Perplexity free plan at a glance
- Free plan
- Yes
- Basic searches
- Unlimited
- Pro searches
- A few per day (Perplexity lists 3)
- Research mode
- Limited
- Choose the AI model
- Pro only
- File uploads
- Limited
- Cheapest paid plan
- Pro, $20/month
Checked November 2026. Free limits change often. Confirm on the official pricing page.
[ADD YOUR OWN TEST: sign up for the free plan, use it for a real task, note how far you got before hitting a limit, add screenshots and the date.]
What you get for free
Every search gives a written answer with numbered sources you can check. Basic searches are unlimited. Pro searches, which read more sources and reason in more steps, are limited to a small number per day on the free plan; reports in 2026 range from three to five, and Perplexity's own comparison lists three.
What Pro adds
Pro ($20/month or $200/year) gives far more Pro searches, more Research reports, file uploads and a choice of AI models from several companies. Max is for heavy professional use.
Questions
Do I need an account?
You can try searches without one, but an account is needed for history and your Pro search allowance.
What happens when I run out of Pro searches?
Searches fall back to the basic model until the daily reset.
Is Perplexity accurate?
It cites sources, which makes checking easy, but it can still make mistakes. Click through for anything important.