Perplexity

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AI-powered answer engine with live cited sources

Perplexity AI · Search & Research Launched Dec 2022

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Quick Answer

Perplexity is ai-powered answer engine with live cited sources, made by Perplexity AI. It offers a free tier with paid upgrades. Key uses: Research queries, Fact checking, Market research.

Last updated:

DAU
30M+ DAU (2026 est.)
Revenue
$500M ARR (2026, +335% YoY)
Valuation
$22.6B (2026)
Growth
100M+ MAU (2025) → 150M+ MAU (2026); $100M ARR → $500M ARR

What is Perplexity?

Perplexity AI combines LLMs with real-time web search to provide accurate, cited answers. Includes Pro Search, file uploads, focus modes, and a research API.

How did Perplexity get started?

Founded Dec 2022 by Aravind Srinivas (ex-Google/OpenAI), Denis Yarats, Andy Konwinski, Johnny Ho. Grew from 1M to 100M+ MAU. Jeff Bezos, NVIDIA, SoftBank invested. Pro with model choice Sep 2023. Sonar search-optimized LLM family. Perplexity Assistant Jan 2025. $18B valuation Mar 2025. Comet browser launched free Mar 18 2026. $500M ARR by 2026 (+335% YoY). $22.6B valuation. Max tier $200/mo launched. Personal Computer hardware announced.

What's new in Perplexity in 2026?

Comet browser (free, Mar 18 2026) - AI-native browser with Perplexity built-in; Max tier $200/mo for power users; $500M ARR (2026, +335% YoY); $22.6B valuation; Sonar Chat Completions API retired 27 Sep 2026 in favour of the Agent API; Personal Computer hardware in development

How much does Perplexity cost?

Free

$0/mo

  • Unlimited quick searches
  • 5 Pro searches/day
  • File & image uploads
  • Comet browser (free)

Pro

$20/mo

  • 300+ Pro searches/day
  • Sonar Pro / Claude Sonnet 4.6 / GPT-4.1 choice
  • Image generation
  • $5/mo API credits
  • Internal knowledge search

Max

$200/mo (Jun 2026)

  • Unlimited Pro searches
  • Priority access to all models
  • Early access to new features
  • Highest rate limits

Enterprise

Custom

  • SSO/SAML
  • Data never used for training
  • Admin controls
  • Audit logs
  • Slack integration
  • On-prem option

What can you do with Perplexity?

  • Research queries
  • Fact checking
  • Market research
  • Academic research

Pros

  • Real-time search
  • Cited sources
  • Accurate and concise

Cons

  • Limited creative writing
  • Pro features cost extra

Specs

Underlying Models

  • Perplexity Agent API presets (replaced Sonar API, 27 Sep 2026)
  • Third-party frontier models (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google)

Platforms

  • Web
  • iOS
  • Android
  • macOS App
  • Chrome Extension
  • API
  • Comet Browser (free, Mar 2026)

Integrations

  • Slack
  • API for devs
  • Chrome extension
  • Perplexity for Mac
  • Comet browser
  • Zapier

Ideal For

  • Researchers
  • Journalists
  • Students
  • Analysts
  • Anyone needing cited, up-to-date answers

Tags

What are the best alternatives to Perplexity?

Compare Perplexity Head-to-Head

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Frequently Asked Questions about Perplexity

How much does Perplexity cost?

Perplexity pricing: Free at $0/mo; Pro at $20/mo; Max at $200/mo (Jun 2026); Enterprise at Custom.

Is Perplexity free?

Perplexity offers a free tier with limited usage. Paid plans unlock additional features.

What is Perplexity used for?

Perplexity is used for: Research queries, Fact checking, Market research, Academic research.

What are the best alternatives to Perplexity?

Top alternatives to Perplexity include ChatGPT, You.com.

What platforms does Perplexity support?

Perplexity is available on: Web, iOS, Android, macOS App, Chrome Extension, API, Comet Browser (free, Mar 2026).