Perplexity AI
AI-powered answer engine with cited, real-time research
Perplexity AI is a conversational search engine that combines large language models with real-time web search to deliver direct, sourced answers with citations. Founded in 2022, it has grown to over 45 million monthly active users and processes more than 1 billion queries per month. The platform offers access to multiple leading AI models including GPT-5, Claude 4.6, and Gemini 3 Pro, positioning itself as a research-first alternative to traditional search engines and general-purpose chatbots.
How we scored it
Six-factor weighted score. Each dimension scored 0–10 by our editorial team across testing periods of 3–18 months. No vendor influence.
What it actually costs
Intro pricing shown — see the renewal note for what you'll pay after the introductory term. We don't hide the second-act price.
The real cost
What you'll actually pay across 4 years, including the renewal cliff. We blend the math so you see the true monthly cost.
When the bill actually arrives
Most hosts advertise intro pricing prominently and renewal pricing in the fine print. Here\'s the trajectory drawn to scale.
Perplexity AI against the field
The highest-scoring alternatives in the same category, compared on the figures we hold for all of them.
| Perplexity AIThis page | Claude | Midjourney | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReviewCost score | 7.8/10 | 8.4/10 | 8.1/10 |
| Cheapest plan | Free | — | — |
| From | — | — | $10.00/mo |
| Renews at | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Biggest strength | Real-time web search with verifiable citations on every response, significantly reducing hallucinations compared to standalone LLMs | Superior reasoning and complex multi-step problem-solving compared to competitors; excels at code review and architecture work | Superior artistic quality and coherence—generates visually stunning, professionally finished images with exceptional aesthetics |
| Biggest drawback | Customer support is widely criticised as unresponsive, with many users reporting only AI bot replies and no human escalation for billing disputes | No image generation or video creation capability; limited to text and vision understanding only | Weak text rendering in images—frequently distorts or misspells readable text despite improvements in V8 |
Prices are the published figures at the time of writing and change often. Renewal pricing is shown where the vendor publishes it. See how we review.
What people ask about Perplexity AI
Straight answers to what buyers actually ask, drawn from the documentation and published user reports.