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Perplexity

by Perplexity AI · San Francisco, USA

Search-first AI. Every answer comes with citations to actual sources.

Founded Aug 2022
Lowest plan Free
Top plan $200/mo
API range
Visit Perplexity ↗ Updated September 7, 2026
§ Quick answer

Is Perplexity free?

Yes — Perplexity has a free tier you can use without paying anything. Paid plans start at $20/mo.

§ Pricing

All plans, in full.

Free
Free
Free
  • Unlimited Quick searches
  • 5 Pro searches/day
  • Standard model
  • Search history
Pro
$20 /mo
Pro · $200/year
  • 300+ Pro searches/day
  • GPT-5.6, Claude Sonnet 5, Sonar 2
  • Unlimited file uploads
  • Image generation
  • $5 API credits/mo
Max
$200 /mo
Max · $2,000/year
  • Unlimited advanced models
  • GPT-5.6 + Claude Opus 5
  • Unlimited Labs
  • Early access
  • Priority support

The honest take

Search-first AI. Every answer comes with citations to actual sources.

Best for: Research with verifiable sources, fact-checking, exploring unfamiliar topics

Where it falls short: Less suited for creative writing or open-ended chat

What you actually get

  • Search
  • Research
  • Citations
  • Multi-model
  • Labs
  • Pro searches

Pricing history

2023
Pro launched at $20/mo
2025
Max tier introduced
Apr 2026
Education Pro plan at $10/mo

Should you pay for it?

The free tier of Perplexity is good enough for casual use. Pay $20 only when you start hitting daily caps or need access to the better models.

Plan deep dives

§ FAQ

Common questions, answered.

Is Perplexity free?

Yes — Perplexity has a free tier you can use without paying anything. Paid plans start at $20/mo.

How much does Perplexity cost in 2026?

Perplexity pricing in 2026: Free — $0; Pro — $20/mo; Max — $200/mo. Full plan-by-plan details are in the table above.

What does the free version of Perplexity include?

The free tier includes: Unlimited Quick searches, 5 Pro searches/day, Standard model, Search history.

Is Pro worth $20/mo?

The free tier of Perplexity is good enough for casual use. Pay $20 only when you start hitting daily caps or need access to the better models.