Perplexity.

Perplexity is an AI answer engine that answers questions with short, source-cited replies drawn from the live web, rather than leaving you to open ten tabs yourself. It is built for students, researchers, journalists and busy professionals who need facts they can quickly verify. You can start on Perplexity for free, and paid plans begin at $17 per month billed annually for Perplexity Pro.

What is Perplexity?

Perplexity works more like a research assistant than a traditional search engine. You ask a question in plain language, and it searches the web, reads the most relevant pages and writes a direct answer with numbered citations beside the claims, so you can check every statement against its source in one click. Follow-up questions keep the context of the thread, which makes it easy to dig from a broad question down to the specific detail you actually need.

Unlike a single-model chatbot, Perplexity lets paying users pick between several leading AI models, and its newer Computer feature goes beyond answers: give it a goal and it can build small apps, documents and tools for you. If you prefer an assistant wired into social media instead, our Grok review covers xAI’s take, and you can browse the rest of the field in our AI Chatbot category.

Key Features

• Cited answers: Every answer includes inline citations from the sources used, so claims can be verified instead of taken on trust.
• Deep Research: A dedicated research mode that works through a topic in steps and produces a longer, structured report (paid plans).
• Choice of top AI models: Pro users can select between leading models. Perplexity’s site currently lists GPT-6.1 Sol, Gemini 3.8 Flash, Claude Sonnet 5.5, Kimi K3, GLM 5.3 and Grok 4.7, and Perplexity routes tasks to the model that fits best.
• Perplexity Computer: An agent-style workspace that creates personalised apps, documents and tools from a prompt — for example a portfolio site, a study plan or interview-prep case studies.
• Premium data sources: Answers can draw on premium providers such as PitchBook, Statista and S&P Capital IQ, which is handy for market and company research.
• Memory and higher limits: Paid plans raise usage limits and add memory, so answers can build on your earlier threads.

How to Use Perplexity

1. Go to perplexity.ai and type your question in plain language — no keywords or search operators needed.
2. Read the answer and check the numbered citations next to any claim you plan to rely on.
3. Ask follow-up questions in the same thread to narrow the topic down.
4. For a big topic, run Deep Research (on a paid plan) and read the full report it compiles.
5. On Pro or Max, switch the underlying model when you want a different style of reasoning, or open Computer to have something built for you.

How much does Perplexity cost?

According to Perplexity’s official pricing page, the free plan covers everyday cited answers at no cost. Pro is listed at $17 per month when billed annually, and the top tier, Max, at $167 per month when billed annually.

Plan	Price	What you get
Free	$0	Cited answers to everyday questions with standard search.
Pro	$17/month, billed annually	Deep Research, access to top AI models with model selection, expanded Computer access with 4,000 bonus credits, document and app creation, higher usage limits and memory.
Max	$167/month, billed annually	Everything in Pro, plus maximum Computer usage with 10,000 monthly credits, expert-level research, frontier AI models, the highest usage limits and priority access to new features.

Last verified: October 2026

Pros

• Citations on every answer make fact-checking fast and habit-forming.
• Model choice is rare among chatbots — you are not locked to one provider’s model.
• Deep Research produces genuinely useful reports for study and work.
• The free plan is capable enough for everyday questions.
• Computer turns answers into finished artefacts like documents and small apps.

Cons

• The best features — Deep Research, model choice, Computer — sit behind the Pro paywall.
• Max is expensive for individuals at $167 per month billed annually.
• Answers are only as good as the sources found, so niche topics can still produce thin results.
• Annual billing is the headline price; check the monthly rate at checkout if you prefer flexibility.

Who should use Perplexity?

Perplexity suits anyone whose questions start with “what”, “how much” or “what happened”: students writing essays, analysts sizing up a market, journalists on deadline, and professionals who need a defensible answer with sources attached. Casual users who mostly want creative writing or long chats may be happier with a general chatbot, but for finding things out, Perplexity is the specialist.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Perplexity free to use?

Yes, Perplexity has a free plan that answers everyday questions with citations at no cost and no subscription. The free plan is enough for casual lookups, while Perplexity Pro, at $17 per month billed annually, unlocks Deep Research, a choice of top AI models and higher usage limits.

What is the difference between Perplexity Pro and Max?

Perplexity Pro adds Deep Research, model selection, document and app creation, and expanded Computer access with 4,000 bonus credits. Perplexity Max includes everything in Pro, then raises the ceiling: 10,000 monthly Computer credits, frontier AI models, expert-level research, the highest usage limits and priority access to new features.

Which AI models does Perplexity use?

Perplexity gives paying users a choice of leading AI models rather than a single house model. The models listed on Perplexity’s website include GPT-6.1 Sol, Gemini 3.8 Flash, Claude Sonnet 5.5, Kimi K3, GLM 5.3 and Grok 4.7, and Perplexity can route each task to the model that fits it best.

Is Perplexity good for research?

Yes, Perplexity is one of the strongest AI tools for research because every answer carries inline citations you can open and check. Its Deep Research mode works through a question in steps and compiles a structured report, and paid answers can draw on premium data sources such as PitchBook and Statista.

Final Verdict

Perplexity has carved out a clear niche: it is the AI you ask when the answer needs to be right and provable. The free plan handles daily questions well, Pro at $17 per month billed annually is the sweet spot for students and professionals, and Max is a specialist tier for people who live inside research and Computer workflows. If your work runs on facts, Perplexity earns a bookmark.

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