How to Use Perplexity for Free (and When Pro or Max Is Worth It)

The short version

For everyday questions, the free plan is enough. You get the core of Perplexity: web answers with citations, follow-up questions and saved history. The limits are on the in-depth features: Pro Search, Deep Research, model choice and uploads.

What the free plan includes

According to Perplexity’s plan comparison (checked October 29, 2026), the free plan, which Perplexity calls Standard, includes:

• Practically unlimited basic searches, with Perplexity picking the model.
• 3 Pro Searches a day. Pro Search is the more thorough search that reads more sources.
• 1 Deep Research query a month for a full report.
• Limited file uploads.
• Search history.

It doesn’t include choosing an advanced model yourself, image generation or the Comet browser agent.

Step by step

1. Sign up at perplexity.ai or in the app, so your sessions are saved.
2. Use Search for everything at first. Pro Search isn’t a separate switch; Perplexity applies it automatically while your plan has some left.
3. Save Deep Research for the one big question each month, like a major purchase or a business decision.
4. Keep files small and few. Uploads count toward a limited allowance that frees up on a rolling weekly basis.
5. Notice which limit you hit. If it’s the same one every week, that’s your reason to upgrade.

What the paid plans add

• Pro: more Pro Searches and Deep Research, a choice of advanced models, image and video generation, more uploads and priority support. Check the current price when you select Upgrade; it can vary by country and app store.
• Education Pro: everything in Pro for verified students and educators, listed at $10 a month.
• Max: the highest limits, the most advanced models, Model Council and early features, at $200 a month or $2,000 a year.

Prompts to copy

Make the most of a limited Deep Research:

I'm deciding whether to [decision] for [situation]. Research the options, the costs and the risks,
and end with a short recommendation and the three facts I should double-check myself.

Get a lot from one basic search:

In one answer: [question]. Give a short summary, a table of the key numbers with their sources,
and one line on what's still uncertain.

Example

A freelance designer uses the free plan for daily questions about software, clients and taxes. Once a month she runs Deep Research on a bigger question, like “Should I form an LLC in Texas?” She upgrades only when she starts hitting the 3-a-day Pro Search limit every morning.

Mistakes to avoid

• Paying before you’ve hit a limit. Use the free plan for a week first.
• Subscribing twice. Perplexity warns that upgrading in the mobile app when you subscribed on the web creates a second, separate subscription.
• Deleting your account to cancel. Deleting the account doesn’t cancel the subscription; cancel first.

Good to know

Limits on the paid plans are described as weekly or monthly “average use” rather than fixed numbers, and Research limits reset on a rolling basis, not on your billing date.

Related: use Pro Search and use Deep Research.