How many AI tools can you name off the top of your head? ChatGPT, Bard, Grok… the usual suspects, right?
Well, Perplexity AI should be on that list too—and if it wasn’t, it will be after this.
Unlike most AI chatbots, Perplexity doesn’t just generate answers—it searches the web in real time and gives you fact-checked, sourced responses.
No ads, no digging through links—just straight-up useful info.
Let’s break down what makes Perplexity AI different, how to use it, and why you should try it today.
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Most AI chatbots, like ChatGPT, pull answers from their past training.
Perplexity AI? It searches the web in real time.
That means when you ask something, it browses the internet, finds relevant sources, and gives you an answer—with citations.
You don’t have to wonder if the response is outdated or made up.
It’s basically Google meets AI, but without the ads and fluff.
Perplexity AI was founded in August 2022 by Aravind Srinivas, a former OpenAI and DeepMind researcher.
He teamed up with Andy Konwinski (Databricks co-founder), Denis Yarats (ex-Meta AI researcher), and Johnny Ho (former Quora engineer).
Their goal? To fix online search. Instead of scrolling through ads and links, Perplexity gives direct, fact-checked answers—fast.
The company is based in San Francisco and backed by big investors, including Jeff Bezos.
You can use Perplexity AI for free, but the Pro plan ($20/month) gives more features.
Free Version:
• Use it on Perplexity.ai, iOS, Android, Chrome, and Edge.
• AI-powered search with citations for fact-checking.
• Runs on Perplexity’s AI model (based on GPT-3.5).
Pro Plan ($20/month):
• Uses GPT-4, Claude 3.5, and Perplexity’s best AI models.
• Pro-Search Mode: Searches 3x deeper for better results.
• Upload files (PDFs, images, Word docs) for AI analysis.
• AI Image Generation with DALL·E 3 & Stable Diffusion XL.
Extra Features:
• Enterprise Plan for businesses (web + internal document search).
• Shopping Hub for product recommendations.
• Android Assistant for app integrations (Spotify, YouTube, etc.).
Free version works for basic search. If you need better AI, file uploads, or deeper research, the Pro plan is worth it.
Using Perplexity AI is as easy as a Google search. Here’s how:
1. Go to Perplexity.ai or open the app.
2. Type your question in the search bar (just like Google).
3. Get an instant answer with citations to real sources.
4. Click the sources to fact-check or explore more.
5. Ask follow-up questions to refine the results.
That’s it. No setup, no ads, just straight answers.
Perplexity AI is more than just a chatbot—it’s an AI-powered search engine that makes finding answers fast and accurate.
Here’s what makes it different:
• Real-Time Search – Pulls fresh info from the web, not just past AI training.
• Citations & Sources – Every answer comes with links so you can fact-check.
• Pro-Search Mode – Deep search with 3x more sources for better accuracy (Pro users only).
• File Uploads – Analyze PDFs, Word docs, and images with AI (Pro feature).
• AI Image Generation – Create visuals using DALL·E 3 and Stable Diffusion XL (Pro feature).
• Follow-Up Questions – Refine answers without starting a new search.
It’s like Google, but without the ads and distractions.
Perplexity AI is perfect for students, professionals, and anyone who wants fast, fact-checked answers.
Here’s how to use it for learning:
• Summarize articles & books – “Summarize this article: [paste link or text].”
• Get clear explanations – “Explain [topic] in simple terms.”
• Compare concepts – “What’s the difference between [X] and [Y]?”
• Fact-check information – Click the citations to verify sources.
• Deep dive into topics – Use Pro-Search Mode for more in-depth results.
No fluff, no misinformation—just real answers with sources.
Both are search engines, but they work differently. Here’s how they compare:
What Perplexity AI Does Better:
• Gives direct answers instead of making you click through links.
• Includes citations so you can fact-check instantly.
• No ads, no distractions—just clean, AI-powered search.
What Google Does Better:
• More search results (Perplexity limits the number of sources it pulls from).
• Better for shopping & location-based searches.
• More familiar to most users.
If you want fast, ad-free, fact-checked answers, Perplexity wins.
If you prefer browsing multiple sources yourself, Google is still useful.
Perplexity AI and ChatGPT are both AI tools, but they serve different purposes.
Here’s a simple breakdown:
Perplexity AI:
• Real-Time Web Search: It searches the internet live to provide up-to-date answers.
• Citations Provided: Each answer includes sources, so you can verify the information.
• Best For: Research and fact-checking, where current and accurate information is crucial.
ChatGPT:
• Conversational Abilities: Designed for engaging, human-like conversations.
• Knowledge Base: Relies on a vast dataset up to its last training cut-off, which may not include the most recent information.
• Citations: Does not typically provide direct sources for its responses, making fact-checking more challenging.
• Best For: Creative writing, brainstorming ideas, and engaging in dynamic conversations.
In Summary:
• Choose Perplexity AI when you need accurate, up-to-date information with verifiable sources.
• Opt for ChatGPT when you’re looking for creative content generation or conversational interactions.
Perplexity AI offers both free and paid plans to suit different user needs.
Free Plan:
Cost: $0
Features:
• Unlimited quick searches
• Access to the standard AI model
• Up to 5 Pro searches per day
• Ability to attach documents to up to 10 search queries daily
Pro Plan:
Cost: $20 per month
Features:
• Unlimited quick searches
• Over 300 Pro searches per day
• Access to advanced AI models like GPT-4 and Claude 3.5
• Unlimited file uploads for analysis
• AI image generation capabilities
• $5 monthly credit for API usage
• Exclusive support channels
Enterprise Plan:
Cost: Custom pricing
Features:
• Tailored solutions for businesses
• Access to open-source models
• $5 monthly API credit
• Flexible pricing plans
Is the Pro Plan Worth It?
If you require advanced features like extensive Pro searches, access to the latest AI models, and enhanced support, the Pro plan offers substantial value.
For casual users, the free plan provides robust capabilities without cost.
Perplexity AI is powerful, but not perfect. Here’s what it struggles with:
• Not Great for Creative Writing – It can summarize and search, but ChatGPT is better for writing blogs, stories, or scripts.
• Limited Free Searches – The free plan caps Pro searches at 5 per day, while Google lets you search unlimited.
• Not Always Right – Even with real-time web browsing, it can still pull incorrect or biased info. Always fact-check sources.
• Lacks Deep Conversations – It’s a search engine, not a chat assistant. If you want long, engaging conversations, ChatGPT is better.
• Pro Plan is Pricey – $20/month is more expensive than some AI tools that offer similar features.
If you need fact-checked, real-time answers, Perplexity AI is great.
But for writing, casual chat, or unlimited free searches, it has limits.
Want better answers, faster searches, and more useful results?
Here’s how to use Perplexity AI like a pro.
1. Be Specific with Your Searches
• Instead of “Best marketing tips,” try “Best marketing strategies for small businesses in 2024.”
• Instead of “What is AI?” try “How does AI improve online shopping?”
2. Use Follow-Up Questions
• Perplexity lets you refine searches. Ask:
• Can you simplify this?
• “Give me more recent sources.”
• “Compare this with another approach.”
3. Check the Sources
• Click the citations to verify info—not everything online is accurate.
4. Use Pro-Search for Deep Research
• If you need detailed answers, Pro-Search pulls from more sources for better results.
5. Upload Files for AI Analysis (Pro Feature)
• Got a report or research paper? Upload it and let Perplexity analyze it for you.
6. Compare with ChatGPT or Google
• If an answer seems off, cross-check it with another AI tool or a Google search.
Use these tricks to get the most out of Perplexity AI. It’s fast, smart, and useful—but only if you use it right.
If you’re tired of clicking through links to find answers, Perplexity AI is worth trying.
It searches the web in real-time, gives direct answers, and includes sources so you can fact-check.
It’s great for research, learning, and quick fact-checking.
The Pro version offers deeper searches, AI-generated images, and file uploads, but the free version is still useful.
If you need creative writing or long conversations, ChatGPT is a better choice. But if you want fast, accurate answers without distractions, Perplexity AI does the job.
Try it and see if it works for you.
