Literature review
Collect papers as files, add academic-only instructions and keep one thread per research question.
- Upload your key PDFs
- Set “peer-reviewed sources only”
- Pin a thread with your reading list
In short
One Space per project, with its own rules and sources
Spaces group your threads, files and links for a project. Add custom instructions once (sources, tone, format) and every answer in the Space follows them. Search the web, your files, or both, and invite collaborators or share by link. Perplexity introduced Spaces in October 2024; paid plans get far more room: 50 files per Space on Pro and 500 on Max.
Anatomy
What’s inside a Space
💬ThreadsYour searches and follow-ups for the project, saved together and searchable.
📎FilesPDFs, documents and spreadsheets the AI can search alongside the web.
🔗LinksWeb pages or sites to focus on as sources.
📝InstructionsCustom rules for every answer: tone, format, sources, audience.
🧠ModelPick the AI model the Space uses (paid plans).
👥MembersInvite contributors or share view-only links.
📌PinsPin key threads and files so everyone sees them first.
🤖Computer tasksRun Perplexity Computer tasks that inherit the Space’s instructions.
Plans
Spaces limits by plan
From Perplexity’s help center, checked 6 October 2026.
| Free | Pro | Max / Enterprise Pro | Enterprise Max | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Create Spaces | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Files per Space | Limited | 50 | 500 | 5,000 |
| Max file size | Smaller | 50 MB | 50 MB | 50 MB |
| Contributors | Limited | Up to 5 | Up to 5 (Max) · no limit (Enterprise) | No limit |
| Choose AI model | Default | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Org-wide sharing | — | — | Enterprise only | Yes |
Free-plan Space limits aren’t listed in the help center; check your account. Source: Perplexity Help Center: Spaces.
Step by step
How to create a Perplexity Space
- Open SpacesSign in at perplexity.ai and click Spaces in the left-side panel.
- Create a new SpaceClick + New Space and give it a clear project name.
- Add instructionsWrite custom instructions for tone, format, audience and preferred sources.
- Add files and linksUpload documents or connect cloud storage, and add websites to focus on.
- Choose a model (paid plans)Pick the AI model the Space should use, or keep the default.
- Move threads inFrom any thread, open the ⋯ menu and choose Add to Space.
- Invite or shareInvite contributors, or set who can view: invited members or anyone with the link.
Space instructions builder
Pick a template, fill in the details, then edit the instructions and copy them into your Space’s settings. Starter questions open in Perplexity.
Starter questions for this Space:
Ideas
6 ways to use Spaces
Competitor tracker
One Space per market with competitor sites as links and a weekly news thread.
- Add competitor websites as links
- Instruct: dates on every figure
- Share view-only with your manager
Family trip
All planning in one place, shared with family so everyone can ask questions.
- Add booking PDFs
- Invite family as contributors
- Pin the final itinerary
Course revision
Your lecture slides and notes plus a quiz-me instruction.
- Upload slides and notes
- Ask for practice questions
- One thread per chapter
Team handbook
Policies and guides as files, answered with document references.
- Upload policies and FAQs
- Instruct: quote the source document
- Share with your team
Buying decision
Research a big purchase like a car or laptop with your criteria baked in.
- Write your budget and must-haves in instructions
- Add review sites as links
- Ask for comparison tables
Sources
Search your files, the web or both
Inside a Space, you control where answers come from.
Web + Files
Both (default)
Best for most research: your documents plus up-to-date web sources, all cited.
Files only
My files only
Turn off Web and turn on your files to get answers only from what you uploaded. Ideal for policies, notes and contracts.
Links
Focus on sites
Add trusted websites as links so the Space leans on those sources.
You can import files from your computer or connected storage such as Google Drive, OneDrive, SharePoint, Dropbox and Box (availability varies by plan). See file uploads and Perplexity’s files and links video.
Tips
Tips for staying organised
One Space per projectMixing topics confuses instructions and search.
Name clearly“Thesis – Chapter 2 sources” beats “Research”.
Write instructions firstSet sources, tone and format before adding threads.
Pin what mattersPin the key thread or file so collaborators start there.
Prune old filesRemove outdated versions so answers don’t mix them up.
Review sharing oftenSwitch link-sharing off when a project ends.
FAQ
Perplexity Spaces questions
What are Perplexity Spaces?
Spaces are project folders for your research. Each Space keeps related threads, files and links together, with custom instructions and a chosen AI model that apply to every question you ask inside it. You can also invite collaborators or share a Space by link.
Are Perplexity Spaces free?
You can create Spaces with a free account. Paid plans add much larger file limits, model choice and more collaborators. Check your account for current free-plan limits.
How many files can I add to a Space?
Perplexity’s help center lists 50 files per Space on Pro, 500 on Max and Enterprise Pro, and 5,000 on Enterprise Max, with files up to 50 MB each on paid plans.
How do I share a Perplexity Space?
Open the Space’s sharing settings. You can invite specific people, or set view access to only invited members, anyone in your organisation (Enterprise) or anyone with the link, including people without a Perplexity account. Pro and Max Spaces can have up to 5 contributors.
What are custom instructions in a Space?
They’re standing rules the AI follows for every answer in that Space, such as “use peer-reviewed sources only”, “answer in bullet points” or “write for a beginner”. They save you repeating the same context in every question.
Can I search only my files in a Space?
Yes. When asking a question, turn off Web and turn on your files as the source, so answers come only from the documents you’ve added.
Is my data in Spaces used to train AI?
For Enterprise users, files and searches are excluded from AI training by default. Pro and Max users can opt out in account settings. Be careful with link sharing for anything sensitive.
What’s the difference between a Space and my Library?
Your Library holds every thread you’ve created. A Space is a curated project folder with its own files, links, instructions and members.
Sources
- Perplexity Help Center: Spaces, checked 6 Oct 2026
- Perplexity: Introducing Internal Knowledge Search and Spaces, 17 October 2024
- Perplexity: How to set custom files and links
More features
Get organised
Create your first Space in two minutes
Pick a template above, copy the instructions, and add your first thread.