Perplexity
Perplexity is an AI answer engine on the web, desktop, iPhone and Android that searches the web and answers with cited sources, plus Deep Research, voice and the Computer agent for longer tasks. A free plan covers everyday questions, and Pro, Max and Enterprise plans add more models and credits.
#7 in AI AssistantsAI ChatbotsAI Search EnginesAI Research ToolsFree plan
Who it's for
Best for
Researchers and students who want sources behind every answer
Everyday users who want quick, current answers instead of search results
Not for
Heavy Computer agent users on a fixed budget
Anyone who will not double-check answers
Free plan$0
Pro$17/moBilled annually
Max$167/moBilled annually
EnterpriseCustom
Features
Cited answers
Every answer comes with cited sources that can be opened, so claims can be checked against the original pages.
Pro Search and Deep Research
Guided AI search digs deeper into a question and compiles a longer research answer from many sources.
Thread follow-ups
Keep asking follow-up questions in the same thread to go deeper without repeating the earlier context.
Perplexity Computer
An agent mode that builds apps, documents and other projects for longer tasks, paid for with plan credits.
What users say
Pros
- Answers include clickable, numbered citations that link directly to original web pages for verification.
- Direct synthesized answers replace the need to browse through traditional search engine links.
- Deep Research reports go deep enough to guide assignments and literature reviews.
Cons
- Credits and weekly limits run out fast even on paid Pro and Max plans, with constant top-up prompts.
- Occasional hallucinations and fabricated facts slip into answers, requiring manual cross-checking.
- Unexpected subscription charges take weeks to resolve through automated support channels.
- On familiar research questions, Doubao's search can feel more thorough than Perplexity's basic plan.
A selection of the review sources we used:
Summarized from public user reviews and community discussions. View details
Global Traffic Rank
Top 5k
Alternatives
Rank#7 in category#17 in category#19 in category#1 in category
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