Perplexity review
AI answer engine with sources on every reply
- Perplexity AI
- Free + paid plans
- iPhone & iPad, Android, Mac, Windows, Web
Does it deserve #4?
The verdict
Perplexity is built for finding things out. Every answer comes with linked sources, so you can check claims quickly, and paid plans let you switch between leading models from several AI labs. Research mode writes longer reports, and Spaces keep projects organized. It is less suited to long creative writing or open-ended conversation. If most of your AI use is search, it can replace a lot of web browsing.
- Cited sources on every answer
- Choice of top AI models
- Research mode for long reports
- Spaces for organized projects
Score breakdown
Overall = features 30% · design 20% · speed 20% · value 15% · privacy 15%. Why these weights?
What we like
- Sources make answers easy to verify
- Fast, clean answers to factual questions
- Pro plan bundles models from several AI labs
What could be better
- Weaker for long-form writing and creative work
- Cited sources can be low quality or misread
Researchers, students and curious people who want answers backed by sources
you mostly want help writing, brainstorming or coding
Questions about Perplexity
Is Perplexity free?
Yes, the free plan offers unlimited basic searches and a small daily allowance of advanced Pro searches. Paid plans add many more advanced searches, model choice and higher research limits.
What is Perplexity Comet?
Comet is Perplexity's web browser with its AI assistant built in. It can summarize pages, answer questions about what you are viewing and carry out some browsing tasks for you.
What are the best alternatives to Perplexity?
The closest alternatives are ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude. See all of them ranked on our Perplexity alternatives page.
Where does Perplexity rank?
Perplexity ranks #4 of 8 in our AI Assistants ranking, with an overall score of 8.5 out of 10.