Perplexity

Name: Perplexity
Price: 20 USD
Author: Perplexity AI

AI answer engine that searches the web and replies with cited sources

Made by: Perplexity AI
Free plan: Free plan
Paid from: $20/mo
Skill level: Anyone
Works on: Web · iOS · Android · Mac · Windows · API

Checked 23 Sep 2026Visit Perplexity →

Best for

Anyone who wants quick, sourced answers to factual or current-events questions instead of a list of links.

Not great for

Long-form writing or deep document work, and free users who hit weekly usage limits and get only basic models.

Recent change Launched Perplexity Computer (cloud agent) in Feb 2026, reaching Pro in Mar 2026; Personal Computer for Mac (Apr) and Windows (Jul 2026); dropped its ad strategy for subscription-first in Feb 2026.

What it is

Perplexity is an answer engine. Instead of a list of links, you get a written answer with numbered citations to the pages it used, so you can check where each claim came from. That makes it well suited to factual questions and anything current.

The free plan covers everyday searches with basic models and a weekly usage limit. Pro, at $20 a month, adds access to top models from OpenAI, Google and Anthropic and lets you choose between them. Perplexity has also added agent features and desktop apps in 2026, but its core job is still the same: quick, sourced answers.

It is less useful for long-form writing or deep work on your own documents; a chat assistant or a notebook tool fits those better. Privacy: Perplexity’s AI Data Retention setting is on by default, so your data can be used to improve its AI. Turn it off in Account Settings, then Preferences.

Pricing

Free plan: Search with cited answers, limited weekly usage, basic AI models only.

Plan	Price	What you get
Free	$0	Basic models, limited weekly usage
Pro	$20/month	Access to top models with model choice; 4,000 bonus credits
Max	$200/month	Frontier models, highest limits; 35,000 bonus credits plus 10,000 monthly credits
Enterprise Pro	$40/user/month	Price from a third-party source; confirm with Perplexity

Prices in US dollars, billed monthly unless the plan says otherwise. Makers change prices often; check their site before you buy.

Your data

Perplexity's 'AI Data Retention' is on by default for Free, Pro and Max, so your data can be used to improve its AI; turn it off in Account Settings > Preferences (Perplexity Help Center, 'Data Collection at Perplexity').