Perplexity

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

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.