An answer, with its sources
Perplexity searches the web at the moment you ask and writes a short answer. Each sentence carries a number: click it to open the original page.
AI tools · Research
Perplexity pricing, use cases, and first steps
Perplexity is an answer engine. You ask a question, it searches the web and writes an answer in which every statement points to its source, which you can open. Since 2026, it also includes “Computer”: an agent that carries out a multi-step task for you, from the research to the finished document.
Perplexity has a free plan. The recommended plan to start with: Pro, $20 per month (€22 on the French App Store). Prices checked on October 5, 2026 on the vendor’s official page.
PerplexitySourced answers, and an agent that does the work- Vendor
- Perplexity AI (United States)
- Free plan
- Yes
- Recommended plan
- Pro, $20 per month (€22 on the French App Store)
- Page checked on
- October 5, 2026
What Perplexity does
Who it’s for: people who need to verify a piece of information or prepare a briefing: sales, marketing, finance, management.
Pro Search: a more thorough search
For a complex question, Perplexity reads dozens of sources instead of one or two, then summarizes them in a few seconds.
Research: a full report
You ask an in-depth question. Perplexity runs search after search, reads the documents it finds, and delivers a structured report in 3 to 5 minutes. The report exports as a PDF or a document.
Also
- Computer: an agent that does the task
- Projects: one folder per topic
- Connectors: your emails, files, and tools
- Scheduled tasks
- The Mac and Windows app
Perplexity pricing
Perplexity publishes its prices in dollars. On the French App Store, Pro is €22 per month or €229 per year. The exact limits of the Pro plan are not given in numbers. Checked on October 4, 2026: Pro at $20 and Max at $200 per month on the pricing page; the Education Pro and Enterprise Pro prices date from our check on October 3. Enterprise Max: $325 per month or $3,250 per year, according to Perplexity’s help center, reviewed on October 5, 2026. Pro receives no Computer credits each month: only 4,000 credits granted once, valid for 30 days. After that, you have to buy them. The Comet browser agent is not part of the free plan; with Pro, it has a monthly limit that Perplexity does not quantify, and its “Work” mode draws on Computer credits.
| Plan | Price | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Pro Recommended to start | $20 per month (€22 on the French App Store) | You do research every day |
| Max | $200 per month | Intensive use of Computer, not for getting started |
| Education Pro | $10 per month | Students and teachers, with proof of status |
| Enterprise Pro | $40 per user per month (or $400 per year) | Companies |
| Enterprise Max | $325 per user per month (or $3,250 per year) | Teams that use Computer at scale |
What the free plan includes
Basic searches with almost no limit, 3 “Pro” searches per day, 1 “Research” report per month, and limited file uploads.
Nova’s advice
Start for free: basic searches are almost unlimited. Take Pro if you run “Research” reports every week. Before using Computer, check your credit balance: a task costs from 100 to several thousand credits, and 100 credits are worth $1.
Free or paid: how usage is counted
Simple searches are free. Advanced searches have a limit. The Computer agent is paid for in credits.
A first try, in 3 minutes
Your data. By default, your searches are used to improve Perplexity’s AI on the free, Pro, and Max plans. One setting is enough to opt out.
What it does less well
- A cited source is not a well-summarized source. Perplexity can misread a page or cite an unreliable site: open the links that matter.
- Computer gets expensive fast. A task uses from 100 to several thousand credits, and the Pro plan does not top them up each month.
Prepare a briefing on your next prospectPerplexity- Open perplexity.ai.
- Copy the prompt below into the search box, filling in the company name, then press Enter.
- In the answer, click the small numbers: each one opens the page the information comes from.
- Ask a follow-up question, for example: “Who are their three main competitors?”
- Check two or three sources before you use the briefing.
The prompt to copy
Prepare a one-page briefing on the company [company name]: business, size, news from the last six months, executives. Give the source for each piece of information.
Jobs that use Perplexity
In the starter kit for 78 jobs.
Alternatives to Perplexity
Comet
Perplexity’s browser: the same assistant, acting directly in web pages.
Gemini Notebook
For answers drawn only from your own documents, with citations to back them up.
ChatGPT
More comfortable writing and reworking a text; it can also search the web.
Grok
To follow what is being said live on the X network.
Frequently asked questions about Perplexity
How much does Perplexity cost?
Pro: $20 per month (€22 on the French App Store); Max: $200 per month; Education Pro: $10 per month; Enterprise Pro: $40 per user per month (or $400 per year); Enterprise Max: $325 per user per month (or $3,250 per year). Prices checked on October 5, 2026 on the vendor’s official page.
Can you use Perplexity for free?
Yes. Basic searches with almost no limit, 3 “Pro” searches per day, 1 “Research” report per month, and limited file uploads.
What happens to my data with Perplexity?
By default, your searches are used to improve Perplexity’s AI on the free, Pro, and Max plans. One setting is enough to opt out.
What are the alternatives to Perplexity?
Comet: Perplexity’s browser: the same assistant, acting directly in web pages. Gemini Notebook: For answers drawn only from your own documents, with citations to back them up. ChatGPT: More comfortable writing and reworking a text; it can also search the web. Grok: To follow what is being said live on the X network.
Official pages consulted
Page checked on October 5, 2026. Brands are named to identify the tools. No affiliation.