Perplexity vs Google vs ChatGPT: Best for Research 2026
TL;DR: Perplexity for quick cited research. Google for shopping and local. ChatGPT for deep analysis and reasoning.
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Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | Perplexity | ChatGPT | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Citations | Always | Yes (links) | Sometimes |
| Follow-up Questions | Natural | New search | Excellent |
| Depth of Analysis | Good | Surface | Excellent |
| Current Info | Yes | Yes | Training cutoff |
| Shopping/Local | Basic | Excellent | No |
| Academic Research | Good | Scholar | Good |
Our Verdict
Perplexity for quick cited research. Google for shopping and local. ChatGPT for deep analysis and reasoning.
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