To use Perplexity, go to perplexity.ai or open the app, type your question in plain language and press Enter. Perplexity searches the web, writes a summary and adds numbered citations to every source. Ask follow-ups in the same session, and switch to Pro Search or Research when you need a deeper answer.
Perplexity is an AI answer engine. Where ChatGPT is built around conversation, Perplexity is built around search: every answer comes with links so you can check where each claim came from. That makes it one of the better tools for research, market checks and fact-finding, as long as you use the right mode for the job.
Step 1: Ask your first question
Go to perplexity.ai, or download the app, and type a question. Perplexity's own advice is to ask in full sentences when context matters, or use two or three keywords when you just want a quick answer.
Each question starts a session. Follow-up questions stay in that session, so you can refine an answer without starting again. Try something like:
Copy this prompt
I run a small dog grooming business in Leeds. What are the most common questions dog owners ask before booking a groomer, and which ones should my website answer? List them with a short reason for each and cite your sources.
Perplexity's own examples show the range: plan a five-day trip to Paris that includes the Louvre and Versailles, summarise recent peer-reviewed research on sleep and memory, or give me a balanced briefing on today's top news from multiple sources. A basic search is best for quick facts, while Pro Search takes longer and suits research and complex questions.
Step 2: Check the citations
This is the habit that makes Perplexity worth using. Every answer has numbered citations linking to the original sources. Click two or three of them before you rely on anything, especially a number or a quote. Perplexity's help pages carry the warning that responses are generated using AI and may contain mistakes, so the citations are your safety net.
Step 3: Pick the right search mode
Perplexity has four search modes, and choosing the right one is the biggest difference between a shallow answer and a useful one.
| Mode | What it does | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Best | The default. Picks the most suitable model for your question, with no quota limits | Quick facts and everyday questions |
| Pro Search | Draws on a wider set of high-quality sources and lets you choose an AI model | Comparisons, analysis and anything where depth matters |
| Reasoning | Uses thinking models that break a complex question into multiple search steps | Tricky, multi-part problems |
| Research | Runs dozens of searches, reads hundreds of sources and writes a full report | In-depth reports and background research |
Perplexity says Research delivers its reports in two to four minutes. You can switch modes and models in an existing session from the search box, so start with Best and step up if the answer is thin.
Step 4: Upload a file and ask about it
You can attach a file to a session, ask questions about it and search the web in the same session. Perplexity lists PDFs, CSVs, audio, video and images among the files you can upload. It's handy for comparing a supplier's proposal with what's on the market, or pulling key points from a long report. Pro users get more file and photo uploads.
Step 5: Organise your work in Projects
Projects group your sessions and files by topic. You can add prompts and files to a whole Project, so every search inside it starts with the same context, and you can invite members to collaborate. Sessions and Projects are private by default. To share a single session, select Share.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
I'd set up one Project per client or per big piece of work. It keeps the research tidy and saves you re-explaining the background every time.
Step 6: Tailor Perplexity to you
In your profile you can set your language, output format and tone, and Perplexity uses them to shape its answers. There's also a Plugins page where you can connect tools and install skills.
Free or Pro?
Free users get a limited number of Pro Searches per day. Perplexity Pro extends that and adds, according to its help centre:
- Ten times as many citations per answer.
- A choice of advanced models, including GPT-5.2, Claude Sonnet 4.6 and Gemini 3.1 Pro.
- More file and photo uploads, and extended access to Research.
- Create files and apps, which builds reports, spreadsheets, dashboards and simple web apps from a prompt.
One limitation worth knowing: Perplexity says access to advanced models may be limited during weeks of especially heavy use, even on Pro.
Tips for better answers
- Say who you are and what the answer is for. A business owner in Leeds gets a different answer from a student.
- Ask for a format: a table, a short list, or a summary under 150 words.
- Use follow-ups to narrow down, instead of starting a new session.
- For anything you'll publish, open the cited sources and check them yourself.
My advice
Use Perplexity when the answer depends on what's out there right now, and an assistant like ChatGPT or Claude when you want help writing or thinking. If you're curious about its browser, my guide to Perplexity Comet explains what it does, and if you prefer talking to typing, my walkthrough of Gemini Live covers Google's voice assistant.
Frequently asked questions
Is Perplexity free to use?
Yes. You can search for free, and free users get a limited number of Pro Searches per day. Perplexity Pro extends Pro Search and adds advanced models, more uploads and extended Research.
How is Perplexity different from ChatGPT?
Perplexity is built around search. It looks up the web in real time and every answer includes numbered citations linking to its sources, so you can check each claim.
What is Pro Search in Perplexity?
Pro Search is Perplexity's advanced mode. It draws on a wider set of high-quality sources, links to each one and lets you choose from several advanced AI models.
Can I upload documents to Perplexity?
Yes. You can upload files to a session and ask about them while also searching the web. Perplexity lists PDFs, CSVs, audio, video and images.
Are my Perplexity searches private?
Perplexity says sessions and Projects are private by default. A session is only shared if you select Share, and Projects are shared by inviting members.
