Search
Quick, cited answers in seconds. Best for facts, explanations and how-tos.
Before you start
What you need
- Device
- Phone or computer
- Cost
- Free to start
- Account
- Optional
- Time
- About 10 minutes
Perplexity AI is an answer engine: you ask a question, it searches the web and replies with a short answer and numbered sources. If you want the background first, read What Is Perplexity AI? How It Works.
Step by step
How to use Perplexity AI in 8 steps
Open Perplexity
Go to perplexity.ai in any browser, or install the official app from the App Store or Google Play. You can start asking right away without an account.
- Create a free account to save your history and Spaces.
- Sign in only on perplexity.ai or the official apps.
Ask your first question
Type the question the way you would ask a knowledgeable friend. Full sentences work better than keywords.
- Include who it's for, where, when or a budget.
- Use the microphone in the mobile app to ask by voice.
Try: “Best budget laptops for a university student under $700, with long battery life” Ask ↗Read the answer and check the sources
The answer appears with numbered citations like [1] and [2]. Tap a number to open the page that claim came from. The Sources panel lists everything Perplexity read.
- Open sources for anything important: health, money, legal or school work.
- Prefer official, recent and well-known sources.
Ask follow-up questions
Keep going in the same thread. Perplexity remembers what you asked, so you can say “which one is lightest?” without repeating yourself.
- Use the suggested related questions under each answer.
- Start a new thread when you change topic.
Try: “Which of those has the best keyboard?” Ask ↗Choose the right search mode
Use quick Search for everyday questions. Switch to Research (Deep Research) when you need a long, multi-source report, and Labs when you want a finished file, chart or small app.
- Deep Research takes a few minutes but reads many more sources.
- Free accounts have daily limits on the deeper modes.
Upload files and images
Attach a PDF, spreadsheet, document or photo and ask about it: summarize a report, pull numbers from a table, or explain a chart.
- Don't upload private or sensitive documents you can't share.
- Ask for page numbers so you can check the original.
Try: “Summarize this PDF in 5 bullet points and list any deadlines it mentions” Ask ↗Organize work with Spaces
A Space groups related threads and files for one project. You can add custom instructions, such as “answer in simple English” or “cite academic sources”.
- Make a Space per class, client or project.
- Share a Space with classmates or teammates.
Save, share or turn it into a Page
Copy a share link to send an answer to someone, or turn a thread into a Page: a clean article you can publish or keep.
- Shared links show your question and answer, so check them first.
- Delete threads you no longer want in your history.
Modes
Which mode should you use?
Pick the mode that matches how much depth you need.
Research
Deep Research reads many sources over a few minutes and writes a full report.
Labs
Ask for a finished report, spreadsheet, chart or simple web app.
Focus
Limit a search to academic papers, social discussions or finance data.
Prompting
How to write better prompts
Good prompts say what you want, who it's for, and what shape the answer should take.
Do
- Ask a full question with context: “for a beginner”, “in Sri Lanka”, “under $500”.
- Say the format: “in 5 bullets”, “as a table”, “step by step”.
- Ask for recent or official sources when it matters.
- Refine with follow-ups instead of starting over.
Avoid
- One-word searches like “laptops” or “taxes”.
- Asking several unrelated things in one question.
- Trusting a number without opening its source.
- Sharing passwords or private personal details.
Before and after
Vague
“diet plan”
Better“A simple 7-day vegetarian meal plan for a busy student, with a shopping list”
Vague
“python error”
Better“Explain this Python error and how to fix it: KeyError: 'name'”
Vague
“climate”
Better“Summarize the latest IPCC findings in plain English with sources”
Want more ideas? Browse the Perplexity prompt library.
Beginner checklist
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FAQ
Beginner questions
Do I need an account to use Perplexity AI?
No. You can ask questions without an account. A free account saves your history, lets you use Spaces and keeps your settings across devices.
Is Perplexity AI free for beginners?
Yes. The free plan covers everyday cited search. Pro ($20/month) adds higher limits, more Deep Research and a choice of AI models.
How do I get better answers from Perplexity?
Ask a full question with context, say what format you want (bullets, a table, steps), name the kind of sources you trust, and use follow-ups to refine.
What is the difference between Search and Deep Research?
Search gives a fast answer from a handful of sources. Deep Research runs many searches over a few minutes and writes a long, structured report.
Can Perplexity read my PDFs and images?
Yes. Attach a file or photo to your question and ask about it. Check important numbers against the original document.
How do I delete my Perplexity history?
Open your Library on perplexity.ai or in the app, then delete individual threads. Your account settings also have options for your data.
Keep learning
Your turn
Ask your first question now
It takes ten seconds and costs nothing. Open Perplexity and try one of the example prompts from this guide.