ChatGPT vs Perplexity: Which is better in 2026?
Decide by what you ask an assistant to do most.
Tested hands-on: 4 tests on a MacBook Pro (M1 Pro), October 21, 2026. How we tested
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Quick answer
- Choose ChatGPT if: You want one assistant for most everyday jobs: drafting and editing text, analyzing uploaded files, creating images and talking in voice mode, with web search and cited sources as one tool among several.
- Choose Perplexity if: You want answers you can check: Perplexity searches the web for every question and adds inline citations that show where each claim comes from.
- Price at a glance: ChatGPT: Free plan; paid from $8/mo · Perplexity: Free plan; paid from $20/mo
At a glance
 ChatGPT |  Perplexity | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Paid plans | From $8/mo | From $20/mo |
| Our tests | Won 1 of 43 ties | Won 0 of 43 ties |
| Best for | People who want one assistant for writing, research, images and voice, with room to move from Free to Go, Plus or a Pro tier as their use grows. | People who use an AI assistant mainly for research and want every answer tied to cited web sources, with a choice of AI models on a paid plan. |
ChatGPT, from OpenAI, and Perplexity, from Perplexity AI, both answer questions with help from the web, but they start from different ends. Perplexity is an answer engine: it searches the web for every question and adds inline citations that show where each claim comes from. ChatGPT is an all-round assistant that drafts and edits text, analyzes uploaded files, creates images and holds voice conversations, and it can also search the web with cited sources. Both have a free plan, a $20 monthly tier and apps for the web, desktop, iOS and Android. This comparison sets out plans, features and privacy settings from each vendor's own pricing and help pages, as of October 2026.
Pricing
| Plan | Monthly | Yearly (12-month total) |
|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT | ||
| FreeUnlimited text chats subject to abuse guardrails; limited uploads, image creation, voice and deep research | Free Free plan | |
| GoBilled monthly only; may include ads | $8/mo | no yearly price |
| PlusBilled monthly only | $20/mo | no yearly price |
| Pro 100Billed monthly only | $100/mo | no yearly price |
| Pro 200Billed monthly only; more usage than Pro 100 | $200/mo | no yearly price |
| Pro 500Billed monthly only; highest usage, includes Ultrafast | $500/mo | no yearly price |
| Business (Standard seat)Per user/month; $20 per user/month billed annually; minimum 2 seats | $25/mo | $240/yr ($20/mo) |
| Business (Premium seat)Per user/month; $100 per user/month billed annually; 5x Standard usage | $125/mo | $1,200/yr ($100/mo) |
| EnterpriseContact sales | Custom | |
| Perplexity | ||
| FreePractically unlimited basic searches; 3 Pro Searches a day and 1 Research query a month; limited uploads | Free Free plan | |
| Pro$17/month when billed annually ($200 a year); one-time 4,000 Computer credit bonus for new subscribers | $20/mo | $200/yr ($16.67/mo) |
| MaxAnnual billing on the web app only ($167/month when billed annually); 10,000 Computer credits a month | $200/mo | $2,000/yr ($166.67/mo) |
| Enterprise ProPer seat; $400 per seat a year ($34/month when billed annually); no self-serve trial | $40/mo | $400/yr ($33.33/mo) |
| Enterprise MaxPer seat; $3,250 per seat a year ($271/month when billed annually); seats can be mixed with Enterprise Pro | $325/mo | $3,250/yr ($270.83/mo) |
Prices checked on .
Features compared
| Feature | ChatGPT | Perplexity |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | Yes · Unlimited text chats; limited uploads, images and voice | Yes · Practically unlimited basic searches, 3 Pro Searches a day, limited uploads |
| File upload | Yes · Limited on Free; more on paid plans | Yes · Up to 40 MB per chat file (50 MB on Enterprise) and 100 MB per Project file; rolling weekly chat upload allowance on Free, Pro and Max |
| Web search | Yes · All plans, even signed out | Yes · Real-time web search with inline citations; limited on Free |
| Image generation | Yes · Limited on Free | Yes · Pro, Max and Enterprise; Free, Pro and Max images are non-commercial only |
| Voice mode | Yes · Limited on Free | Yes · Voice conversations in the iOS app; voice assistant on Android |
| Memory/projects | Yes · Memory and projects on all plans; memory limited on Free | Yes · Memory across chats; unlimited Projects, up to 5 contributors each (9,999 if the owner is in an organization or is a verified student or educator) |
| API access | Add-on · OpenAI API, billed separately | Add-on · Perplexity API, pay as you go; no subscription needed |
| Mobile apps | Yes · iOS and Android | Yes · iOS and Android |
| Team plan | Yes · Business from $25/user/mo ($20 billed yearly), 2+ seats | Yes · Enterprise Pro $40/seat/mo or $400/seat/yr; Enterprise Max $325/seat/mo or $3,250/seat/yr |
| Training opt-out | Yes · All individual plans; Business not used for training by default | Yes · Toggle on Free, Pro and Max (on by default); Enterprise data never used |
How we tested
We gave ChatGPT and Perplexity the same 4 tasks on the same MacBook Pro (M1 Pro). Each test below lists the task, how we judged it, both results and screenshots; select a screenshot to see it at full size.
- Device
- MacBook Pro (M1 Pro) · macOS 26.6.2 · Chrome 155
- Tested
- October 21, 2026
- Plans used
- ChatGPT: Free · Perplexity: Free
- App versions
- ChatGPT: chatgpt.com, Temporary Chat, default mode · Perplexity: perplexity.ai, Search (a free Pro search preview ran), perplexity.ai, Search (default)
| Test | ChatGPT | Perplexity | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trace a famous quote to its primary source | Pass | Pass | Tie |
| Find the 2026 IRS mileage rates and use them in a follow-up | Pass | Pass | Tie |
| Fact-check a popular myth with two sources | Pass | Pass | Tie |
| Write a product description from given facts only (timed) | Pass7 s | Fail4 s | ChatGPT |
| Tests won | 1 | 0 | 3 ties |
Test 1: Trace a famous quote to its primary source
The task
Send this prompt in a new chat:
Who said “Ask not what your country can do for you”, in which speech and on what date? Link to a primary source, such as an official transcript or recording, not a quotation website.
How we judged it
The right answer is John F. Kennedy, in his inaugural address on January 20, 1961 (transcript: National Archives).
Pass: the right speaker, speech and date, and a link to a primary source (an official archive's transcript or recording) that opens and contains the line.
Partial: the right speaker and speech, but no date, no link, or only links to quotation sites, encyclopedias or articles.
Fail: a wrong speaker, speech or date, or a broken or made-up link.
ChatGPT
Pass
JFK, Inaugural Address, January 20, 1961, linking the National Archives transcript; a second link it called a transcript is a lesson plan.
Perplexity
Pass
JFK, Inaugural Address, January 20, 1961, linking the National Archives transcript, the JFK Library page and an audio recording.
Run signed in to both tools on their free plans: a ChatGPT Temporary Chat (no memory) and a new Perplexity thread on an account with no custom instructions, each in its default mode. Each prompt was sent once, and every link was opened and checked. Perplexity showed a free preview of its Pro search on some answers.
Test 2: Find the 2026 IRS mileage rates and use them in a follow-up
The task
Send this prompt in a new chat:
What is the IRS standard mileage rate for business use of a car in 2026? If it changed during the year, give each rate with the dates it applies. Link the IRS page you used.
When the answer has finished, send this follow-up in the same chat:
At the rate that applies in October 2026, what do 1,240 business miles come to?
How we judged it
On 2026-10-19 the IRS page (Standard mileage rates) listed 72.5 cents a mile for January 1 to June 30, 2026 and 76 cents for July 1 to December 31, so the follow-up is $942.40. If the page has changed, use its rates.
Pass: both 2026 rates with their dates, a link to irs.gov, and $942.40.
Partial: only the July rate, no irs.gov link, or one arithmetic slip.
Fail: only the January rate, a rate for another year or use, or a follow-up built on a wrong rate.
ChatGPT
Pass
72.5 cents (Jan 1 to Jun 30) and 76 cents (Jul 1 to Dec 31) with an irs.gov link, then $942.40 for 1,240 miles.
Perplexity
Pass
72.5 cents (Jan 1 to Jun 30) and 76 cents (Jul 1 to Dec 31) with an irs.gov link, then $942.40 for 1,240 miles.
Run signed in to both tools on their free plans: a ChatGPT Temporary Chat (no memory) and a new Perplexity thread on an account with no custom instructions, each in its default mode. Each prompt was sent once, and every link was opened and checked. Perplexity showed a free preview of its Pro search on some answers. The follow-up was sent once in the same chat.
Test 3: Fact-check a popular myth with two sources
The task
Send this prompt in a new chat:
True or false: the Great Wall of China can be seen with the naked eye from the Moon. Answer in no more than 80 words, then list two sources with links.
How we judged it
The right answer is false (NASA: Great Wall).
Pass: says false, explains why in no more than 80 words (the source list not counted), and gives two links that open and support the answer.
Partial: the right answer, but a link is missing, broken or does not support it, or the explanation runs over 80 words.
Fail: true, “partly true” or no clear answer, a made-up link, or no sources at all.
ChatGPT
Pass
False, explained in 57 words, with NASA and Scientific American links that both open and say the wall is not visible from the Moon.
Perplexity
Pass
False, explained in 38 words, with a NASA PDF and a Snopes fact-check that both open and say the wall is not visible from the Moon.
Run signed in to both tools on their free plans: a ChatGPT Temporary Chat (no memory) and a new Perplexity thread on an account with no custom instructions, each in its default mode. Each prompt was sent once, and every link was opened and checked. Perplexity showed a free preview of its Pro search on some answers.
Test 4: Write a product description from given facts only (timed)
The task
Send this prompt in a new chat:
Write a product description of 90 to 110 words for an online shop, using only the facts below. Do not add any other facts.
Shop: Fernhill Goods. Product: Harbor canvas tote. Size: 16 x 14 x 5 inches. Material: 18 oz cotton canvas. Inside: two pockets. Care: machine wash cold. Price: $34.
How we judged it
Pass: 90 to 110 words, all seven facts correct, and no new fact. Describing words such as “roomy” are fine; a new color, material, measurement, feature, price, origin, discount or promise is not.
Partial: one fact missing or changed, or 80 to 89 or 111 to 120 words.
Fail: two or more facts missing or changed, any new fact, details taken from a real shop's web page, or under 80 or over 120 words.
The time is measured from sending the prompt until the answer stops appearing.
ChatGPT: Winner
Pass 7 s
100 words with all seven facts (shop, product, size, material, two pockets, machine wash cold, $34) and no new fact.
Perplexity
Fail 4 s
All seven facts and no new fact, but only 77 words against the 90 to 110 asked; it cited a printing shop’s web page.
Run signed in to both tools on their free plans: a ChatGPT Temporary Chat (no memory) and a new Perplexity thread on an account with no custom instructions, each in its default mode. Each prompt was sent once, and every link was opened and checked. Perplexity showed a free preview of its Pro search on some answers. Times run from pressing Enter until the answer stopped changing, measured in the browser and rounded to the nearest second.
Our verdict
Decide by what you ask an assistant to do most.
Perplexity is the better fit when most of your questions are research. Every answer carries inline citations to its sources, and Pro and Max let you pick the AI model for each query. Pro costs $20 a month, like ChatGPT Plus, but can also be paid yearly at $200 (about $17 a month), and it adds more Research queries, videos of up to 8 seconds and Perplexity Computer, an agent for multi-step tasks. Two caveats: AI training is on by default for Free, Pro and Max, and opting out covers only data collected afterwards; Pro and Max images are for personal, non-commercial use only.
ChatGPT is the better fit when search is one job among many. It drafts and edits text, analyzes files, creates images and talks in voice mode, and its Free plan allows unlimited everyday text chats, subject to abuse guardrails. Its prices run wider, from Go at $8 a month to Pro at $100, $200 or $500, all billed monthly only. Every individual plan lets you opt out of training and keep your chat history.
For teams, ChatGPT Business has the lower list price: $25 per user a month, or $20 billed annually, against $40 per seat a month for Perplexity Enterprise Pro.
Choose ChatGPT if
You want one assistant for most everyday jobs: drafting and editing text, analyzing uploaded files, creating images and talking in voice mode, with web search and cited sources as one tool among several. It also fits if you want a paid step below $20 (Go at $8 a month, which may show ads), a Pro tier at $100, $200 or $500 for heavy use, a training opt-out that keeps your chat history, or a team plan from $20 per user a month billed annually.
Choose Perplexity if
You want answers you can check: Perplexity searches the web for every question and adds inline citations that show where each claim comes from. It suits students, researchers and writers who verify facts, and people who want to choose the AI model for each query on Pro or Max. It is also the pick if you prefer yearly billing, since Pro costs $200 a year (about $17 a month), and verified students and educators can get Education Pro for $10 a month.
Frequently asked questions
Is ChatGPT or Perplexity cheaper?
Both have free plans, and their main paid tiers cost the same: ChatGPT Plus and Perplexity Pro are $20 a month each. ChatGPT has a cheaper first step, Go at $8 a month (it may show ads), but its Go, Plus and Pro plans are billed monthly only. Perplexity Pro can also be billed yearly at $200, about $17 a month, and verified students and educators can get Education Pro for $10 a month. At the top end, ChatGPT Pro costs $100, $200 or $500 a month, and Perplexity Max $200 a month or $2,000 a year.
Do both ChatGPT and Perplexity show their sources?
Yes, when they search the web. OpenAI says ChatGPT can search the web on every plan, even when you are not signed in, and its search answers cite their sources. Perplexity is built around search: it searches the web for each question and puts inline citations in every answer, showing where each claim comes from. Its Free plan includes practically unlimited basic searches plus 3 Pro Searches a day.
Do ChatGPT and Perplexity use my chats to train their models?
Both can use chats from personal plans, and both let you opt out. In ChatGPT you can switch off model training on every individual plan and still keep your chat history, and OpenAI does not train on ChatGPT Business workspace data by default. On Perplexity's Free, Pro and Max plans the training setting is on by default; you can switch it off, but the opt-out covers only data collected after that. Perplexity says Enterprise data is never used for AI training.
How much do ChatGPT and Perplexity cost for teams?
ChatGPT Business costs $25 per user a month, or $20 billed annually, with at least two seats; a Premium seat with five times the Standard usage costs $125 a month, or $100 billed annually. For ChatGPT Enterprise, OpenAI asks you to contact sales. Perplexity Enterprise Pro costs $40 per seat a month or $400 a year, and Enterprise Max $325 per seat a month or $3,250 a year; the two seat types can be mixed, and Enterprise Pro has no self-serve trial.
Can ChatGPT and Perplexity read files and create images?
Yes. ChatGPT's Free plan includes limited file uploads and image creation, and Go, at $8 a month, already raises those limits. Perplexity reads chat uploads of up to 40 MB each on personal plans, within a rolling weekly allowance, though it does not show how many uploads you have left, and it also generates images. Images made on Perplexity's personal plans are for personal, non-commercial use only; on Enterprise Pro and Enterprise Max they can be used commercially.
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