Complete Guide to Perplexity AI 2026: Search, Collections, and Pro Features

What Is Perplexity AI?

Perplexity AI is an AI-powered answer engine that combines the conversational abilities of large language models with real-time web search. Unlike traditional search engines that return lists of links, Perplexity reads, synthesizes, and summarizes information from multiple sources, delivering comprehensive answers with cited references. In 2026, Perplexity has over 100 million monthly users who rely on it for research, fact-checking, and information discovery.

What sets Perplexity apart is its commitment to source transparency. Every claim is backed by numbered citations that link directly to the source material. This makes Perplexity the preferred AI tool for researchers, journalists, analysts, and anyone who needs verifiable information rather than AI-generated content that could be inaccurate.

Perplexity AI Key Features

AI Search

Type a question in natural language and Perplexity searches the web, reads relevant pages, and synthesizes a comprehensive answer. Each statement is annotated with numbered citations linking to source URLs. Follow-up questions are understood in context, allowing you to drill deeper into topics without re-explaining background information. The search understands complex queries that traditional search engines struggle with.

Focus Modes

Choose where Perplexity searches to get more targeted results. All mode searches the entire web. Academic mode searches scholarly papers and journals. Writing mode generates creative content without web search. YouTube mode searches video content. Reddit mode focuses on community discussions and opinions. Math mode provides step-by-step mathematical solutions. Each mode optimizes the search and response for its specific domain.

Pro Search

Pro Search performs multi-step research by asking clarifying questions, searching multiple sources, and synthesizing findings across several search iterations. It breaks complex questions into sub-queries, researches each one independently, and combines the findings into a comprehensive analysis. Pro Search is ideal for in-depth research that requires comparing multiple perspectives or gathering data from various sources.

Collections

Organize your research into Collections, which function as saved research projects. Add searches, notes, and files to a Collection, and Perplexity uses the collection content as context for new searches within it. Share Collections with collaborators for team research. Collections maintain your research history and allow you to build on previous findings without starting over.

File Analysis

Upload PDFs, documents, images, and data files for AI analysis. Perplexity reads the content and lets you ask questions about it, extract information, summarize sections, or cross-reference with web search results. This is valuable for analyzing research papers, contracts, financial reports, and any documents where you need quick answers from dense content.

Perplexity Pages

Transform your research into shareable, formatted articles with Perplexity Pages. After researching a topic, generate a well-structured article with sections, images, and citations. Pages are publicly shareable and serve as a way to publish research findings, create informational content, or share knowledge with your team or audience.

Using Perplexity for Research

Academic Research Workflow

Switch to Academic focus mode for scholarly research. Search for your topic and Perplexity cites peer-reviewed papers, preprints, and academic sources. Use follow-up questions to explore specific aspects, compare findings across studies, or identify research gaps. Save important searches to a Collection for your research project.

Competitive Analysis

Research competitors by asking Perplexity about their products, pricing, funding, team size, recent news, and market positioning. Pro Search synthesizes information from multiple sources (company websites, news articles, analyst reports, user reviews) into comprehensive competitive profiles. Save findings to a Collection for ongoing monitoring.

Fact-Checking

Verify claims by pasting them into Perplexity and asking for verification. Perplexity searches for supporting or contradicting evidence, cites the sources, and provides a balanced assessment. The numbered citations let you verify each piece of evidence independently, making Perplexity a valuable tool for journalists, editors, and content creators.

Perplexity Pricing

Plan	Price	Features
Free	$0	Unlimited Quick Search, 5 Pro Searches/day, basic features
Pro	$20/month	600+ Pro Searches/day, file upload, API credits, all Focus modes
Enterprise	$40/user/month	Everything in Pro + SSO, admin controls, data privacy

Perplexity vs Alternatives

Perplexity is the best AI tool for research requiring verified, cited information. ChatGPT offers broader capabilities but weaker citation practices. Google Search provides raw results without synthesis. For anyone who needs AI-powered research with transparency about sources, Perplexity is the clear leader.