Taking the plunge into chatbots can feel like a twisting, confusing process, not least because the best solutions today aren’t necessarily the ones that will grab your attention six months later. Now, everyone knows about OpenAI’s ChatGPT, as it was the first AI chatbot to really hit our screens, and it’s still the most popular chatbot. However, recently, I’ve become tired of ChatGPT.
In its place, I found another tool that better serves my needs: Perplexity.
Where ChatGPT is an all-rounder, Perplexity AI is an AI-powered search engine alternative that actively searches the web in real-time to provide factually accurate answers with transparent source citations. There are many reasons to use Perplexity, particularly its specializations in research, fact-checking, and delivering current information with multiple source references, which enhances its ability to retrieve up-to-date data and conduct deep research.
And with all of that, it’s time you ditched ChatGPT and started using it.
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Perplexity
Perplexity is an AI-powered search engine that combines web search with conversational answers. It scans reliable online sources in real time, summarizes key information, and provides cited responses. Designed for clarity and accuracy, Perplexity helps users quickly find, verify, and understand complex topics through concise, trustworthy explanations.
What makes Perplexity better than ChatGPT
It’s all about the difference in approach
There are countless reasons to use chatbots. I primarily use them for research, both to help me with my writing and to answer questions about a wide range of topics. Chatbots, no matter which one, can dramatically decrease the time it takes to learn more about a subject; gone are the days when you could only really search the internet with Google.
For a long time, I turned to the free version of ChatGPT for this purpose. First introduced to the public in late 2022, OpenAI’s model marked the first time a large-scale conversational AI was accessible to anyone via a simple web interface, transforming generative AI from a research concept into a widely used tool. Over time, I started using ChatGPT on my iPhone, which made searching on the go simple. ChatGPT is also integrated into Apple Intelligence as an extension, adding convenience.
However, I didn’t realize I had an issue with ChatGPT until I looked around and sampled other options. Eventually, this search led me to Perplexity, which is available on the web and through mobile apps for Android and iPhone. Like ChatGPT, Perplexity entered the public in 2022, but it has several features that make it a better choice than ChatGPT.
For example, Perplexity has changed my workflow, allowing me to access current information at any time. It’s like having a trustworthy research assistant by my side. As a result, I have been able to increase the speed at which I can write.
It’s clear when you look at the difference between Perplexity and ChatGPT’s approach to prompts, starting with asking each to “Tell me about the current Apple market share.” As you can see in the screenshots, Perplexity excelled by offering up-to-date information about Apple’s market share as of the date of this request. The information from ChatGPT, by contrast, was dated, including information from six months prior.
In the second example, I asked each model to “detail the current ‘iPhone 18’ rumors.” Both Perplexity and ChatGPT offered information on what could be the next iPhone. However, the information from Perplexity is much more timely. By contrast, ChatGPT’s information is more general, making it much more likely that the content is older.
Finally, I asked both chatbots, “What are the latest layoffs in the tech industry this month?” Once again, Perplexity is best at providing real-time information, whereas ChatGPT is largely stuck on general information about what causes layoffs in the tech industry rather than actual data.
Going further with Perplexity Pro
It’s worth the price
With all that said, after a little while, I actually also started to find the standard version of Perplexity a little limiting. It’s great for most activities, but I realized that I could make my writing process even smoother by upgrading to Perplexity Pro. The upgraded version of Perplexity costs $20 per month (the same as ChatGPT Plus), but gives me access to way more options, including GPT-5, Claude 4.5 Sonnet, and Google’s Gemini 2.5 Pro AI models. Basically, the combination of these models really boosts my research and workflow, and it delivers much more than the standard version.
Perplexity Pro also has a fantastic Research Mode, which is similar to ChatGPT’s Deep Research. Upgrading to Pro lets me run hundreds of these advanced Pro Searches in Research Mode every day, significantly more than the free option. One tiny gripe I have is that this mode was unlimited for a while, which was even better, but I can make do with hundreds. In that, I can also switch between the models I choose to run the searches with, allowing me to use fast results or more detailed, logical responses. This alone is why I think Perplexity Pro is absolutely worth the money.
Upgrading to Perplexity Pro has some other benefits, too. For instance, the unlimited file upload feature with PDF, CSV, audio, video, and image analysis capabilities enables me to conduct deeper content analysis than ever before. I can upload files and documents that need analysis, fire off a prompt, and Perplexity Pro will get to work. There is some truth to the idea that the AI is only as good as the prompts you give it, and it can take a little time to fine-tune for the outputs you want. But that’s also what I like about Perplexity; it’s very friendly when it comes to prompt assistance, asking me questions about the analysis, and so on.
Perplexity Pro has another feature I’ve not used all that much: Perplexity Labs. It’s like a prompt gallery filled with ideas from other people, covering all kinds of different projects. Like I said, I’ve not really used this much as I primarily focus on using Perplexity to assist my writing and research, but I can see this being a really useful tool if you’re stuck for an idea or just want to see what it can do.
Perplexity is simply a better choice
No two chatbots are the same. While ChatGPT was the first out of the gate, Perplexity is the real evolution of AI chatbot tech. Combining fast factual updates with reliable information makes Perplexity an excellent choice for anyone who needs immediate, accurate information delivered with proper sources (that you can actually trust).
I’m not completely against ChatGPT, mind. OpenAI’s chatbot probably does better when it comes to creative topics, and its image generation is streets ahead of Perplexity. But the combination of Perplexity’s strong points makes it the perfect assistant for so many tasks: shopping, research, writing, programming—you name it, and Perplexity is going to deliver the goods.
Moreover, it costs the same as ChatGPT Plus, so if you’re already subscribed to that, there is absolutely no harm in switching over to Perplexity Pro to see what all the fuss is about. I’m just disappointed I didn’t switch sooner.
