Ranked 1 of 7 in best AI search engines
Built around cited answers rather than chat, so every claim links to a page you can open. The free plan is limited and the heavier research modes need a paid plan, unlike Brave Search's free AI answers.
Best for Researching a question with sourced answers
About Perplexity
Perplexity combines web search with a language model. Each answer is written from the pages it found and carries numbered citations, so you can open the sources and check them. Paid plans add a choice of underlying models and longer research tasks, and the company also ships its own browser, Comet.
It behaves more like a search engine than a general chat assistant: answers are built around sources, and follow-up questions keep the thread. The free plan covers everyday questions with limits on the heavier research modes. As with any AI answer tool, a citation shows where a claim came from, not that the page said it correctly, so important facts are worth confirming in the source.
Key features
- Cited answers
- Follow-up questions
- Deep research mode
- Comet browser
Strengths
- Answers carry numbered links to their sources
- Free plan covers everyday questions
- Choice of underlying models on paid plans
Limits
- Heavier research features need a paid plan
- A citation does not guarantee the source was read correctly
Where Perplexity ranks
| List | Rank | Score | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best AI search engines | 1 of 7 | 90.5 | Researching a question with sourced answers |
Alternatives to Perplexity
All 6 alternatives
ChatGPTOpenAI's AI assistant for chat, search, images and coding
GeminiGoogle's AI assistant for chat, research, images and Google apps
Brave SearchPrivate search engine with its own index and AI answers
Microsoft CopilotMicrosoft's AI assistant for chat, search and creating content
KagiPaid, ad-free search engine with an AI assistant
ElicitAI research assistant that searches papers and extracts data
Questions about Perplexity
- Is Perplexity free?
- Perplexity can be used without paying: Free plan with limits; paid Pro and Max plans add models and research tools. Check the vendor’s pricing page for current limits.
- Is Perplexity open source?
- No. Perplexity is proprietary software; its source code is not public.
- Which platforms does Perplexity support?
- Perplexity is available on: Web, iOS, Android, macOS.
- What is Perplexity best for?
- Researching a question with sourced answers. In our ranking of AI search engines it is number 1 of 7 with a score of 90.5.
- What are the best alternatives to Perplexity?
- The highest-ranked alternatives on listme.name are ChatGPT, Gemini, Brave Search, Microsoft Copilot.