Perplexity AI is an AI-powered answer engine that searches the web in real time and gives you direct answers with numbered sources. Learn how to use Perplexity AI, what the free and Pro plans include, and how to get more accurate answers.
Your question opens on perplexity.ai, the official Perplexity AI website.
Perplexity AI is a free, AI-powered answer engine that searches the web in real time and replies with a short, direct answer backed by numbered citations to its sources. Founded in 2022 and based in San Francisco, Perplexity works on the web, iOS, Android, Mac and Windows, with Pro and Max plans for heavier use.
The Perplexity search engine pairs its own web index with large language models. For every question it finds relevant pages, ranks the most trustworthy sources and writes a clear answer that cites each one, so you get a summary you can check instead of a list of links.
Google shows ranked links that you open and read yourself. Perplexity reads the sources for you and returns one cited answer, and you can ask follow-up questions in the same thread.
Perplexity AI is expanding from AI search into AI agents that do work for you. The newest launches:
Complete a first search and ask follow-up questions.
To use Perplexity AI, open perplexity.ai or the app, type a question in plain language and press Enter. You get a short answer with numbered sources. Then ask follow-up questions in the same thread to go deeper, and Perplexity keeps track of the context.
Go to perplexity.ai in any browser, or install the free app for iOS, Android, Mac or Windows. Signing in with a free account saves your searches to your Library.
Type a full question the way you would ask a person, with any details that matter, then press Enter.
Instead of: “laptops” · Try: “What’s a good laptop for a student under $800?”
Search is the default and works for most questions. Switch to Research when you want a longer, in-depth report. Compare the modes.
Each claim has a small number next to it. Click a number to open the page it came from, and check important facts before you rely on them.
Type your next question in the box under the answer. Perplexity remembers the conversation, so you can say “those” or “the second one” without repeating yourself. You can also tap a suggested related question.
Follow-up: “Which of those has the longest battery life?”
Every thread is saved in your Library to reopen later, and you can share a link to it. Start a new thread when you switch to a different topic, so old context doesn’t mix in.
Understand which product or mode to choose.
Perplexity AI offers four main ways to work. Search gives quick cited answers, Research writes in-depth reports, Computer is an AI agent that completes multi-step tasks, and Comet is a free AI browser. Pick the one that matches the size of your task.
The default Perplexity mode. Ask in plain language and get a short answer with numbered sources in seconds. Pro Search runs several searches for harder questions.
Try: “What is the capital of Australia?”
How to use Perplexity Search →Runs dozens of searches, reads many sources and writes a long, structured report with citations that you can export or share.
Try: “Compare the top five project tools for small teams.”
Perplexity Research guide →A cloud AI agent that plans and finishes multi-step tasks for you, like reports, spreadsheets, dashboards and small apps, using your connected tools. It can also run tasks on a schedule.
Try: “Analyze last month’s sales and build a dashboard.”
Perplexity Computer guide →A full web browser with a built-in AI assistant that understands your open tabs and pages. It can summarize, compare and help with tasks while you browse.
Try: “Summarize the reviews on these three product pages.”
Comet browser guide →Start with Search. Move up only when the task needs more depth or action.
Produce and review a research report.
To use Perplexity Research, switch the search box to Research, describe your topic with a clear scope and format, and run it. Perplexity plans the work, runs dozens of searches, reads the sources and writes a structured report with citations, usually in a few minutes. Then review it: check key claims against the sources, ask follow-ups to fill gaps, and export or share the final version.
A good report starts with a good brief. The more Perplexity knows about your goal, the more focused the research will be.
Cover these six things, then swap the [highlighted words] for your own.
Research [topic] for [audience]. Focus on [region or industry] and use sources from [the last 12 months], preferring [official data, academic studies and major news]. Structure the report as: summary, key findings, a comparison table, risks and open questions. Cite every figure and keep it under [1,500] words.
Research reports are a strong first draft, not a final answer. Work through this checklist before you share or act on one.
Ask these in the same thread to fill gaps.
Understand its purpose and current availability.
Perplexity Computer is an AI agent that completes multi-step tasks for you. Instead of answering a question, it takes a goal, plans the work, splits it across more than 20 AI models and your connected apps, and returns finished results such as reports, spreadsheets, dashboards or small apps. It is available on Perplexity Pro, Max and Enterprise plans, and uses credits.
Search gives you an answer. Computer gives you a finished piece of work.
Good first tasks have a clear goal and a clear finished result.
| Plan | Computer access | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Not included | — |
| Pro · $20/mo | Included | No recurring monthly credits; buy credits as needed, with occasional promotional bonuses |
| Max · $200/mo | Included, highest limits | 10,000 credits a month, plus early features like Teammates |
| Enterprise Pro | Included | 500 credits per user each month |
| Enterprise Max | Included | 15,000 credits per user each month |
How credits work: 100 credits are worth $1. Bigger, longer tasks use more credits, and tasks pause when credits run out. Normal Perplexity searches don’t use Computer credits.
Understand the browser and get started.
Perplexity Comet is a free AI web browser with a built-in assistant. It works like a normal browser, but the Comet Assistant can read the page you are on and your other open tabs, so it can summarize, compare and answer questions about them, and even carry out simple tasks for you. Comet is free on Mac, Windows, Android and iPhone.
A side panel that understands the page you are reading. Ask it to summarize, explain or pull out key points without leaving the page.
Compare products, articles or documents open in different tabs, and get one answer that draws on all of them.
The assistant can carry out simple browsing tasks, such as filling in forms or finding information across sites, and checks with you before sensitive steps.
Searches from the address bar return cited Perplexity answers, and Deep Research is available right in the browser.
Ask questions out loud about what is on screen and hear the answer, handy while you read or cook.
Built on Chromium, the engine behind Chrome, with a built-in ad blocker, so most sites work as you expect.
Comet is free on every platform. Get it only from Perplexity or an official app store.
From install to your first assistant question.
| Comet browser | Perplexity app | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A full web browser with AI built in | An answer engine app |
| Best for | Working with pages and tabs you have open | Asking questions and research |
| Price | Free; more with Pro or Max | Free; more with Pro or Max |
| Replaces | Chrome, Safari or Edge | Nothing, use it alongside |
Learn the workflow through a finished example.
To create files and apps with Perplexity, choose Labs (or Computer for bigger jobs), describe the finished files you want, and let it build them. Perplexity researches, writes the code and produces real outputs, such as spreadsheets, charts, documents and simple web apps, that you can review, refine with follow-ups, download or share. It is available on Pro and Max plans.
Here is the whole workflow with one real-world request, from the prompt to the files you get back.
Create a monthly budget tracker for a small café. Build [a spreadsheet] with income and expense categories for 12 months using sample data, [a web dashboard] showing total income, total costs, profit and a monthly chart, and [a one-page PDF] explaining how to update it.
Perplexity also returns a short written summary of what it built and how to use it. For a project like this, expect it to cover:
The example outputs above are illustrations with sample data. File types and tab names in Perplexity can vary between Labs, Computer and app versions.
Understand what can be done without paying.
Yes, Perplexity AI is free to use. The free plan gives you unlimited quick searches with cited sources, follow-up questions, a few Pro Searches each day and a small number of file uploads. Paid plans add more advanced searches, a choice of AI models and tools like Labs and Perplexity Computer.
For most everyday questions, the free plan is enough.
Compare plans by needs and budget.
Perplexity AI has three main plans: Free ($0) for everyday questions, Pro ($20 a month) for regular research and work, and Max ($200 a month) for heavy users who want top models and the Perplexity Computer agent. Students and teams have their own plans.
For everyday questions
Free forever
For regular research and work
or $200 billed yearly
For power users and agents
or $2,000 billed yearly
Monthly price per person, from free to enterprise.
You use Perplexity most days, so you’ll quickly hit the free limits. Pro gives you many more Pro Searches and Deep Research, plus your choice of AI model.
Is Pro worth it?Reported US prices before tax. Plans, limits and student offers change often, so confirm the current price at checkout on perplexity.ai.
Understand quotas, reset timing, and limit messages.
Perplexity usage limits cap how often you can use its advanced features. Quick searches are unlimited on every plan. Pro Searches, Deep Research, file uploads and Computer credits each have their own quota, and each refreshes on its own schedule. When a search quota runs out, Perplexity falls back to quick search, so you can keep asking questions.
The standard search behind most everyday questions. It never runs out, and it is what Perplexity falls back to when other quotas are used up.
Deeper, multi-step searches with more sources. This is the quota most people notice first.
Long, multi-source reports. Counted separately from Pro Searches, with a smaller allowance over a longer period.
Documents, spreadsheets and images you attach. Limited by count and by file size.
Perplexity Computer uses credits instead of a search count. Bigger tasks use more credits.
A short safety brake when you send many requests very quickly. It is separate from your plan’s quotas.
Each use counts for a set period, then comes back on its own. You never get everything back at once, but you also never wait until midnight.
Example: with a 24-hour window, a Pro Search used at 3 pm today is available again at 3 pm tomorrow.
Your whole allowance refills at the same moment, such as the start of a day or month. Computer credits work this way, refreshing with each monthly cycle.
Example: monthly credits used up on the 20th return in full at the start of your next cycle.
The exact wording changes between apps and updates, but limit notices fall into these types.
Simple habits that save your advanced quota for questions that need it.
Perplexity changes limits and reset windows from time to time, and reports differ. Your account settings show the allowance that applies to you.
Evaluate whether upgrading is worthwhile.
Perplexity Pro is worth it if you research, study or work with it most days. For $20 a month (or $200 a year) you get many more Pro Searches and Deep Research reports, your choice of AI model, Labs and access to Perplexity Computer. If you only ask a few questions a week, the free plan is usually enough.
The time you’d save is worth about 5× the price of Pro.
The calculator is a rough guide based on your own numbers, not a promise of savings. Prices are reported US prices before tax.
Choose Perplexity when you need to find and verify information, and ChatGPT when you need to create something. Perplexity is built around live web search with citations on every answer, so it leads for research, current events and fact-checking. ChatGPT is a general assistant that leads for writing, coding, brainstorming and images. Both cost $20 a month at the main paid tier, and many people use both.
| Task | Better choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Quick facts and current news | Perplexity | Searches the live web on every question and cites each answer by default. |
| Research with sources | Perplexity | Shows numbered citations inline on every answer; ChatGPT shows them when its search tool runs. |
| Fact-checking a claim | Perplexity | Built around finding and linking the source behind each statement. |
| In-depth research report | Close call | Both offer Deep Research. Tests vary: ChatGPT often goes deeper, Perplexity is often faster. |
| Writing and editing | ChatGPT | Stronger at drafting, rewriting and matching tone for emails, essays and posts. |
| Brainstorming and creative work | ChatGPT | Better at open-ended ideas, stories and back-and-forth creative sessions. |
| Coding and debugging | ChatGPT | Includes the Codex coding agent on paid plans; Perplexity is handy for looking up documentation. |
| Images and visuals | ChatGPT | Image generation is a core feature; Perplexity offers it on paid plans. |
| Learning a new topic | Close call | ChatGPT is a patient conversational tutor; Perplexity explains with sources you can read. |
| Multi-step tasks with agents | Close call | Perplexity Computer and ChatGPT’s agents both carry out tasks; pick the one tied to your tools. |
| Browsing with AI | Perplexity | The free Comet browser reads your open tabs and answers with sources. |
| Budget option | ChatGPT | ChatGPT Go at $8 a month sits between free and $20; Perplexity has no plan between Free and Pro. |
Many people pair the two: Perplexity for the facts, ChatGPT for the finished writing.
Both have a free plan and a main paid plan at $20 a month. ChatGPT adds a cheaper Go plan and two Pro levels.
Reported US prices before tax. Both companies change plans and features often, so check their pricing pages before you subscribe.
Verify claims and assess citations.
Perplexity is one of the more accurate AI search tools, but it is not always right. In an independent 2025 test of eight AI search engines, it had the lowest error rate, yet still got 37% of answers wrong. Its numbered citations make checking easy: open the source, find the exact passage, and confirm it says what the answer claims.
Source: Tow Center for Digital Journalism, Columbia Journalism Review, March 2025. The test asked each tool to identify the original news article behind a quoted excerpt, so it measures citation accuracy for news, not every kind of question. The study also found that paid tiers, including Perplexity Pro, were sometimes more confidently wrong than free versions.
You don’t need to check everything. Check the claims you will repeat, publish or act on.
A citation proves where a claim came from, not that it is true. Judge the source itself with these questions.
Official data, studies and the original article beat summaries, copies and syndicated versions.
Ask: who first published this?Check the date. Prices, laws, statistics and product details go out of date fast.
Ask: when was this written or updated?Prefer established publishers, institutions and named experts over anonymous pages.
Ask: who is behind this site?A page about the right topic may still not say what the answer claims.
Ask: is the claim actually on the page?Five sources that copy one press release count as one source.
Ask: do they rely on the same origin?Broken links, paywalls and missing pages mean the claim is unverified for now.
Ask: can I open and read it?Follow-ups in the same thread make weak spots easier to find.
“Go through your answer claim by claim and list the source that supports each one.”
“Quote the exact sentence from each source that backs up your main points.”
“Which claims in your answer have the weakest evidence?”
“Answer again using only official or primary sources.”
Accuracy changes as models and search systems are updated, and results vary by topic. Treat Perplexity as a fast starting point and verify anything important.
Use Perplexity as a study partner, not a shortcut. Ask it to explain difficult topics in plain language, summarize your lecture notes, find academic sources with citations, quiz you before exams and build a study plan. Keep each course in its own Space, check important facts against the sources, and follow your school’s rules on AI use.
Ready-made study prompts are in the prompt library →
No. The free plan covers explanations, quick research and a few file uploads a day. If you study with Perplexity every day, Education Pro gives verified students and educators Pro features for about $10 a month, where it is offered.
Rules on AI differ between schools and courses, so check your syllabus or ask your teacher.
Compare plansTo research competitors with Perplexity, start with a quick search to list who you compete with, then use Research mode to compare their pricing, features, positioning and customer reviews in a cited table. Use Perplexity Computer to monitor competitors every week and turn findings into a SWOT or battlecard. Always check prices and claims on the competitors’ own sites.
Replace the [highlighted words] with your details. The tag shows the best mode for each prompt.
List the 8 main competitors of [your company or product] in [market or country]. For each, give a one-line description, target customer and website.
Create a profile of [competitor]: what they sell, pricing, target customers, positioning, recent news from the last 6 months and funding if public. Cite every fact.
Compare [your product], [competitor 1], [competitor 2] and [competitor 3] in a table: plans, prices, key features, free trial and contract terms. Use only the companies' own pricing pages where possible.
Summarize what customers praise and complain about for [competitor] using reviews from the last 12 months on sites like G2, Capterra and app stores. Group the themes and give examples.
Do a SWOT analysis of [competitor] compared with [your product] for [target customer]. Back each point with a source and end with 3 opportunities for us.
Every Monday, check news, blog posts, pricing pages and job listings for [competitor 1], [competitor 2] and [competitor 3]. Summarize anything new in 5 bullet points with links and email it to me.
Find verified downloads for supported devices.
Perplexity AI is free to download on iPhone, iPad, Android, Mac and Windows, and works in any web browser with no install. Download it only from the official app stores or perplexity.ai, and check that the developer is Perplexity AI, Inc. before you install.
Choose “Download for Windows” on perplexity.ai, or search for Perplexity in the Microsoft Store and check the publisher is Perplexity AI.
No install needed: open perplexity.ai in Chrome, Safari, Edge, Firefox or any modern browser. Linux has no native app, so use the web version.
The same steps work on every device.
Fake “Perplexity” apps and installers exist. Check the listing before you tap Install.
Store names and system requirements can change. If a link doesn’t open in your region, search the store for “Perplexity” and confirm the developer.
Reach the official service and resolve access confusion.
The official Perplexity AI website is perplexity.ai. To log in, go to perplexity.ai or open the official app, choose Sign in, and use the same method you signed up with, such as Google, Apple or your email address. Perplexity is free to use, and you can ask questions without an account; signing in saves your history and unlocks paid plans.
This guide is not the official Perplexity website. It has no login and will never ask for your password or sign-in codes. Every sign-in link here goes to perplexity.ai.
perplexity.aiAsk questions, sign in and manage your account and plan.
Go to perplexity.ai ↗App Store · Google PlayDeveloper: Perplexity AI, Inc. (PerplexityAI on Google Play).
See verified app linksdocs.perplexity.aiAPI keys, guides and reference for the Perplexity API.
Open the API docs ↗Most access confusion comes down to the wrong website, the wrong sign-in method or the wrong store account.
You probably signed in with a different method, such as Google instead of email, which can create a separate account. Sign out and try the method you used first.
Check spam and promotions folders, make sure the address is typed correctly, wait a minute and request a new code. Use the newest code only.
Subscriptions bought through the App Store or Google Play are tied to that store account. Sign in with the same Perplexity account on that device, then use the app’s restore purchases option if available. Manage or cancel it in the store’s subscription settings.
Close it and go to perplexity.ai directly. Guides like this one, and lookalike domains, are not the official service. If you entered details on another site, change your email or Google password and sign out of other sessions.
Enterprise accounts often sign in through your company’s identity provider. Use your work email on perplexity.ai, and contact your IT admin if access is blocked.
Use the help and support links on perplexity.ai to contact Perplexity directly. Never share sign-in codes with anyone who contacts you claiming to be support.
Lookalike sites and fake apps use the Perplexity name to collect logins.
Find useful, tested starting prompts.
The best Perplexity AI prompts say what you want, add context, ask for a format and point to the right sources. Copy a prompt below, swap the [highlighted words] for your own details, and run it in the suggested mode.
Find the 5 most-cited studies published since 2023 on [topic]. For each, give the main finding, sample size and a link. Then summarize where researchers agree and disagree.
Asks for recent, specific evidence and a summary of agreement, so you see the full picture.
Give me an overview of the [industry] market in [country]: size, growth rate, top 5 companies and key trends. Use sources from the last 12 months and cite every figure.
A time limit on sources keeps numbers current; citing every figure makes them easy to check.
Is this claim accurate: "[claim]"? Check reliable sources, answer true, false or unclear, and explain why with citations.
A clear verdict plus reasons stops vague, hedged answers.
Compare [option A], [option B] and [option C] for [use case] in a table with price, key features, pros and cons. End with a recommendation for [your situation].
Tables make trade-offs easy to scan, and your situation makes the advice personal.
I'm meeting [company] tomorrow. Summarize what they do, their news from the last 3 months, and 5 smart questions I could ask.
Gives you a briefing and talking points in one answer.
Summarize the attached [report] in 5 bullet points for [audience]. Then list the decisions it recommends and any open questions.
Upload the file first; naming the audience keeps the summary relevant.
Explain what [law or regulation] means for a [type of business] in [country]. Use official sources, list the key obligations and any deadlines.
Asking for official sources keeps legal and policy answers grounded.
Using the answer above, write a short email to [recipient] explaining [topic] in plain language, with the 3 key facts and links to the sources.
Run it as a follow-up so the email reuses the cited research.
Explain [concept] as if I'm a beginner, give one real-world example, then a 3-question quiz to check my understanding.
The quiz turns reading into active recall, which helps you remember.
Make a 2-week study plan for [exam or subject] with 1 hour a day. List the topics for each day and free resources I can use.
Time limits and daily topics make the plan realistic to follow.
Find credible academic and news sources for an essay on [topic]. List each with a one-line summary and how I could use it in my argument.
You get sources plus a reason to use each one, not just a list of links.
Summarize the attached [lecture notes or PDF] into key points, definitions and 5 likely exam questions with short answers.
Upload a file first; the answer becomes a ready-made revision sheet.
Quick answers to the questions people ask most, with links to the full section for each.
An AI answer engine made by Perplexity AI, Inc. You ask a question in plain language and get a written answer built from live web results, with a numbered link to every source it used.
Read more →It is the system behind those answers. Perplexity's own crawler and web index find and rank pages, then an AI model such as Sonar summarizes them and attaches the citations.
Read more →Google lists pages for you to open. Perplexity opens and reads them for you, gives one combined answer with links, and lets you keep going with follow-up questions.
Read more →Go to perplexity.ai or open the app, type a full question and press Enter. Click the numbers to check sources, and type a follow-up in the same thread to dig deeper.
Read more →Neither wins everything. Perplexity is the stronger pick for research, news and fact-checking, while ChatGPT is stronger for drafting, coding and creative work.
Read more →Perplexity AI, Inc., a private company in San Francisco. It was founded in August 2022 by Aravind Srinivas, now its CEO, with Denis Yarats, Johnny Ho and Andy Konwinski.
Read more →Yes. Quick searches, follow-ups and the Comet browser cost nothing, and you get a small daily allowance of Pro Searches and uploads. Heavier use needs Pro or Max.
Read more →Free is $0, Pro is $20 a month or $200 a year, and Max is $200 a month or $2,000 a year. Verified students can get Education Pro for about $10 a month, and teams pay per seat.
Read more →Quick searches have no cap. Pro Searches, Deep Research, uploads and Computer credits each have their own allowance that refills over time, and your account settings show what is left.
Read more →It pays off for people who research or study with Perplexity most days and keep hitting free limits. Occasional users rarely need it.
Read more →Search answers in seconds, Research writes a long sourced report in minutes, Computer is an agent that finishes multi-step tasks, and Comet is a free browser with an AI assistant built in.
Read more →Switch the mode to Research and give a clear brief with your topic, audience, time range and format. Before you share the report, open its citations and check the key claims.
Read more →Perplexity's AI agent. You describe a goal and it plans the steps, uses several AI models and your connected apps, and hands back finished work. It needs a paid plan and runs on credits.
Read more →Perplexity's own web browser. Its assistant can summarize the page you are on, compare your open tabs and help with simple browsing tasks, and it costs nothing to download.
Read more →Ask Labs, or Computer for larger jobs, for specific deliverables such as a spreadsheet, a dashboard or a PDF. Review what it builds, request changes in the same thread, then download or share it.
Read more →Treat it like a tutor: ask for simple explanations, practice questions, study plans and academic sources, then check those sources and do graded work yourself.
Read more →List your rivals with a quick search, compare them in a cited Research table, and set up a weekly Computer task to track their news and pricing.
Read more →Yes. Developers can add Perplexity's cited web search to their own apps. Sonar now runs through the Agent API, billed pay-as-you-go and separately from Pro or Max.
Read more →perplexity.ai is the only official website. Sign in there or in the official apps, using the same method you first signed up with.
Read more →No. This is an independent, unofficial guide that is not affiliated with Perplexity AI, Inc. It has no login and never asks for passwords or sign-in codes.
Read more →Yes, you can ask questions on perplexity.ai without signing up. A free account saves your threads, syncs them across devices and lets you upgrade later.
Read more →From the App Store, Google Play, or perplexity.ai for Mac and Windows. Check the developer is Perplexity AI, Inc.; on Linux, use the website.
Read more →It did better than other AI search tools in independent tests but still makes mistakes: in a 2025 Columbia Journalism Review study it answered 37% of test queries incorrectly. Check key claims against the cited pages.
Read more →It is a mainstream service, but treat it like any online tool: verify important answers, avoid sharing sensitive personal data, sign in only on perplexity.ai, and review what connected apps can access.
Read more →No questions match your search. Try a shorter word, or contact us.
Can’t find your answer? Browse the full guides or get in touch.