Perplexity
AI-powered search engine that answers questions with cited, real-time sources
Perplexity scores 8/10 overall in our independent testing. It's best for researchers, journalists, students. It offers a free plan (Free), with paid plans starting at $20/monthly (Pro).
Pricing & features last verified 20 Sep 2026
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Score Breakdown
Perplexity Pricing
Free
Limited Pro searches per day (~5), basic models
Pro
Unlimited Pro searches, deep research, top AI models; $17/mo billed annually
Max
10,000 Computer credits/month, unlimited Labs, frontier models; $167/mo billed annually
Pros
- +Every answer includes cited sources for easy verification
- +Real-time web search ensures up-to-date information
- +Clean, focused interface designed for research
- +Pro plan lets you choose from multiple AI models
- +Excellent value at $20/month for heavy researchers
Cons
- −Not ideal for creative writing or code generation
- −Narrower feature set than general-purpose AI assistants
- −Smaller context window limits long-document analysis
- −No image generation capability
Best For
Frequently asked questions
What is Perplexity?
AI-powered search engine that answers questions with cited, real-time sources. In our testing it scores 8/10 overall.
How much does Perplexity cost?
Perplexity offers a free plan (Free). Paid plans start at $20/monthly (Pro).
Is Perplexity worth it?
Perplexity scores 8/10 overall in our testing, including 7/10 for features and 9/10 for value for money. It is best for researchers, journalists, students.
What are the best alternatives to Perplexity?
ChatGPT (8.25/10) is the top-rated alternative in our catalog, followed by Claude (8.5/10). See the full ranking on our Perplexity alternatives page.
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