Back to Tools
Recommended
Perplexity
AI answer engine that combines web search with cited, conversational responses.
Visit toolPricingFreemium
Free planYes
Skill levelBeginner
Top roleAnalyst
DepartmentData
Primary useResearch
Overview
Perplexity is an answer engine: you ask a question, it searches the live web, then replies with a short, readable answer and links to the sources it used. The citations make it easy to check where each claim came from.
That suits research, fact-checking and getting up to speed on an unfamiliar topic quickly. It is less a writing tool and more a way to find and verify information.
As with any web search, an answer is only as good as the sources behind it, so it is worth following the citations on anything that matters.
Good for
- Searches the live web, so answers reflect current information
- Inline citations make claims easy to verify
- Fast way to scan a new topic or market
- Clearer than sifting through a list of search results
Watch out for
- Answer quality depends on the sources it finds
- Less suited to long-form writing or drafting
- Can still summarise a source inaccurately, so check citations
- Best for finding information rather than producing finished work
Recommended workflows
Topic researchFact-checkingMarket and competitor scanning