AI tools › Comparisons › ChatGPT vs Perplexity
ChatGPT vs Perplexity
ChatGPT is a general assistant; Perplexity is built around searching the web and showing sources. Both have free plans.
Based on the official pricing and product pages, checked on 2026-09-30. This is a comparison of plans and features, not a hands-on quality test.
| ChatGPT | Perplexity | |
|---|---|---|
| Made by | OpenAI | Perplexity AI |
| Free plan | Free plan | Free plan |
| Plans | Free plan with limited uploads, image creation and deep research. Paid plans: Go, Plus and Pro. | Free plan. Pro is $17/month billed yearly; Max is for heavy use. |
| In India | Go ₹399/month (may include ads), Plus ₹1,999/month, Pro from ₹10,699/month. | — |
| Good for | Drafting and rewriting text; Brainstorming ideas; Explaining topics step by step | Research with citations; Comparing products and options; Fact-checking quickly |
Key differences
- Perplexity answers with the web sources it used; research with citations is its core feature.
- Perplexity Pro lets you choose between models from several companies (OpenAI, Google, Anthropic and others).
- Perplexity Pro is $17/month billed yearly; ChatGPT Plus is ₹1,999/month in India.
- ChatGPT's plans include image creation, voice chats and custom GPTs.
Which should you choose?
Choose ChatGPT if
- You mainly write, brainstorm and create images
- You want to pay in rupees
Choose Perplexity if
- You mainly research and want sources for every answer
- You want to switch between AI models in one app
Start with both free plans if you can, and pay only for the one whose limits you hit first.