement rather than fully replace specialized platforms. It integrates with Notion, Apple Notes, and Obsidian to enhance them with AI capabilities. For many users, Elephas becomes the "AI layer" that connects and supercharges their existing tools rather than replacing them entirely.

Can Open NotebookLM generate podcasts as good as NotebookLM's audio overviews?

Open NotebookLM can generate multi-speaker podcast conversations from your documents, but audio quality depends heavily on your chosen text-to-speech provider. While the script generation and conversation structure work well, the voices may not sound as natural as NotebookLM's unless you use premium TTS services like ElevenLabs, which adds significant API costs beyond the base setup.

Does Elephas work without the internet if I use local AI models?

Yes, Elephas can operate completely offline when configured with in-built local LLM models or Ollama or other local LLM providers. Your Super Brain knowledge base stores embeddings locally, and all processing happens on your Mac without internet connectivity. This makes Elephas suitable for air-gapped environments, sensitive work requiring complete data isolation, or working while traveling without reliable internet access.

How much does it cost to run Open NotebookLM with API providers monthly?

Monthly costs vary dramatically based on usage patterns and chosen AI providers. Light users (50-100 queries monthly) might spend $5-15 on API calls, while heavy users (500+ queries with large documents) could exceed $50-100 monthly. Add potential server hosting fees if you deploy it on cloud infrastructure rather than local hardware, plus the time value of setup and maintenance.

What happens to my data if I stop paying for Elephas?

Your data remains fully accessible since Elephas stores everything locally on your device (or optionally in your personal iCloud). If you cancel your subscription, you retain read-only access to your knowledge bases and can export your data anytime. Unlike cloud-based services where data deletion or inaccessibility is common after cancellation, Elephas never holds your information hostage since you always maintain control of the original files.

Open NotebookLM Review(2026): Features, Setup, and Alternatives

Google's NotebookLM has become the go-to AI research assistant for professionals who need to organize documents, generate summaries, and create content from their own sources. But with growing privacy concerns about cloud-based AI tools, Open NotebookLM has been an open-source alternative that promises the same powerful features with complete data control.

This self-hosted platform lets you run AI analysis on your documents without uploading sensitive information to external servers. But is the trade-off between convenience and privacy worth it?

In this review, we'll explore what Open NotebookLM offers, how it compares to its cloud-based counterpart, and whether there's an even better alternative for Mac users who want both power and simplicity.

Let’s get into it.

What is Open NotebookLM?

Open NotebookLM is an open-source, self-hosted alternative to Google's NotebookLM that allows you to deploy a privacy-focused AI research assistant on your own infrastructure.

Unlike the cloud-based original, Open NotebookLM runs entirely on your local network or personal hardware, giving you complete control over your data. You can integrate it with multiple AI providers including OpenAI, Claude, Google Gemini, Groq, or even completely local models through Ollama.

The platform is designed for privacy-conscious researchers, students, and professionals who handle sensitive information and cannot risk uploading confidential documents to third-party servers. Open NotebookLM replicates most of NotebookLM's core functionality, from document analysis and conversational chat to podcast generation and knowledge base creation, but requires technical expertise to deploy and maintain.

Key Features of Open NotebookLM

Multiple AI Provider Support: Unlike NotebookLM's exclusive reliance on Google Gemini, Open NotebookLM works with OpenAI, Anthropic Claude, Google Gemini, Vertex AI, OpenRouter, and local Ollama models. This flexibility lets you choose the best AI model for your specific use case and even switch between providers based on task requirements.
Privacy-First Architecture: All data processing happens on your own hardware or private cloud infrastructure, eliminating third-party data exposure. When paired with Ollama's local LLMs, your documents never leave your device, making it suitable for handling confidential legal documents, medical records, or proprietary business information.
Podcast Generation: Create AI-generated audio summaries from your documents with customizable speaker profiles and episode formats. The system can produce multi-speaker conversations that discuss your research material, similar to NotebookLM's popular audio overview feature, though audio quality may vary depending on your chosen text-to-speech provider.
Document Knowledge Base: Upload multiple file formats including PDFs, Word documents, text files, and web links to create searchable knowledge bases. The system uses embeddings to index your content and provides source citations when answering questions, ensuring you can verify information against your original documents.
Transformation Tools: Generate various types of content from your sources including paper analysis, key insights, reflection questions, and tables of contents. These transformations help you quickly understand complex documents and extract actionable information without reading through hundreds of pages manually.

Pricing: Free to use

How to Set Up Open NotebookLM

Open Notebook offers three installation methods: Docker Setup (recommended), Source Installation for developers, and Manual Setup for full control.

While the official documentation claims you can get running in 5 minutes with Docker, real-world user experiences suggest the process requires more technical expertise and troubleshooting than advertised.

System Requirements:

Docker Engine installed and running
4GB RAM minimum (more recommended)
2GB free disk space
API keys for at least one AI provider (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google Gemini, Vertex AI, OpenRouter, or Ollama for local models)

Installation Steps (Docker Method):

Clone or pull the Docker image: Access the Open Notebook repository and pull the latest Docker container image to your local machine using Docker commands or Docker Desktop interface.
Configure environment variables: Create a docker.env file and add API keys for your chosen providers. Set variables like OPENAI_API_KEY, ANTHROPIC_API_KEY, GOOGLE_API_KEY, VERTEX_PROJECT_ID, OPENROUTER_API_KEY, or OLLAMA_API_BASE depending on your model preferences.
Configure docker-compose.yml: Specify which AI models to use for different tasks including chat, embedding, text-to-speech, speech-to-text, transformation, and function calling. Each function requires explicit model assignment.
Deploy and access: Run docker-compose up to start the container on port 8502. Navigate to http://localhost:8502 in your browser to access the web interface.
Configure models: Create a local account, navigate to the Models page, add your API providers, and assign specific models for each task type before creating your first notebook.

User Reviews of Open NotebookLM

"Everything works, but when I access it from the browser, I get the same error." Struggled with reverse proxy setup and had to expose port 5055 to resolve connectivity issues. The internal addressing of the frontend app to the API needs adjustment when using external hosting. - elcerilla on GitHub

"I've recently setup open notebook running in a docker container...see the same error each time I try to chat with the Notebook; 'Failed to send Message'." Spent hours debugging connection refused errors with Ollama integration before finding the correct environment variable syntax. - kcwire on GitHub

"I'm very new to open notebook (about 20 minutes in)" and already experiencing connection errors. The learning curve is steep and documentation clarity could be improved, especially for users new to Docker and containerized applications. - qhartman on GitHub

After attempting to configure Open Notebook following multiple guides and troubleshooting various connection issues, configuration problems, and unclear documentation, user simply stated: "Gave up" - rabinnh on GitHub

Best Alternative to Open NotebookLM

While Open NotebookLM offers privacy benefits, its complex setup and maintenance requirements make it impractical for most professionals.

If you want a knowledge assistant that combines privacy, power, and ease of use, you need a solution designed specifically for your workflow without the technical overhead of self-hosting.

Elephas: Your AI-Powered Knowledge Assistant

Elephas is a native Mac, iPhone, and iPad application that can be your personal AI knowledge assistant. The setup process is simple, and you can just run it using inbuilt local LLM models, which can be installed with a click of a button, unlike a complex setup of open Notebooklm.

It changes your documents, notes, and files into an intelligent knowledge base called "Super Brain" that you can query conversationally. With support for 20+ file formats including PDFs, Word documents, Apple Notes, Notion, Obsidian, Excel files, and even YouTube videos, Elephas becomes your second brain that remembers everything and also doesn't send your data to cloud models (if you are using inbuilt local LLm models).

If you don't want to run using local LLM models, you can run Elephas using multiple AI providers (OpenAI, Claude, Gemini, Groq) using API keys, but some of your information related to your query will be sent to the API model you are using. But we don't store anything related to your chats on Elephas servers.

Trusted by 3,000+ professionals worldwide with a 4.7/5 rating, Elephas delivers enterprise-level AI capabilities with consumer-friendly simplicity.

Key Features of Elephas

Super Brain Knowledge Management: Create multiple "brains" for different contexts one for work, another for personal research, and separate ones for specific projects.
Workflow Automation: Using AI agents that can execute multi-step workflows without manual intervention. Create automated document processing pipelines, email response workflows, and content generation sequences that run in the background while you focus on high-value work.
Cross-Platform Native Integration: Works seamlessly across macOS, iPhone, and iPad with automatic sync. Access your knowledge base from any Apple device with native UI that follows platform conventions.
AI Writing Tools: Beyond knowledge management, Elephas includes smart email replies, blog writing assistance, content summarization, custom AI commands.
Integration: You can connect with Notion, Obsidian, Apple Notes, Devonthink, etc., and chat with them in simple steps without the issue of exporting and importing information.

Pricing: $9.99/month

Customer Reviews: Elephas

I really liked that Elephas has a feature that it is always close to you when you are working, close to your cursor ready to be activated, but it does not bother or gets in the way of the work.- Capterra

I use the Elephas app regularly in the medical field, mainly to work with PDFs of scientific articles. The app is reliable, stable, and supports me excellently in my daily work. I especially appreciate how efficiently it helps me search and process medical content. Capterra

I must admit my overall experience with Elephas was great. The command to summon any LLM of my choice was a complete time saver. Elephas is a great AI product; It provides a new way to interact with your notes, ideas and documents. Personally, my favorite feature of elephas was the quick summon for the LLM of my choice. Capterra

Why Elephas Is Better Than Open NotebookLM

Zero Setup Complexity: While Open NotebookLM requires Docker expertise, YAML configuration, etc., Elephas installs in minutes like any Mac app. Simply download, add your API key or use built-in offline models, and start using it immediately without technical overhead.
Workflow Automation with AI Agents: Create multi-step automated workflows and AI agents that handle repetitive tasks like document processing, email responses, and content generation without manual intervention. Open NotebookLM has no automation capabilities, requiring you to manually perform every task each time you need it.
AI Writing Tools Included: Elephas combines knowledge management with writing assistance, smart email replies, content summarization, and custom AI commands in one tool. Open NotebookLM only offers document chat and podcast generation, requiring separate applications for writing tasks and productivity features.
Cross-Device Sync: Elephas automatically syncs your knowledge bases across Mac, iPhone, and iPad with iCloud integration (optional for privacy). Open NotebookLM has no mobile apps and requires separate deployments for each device, with manual sync management or complex network configurations for remote access.
Cost Efficiency: Despite being a paid application, Elephas often costs less than maintaining Open NotebookLM's infrastructure. Cloud API costs are similar for both, but Open NotebookLM adds server hosting expenses, time costs for maintenance and troubleshooting, and potential data loss risks from misconfiguration. Elephas's one-time or subscription cost includes everything with no hidden infrastructure expenses.

Give a read: Google Notebooklm vs Elephas

Conclusion:

If you're comfortable with Docker, enjoy troubleshooting technical issues, and prefer working exclusively with open-source solutions without spending $9.99 per month, Open NotebookLM could work for you. It's ideal for developers who want complete control over their infrastructure and don't mind investing time in configuration and maintenance.

The privacy benefits are real when paired with local AI models, making it suitable for technically proficient users who prioritize self-hosting above convenience. However, if you want a comprehensive productivity ecosystem with knowledge management, AI writing tools, workflow automation, and seamless cross-device sync in one polished application, Elephas is the clear winner.

You can try Elephas for free to experience the difference yourself. For most professionals who value their time and need reliable tools that "just work," Elephas delivers superior value without the technical headaches.

Open NotebookLM Review 2026: Is It Worth the Hype?