ChatGPT vs Perplexity AI Pricing 2026
Complete pricing comparison between ChatGPT and Perplexity AI. Find out which ai chatbots tool is right for you.
ChatGPT pricing ranges from $0–$200/user/month, while Perplexity AI ranges from $0–$325/user/month. Both products are similarly priced at comparable tiers.
The right choice between ChatGPT and Perplexity AI depends on your specific requirements: team size, feature needs, and integration requirements all affect which option delivers better value.
See the tier-by-tier breakdown below to compare specific plans, or use our calculators to estimate costs: ChatGPT calculator | Perplexity AI calculator
ChatGPT and Perplexity AI both cost $20/month at their core paid tiers but are built for fundamentally different workflows in 2026. ChatGPT is a general-purpose AI assistant excelling at creative generation, coding, image creation (DALL-E 4), voice interaction, and video generation (Sora 2), while Perplexity is a search-first AI engine that answers questions using real-time web data with numbered source citations -- making it the go-to tool for research, fact-checking, and information discovery. A unique Perplexity advantage is multi-model access: Pro subscribers can choose between GPT-4, Claude, Llama, and Gemini per query, while ChatGPT locks you into OpenAI models only. For teams, ChatGPT Team starts at $25-30/user/month (2-seat minimum) while Perplexity Enterprise Pro costs $40/user/month with no seat minimum but a higher per-user price.
Pricing Tier Comparison
| Tier | ChatGPT | Perplexity AI |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free /user/month | Free /user/month |
| Plus | $20 /user/month | $20 /user/month |
| Pro | $200 /user/month | $40 /user/month |
| Team | $30 /user/month | $325 /user/month |
| Enterprise | Custom | — |
Not sure between ChatGPT and Perplexity AI?
Tell us about your needs and we'll recommend the best option for your budget.
Our Verdict
Choose ChatGPT if you need a versatile AI assistant for creative tasks, coding, content generation, image creation, and voice interaction. ChatGPT's multimodal capabilities (DALL-E 4, Advanced Voice, Sora 2) are unmatched by Perplexity, and its custom GPT ecosystem lets you build specialized AI tools. ChatGPT is the better choice when you need to generate content rather than find information, and its Team plan at $25/user/month (annual) is more affordable than Perplexity Enterprise Pro at $33-40/user/month.
Choose Perplexity AI if your primary workflow is research, fact-checking, or information discovery. Perplexity's real-time web search with numbered source citations is superior to ChatGPT's Browse feature, and the ability to choose between GPT-4, Claude, Llama, and Gemini models per query gives you flexibility no single-vendor chatbot can match. Perplexity Pro also offers annual billing at $16.67/month ($200/year), saving more than ChatGPT Plus which has no annual option.
Frequently Asked Questions
01 Is ChatGPT cheaper than Perplexity AI?
At the individual level, both cost $20/month for their core paid plans (ChatGPT Plus vs Perplexity Pro). However, Perplexity Pro offers annual billing at $16.67/month ($200/year), while ChatGPT Plus is monthly-only at $20/month ($240/year) -- making Perplexity $40/year cheaper with annual commitment. Perplexity Pro also includes $5/month in API credits that ChatGPT Plus does not. For teams, ChatGPT Team at $25/user/month (annual) is more affordable than Perplexity Enterprise Pro at $33.33/user/month (annual), but Perplexity has no seat minimum while ChatGPT requires at least 2 seats.
02 Which is better for research, ChatGPT or Perplexity?
Perplexity is significantly better for research tasks. Every Perplexity answer includes numbered citations linking to original web sources, making it easy to verify claims and trace information back to primary sources. ChatGPT has a Browse feature but does not consistently cite sources, and its answers are more likely to include unsourced claims. Perplexity also offers dedicated Research and Labs search modes for deep-dive investigations. ChatGPT is better for synthesizing information into original content, while Perplexity is better for discovering and verifying facts.
03 Can ChatGPT replace Perplexity AI?
ChatGPT can handle basic web search queries through its Browse feature, but it cannot truly replace Perplexity's research capabilities. Perplexity provides consistent, numbered source citations that ChatGPT does not match. Perplexity's multi-model access (GPT-4, Claude, Llama, Gemini) lets you leverage different models' strengths per query -- something ChatGPT cannot offer. Conversely, Perplexity cannot replace ChatGPT's DALL-E 4 image generation, Advanced Voice, Sora 2 video creation, or custom GPT ecosystem. Many power users subscribe to both: Perplexity for research and ChatGPT for creation.