Perplexity AI
by Perplexity AI, Inc.
AI-powered search engine delivering cited answers.
Score
Score
Our verdict
Perplexity AI offers a robust AI-driven search experience with real-time, cited answers, catering to researchers and professionals. Its tiered pricing structure provides flexibility, though the Pro plan's value has decreased in early 2026. The introduction of the 'Comet' browser and 'Personal Computer' AI agent showcases its innovative approach, despite recent security concerns. Overall, Perplexity AI is a valuable tool for those seeking accurate and up-to-date information.
Overview
Score breakdown
Overall score
Scores are editorial assessments by the Compare Best AI team on a 0–10 scale.
Expert review
CBAI Editorial Team
Compare Best AI · Editorial Team
Perplexity AI is an AI-powered search engine that delivers real-time answers with cited sources, enhancing research efficiency. Founded in August 2022, the company has rapidly grown, reaching a valuation of $20 billion by September 2025. Its user base includes researchers, students, journalists, and professionals seeking accurate and up-to-date information.
How we tested
Days tested
7 days
Tasks evaluated
- ·Real-time web search
- ·Access to multiple AI models
- ·File uploads and analysis
- ·API usage
Method
Compared against ChatGPT and Bing Chat using identical queries and tasks
Reviewer
CBAI Editorial Team
Plans & pricing
Free
Limited daily use and simple questions
- Citations in answers
- Access to basic AI models
- Pro Search: 3/day (plan comparison article)
- Research queries: 1/month (plan comparison article)
- File uploads: weekly limits (lower tier)
- Computer monthly credits: not included
- Perplexity Patents (beta): free for all users with base quota
Pro
Power users needing extended research and uploads
- Extended Pro Search (high daily volume; weekly limits ~400/week advanced use per comparison article)
- Extended Research access
- Create files and apps access
- 10× citations per answer (Pro help article)
- Advanced AI models (GPT-5.2, Claude Sonnet 4.6, Gemini 3.1 Pro listed in help article)
- Image generation; limited video generation
- Increased file/photo uploads
- Computer: 4,000 one-time bonus credits (expire in 30 days); no recurring monthly Computer credits on Pro (credits help article)
- Auto-refill trigger at 500 credits when enabled
- Perplexity Patents (beta): higher usage quotas vs Free
Max
Experts needing highest limits and frontier models
- Everything in Pro
- Highest access to advanced models (incl. thinking models per help articles)
- Extended Create files/apps and Deep Research limits (~500/month file creation, ~500/month research, ~4000/week Pro Search per comparison table)
- 10,000 monthly Computer credits (credits help article)
- 35,000 one-time bonus credits on signup (Max marketing page)
- Max Assistant on Comet; highest weekly browser agent limits
- Brain (Research Preview) for Computer users
- Priority support
- Perplexity Patents (beta): additional quotas and model configuration vs Free
Enterprise Pro
Teams needing data privacy and admin controls
- All Pro features plus strict data privacy (not used for training)
- Per-seat licensing; mix Pro and Max seats
- Internal knowledge search via Projects and File Connectors
- Increased daily file uploads with org controls
- Dedicated Enterprise support; admin billing
- SOC 2 Type II, HIPAA, GDPR, PCI DSS (enterprise pricing page)
- API access: not included—separate API credits purchase
- 25% discount for education/non-profit/government on Enterprise Pro (onboarding guide)
Enterprise Max
Organizations needing highest enterprise limits and security add-ons
- Everything in Enterprise Pro
- 15,000 monthly Computer credits/seat (enterprise pricing page; 500 on Enterprise Pro per same page comparison)
- 40,000 bonus credits (enterprise pricing marketing)
- Up to 10,000 personal files; 5,000 files per Project
- 15 video generations/month (8s, audio, 16:9) per help articles
- SCIM, audit logs, configurable data retention when org has ≥1 Enterprise Max seat
- Priority / forward-deployed support options on custom contracts
Pricing may vary by region. Always verify on the vendor's website.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Perplexity AI | ChatGPT | Bing Chat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core | |||
| Real-time web search | |||
| Access to multiple AI models | |||
| Output | |||
| Cited answers | |||
| File uploads and analysis | |||
| Pricing | |||
| Free plan available | |||
| Dev | |||
| Public API | |||
| Integrations | |||
Is it right for you?
Good fit for
Researchers
Need real-time, cited answers for academic work.
Professionals
Require accurate information for decision-making.
Students
Seek reliable sources for assignments and studies.
Less suited for
Casual users
May find the Pro plan's cost prohibitive.
Users seeking a traditional search engine
Prefer standard search results without AI integration.
User reviews
Editorial score
Distribution is estimated from our editorial score. Verified user reviews coming soon.
Use cases
Typical ways teams rely on this tool — from everyday tasks to specialized workflows.
- Research
- Data Analysis
- Content Creation
- Education
Integrations
Reported connectors
Apps and services commonly connected out of the box or via official connectors.
- Salesforce
- HubSpot
- Snowflake
- Le Monde
Privacy & compliance
Security & data practices
Highlights we track from the vendor's documentation. Always confirm current terms, subprocessors, and regional policies on their official site.
- SOC 2 Type II security certification
- Data privacy controls
- Single Sign-On (SSO) and SAML integration.
Details
Category
Price
- Free $0
- Pro $20/mo
- Max $200/mo or $2,000/yr (web annual)
- Enterprise Pro $40/seat/mo or $400/yr
- Enterprise Max $325/seat/mo or $3,250/yr.
Free version
Best for
- Real-time web search
- Access to multiple AI models
- Free tier with unlimited standard searches
- Paid plans with advanced features.
Frequently asked questions
Perplexity AI
Research & Data
Ready to get started?
Visit the Perplexity AI website to explore plans and start your free trial.
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