Perplexity Computer is Perplexity's AI worker: instead of just answering, it researches, writes documents and slides, sends emails and runs jobs on a schedule for you. To use it, go to the Perplexity Home page, select the Computer icon and type your task in the Start a task field. It needs an active subscription and runs on credits, and it works on the web, iOS and Android.
Perplexity sums up the difference in one line I like: Perplexity answers your questions, Computer does your work. If you've only used Perplexity as a search engine with sources, Computer is a different animal, and worth understanding before you spend credits on it.
I've written this from Perplexity's own help centre, read in October 2026.
Perplexity vs Perplexity Computer
| Perplexity (Ask) | Perplexity Computer | |
|---|---|---|
| What it does | Finds and summarises information with sources | Takes action: writes docs, builds slides, sends emails, writes code |
| How long it works | One answer at a time | Multi-step jobs, including in the background |
| Your apps | Search and knowledge | Connected apps such as Gmail, Outlook, Slack, Notion and GitHub |
| Cost to you | Ask searches stay unlimited and don't use credits | Uses credits, which vary with how complex the task is |
How to start your first Computer task
- Go to the Perplexity Home page.
- Select the Computer icon.
- In the Computer panel, click the Start a task field and describe the job.
- Let it work, then review what it produces.
- Select the Perplexity icon to switch back to normal Ask mode.
The real power is chaining steps. Perplexity's own example is a single prompt that researches competitors, builds a comparison table, creates a slide deck and emails it to the team. Here's a version I'd use for a small business:
Copy this prompt
Research five bakeries in my town that sell online, compare what they offer and how they describe their delivery, put the findings in a short slide deck, and email it to me with a three-line summary at the top.
How to connect your apps
- Open Plugins in the sidebar (or Customize, then Connectors, if you don't see Plugins yet).
- Find the app on Discover or by searching, open its page and select Connect.
- To add a plugin, which bundles connectors and skills, select Install.
- To disconnect, click the three dots next to the app and choose Disconnect.
Perplexity lists connections including Gmail, Outlook, GitHub, Linear, Slack, Notion, Snowflake, Databricks and Salesforce, along with finance tools. Only connect what the task needs. For more ways to wire an agent into the apps you already use, there are AI agent integration platforms to compare.
Scheduled tasks: work that runs without you
Computer can repeat a job on a timetable, in the cloud, so your laptop doesn't need to be open. There's no form to fill in. You describe the job and how often, and Computer proposes a schedule for you to confirm. Perplexity's examples include summarising podcasts every weekday morning, checking Gmail hourly for a particular reply, and posting a weekly pipeline summary to Slack.
Copy this prompt
Every Monday at 8am, check my Gmail for any unanswered customer enquiries from last week and send me a list with the sender, date and one-line summary of each.
You'll find your jobs on the Automations dashboard. One thing to watch: Computer reminds you that every run uses credits, so an hourly job adds up much faster than a weekly one.
How credits work
This is the catch most people meet after their first big task. Perplexity says credits are used only for Computer tasks, and how many a task uses depends on its complexity. As of October 2026, its help page says Max subscribers get 10,000 credits a month and consumer Pro plans don't include monthly credits, though both had one-time bonus credits that expire after 30 days. If your credits run out, active tasks pause rather than cancel, and carry on when credits are available.
You can check your balance and usage in your account, set spending limits, and turn on auto-refill, which is off until you switch it on. I'd leave auto-refill off until you know what your usual tasks cost in credits.
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Emailing Computer a task
Perplexity has also added Computer in Email: you email Computer a task, it reads the thread, uses your connectors and settings, does the work and replies in the same thread. Handy for things you'd normally forward to an assistant.
There's more on this in the best Perplexity alternatives.
Personal Computer: the desktop version
Personal Computer is the Perplexity desktop app for Mac and Windows, rebuilt around Computer. It adds access to folders you choose on your machine, a floating task bar you open with a shortcut, voice control and, on a Mac, control of apps like Mail, Finder, Notes and Messages. Installed-app control isn't on Windows yet. It needs macOS 15 Sequoia or later, or Windows 10 or 11. Perplexity says a Mac mini works best for always-on use, and on supported hardware some work can run on a local model that doesn't use credits.
If you're new to Perplexity itself, start with my guide on how to use Perplexity, and for its browser, what Perplexity Comet is. If you'd like help deciding which AI agent fits your business, that's on my work with me page.
My verdict
Perplexity Computer is one of the most capable AI agents you can try without any set-up, and the research-to-deck-to-email chain is impressive. But it runs on credits, so start with one clear task, watch what it uses, and keep scheduled jobs weekly until you know the cost. Connect only the apps a job needs, and check anything it sends on your behalf before you let it run unattended.
If you have tested AI agents on real jobs, you could write an AI article for my blog about what held up.
Frequently asked questions
What is Perplexity Computer?
Perplexity describes Computer as an independent digital worker that completes tasks for you: research, documents, slides, emails, code and scheduled jobs, using your connected apps.
How do I open Perplexity Computer?
Go to the Perplexity Home page, select the Computer icon and click the Start a task field. Select the Perplexity icon to go back to normal Ask mode.
Is Perplexity Computer free?
No. Perplexity says Computer is available to users with an active subscription, and Computer tasks use credits. Normal Ask searches stay unlimited and don't use credits.
What happens when Perplexity Computer runs out of credits?
Active tasks pause rather than cancel, and resume automatically when credits are available again.
What is the difference between Perplexity Computer and Personal Computer?
Computer runs in the cloud. Personal Computer is the Mac and Windows desktop app built around it, adding access to your local files, apps and voice control.
