Notion AI vs Obsidian AI vs Roam: Best AI Note-Taking App (2025)
Notion AI vs Obsidian AI vs Roam: Note-Taking Comparison
The three most popular note-taking apps all now have AI features. Here is how they compare for different types of knowledge workers.
TL;DR: Notion AI for team collaboration and all-in-one workspace. Obsidian for privacy-first local notes with AI plugins. Roam for researchers who need bidirectional linking. Most users should choose Notion for simplicity or Obsidian for control.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Notion AI | Obsidian | Roam |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI built-in | Yes ($10/mo) | Via plugins | Limited |
| Data storage | Cloud | Local files | Cloud |
| Collaboration | Best | Limited | Limited |
| Privacy | Cloud-based | Full local | Cloud-based |
| Bidirectional links | Basic | Good | Best |
| Databases | Excellent | Via plugins | Good |
| Price | Free/$10+AI | Free | $15/mo |
| Mobile | Good | Good | Web only |
| Learning curve | Easy | Medium | Steep |
Quick Decision
- Teams and businesses: Notion AI — best collaboration and project management
- Privacy-conscious: Obsidian — your data stays on your device
- Academic researchers: Roam — best for connecting ideas and literature notes
- Simplicity: Notion — easiest to start with
- Customization: Obsidian — 1000+ community plugins
Detailed review: Notion AI review. Full comparison: Notion vs Obsidian vs Roam. Study tool: NotebookLM review.
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