How to Shop with Perplexity and Use Instant Buy

The short version

Perplexity can take you from “what should I buy?” to checkout in one place. You ask in plain language, it compares options with sources, and for eligible US merchants you can buy without leaving the answer. It’s convenient; the usual shopping checks still apply.

Step by step

1. Ask for what you want, with details. Perplexity’s examples: “Sofas under $500”, “Best skincare products for sensitive skin as a gift”, “Premium silk sheets”.
2. Read the answer and the product cards. The cards show the details you need to decide.
3. Follow up to narrow it down: size, color, delivery time, materials.
4. Check the merchant. Who’s actually selling it, and what’s their return policy?
5. Select Instant Buy on an eligible item and enter your shipping and payment details. Perplexity saves them, so you only do this once.
6. Watch for the confirmation. Your order is sent to the merchant, and you get a purchase confirmation.
7. Find your orders at perplexity.ai/settings/purchases.

Prompts to copy

A gift:

Gift ideas under $60 for a 70-year-old who likes gardening and has everything.
Practical, well reviewed, and available to ship within a week.

A specific need:

A rug for a 9x12 living room with a puppy: washable or easy to clean, neutral colors, under $400.
Show the best 4 options and their return policies.

Before you click buy:

For [product], what's the return window and warranty, and what do buyers complain about?

Example

You ask: “Running shoes for flat feet, under $150, for a beginner training for a 5K.”

A good result: a short explanation of what to look for in stability shoes, product cards for a few models with prices, and citations to reviews. You ask, “Which of these has the widest toe box?”, pick one and check the size guide before using Instant Buy.

Mistakes to avoid

• Buying the first card. Ask a follow-up or two first; Perplexity says more specific questions get more precise matches.
• Skipping the return policy. It’s the merchant’s, not Perplexity’s.
• Contacting Perplexity about deliveries. Its support can’t answer product or shipping questions; the merchant can.
• Saving payment details on a shared device. Instant Buy keeps your checkout details on file, so don’t use it on an account other people can reach.
• Forgetting which account you used. If an order doesn’t appear in your purchases, check you’re signed in to the right account.

Good to know

Perplexity says it personalizes product recommendations using your past searches, interactions and saved preferences, and that merchants who provide richer details (availability, reviews, pricing, specs) are more likely to be recommended. For a careful comparison first, see compare products with Perplexity.

Related: compare products with Perplexity.