I still remember the first time I got stuck with a research assignment. I had 5 tabs open, each one more confusing than the other. ChatGPT was helping, but I kept asking myself – “Is this information even correct?” That’s when I stumbled upon Perplexity AI. At first, I thought it was just another chatbot, but after a few tries, I realized this tool is different. Unlike ChatGPT, Perplexity doesn’t just “talk” – it actually backs its answers with references and citations.
Over the past few months, I’ve been using Perplexity AI for my college projects, blog writing, and even random curiosity searches. Here’s my full breakdown of what I learned, based on my real usage.
What is Perplexity AI Used For?
From my personal experience, Perplexity AI is best used for:
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Research projects – It gives answers with direct citations, so I don’t have to waste time verifying every fact.
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Summarizing articles or PDFs – I once uploaded a long climate change article and got a neat summary in seconds.
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Quick fact-checking – Unlike ChatGPT, it’s connected to the internet, so the info is current.
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Assignment support – If I’m writing about “AI in education,” it not only explains but also gives me links to explore further.
In short, Perplexity is like a study buddy that always tells you where it found the answer.
Why is Perplexity AI So Popular?
When I first asked my friends why everyone was suddenly talking about Perplexity, the answer was clear: trust.
Other AI tools are smart, but they don’t always tell you where the info came from. Perplexity shows citations for almost every answer. As a student, this is gold. It feels like Google + ChatGPT combined, but with less nonsense.
It’s popular because:
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It reduces research time.
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Answers are backed with sources.
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It’s free to start with.
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The interface is super simple.
Honestly, after using it, I understood why it’s blowing up. It’s not hype—it’s actually practical.
Is Perplexity AI Free to Use?
Yes, Perplexity AI has a free version, and I’ve been using it without paying for months. For most of my assignments, the free plan was enough.
But if you’re like me and end up using it daily, you’ll notice some limitations (like fewer advanced queries). That’s when the Pro plan comes in. It gives access to GPT-4 and Claude integration, which I tried once during a free trial. For heavy users, the upgrade is worth it, but honestly, students can survive on the free plan pretty well.
What Are the Disadvantages of Perplexity AI?
No tool is perfect, and here’s what I personally didn’t like:
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Not great for creative writing – If I wanted a funny essay intro or a story, ChatGPT did better.
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Limited free queries – Sometimes in the middle of research, I hit a limit. Frustrating!
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Too fact-focused – Sounds weird, but sometimes I wanted “opinions” or “creative takes,” and Perplexity felt a bit stiff.
Still, these are minor issues compared to the reliability it offers.
What is the Difference Between Perplexity AI and ChatGPT?
This is the question I get asked the most by my classmates. Here’s what I noticed:
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ChatGPT is like a creative writer – it can code, tell jokes, write stories, and explain concepts in simple terms.
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Perplexity AI is like a research assistant – it gives sources, summaries, and factual accuracy.
For example, when I asked both about “The impact of social media on students,” ChatGPT gave me a clean essay-style response. But Perplexity gave me a summary with links to actual research papers.
So if you want creativity → ChatGPT.
If you want accuracy → Perplexity.
Which is Better: Claude AI or Perplexity AI?
I tried both. Claude is amazing for long documents. I once uploaded a 40-page PDF, and Claude handled it beautifully, giving me chapter-wise notes.
Perplexity, on the other hand, is better for quick research + citations.
So my personal verdict:
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Use Claude for essays and huge study material.
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Use Perplexity for research projects and fact-checking.
Together, they’re a killer combo.
Is Perplexity AI Better Than Google?
I actually tested this one night. I searched “Top renewable energy sources in 2025” on Google vs Perplexity.
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Google gave me 10 different websites, and I had to manually read through them.
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Perplexity gave me a summarized answer with links to the exact pages.
For speed and clarity, Perplexity wins. But if I want to explore everything in depth, Google still has no match. So I use both depending on time.
What is the Difference Between OpenAI and Perplexity AI?
When I first heard of Perplexity, I assumed it was made by OpenAI. Nope!
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OpenAI = the company behind ChatGPT.
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Perplexity AI = an independent company that uses multiple AI models (including OpenAI’s GPT).
So, Perplexity is not an OpenAI product. It’s like a smart “layer” built on top of AI models.
Who is the Target Audience of Perplexity AI?
From my usage, it’s clear:
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Students → for research and assignments.
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Researchers → for citations and fact-checking.
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Writers/Bloggers → for summarizing sources.
Basically, anyone who values accuracy over creativity.
Is Perplexity AI the Best AI for Students?
From my personal use, I’d say yes—for research purposes. It doesn’t replace ChatGPT completely, but it fills the gaps.
If you’re a student like me:
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Use Perplexity for research.
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Use ChatGPT for writing drafts.
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Use Claude for big PDF notes.
That’s the winning trio I rely on every day.
FAQs on Perplexity AI (With Personal Experience)
1. What is Perplexity AI and why is it popular?
Honestly mowa, first time nenu Perplexity AI try chesinappudu naaku shock ayindi. It’s like Google + ChatGPT mix. Popularity reason simple – it doesn’t just give random answers, it actually shows sources like a search engine. So students and bloggers ki perfect.
2. What is the difference between Perplexity AI and ChatGPT?
Na experience prakaram, ChatGPT is like a friendly teacher, Perplexity AI is like a smart librarian. ChatGPT creative answers isthadi, kani Perplexity AI research-based, sources tho reply chestadi.
3. Is Perplexity AI better than ChatGPT?
Better or not depends on use case mowa. Nenu blogs ki creative content kavali ante ChatGPT use chestha, research articles and fact-checking kosam Perplexity AI use chestha. Two are like cousins – both useful but different styles.
4. Why is Perplexity AI so much better than Google?
Naaku Google lo search chesthe 10 tabs open chesi read cheyyali. But Perplexity AI one shot lo summary + sources istundi. So fast ga ardam avutundi. That’s why better.
5. Which is better for coding: ChatGPT or Perplexity AI?
Coding kosam mowa, nenu ChatGPT rely chestha. Perplexity AI gives references but ChatGPT explains step by step. Debugging ki ChatGPT life saver.
6. Who is the target audience of Perplexity AI?
Nenu chusthunna valaki – students, bloggers, researchers, tech people. Basically evarikaina fast authentic info kavali ante perfect.
7. Can I try Perplexity AI for free?
Yes mowa, free plan undi. Nenu first free version use chesa, and it worked great. Of course, premium version lo more power untundi.
8. What are the disadvantages of Perplexity AI?
Own experience lo, sometimes answers too short untayi. Koni questions ki clarity thakkuva untundi. Andu valla nenu ChatGPT backup laga use chestha.
9. How long is Perplexity AI free?
Free plan permanent ga undi mowa, kani limited searches. Daily limit ayipotundi appudu premium consider cheyyali.
10. Is Perplexity AI free for Indians?
Yes, nenu India lo use chesthuna mowa. Free plan ekkada varaina available untundi.
11. Which AI is better: Claude AI or Perplexity AI?
Naaku Claude AI chala natural language lo respond chestundi, kani Perplexity AI factual + sources tho better. If research ante Perplexity, casual conversation ante Claude.
12. What AI is better than Perplexity AI?
Depends mowa. Creative writing ante ChatGPT, image generation ante MidJourney, research ante Perplexity. Each AI has its own strength.
13. Is Perplexity AI made by OpenAI?
No mowa. Idhi different company create chesindi. First time nenu confuse ayya but later ardam ayyindi OpenAI = ChatGPT, Perplexity separate.
14. What is the difference between OpenAI and Perplexity AI?
OpenAI is a company (they built ChatGPT), Perplexity AI is a product/company itself. OpenAI = tech giant, Perplexity = smart search AI.
15. Do I need both ChatGPT and Perplexity AI?
Honestly yes mowa. Nenu rendu maintain chestha. Perplexity for quick references, ChatGPT for deep explanation. Two together super combo.
16. Is Perplexity AI the same as ChatGPT?
Nope, naaku rendu completely different feel istayi. ChatGPT talks like a friend, Perplexity like a fact-checking machine.
17. Is Perplexity AI free to use?
Yes, free plan exists. Nenu already chesanu, and full basics cover avutayi without paying.
18. Can Perplexity AI replace Google?
Naaku personally inka Google full ga replace cheyyaledu. Shopping, maps, and local search kosam Google best. But study/research ante Perplexity top.
19. What are the disadvantages of Perplexity AI compared to ChatGPT?
Perplexity answers short ga untayi sometimes, ChatGPT conversational ga untundi. If you want long explanation, ChatGPT better.
20. Is Perplexity AI safe to use?
Yes mowa, safe. Nenu daily use chesthuna, no issues. But always double-check facts – AI mistakes chesthadi sometimes.
Conclusion – My Honest Verdict
Perplexity AI has become my secret weapon for assignments. It cut my research time in half, gave me trusted sources, and saved me from embarrassing mistakes in projects.
But it’s not a one-size-fits-all. If you only want essays or fun writing, ChatGPT might be better. If you want accuracy + citations, Perplexity is unbeatable.
So, is it worth trying? 100% yes. If you’re a student, don’t just stick to ChatGPT—add Perplexity to your toolkit.
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