Written by
Perplexity Team
Published on
Oct 1, 2024
Getting started with Perplexity
What is Perplexity?
Perplexity is the world’s first answer engine. It searches the internet in real time to deliver fast, clear answers to any question—with sources and citations included. Whether you need a quick fact or want to dive deep into a complex topic, Perplexity finds reliable answers and saves you the trouble of clicking through endless links.
Perplexity vs. traditional search engines
Direct answers instead of links: Traditional search engines respond with a list of links. Perplexity gives you the answers upfront—saving time and energy.
AI-driven insights: Powered by the latest AI models like GPT-4 Omni and Claude 3.5, Perplexity understands your question and delivers precise, relevant information.
Conversational interface: You can ask follow-up questions naturally, like you’re having a conversation with a knowledgeable friend.
Trusted sources: Every answer comes with clickable citations, making it easy to verify the information and dig deeper if you want.
How to access Perplexity
There are a few ways you can start using Perplexity right now:
On the web: Visit Perplexity.ai in your browser.
Mobile app: Get answers on the go with the Perplexity app.
iOS: Available in the App Store
Android: Available on Google Play
Navigating the interface
Perplexity’s interface is simple and intuitive:
Search Bar: Front and center—just type your questions and get instant answers.
Focus: Narrow down your results by using the Focus feature to target specific sources like academic journals or social media.
File upload: Drag and drop a document into the search bar and ask Perplexity for quick insights.
Pro Search: For a deeper dive, Pro Search pulls from a broader range of sources to give you more in-depth information.
Note: Free users can use Pro Search five times every four hours, while Pro subscribers get nearly unlimited access.
Sidebar: You can easily access your search history, save important queries in Collections, browse trending topics in the Discover Feed, and adjust your settings.
How to search on Perplexity
1. Start with a clear question
Perplexity works best when you ask specific questions. Instead of something broad like “Nutrition,” try asking “What are the health benefits of a Mediterranean diet?” You’ll get a more direct and useful answer.
Tip: Follow up with related questions to dive deeper. For example, after asking about the Mediterranean diet, you could follow up with “How does it compare to a keto diet for weight loss?”
2. Use conversational language
No need to get fancy—just ask your question like you would in a normal conversation. Instead of typing “Pizza dough recipe,” try asking “What’s an easy recipe for homemade pizza dough?” Perplexity will give you a step-by-step guide.
3. Explore sources with one click
Every answer includes clickable citations, so you can verify the information or dig deeper into a topic. Just click a link within the response to view the source.
4. Try Perplexity’s unique features
Pro Search: For comprehensive answers, toggle on Pro Search. It breaks your question down into smaller steps and pulls insights from a broader range of sources.
File Upload: Have a document you want insights on? Drag and drop it into the search bar, and Perplexity will summarize or highlight key points from the content—ideal for research papers, reports, or other documents.
5 Tips for getting the most out of Perplexity
Perplexity is easy to use, but these tips can help you get even more out of it.
1. Build on conversations
Perplexity remembers your previous questions, so you can follow up naturally. For example, you might ask, “What are the effects of climate change?” and then follow up with, “How does it impact the Amazon rainforest?” This builds a richer understanding without needing to start over.
2. Refine with Focus
Narrow your search to specific sources with the Focus feature. Writing a research paper? Choose “Academic” to prioritize peer-reviewed journals and scholarly articles.
3. Stay updated with real-time information
Since Perplexity searches the web in real time, it’s perfect for staying up to date on fast-moving topics like the stock market or breaking news. For example, if you want to know how the stock market is doing today, just ask, “What are the latest stock market trends?” and get an instant answer.
4. Compare sources
If you need to cross-reference different viewpoints, Perplexity makes it easy. You can ask it to summarize key points from multiple articles and to compare them to spot similarities or differences.
5. Ask Follow-Up Questions
Perplexity is great at connecting the dots. If you ask, “How does AI impact healthcare?” follow up with, “How does AI improve medical diagnoses?” to explore the topic from different angles.
When to use Perplexity
1. Quick fact-checking
Need a quick answer to a simple question? Perplexity gives you reliable facts in seconds.
2. In-depth research
For complex topics, Perplexity pulls from trusted sources, making it great for students, researchers, or professionals.
3. Learning new skills
Perplexity can guide you through new skills, whether you’re learning a new language or trying a new recipe.
4. Real-time updates
Stay informed with Perplexity’s real-time search results. Perfect for checking breaking news or recent trends.
5. Creating Content
If you’re a content creator, Perplexity can help you research topics or generate ideas. Whether it’s for an article, a project, or a blog post, Perplexity can give you a head start.
Start your journey with Perplexity today
Perplexity is the smarter, faster way to find answers. Whether you’re a student, professional, or lifelong learner, Perplexity helps you uncover reliable, real-time information quickly and easily.
