Perplexity is an “answer engine”: instead of a list of links, it searches the web in real time and writes a summarised answer with numbered notes pointing to each source. Use it to get informed, compare products, prepare assignments or follow the news.
With Pro you can pick the model that writes the answer (from OpenAI, Anthropic or Google), produce long reports with Deep Research and hand multi-step tasks to Perplexity Computer. Its Comet browser, free for everyone, includes an assistant that understands the page you are viewing and can act for you.
It might suit you if…
Students, journalists and researchers who need sourced answers; professionals who want several frontier AIs with one subscription; anyone looking for a Google alternative for complex searches.
Try a concrete use case.
Narrow the sources in the question itself (e.g. “only .gob.es sites and Spanish press from 2026”) and always open two or three citations before trusting a fact. If you use it for work, turn off “AI data retention” first.
What to check.
Citing sources does not guarantee accuracy: it can summarise badly or attribute something to an outlet that never said it. The free plan is limited and personal plans have training on by default.
Why this tier
Replaces traditional search engines with instantly verifiable sources and drastically fewer hallucinations.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Every answer links its sources so you can check them instantly.
- Up-to-date, real-time information.
- One subscription to choose between OpenAI, Anthropic and Google models.
- Comet, a free Chromium-based browser with an assistant that acts for you.
Cons
- Clashes with publishers (lawsuits from Dow Jones, The New York Times, Britannica, Reddit…).
- Limited free plan: about 3 Pro searches a day and 1 research report a month.
- Agentic-browser risks (prompt injection) and training on by default.
Plans and pricing
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | €0 | Unlimited basic searches, about 3 Pro searches a day and 1 Deep Research a month; Comet free. |
| Pro | $20/month or $200/year (≈$16.67/month) | More Pro searches, model choice, Deep Research, images, file uploads and credits for Perplexity Computer; includes Comet Plus. |
| Max | $200/month or $2,000/year | Much higher limits, more Computer credits and priority access to new models. |
| Education Pro | $10/month | Verified students and educators. |
| Enterprise Pro / Max | $40 / $325 per user per month | Teams: admin, connectors and data excluded from training. |
Official prices checked on 4 November 2026. They may vary by country, tax and billing period.
Current models
Sonar (in-house) plus frontier models from OpenAI, Anthropic and Google on Pro and Max; Deep Research and the Perplexity Computer agent.
Where to use it
Web, iOS, Android, Windows and macOS; Comet browser; Sonar API.
Privacy and data
On Free, Pro and Max, “AI data retention” is on, so your queries may be used for training; turn it off in Settings > Preferences (only affects future data). On Enterprise, data is never used for training and files are deleted after 7 days.
Sources checked
⏱ Quick start
Get started in 5 minutes
- Go to perplexity.ai or install the app (iOS, Android, Windows or macOS). You can ask questions without an account.
- Create a free account with your email, Google or Apple to keep your history.
- Ask the question as you would ask an expert and narrow the sources if needed (country, date, type of site).
- Open two or three of the numbered citations to check the facts before using them.
- If you use it for work, turn off “AI data retention” in Settings > Preferences.
Example prompts
What does the latest evidence say about [topic]? Use only official sources, universities or reputable press from [country] since [year] and summarise the conclusions where they agree.
Compare , and for [use]: current price in Spain, strengths, common problems users mention and which you would recommend.
Explain step by step how to do [procedure] in [region or city]: requirements, documents, deadlines and a link to the official website.
Sign in with your AIAO account to share prompts and tips and mark the ones you find useful.
Your rating as a member
Tell other members how it works for you. You can change it at any time.
Ratings come from AIAO members: one per person and tool. Sign in to add yours.
