Reports and documents
Long, structured write-ups with sources, charts and tables.
Make it with: Labs, built-in docs, Deep Research, Pages (free)
In short
Ask for the finished thing, not just the answer
Labs (Pro and Max) browses, runs code and builds reports, spreadsheets, charts, dashboards and mini apps, often working for 10 minutes or more. Files land in an Assets tab; interactive outputs open in an App tab. Pro and Max can also create and edit slides, sheets and docs directly in Perplexity on the web. For long, multi-app jobs, there’s Perplexity Computer. On the free plan, you can still get tables, outlines and code to paste into your own files.
Outputs
What you can create with Perplexity
Spreadsheets and CSVs
Data tables you can download and open in Excel or Google Sheets.
Make it with: Labs, built-in sheets
Charts
Bar, line and other charts generated with code from real data.
Make it with: Labs
Dashboards
Interactive views of data with filters and key numbers.
Make it with: Labs (App tab)
Mini web apps
Small interactive tools such as calculators, quizzes and trackers.
Make it with: Labs (App tab), Computer
Slide decks
Presentations with charts and speaker notes.
Make it with: Built-in slides, Labs, Computer
Images
Illustrations and diagrams for your project.
Make it with: Labs, image generation
Code files
Scripts and files produced while building your output.
Make it with: Labs (Assets), Computer
Tools
Which tool to use
| Labs | Slides, sheets and docs | Perplexity Computer | Pages | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Data-heavy reports, dashboards, charts, mini apps | Editing a deck, sheet or doc inside Perplexity | Long, multi-step and multi-app jobs | A clean, shareable article |
| Outputs | Files in Assets, apps in the App tab | Editable slides, spreadsheets, documents | Microsoft and Google files, sites, more | Web page |
| Time | Often 10+ minutes | Minutes | Minutes to hours | Minutes |
| Where | Web, iPhone, Android | Web | Web | Web and apps |
| Plan | Pro, Max | Pro, Max | Pro, Max (credits) | All plans |
Sources: Perplexity Labs launch (May 2025) and slides, sheets and docs update (November 2025). Availability on desktop apps may have changed since.
What do you want to make?
Pick an output to see the best tool, the plan you need and a prompt template to fill in.
Step by step
How to create files and apps with Labs
- Check your planLabs and built-in slides, sheets and docs need Pro or Max. On Free, see the free options below.
- Choose Labs modePick Labs in the mode selector of the search box (web, iPhone or Android).
- Describe the finished outputSay exactly what you want: the file type, sections, charts, columns, filters and audience.
- Attach your dataUpload CSVs, spreadsheets or PDFs if the output should use your own information.
- Let it workLabs can spend 10 minutes or more browsing, running code and building files.
- Open Assets and AppDownload files from the Assets tab; use interactive outputs in the App tab.
- Refine with follow-upsAsk for changes: “add a filter by region”, “use a bar chart instead”, “shorten slide 4”.
Mode labels and placement change between versions. If you don’t see Labs, update the app or use perplexity.ai on the web.
Results
Answer, Assets and App: where your results go
AnswerAssetsApp
Answer
The written summary of what Labs did, with citations and any charts inline.
AnswerAssetsApp
Assets
Every file created during the work: charts, images, CSVs and code. Download what you need.
AnswerAssetsApp
App
Interactive outputs such as dashboards and mini apps, running right below your question.
Recipes
8 prompt recipes for files and apps
Each one names the output, its parts and the data. Copy and swap in your topic.
Build an interactive dashboard of global coffee prices from 2020 to today: a monthly line chart, a bar chart of the top 5 producing countries, three key-number cards and a year filter. List sources below.
Switch to Labs mode before sending.
Create a spreadsheet of the 25 most-visited national parks in the US with columns: park, state, 2025 visitors, area (km²), entry fee and source URL. Sort by visitors.
Switch to Labs mode before sending.
Create a 10-slide deck on remote work trends since 2022 for a team meeting: one idea per slide, a chart on 3 slides, speaker notes and a sources slide.
Switch to Labs mode before sending.
Build a mobile-friendly savings calculator: inputs for monthly deposit, interest rate and years; show the final amount and a growth chart; explain the formula.
Switch to Labs mode before sending.
Write a report comparing the 4 biggest food-delivery apps in Sri Lanka: fees, coverage, restaurants and ratings, with a comparison table, two charts and sources.
Switch to Labs mode before sending.
Make 4 charts on renewable energy in India since 2015: share of electricity, solar capacity, wind capacity and investment. Save each chart and the data as CSV.
Switch to Labs mode before sending.
Build a simple quiz app with 15 multiple-choice questions on the French Revolution, with scoring and explanations after each answer.
Switch to Labs mode before sending.
I’ll upload a messy CSV of customer orders. Clean it (fix dates, remove duplicates, standardise country names), summarise sales by month and give me the cleaned file.
Switch to Labs mode before sending.
Free plan
Making files on the free plan
No Labs? You can still get most of the way there.
Tables → ExcelAsk for a table, then copy it into Excel or Google Sheets.
Outlines → slidesAsk for a slide-by-slide outline with notes, then paste into PowerPoint or Google Slides.
Code → mini appsAsk for a single HTML file, save it and open it in your browser.
Research → PageTurn a thread into a shareable Page.
Reports → Deep ResearchLimited Deep Research for long, cited text reports.
Charts → your toolsAsk for the data as CSV, then chart it yourself.
Tips
Tips and limitations
Describe the end result“A dashboard with a year filter and 3 cards” beats “analyse coffee prices”.
Give it your dataUpload your CSV or PDF when accuracy matters more than web data.
Ask for sources and assumptionsHave it list data sources and any estimates it made.
Iterate in the same threadSmall follow-ups are faster than starting again.
Check numbers and chartsRe-check totals and chart data before sharing.
Test apps yourselfTry odd inputs; mini apps are simple and may have bugs.
Paid featureLabs and built-in slides, sheets and docs need Pro or Max.
Simple apps onlyMini apps are for quick tools, not production software.
Export variesDownload formats and sharing options change; check before you rely on them.
Takes timeLabs runs can take 10 minutes or more.
FAQ
Creating files and apps: questions
What is Perplexity Labs?
Labs is a Perplexity mode for creating finished outputs rather than answers. It browses the web, runs code and creates charts and images to build reports, spreadsheets, dashboards and simple web apps. Perplexity launched it on 29 May 2025 for Pro subscribers.
Can Perplexity create files?
Yes. On Pro and Max, Labs saves the files it creates, such as charts, images, CSVs and code, in an Assets tab you can download from. Since November 2025, Pro and Max users can also create and edit slides, spreadsheets and documents directly in Perplexity on the web.
Can Perplexity build apps?
Labs can build and run simple interactive web apps, such as dashboards, calculators and quizzes, which appear in an App tab below your question. For bigger, multi-step builds, Perplexity Computer can write and run code in its own workspace.
Is Labs free?
No. Labs is for Pro ($20 a month) and Max ($200 a month) subscribers. On the free plan you can still get tables, outlines and code to copy into your own files, or turn research into a Page.
How long does Labs take?
Perplexity says Labs often does 10 minutes or more of work on its own, much longer than a search or Deep Research, because it is building and checking files.
What’s the difference between Labs and Deep Research?
Deep Research writes a long, cited text report in a few minutes. Labs goes further, creating files, charts, dashboards and apps, and takes longer. Use Deep Research for reading, Labs for building.
What’s the difference between Labs and Perplexity Computer?
Labs builds outputs inside a Perplexity thread. Perplexity Computer is an agent that runs longer, multi-step jobs in a cloud workspace, can connect to your apps and run on a schedule, and uses credits.
Can I export to PowerPoint, Excel or Word?
You can download files Labs creates from the Assets tab, and CSVs open in Excel or Google Sheets. Export options for the built-in slides, sheets and docs have changed over time, so check the download or share menu. Perplexity Computer can output Microsoft and Google formats.
More features
Build something
Make your first dashboard or deck
Pick a recipe above, switch to Labs and send it. On the free plan, start with a table or slide outline.