Perplexity Max is Perplexity's highest consumer plan. It costs $200 a month or $2000 a year as of October 2026, and includes everything in Pro plus the highest access to the newest models from OpenAI, Anthropic and others, Max Assistant in the Comet browser, extended Create files and apps queries, priority support and Brain, a memory system in research preview.
Max is built for people who use Perplexity as a full-time research desk. For most business owners, Pro is plenty. The reason to read the small print anyway is the upgrade path: do it from the wrong app and you can end up paying for Pro and Max at the same time. Here's what Perplexity's own help centre says, checked as of October 2026.
What Perplexity Max includes
| Max feature | What Perplexity says it does |
|---|---|
| Advanced AI models | The highest level of access to the latest models from OpenAI, Anthropic and others, with new frontier models added as they release |
| Research and Create files and apps | Run on more powerful models, with high usage limits |
| Max Assistant on Comet | Comet's top mode, routing each request to reasoning models, with the highest weekly limit on browser agent queries of any tier |
| Brain (research preview) | A memory system that builds a working model of your projects, people and files in Perplexity Computer |
| Create files and apps | Extended access for reports, dashboards, spreadsheets, presentations and web apps |
| Priority support | Dedicated infrastructure and faster response times |
One limit to note: Perplexity says the model access applies within Perplexity on the web. Programmatic access through its API is billed separately, so Max doesn't cover developer usage.
Perplexity names the people it designed Max for: professionals who need the highest-volume access to analysis tools, content creators and writers who research heavily, business strategists doing competitive intelligence and market research, academic researchers on complex projects, and power users who want new features before everyone else. If you don't see yourself in that list, Pro is likely the better fit.
Perplexity Max price and billing
Perplexity lists Max at $200 a month or $2000 a year, as of October 2026. The annual option is only available through the web app, so if you subscribe through the iPhone or Android app you'll be on monthly billing. Paying yearly works out cheaper than twelve monthly payments, but only commit once you know you'll use it.
What is Brain on Perplexity Max?
Brain is the newest part of Max. Perplexity describes it as a self-improving memory that runs in the background and builds a model of the projects you're driving, the people involved, the documents behind them and the loose ends still open. Perplexity Computer then uses that context when you ask it to do something that builds on earlier work.
- It's rolling out gradually in research preview and is free during the preview period.
- Every entry links back to its source session, file or connector, so you can check it.
- You can edit or delete anything in Settings, then Memory.
- It has its own on and off switch in Computer settings, separate from Search History.
- Incognito sessions are always excluded, and Perplexity says models aren't trained on what Brain writes into memory.
Who can upgrade to Max
Perplexity says Max is available to consumers on a Free or Pro plan. Businesses on Enterprise get a separate plan called Enterprise Max, aimed at teams that need enterprise data security and collaboration tools.
How to upgrade without paying twice
- On the web app, go to Settings, then Account, then Subscription, then Upgrade Plan.
- If you bought Pro through the web app, upgrade through the web app too, not the mobile app.
- On the web, your remaining Pro balance carries over and you're billed the prorated amount. Max starts straight away.
- Upgrading in the mobile app instead creates a new, separate Max subscription on top of your ongoing Pro subscription.
- If you're on Android, Google Play charges the full Max price immediately and adds your unused Pro time to the new subscription.
- On iPhone, the rest of your Pro subscription can be refunded, but you have to ask Apple Support, because Perplexity doesn't manage App Store subscriptions.
Step four is the trap. It's an easy mistake on your phone late at night, and you'll be billed for both until you cancel one.
Perplexity Max refunds and cancelling
| Where you are | Refund window |
|---|---|
| EU, UK or Turkey | 14 days from purchase, monthly or annual |
| South Korea or Brazil | 7 days from purchase, monthly or annual |
| Everywhere else | 24 hours for monthly, 48 hours for annual |
Outside those windows, cancelling or downgrading takes effect at the end of your billing cycle, and you keep Max features until then. If you're in the UK or EU, say so in your refund request: Perplexity asks you to specify it.
Is Perplexity Max worth it?
If you run heavy research every day, build reports and dashboards with Create files and apps, or use Comet's browser agent constantly, Max removes the ceiling. For a small business owner who searches, summarises and drafts, it's overkill. Start with a Perplexity Pro free trial if you haven't, learn the basics with my guide on how to use Perplexity, and read what Perplexity Comet does before paying for Max Assistant.
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My verdict
Max is a specialist's plan at a specialist's price. The features are real, Brain is the most interesting of them, and the refund rules are fair if you're in the UK or EU. Just upgrade from the same place you bought Pro, or you'll be paying for two subscriptions without noticing.
Setting up shared research? Read about Perplexity Spaces.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Perplexity Max?
Perplexity lists Max at $200 a month or $2000 a year as of October 2026. Annual billing is web only.
What does Perplexity Max include?
Everything in Pro plus the highest model access, Max Assistant in Comet, extended Create files and apps, Brain in preview and priority support.
Can I upgrade from Pro to Max on my phone?
Perplexity says upgrading in the mobile app creates a separate Max subscription on top of Pro, so upgrade where you bought Pro.
Does Perplexity Max include API access?
No. Perplexity says programmatic access via its API is billed separately.
Can I get a refund on Perplexity Max?
EU, UK and Turkey customers get 14 days, South Korea and Brazil 7 days, and others 24 hours monthly or 48 hours annual.
What is Brain in Perplexity Max?
A research preview memory system that builds context about your projects, people and files for Perplexity Computer.
