Overview

Perplexity searches the open web in real time and returns concise answers with inline citations that let readers trace claims to their sources. It can also bring files and connected apps into a search, extending its reach beyond public webpages.

The service can draw on more than 20 leading models, including ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude and Nemotron. That breadth makes Perplexity a flexible choice for varied queries, though access to tools and higher limits depends on the plan.

It is available on the web, macOS, Windows, Android and iOS, and offers API access. The free tier has limited weekly use and is intended for simple questions, so regular research or heavier workflows are better matched to a paid plan.

Key features

Cited answers and model choice

Every response includes inline citations showing where claims came from. That is a useful distinction for readers who need to check an answer rather than take a generated summary on trust. Perplexity can select among more than 20 models for a search, bringing multiple model options into one service.

Research and unified search

Deep Research runs dozens of searches across hundreds of sources and produces a report. Unified search covers the open web, files and connected apps, which can save switching between separate information sources. Pro adds Computer, premium data sources, web search, files, apps, model council and model selection; Max raises Deep Research, resource-generation and file-upload limits and allows more monthly video creation.

Computer, connectors and team controls

The comparison assigns 10,000 Computer credits per month, with additional credits on paid plans. More than 400 app connectors can be connected. Admins can add or remove members and manage billing and seat counts, while organization seats are consolidated onto one invoice. Connector security includes SOC 2, encryption, continuous monitoring, point-in-time backups and 30-day retention.

Enterprise Pro and Enterprise Max do not use customer data to train AI models and include options for SSO, SCIM, audit logs and retention controls. Perplexity states SOC 2 Type 2 certification, GDPR-aligned and HIPAA-aligned safeguards, and PCI compliance. These controls make the enterprise tiers more relevant to organizations with governance needs than individual plans.

Pricing

Perplexity is freemium, with plans ranging from 0 /mo to seat-based enterprise subscriptions. Choose according to workload: the main trade-off at lower tiers is tighter access, while enterprise plans add organizational controls and quotas but API use still requires separate credits.

Free — free. Limited daily use for individuals, with limited weekly use suited to simple questions. It is a sensible starting point, but not a strong fit for frequent research.
Pro — 20.00 USD per month. For serious work, it expands access and limits, adds Pro features and 4,000 additional Computer credits. It is the practical step up for an individual who needs more than occasional answers.
Max — 200.00 USD per month. Offers maximum Computer use and the highest usage limits, with 35,000 additional Computer credits and 10,000 Computer credits per month. Its higher Deep Research, resource-generation, file-upload and video-creation limits suit professionals, creators, strategists, academic researchers and power users. Advanced model access applies within Perplexity web, not programmatic API access.
Education Pro — custom pricing. Verified students and educators get Pro features, Learn Mode, file and image uploads, and premium models.
Enterprise Pro — 40.00 USD per month. Billed at $40 per seat per month, with 400 Pro Searches per week and 100 file uploads per week. This tier fits teams needing shared administration and billing, with a lower quota than Enterprise Max.
Enterprise Max — 325.00 USD per month. Billed at $325 per seat per month, with 4,000 Pro Searches per week, 800 Browser Agent queries per month, 1,000 file uploads per week, 10,000 personal files and 5,000 files per project. It is aimed at teams with substantial usage and file needs, but its per-seat cost is a material commitment.

Enterprise subscriptions are billed per seat monthly or yearly; seats in an organization share one invoice. Self-serve trials are not offered for Enterprise Pro or Enterprise Max. Major credit cards are accepted, with invoice and wire transfer options available in checkout. API usage is excluded from both enterprise tiers and requires separate credits. Accidental purchases can be addressed by contacting support under the refund policy.

Platforms

Perplexity supports Android, iOS, macOS, Windows and web, alongside API access. Comet is available on Mac, Windows, iOS and Android. Personal Computer runs within the Perplexity macOS app and requires macOS 15 or later, so that workflow is not an option for older Macs or other operating systems.

Who it's for

Perplexity is a good fit for people who want sourced answers and need to move between web research, documents and connected apps. Free use can cover simple, occasional questions; Pro is better for sustained individual work, while Max targets intensive research and creation. Teams that need member and billing administration, privacy controls and larger quotas should compare the enterprise tiers against their per-seat costs.

It is less compelling for someone who only needs occasional basic answers, or for a developer expecting API usage to come bundled with a paid subscription. Enterprise buyers should also account for the absence of self-serve trials.

Pros and cons

Pros: Inline citations make answers easier to verify; one search can cover web, files and connected apps; model choice, Deep Research and plan-based Computer credits support more involved work.
Cons: Free use is limited and intended for simple questions; Max costs 200.00 USD per month; enterprise prices are per seat, and API access is billed separately even on enterprise plans.

Alternatives

For a wider category comparison, browse AI Search Engines, AI chatbots and assistants or AI Research Assistants. Consider these alternatives when their stated focus or access model better suits the work:

Jina AI offers a free, non-commercial Toy Experiment tier with 10 Million tokens and API, self-hosted and web platforms; choose it when that token-based, non-commercial access is the relevant fit.
Scite offers a free Connect plan with MCP access and grounding in 300M+ papers, but no Assistant or Search access on that plan; it is worth considering when paper-grounded MCP access is the priority.
Genspark Design has a free tier with 100 credits per day and supports Linux as well as mobile and desktop platforms; consider it if those credits or platform options match your needs.
Andi AI offers unlimited searches on its free Andi Search plan, including reading, summarizing and explaining; it may suit readers prioritizing unlimited free searches.
Consensus offers unlimited paper searches on its free tier, alongside three Deep reviews per month; consider it when paper search is the central task.
Felo Search has a free plan with five professional searches per day and up to three file analyses; it may suit readers whose needs fit those daily allowances.
Elicit offers unlimited search across more than 138 million papers and unlimited summaries on its Basic plan, with limited Research Agent and Research Reports usage; choose it for literature searches centered on that collection.
Google AI Mode is another freemium option, with Android, iOS and web access; consider it if those platforms and its separate plan structure are a better fit.

Verdict

Choose Perplexity if you want a single service for cited web answers, multi-model search and research across connected information. Pro is the more measured upgrade for regular individual work; Max makes sense when its higher limits justify the substantial monthly price. Look elsewhere if limited free use is enough, if paper-specific research is the priority, or if you need API access included in a subscription.

	Perplexity	Zhipu Qingyan
Free plan	Yes
Paid from	$20/mo
Platforms	Android, api, iOS, macOS, Web, Windows	Android, extension, iOS, macOS, Web, Windows
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Paid from	Free
Web search	Yes	Yes
File uploads	Yes	Yes
Image generation	Yes	Yes
Mobile apps	Yes	Yes
App integrations	Yes
Team workspace	Yes

Perplexity vs Zhipu Qingyan

Perplexity

Zhipu Qingyan