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Perplexity

Freemium 85/100 · DOA score

Perplexity launched in 2022. It is not a novel-writing chat: it is an answer engine with visible links. Great for study, checking a story or a briefing. There is a free tier. Pro costs $17 a month billed annually (the official page shows no monthly price), with deep research and a choice of models from several companies.

· How we score

ResearchStudyWriting Free with paid extras Easy
Go to the official site ↗ Official getting-started guide

When it launched

Perplexity · 2022

Languages

Answers in many languages and shows sources.

Where it runs

Browser · Android · iPhone / iPad · Mac · Windows

Plans and price (guide)

Prices from the official site: perplexity.ai (opens in a new tab) · checked on 14 October 2026.

  • Free · $0 / month

    Limited searches per day.

  • Pro · $17 / month billed annually

    Deep research, a choice of models and higher limits and memory. No monthly price published.

  • Max · $167 / month billed annually

    The highest usage limits and priority access to new features.

What you can do

  • Answers with clickable citations
  • Collections and research threads
  • Pro mode with premium models

Pros

  • More transparent than a generic chatbot
  • Excellent for checking news and papers
  • Shows where each fact comes from
  • Answers quickly in clear language
  • You can paste a long text and ask for a summary
  • Useful on a phone when you do not have a computer

Limits and plans

  • Does not replace a long-form writing assistant
  • Pro becomes necessary for heavy research

What it is good for

  • Students, journalists and researchers
  • Fast briefings with sources
  • Research a news story or a class paper
  • Answer everyday questions
  • Prepare a meeting or a class
  • Improve a piece of writing before you send it
  • Translate without losing the meaning

How to get started with Perplexity

  1. Start on the free plan and only pay if you outgrow it.
  2. It is easy: no previous knowledge needed.
  3. If you get stuck, watch a video tutorial ↗

Alternatives to Perplexity

ChatGPTGeminiGemini Notebook (NotebookLM)

See all alternatives to Perplexity →

Compare all AI chats: free plan, price, models and privacy →

Comparisons

ChatGPT vs PerplexityGemini vs PerplexityPerplexity vs Gemini Notebook (NotebookLM)

Perplexity: frequently asked questions

What is Perplexity for?

Answer engine with cited sources: every fact comes with its link. Ideal for research, study or checking news without losing where it came from.

Is Perplexity free?

It has a free version with limits. Free with limited searches. Pro: US$17/month billed annually; Max: US$167/month billed annually (the official page shows no monthly price). Prices change: check the official site.

Which devices does Perplexity work on?

It works on Browser, Android, iPhone / iPad, Mac and Windows.

Is Perplexity hard to use?

It is easy: no previous knowledge needed.

What are the alternatives to Perplexity?

The closest are ChatGPT, Gemini and Gemini Notebook (NotebookLM). You can see them all on the alternatives to Perplexity page.