Perplexity Max - now with Computer

Where knowledge begins.

An answer engine for the curious. Ask anything and get instant, source-backed answers across every model, every device, and every kind of question.

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§ 01 - What is it

What is Perplexity AI?

Search engines hand you ten blue links and let you sort it out. Perplexity hands you the answer, with the sources stapled to the back.

Perplexity AI is an answer engine. You ask in natural language, it reads the live web on your behalf, and it returns a synthesized response with numbered citations on every claim. Click a citation, see the source, decide for yourself.

Under the hood, Perplexity routes your question through a frontier large-language model - Sonar, GPT-5, Claude Opus, Gemini, or Grok - and combines it with real-time retrieval. The output reads like a research brief, not a chatbot transcript.

It works on the web, on macOS, Windows, iOS, and Android. There's a WhatsApp bot for one-line questions, a developer API for builders, and Comet - a full AI-native browser - for people who want their tabs to do work for them.

Free to start. $20/month for Pro, with access to every frontier model. $200/month for Max, with unlimited Labs and the agentic Computer feature.

Founded
2022
Active users
30M+
Models
15+ frontier
§ 07 — What's new

What's new at Perplexity?

Three years in, shipping faster than ever. The biggest launches of the past few quarters - what landed, when, and why it matters.

§ 02 - Capabilities

What can be done with Perplexity?

Anything that starts with "find," "explain," or "compare." A few of the most common patterns:

Real-time research

Pull current data on companies, markets, public figures, news, and policy changes - with sources to verify before you cite.

Coding help

Debug a stack trace, generate boilerplate, explain a library API, or get an opinionated take on architecture trade-offs.

Comparison shopping

Compare products, services, or destinations side by side on price, specs, reviews, and availability.

Document analysis

Upload a PDF, DOCX, or CSV and ask focused questions. Surface key clauses in contracts, anomalies in data, or themes in long reports.

Deep Research

Hand off a topic and Perplexity reads dozens of sources autonomously, then writes a structured report — citations, gaps, and all.

Labs & artifacts

Generate dashboards, spreadsheets, presentations, and small web apps from a single prompt. Export, share, iterate.

§ 03 — Models

Models & latest releases.

Perplexity routes your question to the model best suited to answer it. You can also pick one explicitly.

House

Sonar

Perplexity

Perplexity's in-house model, tuned specifically for grounded web answers with citations. The default for free users.

Latest

GPT-5.2

OpenAI

OpenAI's latest reasoning flagship. Strongest at multi-step logic, math, and structured code generation.

Latest

Claude Opus 4.6

Anthropic

Anthropic's flagship. Excels at long-context reading, careful reasoning, and nuanced writing.

Gemini 3 Pro

Google

Multimodal — strong on image understanding, table reasoning, and live web tasks. A solid all-rounder.

Grok 4

xAI

Real-time, irreverent, plugged into the social pulse. Useful for trends, discourse, and current sentiment.

Max-only

Sora 2 Pro

OpenAI

Video generation orchestrated through Perplexity Labs. Available exclusively on the Max plan.

§ 04 — All models

Perplexity AI all models.

Every engine Perplexity orchestrates, organized by what it does. House-built and partner alike — pick one explicitly, or let Perplexity route for you.

Search & answer

07 models

Sonar

Perplexity
Free

Default fast answer engine — grounded web search with inline citations on every claim.

128k ctxHouse model

Sonar Pro

Perplexity
Pro

Deeper search with more sources per query and richer synthesis. Tuned for substantive research.

200k ctxHouse model

GPT-5.2

OpenAI
Pro

OpenAI's frontier general model. Strong at code, structured outputs, and step-by-step explanations.

256k ctxMultimodal

Claude Opus 4.6

Anthropic
Pro

Anthropic's flagship — best in class for long documents, careful reasoning, and nuanced writing.

500k ctxMultimodal

Claude Sonnet 4.5

Anthropic
Pro

Balanced workhorse — fast and capable. Good default when you don't need Opus's depth.

200k ctxMultimodal

Gemini 3 Pro

Google
Pro

Multimodal all-rounder. Strong on images, charts, tables, and live web understanding.

1M ctxMultimodal

Grok 4

xAI
Pro

Real-time, social-aware, irreverent. Plugged into current discourse and trending topics.

128k ctxLive X feed

Reasoning & research

04 models

Sonar Reasoning

Perplexity
Pro

Chain-of-thought variant of Sonar. Slows down for multi-step questions and shows its working.

128k ctxStep-by-step

Sonar Deep Research

Perplexity
Pro

Agentic mode — reads dozens of sources autonomously, then writes a structured report with gaps flagged.

30+ sourcesLong-form

o3-pro

OpenAI
Max

OpenAI's high-effort reasoning engine. Built for problems where careful thought beats fast tokens.

200k ctxMath & science

GPT-5 Thinking

OpenAI
Pro

Reasoning variant of GPT-5. More deliberate output, better at code, math, and adversarial logic.

256k ctxReasoning

Image generation

04 models

Flux 2.0

Black Forest Labs
Pro

Default image model on Pro. Excellent at photorealistic output and accurate text rendering.

2048×2048Photoreal

DALL·E 3

OpenAI
Pro

OpenAI's image model. Strong on composition, scene logic, and following complex instructions.

1792×1024Stylistic

Stable Diffusion XL

Stability AI
Pro

Open-weights image model. Fast, flexible, with broad style coverage from photoreal to illustrative.

1024×1024Open-source

Playground v3

Playground
Pro

Designer-friendly image model with strong layout and graphic-design instincts.

1024×1024Design

Video generation

02 models

Sora 2 Pro

OpenAI
Max

Cinematic short-form video. Best for product visualization, social-ready clips, and storyboards.

1080pUp to 20s

Veo 3.1

Google
Max

Google's video model — strong on physical realism, camera motion, and natural lighting.

4KUp to 60s
§ 05 — Compare

Compare each model.

Strengths, ideal use cases, and which Perplexity tier each model is available on.

ModelStrengthBest forAvailable on
SonarGrounded web answers with citations baked in.Default search, fact-finding, daily research.FreeProMax
GPT-5.2Frontier reasoning & structured output.Complex coding, analytical write-ups, math.ProMax
Claude Opus 4.6Long-context reading & careful writing.Legal & policy work, drafting, research synthesis.ProMax
Gemini 3 ProMultimodal — images, tables, live web.Visual research, data interpretation.ProMax
Grok 4Real-time, conversational, social-aware.Trends, discourse, current sentiment.ProMax
Deep ResearchAgentic — reads dozens of sources autonomously.Market scans, competitive briefs, dossiers.ProMax
Sora 2 ProCinematic short-form video generation.Marketing visuals, product demos.Max
§ 06 — Versions

Perplexity AI versions.

Three years, nine major releases. From a humble web answer engine in 2022 to a full agentic platform in 2026 — here's how Perplexity got here.

  1. Dec 2022Launch
    v0.1 · Initial release

    Perplexity goes live.

    A web-only answer engine debuts at perplexity.ai — built on GPT-3.5 with live web retrieval and numbered citations on every claim. Free for everyone, no signup required.

    Web Citations First release
  2. Mar 2023Pro tier
    v0.5 · Pro & Copilot

    A paid tier with frontier models.

    Perplexity Pro launches at $20/month — initially called "Copilot" — bringing GPT-4 access, follow-up suggestions, file uploads, and Pro Searches that read more sources per query.

    Pro tier GPT-4 Files
  3. Apr 2024Pages
    v1.0 · Pages

    From thread to article, in one click.

    Pages turns any research thread into a shareable, formatted article with sections, embeds, and persistent URLs. Spaces (formerly Collections) gain templated workflows.

    Pages Spaces Sharing
  4. Aug 2024Sonar
    v1.5 · Sonar models

    Perplexity ships its own model.

    The Sonar family launches — house-built models specifically tuned for grounded web answers with citations. Sonar Small and Sonar Large open the door to the API and replace third-party models for default search.

    House model API Major
  5. Jan 2025Deep Research
    v2.0 · Deep Research

    An agent that does the reading for you.

    Deep Research mode goes live: hand off a topic and Perplexity reads dozens of sources autonomously, then writes a structured report with citations, gaps, and a methodology section.

    Agentic Reports Pro feature
  6. Mar 2025Native apps
    v2.2 · Mobile & Voice

    A real app, on every screen.

    Native iOS, iPadOS, and Android apps ship with full voice mode, background listening, and Library sync. macOS and Windows desktop apps follow the same month with global hotkeys.

    iOS Android Desktop Voice
  7. Jul 2025Max + Comet
    v2.5 · Max tier & Comet

    A $200 tier — and a browser.

    Perplexity Max launches at $200/month with unlimited Labs, priority access to frontier models, and Sora 2 Pro video generation. Comet — Perplexity's AI-native browser — opens to Max users first, with Pro and Free following.

    Max Comet Labs Major
  8. Oct 2025WhatsApp
    v2.7 · WhatsApp & Spaces collab

    Ask anywhere — even WhatsApp.

    The official Perplexity WhatsApp bot launches at +1 (833) 436-3285 — text, voice notes, and image generation, no signup needed. Spaces gain real-time collaboration with shareable workspaces.

    WhatsApp Spaces Collab
  9. Feb 2026Computer
    v3.0 · Perplexity Computer

    A cloud agent that does the work.

    Perplexity Computer launches as a Max-only feature — a cloud-based agent orchestrating 19 different models to handle multi-step workflows autonomously. 10,000 credits per month included; auto-refill optional.

    Computer Agentic Major
  10. Apr 2026Frontier rotation
    v3.2 · Latest frontier models

    GPT-5.2, Opus 4.6, Gemini 3 — all day-one.

    Perplexity adds the latest frontier releases to the Pro and Max model picker the day they ship. Sonar Pro upgraded to a 200k context window. Veo 3.1 joins Sora 2 Pro for video on Max.

    GPT-5.2 Opus 4.6 Veo 3.1 Current
§ 07 — Positioning

Why pick Perplexity over ChatGPT?

They look similar. They are not. ChatGPT is a general-purpose conversational model; Perplexity is an answer engine over the live web. Most heavy users keep both open.

Perplexity

  • IdentityAn answer engine. Default behavior is "search the web, synthesize, cite."
  • SourcesEvery claim is footnoted with a clickable citation. Verifiable by default.
  • ModelsRoutes between Sonar, GPT-5, Claude Opus, Gemini, Grok. You pick.
  • FreshnessReal-time web access on every plan, including free.
  • Sweet spotResearch, fact-checking, market scans, comparison shopping, news.

ChatGPT

  • IdentityA general assistant. Search is one mode among many.
  • SourcesCites when in browse mode; otherwise speaks from training memory.
  • ModelsOpenAI-only — GPT-5 family with reasoning variants.
  • FreshnessExcellent when browsing is on; capped at training cutoff otherwise.
  • Sweet spotOpen-ended writing, persona work, code, brainstorming, voice.
§ 09 — Pricing

Plans & pricing.

From personal use to enterprise deployment. All plans bill annually with a 16% discount baked in.

perplexitypro

For personal, non-commercial use and subject to our policies. For fast answers powered by the latest AI models.

$17 / month

when billed annually

Learn more

Key features:

  • Access to the latest AI models, post-trained for higher accuracy
  • Select between recent models of GPT, Claude, Gemini, and more
  • Better for complex questions and building reports, documents, and apps
  • Deeper sourcing from Perplexity's index, including proprietary financial and scientific data from PitchBook, Wiley, and more
  • Usage limits best for most users

enterprisepro

Designed for teams and organizations streamlining everyday research with accurate answers, securely.

$34 / month per seat

when billed annually

Get started

All the features of Perplexity Pro, and:

  • Guaranteed no training on your data
  • Access to the latest AI models, post-trained for higher accuracy
  • Search across the web, team files, and work apps
  • Premium citations from PitchBook, Statista and more
  • Single Sign On or SCIM provisioning
  • User management and permissioning
  • 2x file uploads
  • Dedicated Enterprise support
  • SOC 2 Type II, HIPAA, GDPR, PCI DSS compliant

enterprisemax

Specifically built for users tackling complex challenges with unlimited queries and the best models.

$271 / month per seat

when billed annually

Get started

All the features of Enterprise Pro, and:

  • Guaranteed no training on your data
  • Get answers from the most advanced AI reasoning models (e.g., Claude Opus)
  • Run deep research at any scale
  • Work with larger datasets and files
  • Greater file upload limits
  • Compare responses across multiple AI models
  • Data retention configurability, audit logs, and team insights
  • SOC 2 Type II, HIPAA, GDPR, PCI DSS compliant

Every feature, side by side.

The complete comparison across Pro, Enterprise Pro, and Enterprise Max - platform, Comet, Computer, security, and support.

Features Pro Learn more Enterprise Pro Get started Enterprise Max Get started
Platform
Pro queriesMulti-step reasoning searches and additional sources Up to 200 per week 2× Pro queries 20× Pro queries
Deep Research queriesIn-depth research reports on any topic Up to 20 per month 2.5× Pro queries 25× Pro queries
Asset generation Up to 25 per month 2× Pro assets 20× Pro assets
Video generation 3 videos per month 5 videos per month 15 high-quality videos with audio per month
Collaborate in private Spaces with teammates 5 collaborators per Space Unlimited collaborators Unlimited collaborators
Ability to choose different models to search on Select your preferred AI model Select your preferred AI model Access to additional advanced AI models and multi-model research mode
Get answers from filesFiles must be < 50 MB 50 uploads per week 2× Pro uploads 20× Pro uploads
Organizational file repository Configurable controls around file sharing Configurable controls around file sharing
Search through file apps Attach files from Google Drive and Dropbox Sync files from Google Drive, SharePoint, and other file apps Sync files from Google Drive, SharePoint, and other file apps
Search and write to apps Get answers and update apps like Salesforce, HubSpot, Slack, and 100+ others Get answers and update apps like Salesforce, HubSpot, Slack, and 100+ others
Memory Configurable memory permissions for admins and users Configurable memory permissions for admins and users
Model council Compare your answers with all the top models in one answer
Comet
Comet Assistant Included Assistant in Comet Assistant in Comet, with advanced models powering it
Comet Agent 40 queries per month 2× Pro queries 20× Pro queries
Computer
Computer credits 500 credits per month 15,000 credits per month
Admin Controls + Security
Single sign on + SCIM* Integrate with your identity provider for SSO + SCIM Integrate with your identity provider for SSO + SCIM
User management Admins can add, remove, and set permissions across team members Admins can add, remove, and set permissions across team members
Insights dashboard* Analyze your usage trends and track adoption Analyze your usage trends and track adoption
Data retention options* Ability to auto-delete files within 1 day Ability to auto-delete files within 1 day
Audit logs* Login attempts, data modifications, configuration changes Login attempts, data modifications, configuration changes
Support
Support Direct support on Discord Dedicated enterprise support Dedicated enterprise support
Data privacy
Data privacy Limited data training with the option to opt out Perplexity and third party LLM partners do not train on your data Perplexity and third party LLM partners do not train on your data
Certified security
Certified security SOC 2 Type II SOC 2 Type II SOC 2 Type II
Cost per month $20 / month or $200 / year — save 16% $40 / month per seat or $400 / year — save 16% $325 / month per seat or $3,250 / year — save 16%

* Insights dashboard, audit logs, data retention configurability, and SCIM security features are only accessible with 50+ members or 1 Enterprise Max user in your organization.

Computer credits are available for paying subscribers.

§ 09 — How to use

How to use Perplexity AI.

Two flavors. Read the steps if you're in a hurry; watch the videos if you'd rather follow along. Either way, you'll be productive in under ten minutes.

  1. Install or open the app

    Grab Perplexity for Windows, macOS, iOS, or Android, or just open perplexity.ai in any browser. The Pro features are identical across surfaces.

  2. Sign in

    Use Google, Apple, or any email address. The same account follows you across web, mobile, and desktop, and synchronizes Library and Spaces.

  3. Pick a focus

    Below the input you can choose a focus: Web, Academic, Reddit/Social, Math, or Writing. Each one filters which index Perplexity reads from.

  4. Write a sharp prompt

    Tell it the role, the task, the format, and the constraints. Then ask follow-ups in the same thread — Perplexity keeps the context.

  5. Verify with citations

    Every claim links back to a numbered source. Click through before you cite it elsewhere — the engine is excellent but not infallible.

Or watch & learn

Video tutorials.

Hand-picked walkthroughs from the community — pick a topic, follow along, build the muscle memory.

§ 10 — Prompt example

A sharp prompt, in action.

Here's what a typical Perplexity exchange looks like. Notice the citation footnotes — they're the reason serious researchers prefer it.

You asked

Compare Perplexity Pro and ChatGPT Plus on price, models, and live web access. Be concise, use bullet points, and cite sources.

Answer · Sonar mode

Both are $20 per month, but they emphasize different things1,2:

  • Models. Perplexity Pro lets you pick between GPT-5, Claude Opus, Gemini, Grok, and Sonar; ChatGPT Plus is OpenAI-only.1
  • Live web. Perplexity browses by default with citations on every claim; ChatGPT browses only when explicitly invoked.3
  • File analysis. Both support PDF, DOCX, CSV. ChatGPT extends further with code interpreter; Perplexity counters with Labs and Deep Research.2,3
  • Free tier. Perplexity's free tier preserves citations and live web; ChatGPT's free tier no longer caps GPT-5 access.2

If your work is mostly research and verification, Pro tends to win on time-saved-per-query. If it's mostly drafting and ideation, ChatGPT's persona memory and writing tools have an edge.

1perplexity.ai/pricing 2openai.com/chatgpt/pricing 3The Verge · Aug 2025
§ 11 — API

A live web, in one request.

The Sonar API exposes Perplexity's grounded answer engine to your application. Send a question, get back a cited, web-aware response.

The endpoint is OpenAI-compatible — same chat/completions shape with messages, system prompts, and streaming. The differentiator is the citations array Perplexity returns alongside the answer.

API usage is metered separately from your consumer plan. A Pro subscription does not include API credits, and API calls are unaffected by Max's "unlimited" web access.

  • OpenAI-compatible request shape
  • Citations on every response
  • Optional search_domain_filter
  • Streaming via SSE
  • Multiple Sonar tiers per query complexity
# curl example — Sonar with citations
curl https://api.perplexity.ai/chat/completions \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $PPLX_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "model": "sonar-pro",
    "messages": [
      {
        "role": "user",
        "content": "What changed in
                    EU AI Act this quarter?"
      }
    ],
    "return_citations": true,
    "stream": false
  }'
§ 12 — App

Perplexity everywhere you work.

Download the native app on every major platform — or try Comet, the AI browser that works for you.

Where Knowledge Begins
Ask anything…Pro

Perplexity

Ask questions, get instant answers with sources. The AI search engine that understands what you're actually looking for.

HAUTE JOURNAL
The Spring 2026 Trend Report
by Taylor Whitlow • October 1, 2025

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