Search & research · Perplexity
Perplexity
Ask a research question and get a plain-language answer with links to the web pages behind it.
Start here
- What this helps you do
- Get answers with linked sources you can open and check when researching a topic.
- What you leave with
- A workflow for a one-page briefing with linked findings, source dates and unanswered questions.
- What to check before trusting it
- A cited answer can still be wrong: the model can misread a source or cite one that does not support the claim, so open the links.
At a glance
- Version at last check
- Perplexity with Sonar 2 and a choice of frontier models from OpenAI, Anthropic, Google and NVIDIA, plus the Comet browser
- Category
- Search & research
- Pricing at last check
- Free offers limited access; Pro and Max add features and higher limits. Max help lists US$200/month or US$2,000/year, with annual billing on the web. Check current regional checkout for Pro and Enterprise pricing; those amounts could not be confirmed from the public pages read on 17 October 2026.
What it does
Answers with citations
It searches the web, writes a direct answer and attaches links to individual claims.
For work Fast research where you need the source, not just the summary: market checks, background reading and fact-finding.
Research mode
A longer, multi-step mode that runs many searches, reads across sources and returns a structured report with references, for questions a single answer cannot cover.
For work Competitor scans, literature-style reviews and first drafts of briefing documents to verify against the sources.
Choice of models
On paid plans you can choose between advanced models from providers such as OpenAI, Anthropic, Google and NVIDIA, alongside Perplexity's own Sonar 2. Available choices depend on the subscription and account.
For work Matching the model to the job, and cross-checking a tricky answer against a second model.
Comet browser and assistant
Comet is Perplexity’s browser with an assistant for research and supported actions on websites. Its product page lists Mac, Windows, iOS and Android; available actions can differ by device and account.
For work Research that lives inside your browsing, and multi-step tasks across websites.
Create files and apps
Pro includes limited file and app creation; Max raises those limits. Turn research into a first draft, then inspect the exported result.
For work Going from 'what does the research say' to a first draft deliverable in one place.
Not for
Long creative writing, confidential material you would not want sent to a search service, or any answer you plan to publish without opening the sources yourself.
Real work with it
A consultant or analyst
Background research with sources you can defend
- State the decision, audience and date range. Ask for a one-page briefing with three main findings, links beside each claim and a list of unanswered questions.
- Open the sources behind the three main findings. Note their publication dates and flag any disagreement.
- Copy the supported findings into your briefing. Keep unanswered questions separate from conclusions.
Human checkpoint Before sharing, match each important claim to the original passage and confirm the source covers the right date range and market.
A founder or marketer
A first-pass market or competitor scan
- Run the research mode over the market, category or competitor you need to understand.
- Skim the structured report and its references for the claims that surprise you.
- Separate announced features from available products, and record which competitors or regions the scan missed.
Human checkpoint Confirm the claims that would change your pricing, positioning or spending against the primary source before acting.
The part that stays yours
You decide what evidence this audience needs, which disagreements matter and when the research is strong enough to support a decision.
Plans and pricing (4)
Amounts recorded 17 October 2026. Confirm your region, billing period and current checkout before paying.
Free
US$0
Everyday questions with citations, with limited deeper research.
Pro
Check regional checkout
Deep research, a choice of top models and more usage: check current access and billing.
Max
US$200/mo
Higher research and file/app creation limits than Pro. Pro also includes limited creation.
Enterprise
Check current offer
Enterprise Pro or Enterprise Max for organisational controls; check the applicable contract and limits.
When to pick something else (3)
ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini with search
You are already in one assistant for writing or analysis and want web-grounded answers without a second tool.
Google or a traditional search engine
You want to browse many results and judge them yourself, rather than read one synthesised answer.
Consensus or Elicit
Compare these research-focused tools when your task needs scholarly papers, and check their source coverage yourself.
Watch-outs (5)
- A cited answer can still be wrong: the model can misread a source or cite one that does not support the claim, so open the links.
- Sources vary in quality. It will happily cite a forum post or a marketing page next to a primary source, and the confidence reads the same.
- It is a web service: do not paste confidential, personal or client-privileged material into a public search assistant.
- The free tier limits the deeper research modes and model choice; heavy research needs a paid plan.
- Answers reflect what is on the web now, which can be out of date, contradictory or gamed for a given topic.