FAQ
Answers to common questions about better-vault, the open-source NotebookLM alternative: its price, AI models, local AI, data storage, the desktop app and more.
What is better-vault?
better-vault is a free, open-source alternative to Google NotebookLM. You add PDFs, web pages, notes and text files to a notebook, chat with them with cited answers, and turn them into reports, flashcards, quizzes, data tables, mind maps, slide decks and infographics, using the AI model you choose.
Is better-vault free?
Yes. better-vault is MIT-licensed and free to use and host. You pay your AI provider for what you use with your own key, or nothing at all with a local model through Ollama or LM Studio.
Can I use NotebookLM features with Claude or ChatGPT models?
Yes. better-vault works with Anthropic's Claude models, OpenAI's GPT models and Google's Gemini models with your own API key. You can switch models for each question.
Can I run it with local models?
Yes. Use the desktop app or run better-vault on your computer, then connect Ollama or LM Studio in Settings → AI providers. Your sources then never leave your machine. Providers walks through it.
Where is my data stored?
On your device. The web app keeps notebooks in your browser's IndexedDB, and the desktop app keeps them in a SQLite file on your computer. There is no account and no server database, and the API routes only forward each request to the provider you picked, without storing or logging keys or content. Privacy has the details.
Can I self-host better-vault?
Yes. It is a Next.js app with no database, so it runs on any Node.js 20.9+ host with npm run build && npm start, or on Vercel. Self-hosting explains the options.
Does better-vault make audio overviews?
No. Audio and video overviews are out of scope. better-vault focuses on cited chat and written and visual outputs.
What file types can I add?
PDF, Markdown and text files (up to 20 MB each), web pages by address, and pasted text. DOCX, EPUB, YouTube transcripts, images and audio are on the roadmap.
Is there a desktop app?
Yes. better-vault runs as a desktop app on macOS, Windows and Linux, with the same interface as the web app, and updates itself. Desktop app has the downloads.
How do I contribute or translate it?
Start with Architecture and the contributing guide on GitHub. The interface is fully translatable, and Translations shows how to add a language.
better-vault vs NotebookLM
How better-vault compares with Google NotebookLM (Gemini Notebook) on AI models, privacy, price, features, desktop apps and self-hosting, and when to pick each.
Roadmap
What better-vault has shipped and what comes next: the desktop app, a notebook guide, notes, more source types, deep research and editing Studio outputs.