[2025 Tests]Perplexity AI vs ChatGPT: Which is Better?

Nelson Polly

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June 9, 2025 8 mins read

When it comes to AI chatbots, choosing between Perplexity AI vs ChatGPT can feel like comparing two expert assistants with different specialties.

While both AI platforms promise to solve users’ problems and assist with various tasks, each brings unique capabilities to the table. The following is a comprehensive comparison between Perplexity and ChatGPT, examining their core capabilities and pricing to help you decide which AI assistant better suits your needs.

Perplexity AI vs ChatGPT: Core Capabilities Compared

At their core, Perplexity and ChatGPT operate with fundamentally different design philosophies. These differences shape how each AI assistant processes information and responds to user queries.

1 Search Integration: Real-time vs Knowledge Cutoff

The most significant distinction between Perplexity and ChatGPT lies in how they access information. Perplexity functions as an "answer engine" that actively searches the web in real-time to access the up-to-date information, making it particularly valuable for queries about recent events or rapidly evolving topics.

In contrast, ChatGPT relies primarily on pre-trained knowledge with a specific cutoff date. Without using its browsing capability, ChatGPT cannot access information beyond its training data. This limitation becomes apparent when asking about current events or recent developments.

Perplexity offers several search options that enhance its information retrieval capabilities:

Pro Search: Delivers deeper, more comprehensive answers (limited to five queries every four hours for free users)

Basic Search: Provides standard information retrieval using the default model

Specialized Searc: Options to search academic papers, WolframAlpha, YouTube, or Reddit

Furthermore, Perplexity allows users to select from different AI models, including GPT-4o, Sonar 32k (based on Meta's Llama 3), etc. This flexibility enables users to choose the best model for specific types of queries.

2 Citation and Source Attribution

Notably, Perplexity implements Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), a technique that queries external data sources before generating responses. This approach provides two key benefits: it reduces AI errors and enables source citation.

Each Perplexity response includes clickable references that allow users to verify information directly. This transparency is particularly valuable in academic and professional settings where source credibility matters.

Although ChatGPT is a powerful tool, it doesn't include citations in its responses. This is a key limitation, as studies have shown that generative AI models can confidently present inaccurate information—making their authoritative tone potentially misleading. To ensure correct information, users are responsible for fact-checking important details on their own.

3 Multimodal Support: Text, Images, and Audio

Both platforms have evolved to support multiple input and output formats, although with different implementations. ChatGPT especially the latest GPT-4.1 represents a significant advancement with its ability to process text, images, audio, and video inputs. This multimodal capability allows ChatGPT to "see, hear, and speak," making interactions more versatile and accessible.

Perplexity has also incorporated multimodal capabilities.

Ultimately, the core strengths of each platform highlight their distinct purposes: Perplexity is designed as a research-first tool that prioritizes transparency, while ChatGPT excels as a versatile conversational AI with powerful reasoning capabilities. Users can choose between ChatGPT and Perplexity based on their specific needs.

Perplexity vs ChatGPT: User Experience and Interface Comparison

The interface design and user experience fundamentally shape how we interact with AI assistants.

1 Conversation Flow and Context Retention

Context retention represents a critical factor in creating natural AI interactions. ChatGPT excels at offering "coherent, contextually relevant dialog" that keeps users engaged across diverse topics. This contextual awareness allows for conversations that feel genuinely interactive rather than disjointed series of queries.

Perplexity takes a different approach by organizing searches into threads, effectively preserving context throughout a research session. Each thread includes prompts for related questions, making topic navigation more intuitive.

Both platforms struggle with similar limitations:

• Managing non-linear conversations that switch topics abruptly
• Balancing session memory with computational efficiency
• Maintaining context across extended conversations

Unlike traditional AI chatbots that treated each user input as isolated, these advanced AI platforms analyze relationships between words to derive meaning, allowing them to understand context, intent, and nuance in ways earlier AI could not.

2 Mobile App Experience

On mobile devices, each platform offers distinct advantages. Perplexity delivers what many users describe as a "fresh and crisp" interface where "all the elements look thought after and are designed very well." Its mobile experience includes interactive elements that make prompt results more resourceful than ChatGPT's plainer responses.

Essentially, Perplexity enhances the mobile experience with features like:

• A "Discover" section showing popular threads with view counts and likes.
• Interactive charts and visualizations for data queries.
• Direct shopping integration for product-related searches.

Alternatively, ChatGPT focuses on conversation accessibility, offering text-to-speech capabilities and audio dialog options. Its mobile interface prioritizes clean design that "does enough to satisfy the user intent" without unnecessary complications.

Ultimately, while ChatGPT maintains consistent performance across desktop and mobile platforms, Perplexity appears to offer a slightly more engaging mobile-specific experience with its interactive elements and discovery features.

Pricing and Value Proposition

Deciding between premium AI services requires understanding what you get for your money. Interestingly, both Perplexity and ChatGPT have adopted identical price points for their primary subscription tiers at $20 per month, creating a direct value comparison.

1 Limitations of Free Version

The free versions of both platforms offer substantial capabilities with notable restrictions:

2 Premium Features Worth Paying For

At $20 monthly, each platform unlocks distinct premium benefits:

Overall, for individual users, the decision primarily depends on whether you prioritize Perplexity's research-centric approach with cited sources or ChatGPT's versatile creative and reasoning capabilities.

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