An AI search engine that searches the entire web in real time when you type a question and generates answers with source citations. Since its launch in 2024, it has evolved rapidly—introducing “Perplexity Labs” in May 2025 for handling complex project-based tasks, and “Perplexity Computer” in February 2026, a general-purpose AI worker that autonomously executes entire workflows. It has transformed from a simple search tool into an AI platform covering research, analysis, and execution.
Key Features
- Source-cited answers: All answers clearly display source links, making it easy to verify reliability. Well-suited for academic use and business report citations
- Deep Research: Automatically conducts comprehensive research from multiple perspectives based on a single question. Powered by Opus 4.5/4.6, it achieves top-tier accuracy on external benchmarks
- Perplexity Labs: A project feature available to Pro and above users. Creates complex deliverables through 10+ minutes of autonomous work, including report generation, spreadsheets, dashboards, and mini web apps. Provides code execution, chart generation, and file management in one place
- Perplexity Computer: A general-purpose digital worker launched in February 2026. It breaks tasks into sub-agents and autonomously executes web research, document generation, data processing, and API integration in parallel. Capable of automating workflows spanning hours to months
- Model Council: A feature that runs multiple frontier models simultaneously (GPT-5.4, Claude Sonnet 4.6, Gemini 3.1 Pro, etc.) and compares/synthesizes their answers. Available for Max users
- Comet browser: Perplexity’s proprietary AI-native browser. Use the AI assistant while browsing, with an Opus 4.6-powered browser agent that handles complex web operations on your behalf
Pricing
| Plan | Monthly Price | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | Basic Q&A, core search features, ~5 Pro searches per day |
| Pro | $20/mo ($200/yr) | Unlimited Pro searches, 20 research queries/day, Labs access, file upload, AI model selection |
| Enterprise Pro | $40/seat/mo ($400/yr) | 500 research queries/day, SSO/SCIM, SOC 2 Type II, audit logs |
| Enterprise Max | $325/seat/mo ($3,250/yr) | Unlimited research & Labs queries, high-performance models (o3-pro, Opus 4.1 Thinking, etc.), Comet Max |
Pricing as of March 2026. Check the official site for the latest pricing.
Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Source links are included with every answer, making reliability verification easy
- Key features including Deep Research are available on the free plan
- Labs and Computer extend capabilities from research to full project execution
- Switch between and compare multiple cutting-edge AI models
⚠️ Cons
- Free plan has limits on Pro searches and Labs usage
- Japanese-language answers can sometimes be unnatural
- Response speed may slow during peak usage hours
- Follow-up support (iterative revisions) in Labs is still limited
Comparison with Similar Services
| Aspect | Perplexity | ChatGPT | Google Gemini |
|---|---|---|---|
| Real-time web search | Built-in | Available | Built-in |
| Source display | Automatic on all answers | Optional | Optional |
| Free plan | Yes (with limits) | Yes (GPT-5.3 limited) | Yes |
| Paid plan (monthly) | $20 (Pro) | $20 (Plus) | $19.99 (Advanced) |
| Proprietary browser | Comet | Atlas | Chrome integration |
| Project features | Labs (deliverable generation) | Projects/Codex | Gems |
| Autonomous agents | Computer (general-purpose worker) | Agent Mode/Codex | Deep Research |
Who It’s For
- Business professionals and marketers who regularly conduct research and gather information
- Researchers and students who want to streamline academic paper searches and organize scholarly information
- Anyone who values search result reliability and wants to verify sources
- People who want AI to handle everything from research to deliverable creation in one go
Summary
Perplexity has strengths in source transparency and answer accuracy as an AI search engine. With the introduction of Labs and Computer, it has evolved into a comprehensive AI platform covering not just search and research, but project execution as well. While there’s room for improvement in Japanese language support and Labs follow-up accuracy, it’s a compelling choice for users who prioritize efficiency from information gathering to execution.