AI · AI assistants
Perplexity
AI answer engine that searches the web and cites its sources
At a glance
Perplexity is an AI-powered search and answer engine that runs live web searches and writes answers with numbered citations to its sources. Paid plans add access to a choice of leading AI models, extended deep research and larger file uploads.
- Category
- AI assistants
- Best fit
- SME · Mid-market
- Pricing
- See pricing below
- In Adam’s stack
- No
Who Perplexity is best for
Anyone who does a lot of research and needs to check where information came from, such as account research, market scans and competitor tracking. Pick it over a general chatbot when source links matter more than writing quality.
Key features
- Answers with inline citations to sources
- Deep research for longer multi-source reports
- Choice of AI models on paid plans
- File uploads for analysis alongside web results
- Follow-up questions within a thread
Why it’s worth it
Citations make it quick to verify answers, which saves time on research tasks where accuracy matters.
Things to consider
- Answers are only as good as the sources it finds, so citations still need checking
- Less suited to long-form writing or document drafting than general assistants
- The Max plan is expensive compared with Pro
Perplexity pricing
Pricing as published by Perplexity
Free plan. Pro $17/month billed annually. Max $167/month billed annually (currency not stated, USD implied). Enterprise plans listed separately.
Source: perplexity.ai/enterprise/pricing. Checked 8 October 2026. Prices change often, so confirm on the vendor’s site before you buy.
Alternatives to Perplexity
Other tools listed under AI assistants. Tools from Adam’s stack are marked.
Claude
In Adam’s stackStrong at writing, analysis, coding and long documents
SMEMid-marketEnterpriseThe most widely used AI assistant
SMEMid-marketEnterpriseBuilt into Google Workspace and Search
SMEMid-marketEnterpriseAI inside Word, Excel, Outlook and Teams
Mid-marketEnterpriseEuropean AI assistant
SMEMid-marketxAI’s assistant connected to X
SME
FAQ
Perplexity: common questions
What is Perplexity used for?
Perplexity is used for web research. It searches live sources and writes an answer with citations, which makes it handy for market research, prospect research and fact-finding.
How much does Perplexity cost?
There is a free plan. Pro is $17 a month and Max is $167 a month, both billed annually, with separate Enterprise plans.
Perplexity vs ChatGPT?
Perplexity is built around search with visible citations. ChatGPT is a broader assistant for writing, analysis and image generation, which also offers web search.
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