AI tools clearly explained
Perplexity: The AI search engine with source citations.
Perplexity answers your questions like a search engine – but instead of a list of links you get a direct, fully written-out answer with numbered source citations for every statement. Here you'll learn how the tool works, what it is best suited for, what is free and when Perplexity Pro is worth it.
- Explained for beginners
- Free vs. Pro in detail
- An honest assessment
- As of September 2026
The basics
What is Perplexity?
Perplexity is an AI search engine: you ask a question in your own words – the tool searches the live web and responds with a fully written-out text in which every statement carries a numbered source citation.
That is the decisive difference from classic search: instead of working through ten links yourself, you read a finished answer – and can click on the sources to check where each piece of information comes from. Because Perplexity searches the current web, it is also suited to questions about recent developments. You can use the tool in your browser or via the app, and it works very well in German. And just like in a chat, you can ask follow-up questions in dialogue to dig deeper.
Along the way, Perplexity shows where search as a whole is heading: AI search systems are changing how businesses are found online – increasingly, what matters is whether an AI cites your website as a source. That is exactly what we take care of in our service SEO & GEO.
Typical use cases
What is Perplexity best suited for?
Fact research with sources
Figures, definitions, factual questions: you get a direct answer and can verify every statement via its source citation – instead of combing through links yourself.
Market & competitor overview
Who offers what, how are providers positioning themselves, what is happening in an industry? Perplexity pulls scattered information together into an overview.
Summarising current news
Because the live web is searched, current developments and news on a topic can be summarised compactly – with references to the original sources.
Preparing purchase decisions
Comparing software, devices, service providers: gather criteria, weigh up alternatives and follow the sources before you commit.
Academically oriented searching
For more thorough research, you can build up answers along verifiable evidence – a clean way into topics where accuracy matters.
Verifying AI answers
An AI chat sounds convincing – but is it right? With Perplexity you double-check claims made by other AI tools before you build on them.
Perplexity is less suited to writing long texts of your own: for that, an AI chat like ChatGPT or Claude is the better choice – Perplexity is the research specialist, not the writing machine.
The key question
What is free – and what does paying get you?
Research with sources for free
The free version already covers everyday use: simple searches are unlimited, and for more demanding questions there is a small daily quota of Pro searches:
- Unlimited simple searches with source citations
- A small number of Pro searches per day (roughly 3 multi-step research runs)
- Up-to-date information from the live web
- Follow-up questions in dialogue
- Web and apps, good German – the model is chosen by Perplexity itself
More depth for daily research
Perplexity Pro (around $20 per month) is worth it as soon as research is part of your daily work:
- Practically unlimited Pro searches
- Free choice of model – incl. models from OpenAI and Anthropic
- File uploads for analysis & image generation
- Access to otherwise paid premium sources
- A Max tier above that for heavy users
Our recommendation for beginners: start with the free version and watch how often you run out of the daily quota of Pro searches. Only then is Pro worth a look. Limits on individual top-end features were adjusted several times in 2026 – the current details on the provider's site are authoritative (as of this page: September 2026).
Getting started
From beginner to pro in four steps.
-
Ask your first question
Open Perplexity in your browser or as an app and ask a real research question in plain everyday language – the way you would ask a colleague.
-
Click the sources
The most important pro trick: follow the numbered source citations. That way you see where each statement comes from – and get to know the relevant sites for your topic along the way.
-
Ask follow-up questions
Stay in the dialogue: “And what does this look like in Germany?” “What alternatives are there?” – every follow-up question refines the research.
-
Use Pro searches deliberately
Save the small daily quota of Pro searches for the questions that need real multi-step research – such as market or provider comparisons.
A note on privacy: even search queries can reveal sensitive internal details – such as company names or projects you are currently working on. Abstract such details in sensitive research and do not upload customer data via the free version's file uploads.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions about Perplexity.
Is Perplexity free?
Yes. With the free version you can run unlimited simple searches and get fully written-out answers with source citations. On top of that, there is a small number of so-called Pro searches per day – more elaborate multi-step research runs, roughly three daily. Which AI model does the work is chosen by Perplexity itself in the free version.
What is a Pro search?
A Pro search is a more elaborate multi-step research run: Perplexity breaks your question down into sub-questions, searches the web several times and combines the results into a more substantiated answer. The free version offers roughly three of these per day; the Pro subscription offers practically unlimited ones.
How much does Perplexity Pro cost?
Perplexity Pro costs around 20 US dollars per month (as of September 2026). It includes practically unlimited Pro searches, a free choice of model – including models from OpenAI and Anthropic –, file uploads for analysis, image generation and access to otherwise paid premium sources. For heavy users there is a Max tier above that. Limits on individual top-end features were adjusted several times in 2026 – the current details on the provider's site are authoritative.
Is Perplexity better than Google?
It is above all different: instead of a list of links you have to work through yourself, you get a direct, fully written-out answer with numbered source citations. For research questions where you need a substantiated answer, that is often faster. If, on the other hand, you just want to reach a specific website or browse offers, a classic search engine still serves you well.
How reliable are the answers?
The big advantage: every statement carries a numbered source citation that you can verify with one click – that is what sets Perplexity apart from pure AI chats. Still, the control stays with you: for important decisions, check the linked sources yourself instead of blindly trusting the summary. That is exactly why Perplexity is also well suited to double-checking claims made by other AI tools.
Further reading
These guides go well with this one.
Google Gemini
AI right inside Gmail, Docs and the Google world – ideal for Workspace users.
All articles at a glance: AI Tools Guides
From trying things out to real use
Want to put AI to good use in your business?
Which tools fit your workflows, where time can be saved and what you are better off leaving alone – that is exactly where we support you. Let's sort it out in a short, no-obligation conversation.
Prefer to talk right away? Call us: 0162 4071719
