AI Tools 
Perplexity review
AI answer engine with cited sources, Deep Research, the Comet browser and Perplexity Computer.
⚡ Quick verdict
Perplexity is the best-known AI search tool for a reason: every answer comes with sources you can check, and it lets you pick among top models. The free plan is great for everyday questions; Pro adds Perplexity Computer, premium data like PitchBook and Statista, and model selection. Max ($167 a month billed annually) is for heavy, sustained research. Always click through on citations for anything important.
Key takeaways
- Free includes access to top AI models with limited weekly usage.
- Pro is $17/month billed annually and adds Perplexity Computer, premium data sources (PitchBook, Statista), files and apps, Model Council and model selection.
- Max is $167/month billed annually with maximum Computer usage, 10,000 monthly credits and 35,000 bonus credits.
- Enterprise Pro is $40 per user/month ($400/year) and Enterprise Max $325 per user/month ($3,250/year).
- Perplexity orchestrates models from OpenAI, Google, Anthropic and NVIDIA and picks the best for each query.
At a glance
| Best for | Researchers, students and professionals who want fast answers with sources |
|---|---|
| Pricing from (USD) | $17/mo billed annually (Pro) |
| Free plan | Yes — limited weekly usage of top models |
| Platforms | Web and apps; Comet browser |
| Company | Perplexity AI |
| Category | Research & Search |
| Last checked | October 16, 2026 |
On this page
What Perplexity is
Perplexity is an AI-powered answer engine. Ask a question and it searches the web, reads the results and writes a concise answer with numbered citations you can click to verify. Instead of relying on a single model, Perplexity orchestrates several—including ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Anthropic Claude and NVIDIA Nemotron—and picks the best for each query.
Perplexity has grown into a broader platform: Deep Research for long reports, Perplexity Computer for agentic tasks, file and app creation, and the Comet browser with its built-in assistant.
Key features
Cited answers
Every response links its sources so you can check claims.
Deep Research
Multi-step research that compiles longer, sourced reports; Max raises the limits.
Perplexity Computer
An agent that carries out tasks; Max includes maximum Computer usage and extra credits.
Model selection and Model Council
Choose a preferred model per query on Pro and Max, or compare answers across models with Model Council.
Premium data sources
Pro adds sources such as PitchBook and Statista.
Comet
Perplexity’s browser, where advanced models power Comet Assistant on paid plans.
Pricing breakdown
From Perplexity’s official pricing and Max pages and Enterprise blog post, checked October 16, 2026.
| Plan | Price | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Top models with limited weekly usage |
| Pro | $17/mo billed annually | Higher limits, Computer, premium data, files and apps, Model Council, model choice |
| Max | $167/mo billed annually | Maximum Computer usage, 10,000 monthly + 35,000 bonus credits, frontier models, highest limits |
| Enterprise Pro | $40/user/mo ($400/yr) | Pro features with admin controls |
| Enterprise Max | $325/user/mo ($3,250/yr) | Computer, advanced reasoning, SCIM, audit logs, data retention settings |
Monthly billing for Pro and Max costs more than these annual figures; we’ve listed only prices confirmed on Perplexity’s pages. Limited-time Computer credit bonuses were also shown. The developer API is billed separately.
Best use cases
- Students: get an overview of a topic with sources to read.
- Analysts: gather market sizes and competitor facts quickly.
- Journalists: fact-check claims against multiple sources.
- Shoppers: compare products with reviews and specs.
How to get started
- Go to perplexity.ai and ask a question.
- Sign up to save threads and use more features.
- Click citations to verify key claims.
- Try Deep Research for a bigger question.
- Upgrade to Pro for Computer, premium data and model choice.
Tips and tricks
- Ask follow-ups in the same thread to keep context.
- Specify sources or dates (“only 2026 sources”).
- Use Spaces to organize projects.
- Compare models on important questions.
Example prompt:
Compare the three largest US e-bike brands by 2026 price range, battery capacity and warranty, in a table, citing manufacturer pages where possible.
Pros and cons
👍 Pros
- Citations on every answer
- Access to multiple top models
- Strong free plan
- Premium data on paid plans
- Fast and easy to use
👎 Cons
- Sources still need checking
- Max and Enterprise Max are expensive
- Credit systems for Computer add complexity
- Less suited to long creative writing
Who should (and shouldn't) use Perplexity
✅ A good fit if you…
- Research topics quickly with sources
- Compare products, companies or markets
- Replace many traditional searches
⛔ Look elsewhere if you…
- Need peer-reviewed literature search (consider Elicit or Consensus)
- Want a writing-first assistant (consider Claude)
- Need deep Office integration (consider Microsoft Copilot)
Perplexity alternatives
- ChatGPT — OpenAI's AI assistant for chat, research, writing, coding, images, voice and agentic work. (from $8/mo (Go); Plus $20; Pro $100–$500)
- Google Gemini — Google's AI assistant for chat, research, image and video generation, built into Gmail, Docs and Android. (from $4.99/mo (Google AI Plus))
- Consensus — AI search engine for peer-reviewed research that gives cited, evidence-based answers. (from $12/mo (Pro, $144 billed annually); $20 monthly)
- Elicit — AI research assistant that searches, summarizes and extracts data from scientific papers, including systematic reviews. (from $11/user/mo (Plus, billed annually))
- Claude — Anthropic's AI assistant for writing, analysis, research, coding and long-running work, with Claude Code included on paid plans. (from $17/mo (Pro, annual; $20 monthly); Max from $100)
FAQ
Is Perplexity free?
Yes. The Free plan includes access to top AI models with limited weekly usage and cited answers.
How much does Perplexity Pro cost?
Perplexity's pricing page lists Pro at $17 per month billed annually. Max is $167 per month billed annually. Monthly billing costs more; check the pricing page for current monthly rates.
How much is Perplexity Enterprise?
Enterprise Pro is $40 per user per month ($400 per year), and Enterprise Max is $325 per user per month ($3,250 per year). You can mix Pro and Max users in one organization.
What is Perplexity Computer?
Perplexity Computer is an agent included with Pro and Max that completes tasks for you; Max includes maximum Computer usage plus monthly and bonus credits.
Which models does Perplexity use?
Perplexity orchestrates several top models, including ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Anthropic Claude and NVIDIA Nemotron, and picks the best one for each query. Pro and Max let you choose a preferred model.
Why choose Max over Pro?
Max is designed for heavy, sustained work, with higher limits on Deep Research, asset generation and file uploads, more video creation per month, several Model Council runs and priority access to new features.
Sources
This is an editorial review based on research of official Perplexity pages and documentation, not hands-on benchmark testing. Prices are in USD and were checked on October 16, 2026; vendors change plans often, so confirm on the official pricing page before buying.
