Short answer
Safe for everyday use, if you use the controls and keep secrets out
Perplexity says it doesn’t sell your personal data, lets you opt out of AI training with the AI Data Usage toggle, and removes your personal information within 30 days of deleting your account. But what you type and upload is processed and may be shared with service and AI model providers, and consumer plans have fewer protections than Enterprise. Don’t enter passwords, ID or card numbers, and take the checkup below.
Collection
What Perplexity collects
From Perplexity’s privacy notice (last updated 8 July 2026).
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Account details | Name, email, username and sign-in details |
| What you submit | Prompts, questions and uploaded files |
| Device and network | Device identifiers and location from your IP address |
| Usage and browsing | How you use the service; browsing history (e.g. in Comet) |
| Payment | Payment information for paid plans |
| Voice | Voice data when you use voice features |
| Sensitive categories | The policy lists health data among categories it may process |
Source: Perplexity privacy notice. What’s collected depends on which features you use; for example, voice data only if you use voice.
Use and sharing
How your data is used and shared
How it’s used
- To answer your questions and run the service
- To personalise your experience
- To “improve or create services and products, including our AI models” (you can opt out of training)
- To measure advertising performance
Who it may be shared with
- Service providers that help run Perplexity
- Third-party AI model providers that process your requests
- Third parties measuring advertising performance
- Authorities, where required by law
- Not sold: “We do not sell your personal data”
International transfers rely on the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework and Standard Contractual Clauses, per the notice. Perplexity says Enterprise data isn’t used for training and that it has zero-data-retention agreements with third-party model providers for Enterprise (source).
Controls
Your privacy controls
Menu names can vary by app version.
Change settings on Perplexity’s official site
We can’t see or change your account. Make these changes yourself in Perplexity’s settings.
2-minute privacy checkup
Answer yes or no. You’ll get a score and a to-do list. Answers stay in your browser.
Answer the questions above
Retention
How long Perplexity keeps data
| Data | How long | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Account and personal info | While your account is active | Perplexity FAQ |
| After account deletion | Removed from servers within 30 days | Perplexity FAQ |
| Files uploaded to threads | 30 days (FAQ); some sources report 7 days for Enterprise | Perplexity FAQ / Cape |
| Files in Spaces | Until you delete them | Help center |
| Incognito chats | About 24 hours | Reported (Cape, 2026) |
| Cleared memories log | Up to 30 days | Reported (DeleteMe) |
| General | “Only as long as necessary”, or longer where law requires | Privacy notice |
Opting out of training applies to future activity; it can’t remove data from models already trained, as privacy guides note. Sources: Perplexity FAQ, file upload FAQ, Cape, DeleteMe.
Security
Security and plan differences
Consumer (Free, Pro, Max)
- TrainingOpt-outUsed to improve models by default; turn off AI Data Usage.
- ControlsSelf-serveHistory, Incognito, memory and deletion are up to you.
Enterprise
- TrainingExcludedFiles and searches excluded from training by default.
- ComplianceSOC 2SOC 2 Type II attestation reported for enterprise, plus admin controls.
Sources: Perplexity Spaces and Enterprise announcement, Cape privacy review (March 2026).
FAQ
Perplexity privacy questions
Is Perplexity safe to use?
For everyday questions, Perplexity is a mainstream service with a published privacy policy, a training opt-out and account deletion. Like any online AI tool, what you type and upload is processed by Perplexity and may be shared with service and AI model providers. Avoid entering passwords, ID or card numbers, and turn on the privacy controls on this page.
Does Perplexity sell my data?
Perplexity says it does not sell your personal data. Its privacy policy says it shares data with service providers and third-party AI model providers to run the service, and with third parties to measure advertising performance.
Does Perplexity use my searches to train AI?
By default, Perplexity says it uses data to improve the service, including its AI models. You can turn off the AI Data Usage toggle in Settings so your future logged-in activity is excluded from training. Enterprise data isn’t used for training.
How long does Perplexity keep my data?
Perplexity says it keeps personal information while your account is active and removes it within 30 days of account deletion. Its FAQ says uploaded files are kept for 30 days in threads; some 2026 reports say Incognito chats expire after about 24 hours.
What is Perplexity Incognito mode?
Incognito lets you search without saving threads to your Library. It doesn’t make you anonymous to Perplexity; your requests are still processed to answer them.
Is Perplexity safe for work documents?
Check your employer’s policy first. Perplexity Enterprise plans exclude data from training by default and add admin controls; consumer plans have fewer protections.
Is Perplexity safe for children?
Perplexity’s privacy policy says it doesn’t knowingly collect personal data from children under 16 without parental consent. Parents should supervise use.
Is the Comet browser private?
Comet stores browsing data locally on your device by default and lets you control what its assistant can use. See our Comet privacy guide for details.
More help
Take control
Turn off AI Data Usage in two clicks
Open Perplexity’s settings, find AI Data Usage and switch it off. Then review memory and old threads.