# Markdown vs Word for NotebookLM notes

Source: https://nlmexporter.com/guides/compare/markdown-vs-word  
Section: Compare  
Last verified: November 2026  
Plan: Free + Pro

Export NotebookLM notes as Markdown when they are going into a notes app, wiki or repository, and as Word when someone will edit, comment on or format them as a document. Markdown is plain text and free without limit; Word keeps page layout and counts toward 5 free exports a day.

## Side by side

|  | Markdown (.md) | Word (.docx) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Opens in | Obsidian, Notion, Logseq, GitHub, any editor | Word, Google Docs, Pages |
| Layout | None; the app decides | Pages, headers, table of contents |
| Track changes and comments | No | Yes |
| Citations | Markers or footnote syntax | Real footnotes |
| Plan | Free, unlimited | Free 5 a day, unlimited with Pro |

## Which to choose

- Choose **Markdown (.md)** if the note is knowledge you will link, search and reuse.
- Choose **Word (.docx)** if the note is a deliverable for a teacher, client or colleague.

## Frequently asked questions

### Markdown (.md) or Word (.docx): which is better?

Neither in general. Choose Markdown (.md) if the note is knowledge you will link, search and reuse. Choose Word (.docx) if the note is a deliverable for a teacher, client or colleague.

### Can I convert later?

Yes, tools such as Pandoc convert between them, but exporting in the right format first avoids cleanup.

## Related guides

- [Export NotebookLM notes to Markdown](https://nlmexporter.com/guides/export/notes-to-markdown)
- [Export NotebookLM notes to Word](https://nlmexporter.com/guides/export/notes-to-word)
- [NotebookLM to Obsidian: notes, chats and whole notebooks](https://nlmexporter.com/guides/integrations/notebooklm-to-obsidian)
- [Word vs PDF for NotebookLM reports](https://nlmexporter.com/guides/compare/word-vs-pdf)
- [Image PowerPoint vs editable PowerPoint from NotebookLM](https://nlmexporter.com/guides/compare/image-pptx-vs-editable-pptx)
- [OPML vs FreeMind for NotebookLM mind maps](https://nlmexporter.com/guides/compare/opml-vs-freemind)