Wikipedia works on the factor that an online user’s participation would generate accurate and useful information and knowledge. The contribution made by one user could be altered or corrected by any other subsequent visitor/user who believes he or she knows better about the topic. Google Knol on the other hand, offers the author the rights to control if and when any other users modify their article. If they are not satisfied with what other users have to suggest then they could just bar it. However, the user needs to pay for the getting this right and authors also need to put their name to their contributed article.

Another difference between the two is that Wikipedia publishes only one article per topic, where as Google Knol would let users post multiple items. This means you do not like the participation of other user on current article; you could just bring up your own. The most major difference that could bring real impact between on the battle is that Wikipedia works non-profit venture, which solely rely on the enthusiasm of its contributors of content, on the other hand Knol could grab more attention by being little different, they allow you to place your ads along side the article posted.