Perplexity

Perplexity answers questions by running a live web search and writing a short response with numbered citations, so you can click through and check where each claim came from. Follow-up questions keep the thread’s context, and paid plans let you choose between several third-party AI models and run longer “deep research” reports.

It suits anyone who would otherwise open a dozen search tabs: quick fact-finding, comparing products, catching up on a topic, or gathering sources for a draft. It is less suited to work that specifically needs peer-reviewed literature; dedicated academic search tools filter for that more strictly.

The free plan covers everyday searching with tighter limits. Pro (shown at $17/month on annual billing) and Max raise usage caps, unlock more models and add credits for Perplexity’s agent features. Apps are available for desktop and mobile, and developers can use a separate pay-as-you-go API.