Perplexity's Model Council runs your question across several AI models at once, then a separate synthesizer model merges their answers into one, showing where they agree, where they disagree and what only one model found. As of Nov 2026 it's included on web and in the iOS app only on Max and Enterprise Max, while inside Perplexity Computer it runs as a skill on all paid plans.
It's built for one kind of question: the kind you're about to act on. Perplexity's help page puts it bluntly. Every AI model has blind spots, and for research you plan to act on, relying on a single model carries risk.
How a council works
The default lineup is one frontier model each from Anthropic, OpenAI and Google. They all answer the same question at the same time. Then a synthesizer model, one whose only job is to read the other answers, reviews every output and produces a combined answer. The result shows three things:
- Where the models converge, so you can move forward with more confidence.
- Where they disagree, so you know when to dig deeper.
- What only one model surfaced, so a minority finding isn't lost.
That third point is the one I find most useful. A single assistant gives you one confident answer. A council shows you the bit only one model spotted, which is often the bit you'd have missed.
Who can use it
On web and in the iOS app, Model Council is included for Max and Enterprise Max subscribers. It isn't available on Free, Pro, Education Pro or Enterprise Pro. Inside Computer it's a skill, available on all paid plans. As of Nov 2026, the iOS app needs version 26.16.0 or later, and Model Council isn't yet a standalone search mode in the Android app or the desktop apps.
There's also a monthly cap on how many Model Council queries you can run on web and iOS. Computer works differently: it spends credits instead.
Run it on the web
- Go to the Perplexity homepage.
- Click Search below the search bar.
- Select Model Council.
- Type your question and press Enter.
- Check it worked: the search bar shows Model Council as the active mode and 3 models, and your answer arrives as one synthesis with the contributing models named.
You can change the lineup. Click 3 models in the search bar and toggle models on or off. A web council always runs exactly three, so you deselect one to make room for another. Each model also has a Thinking toggle for deeper reasoning.
Run it in Computer
In Computer, each model researches your question on its own, then Computer writes one synthesis comparing what they found. As of Nov 2026 the steps are:
- Open Computer, click the dropdown and select Model Council, or type your request directly.
- Choose between two and eight models, or let Computer pick the default lineup.
- Choose the depth you want, from brief insights to a detailed report.
Perplexity's own example request is a good template for a business owner, because it's a real decision with a cost if you get it wrong:
Try a request like this in Computer
Run a Model Council on which of these two suppliers we should choose.
You get one synthesis organised by agreement, disagreement and lone findings, plus each model's full report as a separate file to open or download. If you ask, it can package the result as a PDF, a deck or a spreadsheet.
Web or Computer
| Web and iOS | Computer | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of models | Three | Two to eight |
| Choosing models | Toggle them in the search bar | Name them in your request, or pick from the list |
| What you get back | One synthesized answer in the thread | A synthesis plus each model's full report as files |
| What it uses up | Your plan's monthly query allowance | Your Computer credits |
What it costs
As of Nov 2026, Model Council is included with Perplexity Max at $200 per month or $2,000 per year, and with Enterprise Max. Perplexity's Max page adds that annual billing is only available in the web app. On web and iOS there's no extra charge per query within your plan's monthly cap.
Computer is where costs creep. Because every model on the council researches separately, a council costs more credits than a single-model session, and each extra model adds to that cost. Eight models on a detailed report is the expensive end. Start with fewer.
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Council, Deep Research or plain Search
Perplexity's own guide to choosing between them is short and clear:
| Use | When |
|---|---|
| Search | You want a quick answer with sources |
| Deep Research | You want a detailed report, such as a competitor analysis or a literature review |
| Model Council | You want several models to answer the same question so you can see where they agree or differ |
As of Nov 2026, Deep Research and Model Council are becoming built-in skills in Computer, rolling out gradually from Pro and Max subscribers on the web, with the apps to follow. Neither feature is being removed, but your experience may differ across devices during the rollout.
When a council earns its place
Perplexity suggests it for questions where accuracy and balanced views matter most: investment research, big decisions such as a purchase or a career move, and checking a fact before you act on it. For a small business I'd add picking a supplier, a software tool or a pricing approach. For a quick definition or a news check, a council is overkill.
Read the disagreement section first. That's where the useful work is. If all three models agree and cite solid sources, you can move on. If they split, that's your cue to look at the sources yourself before you spend anything. For more on day-to-day use, see how I use Perplexity day to day, and my review of what Perplexity gives you on each plan. If you're torn between assistants, I've also put Perplexity against Claude.
My verdict
I'd use Model Council for one decision where being wrong is costly, and I'd run it in Computer on a paid plan you already have before thinking about an upgrade. I'd skip paying for Max just to try it. At $200 per month as of Nov 2026, Max only makes sense if you'd use the rest of what it includes too.
If you're deciding how your team should use AI for research without trusting a single model, that's the kind of AI training I run. I run AI training and workshops for teams, and help businesses with AI enablement and workflow automation, so the busywork runs itself and people get time back. Most of that work is with SaaS marketing teams and small businesses. Here's how we can work together.
Frequently asked questions
What is Perplexity Model Council?
It's a research feature that runs one question across several AI models at once and uses a synthesizer model to merge their answers, showing where they agree, disagree, and what only one model found.
Is Model Council free on Perplexity?
No. As of Nov 2026, on web and iOS it's only on Max and Enterprise Max. Inside Perplexity Computer it's a skill on all paid plans and spends Computer credits.
How many models does Model Council use?
A web council always runs three models. In Computer you can choose between two and eight, or let Computer pick.
Is Model Council on the Perplexity Android app?
Not yet as a standalone search mode, as of Nov 2026. The iOS app needs version 26.16.0 or later.
How much does Perplexity Max cost?
As of Nov 2026, Perplexity lists Max at $200 per month or $2,000 per year, with annual billing only on the web app.
