Pro Search
Runs several searches for harder questions and breaks the answer into clear steps.
The basics
What is Perplexity AI?
Perplexity AI is an AI-powered answer engine. Instead of giving you a page of blue links, it reads current web pages for you and writes a clear answer, with a numbered citation after each claim so you can check where it came from.
It's made by Perplexity AI, Inc., a San Francisco company founded in 2022 by Aravind Srinivas (CEO), Denis Yarats, Johnny Ho and Andy Konwinski. It works on the web, on iPhone and Android, and inside its own Comet browser.
- Understands your questionAsk in everyday language, just like talking to a person.
- Searches the live webIt looks up current pages, news and data in real time.
- Answers with sourcesYou get a short, readable answer with links to every source.
- Founded
- 2022
- Headquarters
- San Francisco
- Launched
- Dec 2022
- Free plan
- Yes
Features
Everything you can do with Perplexity
The everyday tools inside Perplexity. Some have higher limits or are only available on paid plans.
Follow-up threads
Keep asking in the same thread. Perplexity remembers the context of your earlier questions.
Source focus
Point a search at the web, academic papers, social discussions or finance data.
Files & images
Upload PDFs, spreadsheets or photos and ask questions about what's inside.
Voice mode
Talk to Perplexity hands-free in the mobile app and hear answers read aloud.
Spaces
Group threads and files for a project, add custom instructions, and share with your team.
Pages
Turn research into a clean, shareable article with sections and images.
Labs
Ask for a report, dashboard, spreadsheet or small web app and Perplexity builds it.
Discover
Browse a feed of trending stories, each summarized with sources.
Shopping
Compare products, read summarized reviews and check prices in one place.
Choice of AI models
On paid plans, pick the model behind your answer, including Sonar and models from OpenAI, Anthropic and Google.
Works everywhere
Use it on the web, iPhone, Android, Mac and Windows apps, and in the Comet browser.
Step by step
How to Use Perplexity AI
From your first question to sharing what you found, in six steps.
-
Open Perplexity
Go to perplexity.ai in any browser, or install the official app from the App Store or Google Play. You can search without an account; signing up saves your history.
-
Type or speak your question
Write the question the way you'd ask a person. Add details like a place, date or budget. On mobile, tap the microphone to ask by voice.
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Pick how deep to go
Use a quick Search for everyday questions, Research for a long multi-source report, or Labs when you want a finished report, chart or small app.
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Read the answer and check sources
Answers come with numbered citations. Tap a number to open the page it came from, especially for health, money or legal questions.
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Ask follow-up questions
Keep going in the same thread: “Which is best for families?” Perplexity remembers what you asked before, so you don't have to repeat yourself.
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Save and share
Add threads to a Space to keep a project together, turn research into a Page, or copy a share link to send the answer to a friend.
Tips for better answers
Vague
“laptops”
Better“Best laptops for a university student under $800, with long battery life”
Vague
“news”
Better“Summarize this week's main AI news in five bullet points with sources”
Vague
“explain taxes”
Better“Explain how income tax brackets work, in simple words, with one example”
Prompt library
Prompts that get better answers
A prompt is the question or instruction you give Perplexity. The clearer it is, the more useful the answer. Most great prompts combine a few simple parts:
- TaskWhat you want: explain, compare, summarize, plan
- ContextWho it's for, where, when, your budget
- FormatBullets, a table, steps or a short email
- SourcesRecent, official or academic sources
- LimitsLength, reading level or what to leave out
Compare the pros and cons of solar panels vs. heat pumps for a small home. Use recent sources and finish with a summary table.
What are the latest scientific findings on intermittent fasting? Separate strong evidence from early or weak studies.
Explain photosynthesis like I'm 12 years old, then give me 5 quiz questions with answers.
Summarize the main causes of World War I in 6 bullet points, citing a source for each.
Draft a polite email asking my manager for a deadline extension of one week, under 120 words.
Give me a SWOT analysis of the online food delivery market in Sri Lanka with recent data.
Best noise-cancelling headphones under $200 in 2026. Compare battery life, comfort and call quality in a table.
Is the latest iPhone worth upgrading to from a 3-year-old model? List what actually changed.
Plan a 3-day trip to Kandy for a family with two kids, including food spots and rough costs in LKR.
What documents do I need to travel from Sri Lanka to Japan as a tourist? Link the official sources.
Summarize today's top 5 technology news stories in one sentence each, with sources.
Explain the key points of the newest AI regulation debates in simple terms, showing both sides.
Explain this error and how to fix it: TypeError: Cannot read properties of undefined (reading 'map')
Write a Python function that removes duplicate items from a list while keeping the original order, with comments.
Comet browser
Comet: the browser that works for you
Comet is Perplexity's own web browser, with an AI assistant built in. It can read the page you're on, answer questions about it and carry out multi-step tasks across your tabs. It's free for everyone.
- Comet AssistantA sidebar that sees the page you're on. Ask it to summarize an article, explain a video or answer questions about the page.
- Does tasks for youAsk it to compare products across tabs, fill in forms or gather information, then review the result before anything is submitted.
- Tidy tabsGroup, find and close tabs with a simple request instead of hunting through dozens of open pages.
- Familiar and fastBuilt on Chromium, the same base as Chrome, so most Chrome extensions and bookmarks carry over.
Download Comet ↗
Free · Mac, Windows, Android and iPhone
- Price
- Free
- Comet Plus
- $5/mo, or included with Pro & Max
- Platforms
- Desktop, Android, iOS
- On iPhone since
- March 2026
Pricing
Perplexity Pricing: Plans and Costs Explained
Perplexity is free to start. Paid plans raise your limits and unlock extra tools. Prices below are US list prices reported in 2026; Perplexity changes plans often, so check the official page before you pay.
Free
$0/ forever
For curious, casual users
- Cited AI search
- Limited Pro Searches each day
- Limited Deep Research
- Comet browser
Education Pro
$10/ month
For verified students
- Everything in Pro
- Student pricing with verification
- Study and academic tools
Pro
$20/ month
For daily researchers and professionals
- Expanded Pro Search
- Choose AI models (Sonar, GPT, Claude, Gemini)
- More Deep Research and Labs
- Unlimited file and image uploads
- Comet Plus included
- Perplexity Computer credits
Max
$200/ month
For power users who hit Pro limits
- Everything in Pro
- Highest usage limits
- 10,000 Computer credits a month
- Model Council
- Early access to new features
Plans for teams and companies
Enterprise Pro
Pro features for every seat, plus admin controls, single sign-on and data protections for organizations.
$40/ seat / month
Enterprise Max
Everything in Enterprise Pro with Max-level limits, the largest Computer credit allowance and Model Council.
$325/ seat / month
Compare plans side by side
| Feature | Free | Education Pro | Pro | Max |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cited AI search | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Pro Search | Limited | Expanded | Expanded | Highest |
| Deep Research | Limited | More | More | Highest |
| Choice of AI models | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Labs (reports, dashboards, apps) | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Perplexity Computer | — | Credits | Credits | 10,000 credits / mo |
| Model Council | — | — | — | ✓ |
| Comet browser | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Comet Plus publisher content | $5 / mo add-on | Included | Included | Included |
How the costs work
Monthly or yearly
Pro is $20 a month. Paying yearly is reported at about $200, which works out to roughly $16.67 a month. You can cancel anytime and keep access until the end of the billing period.
Credits for agent work
Perplexity Computer, the agent that carries out multi-step tasks, runs on credits. Max includes 10,000 credits a month; Pro users get a smaller allowance. Heavy agent use is the main reason to choose Max.
The API is billed separately
Your subscription covers the Perplexity apps only. Developers using the Sonar API pay per use, based on tokens and requests, through a separate API account.
Which plan is right for me?
I mostly use Perplexity to…
Prices are in US dollars and may differ by country and app store, and taxes may apply. Official plans page: perplexity.ai/pro
For developers
Perplexity API
Build Perplexity's real-time, cited search into your own apps, chatbots and tools. The API is pay-as-you-go and billed separately from Pro and Max subscriptions.
Sonar API
Ask a question, get a written answer grounded in live web results, with citations. Models: Sonar, Sonar Pro and Sonar Deep Research.
Search API
Get ranked web results as raw data, ready to feed into your own pipeline or AI model.
Agent API
Run models from Perplexity, OpenAI, Anthropic, Google and others with built-in tools such as web search and URL fetching.
Embeddings API
Turn text into vectors for semantic search, recommendations and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG).
curl https://api.perplexity.ai/chat/completions \ -H "Authorization: Bearer $PERPLEXITY_API_KEY" \ -H "Content-Type: application/json" \ -d '{"model": "sonar", "messages": [{"role": "user", "content": "What is Perplexity AI?"}]}'
Sonar API prices
| Model | Good for | Input / 1M tokens | Output / 1M tokens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sonar | Fast, low-cost answers | $1 | $1 |
| Sonar Pro | Harder questions, more sources | $3 | $15 |
| Sonar Deep Research | Long multi-source reports | $2 | $8 + citation and reasoning tokens |
Sonar models also charge a small fee per request, about $5 to $14 per 1,000 requests depending on the model and how much searching it does. The Search API costs $5 per 1,000 requests ($1 for fast search). Prices from Perplexity's API docs, October 2026.
Get started in four steps
- Open the API consoleSign in at perplexity.ai and open the API section of your settings.
- Add creditAdd a payment method and buy credit. You only pay for what you use.
- Create an API keyGenerate a key and keep it secret, for example in a
PERPLEXITY_API_KEYenvironment variable. - Make your first callUse the example above, the official SDKs, or any OpenAI-compatible client.
Apps & downloads
Perplexity Apps and Downloads: Official Links
Perplexity runs on the web, your phone, your computer and its own Comet browser. These links go straight to Perplexity's official pages and app store listings, so you get the real app every time.
iPhone & iPad
Perplexity app for iOS and iPadOS, with voice mode and widgets.
Get it on App Store ↗ apps.apple.com/app/perplexity-ask-anything/id1668000334Android
Perplexity app for Android phones and tablets, with a voice assistant option.
Get it on Google Play ↗ play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ai.perplexity.app.androidComet browser
Perplexity's free AI browser for desktop, Android and iPhone.
Get it on perplexity.ai/comet ↗ www.perplexity.ai/cometMac & Windows
Desktop apps are listed on the official site. Use its download link, not third-party sites.
Get it on perplexity.ai ↗ www.perplexity.aiWeb
No download needed. Works in any modern browser on any device.
Get it on perplexity.ai ↗ www.perplexity.aiDevelopers
API keys, docs, SDKs and pricing for building with Perplexity.
Get it on docs.perplexity.ai ↗ docs.perplexity.aiDownload safely
- Only install Perplexity from the App Store, Google Play or perplexity.ai.
- Check that the developer is listed as Perplexity AI, Inc. before installing.
- Perplexity's apps are free to download. Ignore sites selling "cracked" or "lifetime" Pro versions.
- Sign in only on perplexity.ai or inside the official apps. This guide will never ask for your password.
More official pages
Sign in
Log in to your Perplexity account
You sign in on Perplexity's own website or app, never here. This is an independent guide, so the button below takes you to the official, secure login page.
Go to the official login ↗Check your address bar reads perplexity.ai before you type anything.
Ways to sign in
- Email & passwordSign in with the email you used to register.
- Google, Apple or SSOUse a one-tap provider, or your company's single sign-on.
- Magic linkGet a one-time sign-in link sent to your email.
Stay safe when you log in
Check the web address
The real login is only on perplexity.ai. Watch for look-alike spellings in the address bar.
We never ask for your password
This guide has no login form. Any page asking for your Perplexity password here would be fake.
Turn on 2-step verification
Add an extra code at login in your Perplexity account settings for better protection.
Trouble signing in?
Use "Forgot password" on the official page, or visit the Help center.
History
Key moments
- Perplexity AI is foundedAravind Srinivas, Denis Yarats, Johnny Ho and Andy Konwinski start the company in San Francisco.
- Search engine launchesThe first version of the cited answer engine goes public.
- Comet browser arrivesPerplexity releases its AI browser, later making it free for all users.
- Model Council and Perplexity ComputerSide-by-side model answers, then a general-purpose agent for Max subscribers.
- Personal Computer and Comet for iOSA Mac-based agent, an enterprise Computer, and Comet on iPhone.
- Computer reaches ProThe agent expands beyond Max, using a monthly credit system.
Help & FAQ
Perplexity AI: Frequently Asked Questions
Popular topics and answers about Perplexity, its apps and downloads. Pick a topic or open a question below.
Popular topics
Apps & downloads
General questions
Is Perplexity free?
Yes. The free plan includes cited AI search and the Comet browser. Paid plans add higher limits, model choice, more Deep Research and agent features.
How is Perplexity different from ChatGPT or Google?
Perplexity is built around search: each answer is grounded in current web pages and lists its sources inline. Google returns links you read yourself; general chat assistants answer from their training unless they search.
Are Perplexity's answers always accurate?
No AI tool is always right. Citations make it easier to verify a claim, so open the sources when the answer matters, especially for health, legal or financial questions.
What's the difference between Pro and Max?
Pro ($20/month) suits most heavy users. Max ($200/month) mainly adds much larger agent credits, Model Council and early access to new features, rather than better everyday answers.
Is there a student discount?
Education Pro costs $10/month for verified students. Promotions from schools and phone carriers come and go, so check the official site for current offers.
Is this the official Perplexity website?
No. perplexitiai.com is an independent guide. We never ask for your Perplexity password or payment details. To sign in or subscribe, go to perplexity.ai directly.
App & download questions
Where can I download the official Perplexity app?
Only from official sources: the Apple App Store (iPhone and iPad), Google Play (Android), and perplexity.ai for the web and any desktop apps. Avoid third-party download sites, which may bundle fake or unsafe versions.
Is the Perplexity app free to download?
Yes. The app is free to download and use on the Free plan. You can upgrade to Pro or Max inside the app if you want higher limits and extra tools, but downloading and basic use cost nothing.
How do I install Perplexity on Android?
Open Google Play, search for “Perplexity”, check the developer is listed as Perplexity AI, Inc., then tap Install. Open the app and sign in or continue as a guest. Installing from the Play Store keeps the app updated automatically.
Can I use Perplexity on an iPhone or iPad?
Yes. Get the Perplexity app from the Apple App Store on iOS and iPadOS. It includes voice mode and home-screen widgets. The Comet browser is also available on iPhone as a separate app.
How do I access Perplexity on Windows or Mac?
The simplest way is to open perplexity.ai in any browser — no install needed. Perplexity also lists desktop options on its official site; use the download links there rather than third-party sites. The Comet browser runs on both Mac and Windows.
Can I use Perplexity without installing an app?
Yes. Everything works in a normal web browser at perplexity.ai, on phones and computers alike. The apps mainly add convenience, such as voice input, widgets and notifications.
Do I need an account to use the app?
You can ask questions without an account, but signing up (free) saves your history and Spaces across devices and unlocks your plan's features. An account is required for Pro, Max and Enterprise.
Why is Perplexity unavailable for my device or country?
App availability can vary by region and by operating-system version. If the app won't install, update your OS to a supported version, or just use perplexity.ai in your browser, which works almost everywhere. Check Perplexity's Help center for the current list of supported regions.
How do I update the Perplexity app?
Apps from the App Store or Google Play update automatically, or you can update manually from the store's “Updates” section. The web version at perplexity.ai is always the latest and needs no updating.
Is Comet the same as the Perplexity app?
No. The Perplexity app is for searching and getting answers. Comet is a full web browser with the Perplexity assistant built in, so it can read pages you visit and act across tabs. They're separate downloads, and many people use both.
For Android, install from Google Play rather than a standalone APK file. APKs from unofficial sites are a common way malware is disguised as a real app. This is an independent guide and never hosts app files or asks for your password.
Get started
Ready to try Perplexity AI?
Start free in your browser in seconds, or compare the plans and subscribe to Pro or Max when you need higher limits. You order and pay securely on Perplexity's official site.
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