The Best Perplexity AI vs ChatGPT Comparison You Will Read
Both Perplexity AI and ChatGPT have their strengths and weaknesses, making any Perplexity AI vs ChatGPT comparison complex.
Both are advanced AI tools designed to assist users in retrieving information and generating text, but they serve different purposes and exhibit distinct functionalities.
Below we break down the differences and similarities between these two tools step by step and highlight facts that should influence your final decision.
The Backstory on Perplexity AI and ChatGPT
Perplexity AI was founded in 2022 with a plan to create a more user-centric web search experience. It aimed to improve the search process by providing direct answers to user queries instead of providing links. By synthesizing information from various sources, it acts as an AI-assisted search engine.
Comparatively, ChatGPT is a full-fledged large language model (LLM) chatbot. Developed by OpenAI, it is designed to engage in conversation with users in a comprehensive and informative way.
Next, let’s check out the tech powering these AI platforms.
Perplexity AI models
Perplexity AI utilizes various advanced LLM models to enhance its search and conversational capabilities. While it does have a proprietary LLM running in the background, users can also choose from external AI platforms to generate responses.
| LLM models offered by Perplexity | Description |
|---|---|
| Proprietary Models | Perplexity has developed its own in-house LLMs tailored for specific tasks and optimized for their search engine functionality. |
| OpenAI | Users can access models such as GPT-4, known for its strong reasoning and natural language processing capabilities, making it suitable for complex queries. |
| Anthropic | Perplexity also incorporates models like Claude 3.5, which excels in nuanced coding tasks. |
| Other models | The platform includes additional models like Grok-2 and Llama 3, allowing users to compare responses across different LLMs to find the best fit for their queries |
ChatGPT Models
OpenAI users can opt for any of these options:
| LLM Model Name | Key features |
|---|---|
| GPT-3 | It’s a powerful language model with features such as text generation, translation, and creative content. It was released in 2020 |
| GPT-3.5 | Released in 2022, this is an improved version of GPT-3 with enhanced capabilities and performance. |
| GPT-4 | This version made its debut in 2023, offering significant improvements over previous models in terms of reasoning, coherence, and problem-solving. |
| GPT-4o | The newest GPT, this is OpenAI’s most advanced model. It has features such as complex text generation, accurate translation, and sophisticated creative content. |
Side-by-Side Comparison of Perplexity AI vs ChatGPT
Perplexity and ChatGPT offer distinct approaches to digital assistance. This comparison dissects their core capabilities, revealing how each platform uniquely tackles information retrieval, content generation, and user interaction.
To assess these AI tools, we compared them using the 8 factors listed here:
- Usability,
- Performance,
- Customization
- Document and image analysis,
- Creative tasks,
- Generating images,
- Coding,
- Pricing.
Evaluating User Experience on Perplexity and ChatGPT
Perplexity features a minimalist and search-centric interface. Its layout prioritizes quick question-and-answer interactions, similar to a search engine. Users are encouraged to input queries and receive concise, sourced responses. Its design feels intuitive for those seeking direct answers with reference links.
ChatGPT isn’t radically different; it offers a more conversational interface with a focus on back-and-forth dialogue. Its structure is tailored to longer discussions, brainstorming, or creative projects.
Conversational Fluency
Perplexity encourages succinct interactions, functioning as an AI-powered knowledge assistant. It’s optimal for users who value brevity and accuracy in a search-oriented style. After each response, Perplexity includes a list of relevant questions to help users learn more about the topic.
Comparatively, ChatGPT is designed for depth, allowing users to explore topics in detail, refine answers, or even request creative outputs. Its conversational nature makes it more engaging for storytelling, content creation, or detailed problem-solving.
It offers richer, more comprehensive answers than Perplexity, but there’s a flip side, too. ChatGPT lacks inline citations in many versions, which may be a drawback for users needing source-based verification.
Academic Research
Perplexity excels in academic research due to its focus on providing sourced answers. Every response includes citations from credible websites, journals, or databases, making it easy for users to verify information and locate references for further study.
That said, its responses may not always be nuanced or detailed; this can limit its utility for in-depth theoretical discussions or complex analysis.
ChatGPT is ideal for expanding on academic topics, brainstorming thesis ideas, or gaining a deeper understanding of complex concepts. It can help users synthesize information, compare theories, or outline research proposals.
However, ChatGPT does not always include sources in its responses, making it less suitable for direct citation or academic validation. While it’s excellent for exploring ideas, users must cross-check its outputs for accuracy. We observed ChatGPT making false claims and then being unable to provide a source when researching technical topics on email marketing.
Use Cases
This table breaks down the use cases for these powerful AI tools:
| Use Case | Perplexity | ChatGPT |
|---|---|---|
| Quick facts | It is highly effective with concise, cited answers | ChatGPT is effective but avoids direct citations |
| Brainstorming | Perplexity is limited to brief suggestions | This tool excels with creative and detailed responses |
| Detailed explanations | This AI assistant offers basic explanations with a focus on brevity | OpenAI’s tool provides detailed and contextualized answers |
| Academic research | Perplexity provides source-based answers ideal for citations | While it’s great for concept exploration, answers may need verification |
| Creative writing | It does a decent job of writing interesting content | ChatGPT has a strong ability to generate creative content |
Verdict: This round is a tie, as both Perplexity and ChatGPT have their own strengths and weaknesses when it comes to usability.
Assessing Perplexity and ChatGPT on Performance
Performance matters hugely when choosing between AI tools. In this section, we compare the speed, accuracy, and ethical behavior demonstrated by Perplexity and ChatGPT.
Speed
Perplexity AI is designed to deliver answers rapidly. It provides quick responses, particularly for fact-based queries. As the tool has to access real-time data to provide answers, the response time is particularly impressive.
As for ChatGPT — while it can generate responses quickly, its speed may vary depending on the complexity of the query. For straightforward questions, it performs well, but for more nuanced or multi-part prompts, the response time can increase as it processes context and generates conversational replies.
Accuracy of Information
Perplexity’s key strength lies in its real-time web search capability, which allows it to access and verify current information on the fly. This feature, combined with its practice of citing sources directly, makes it particularly reliable for up-to-date information and fact-checking.
Users can easily verify claims by following the provided sources, and the platform’s ability to cross-reference multiple sources adds an extra layer of accuracy verification.
In comparison, ChatGPT operates within the constraints of its training data cutoff date; it cannot access real-time information.
ChatGPT often shows stronger performance in areas involving mathematical concepts, logic, and fundamental principles that remain constant. However, it’s known to occasionally “hallucinate” or generate plausible-sounding but incorrect information.
That said, both tools can make mistakes.
Ethical Considerations
Both Perplexity and ChatGPT operate with built-in ethical safeguards and content moderation.
Perplexity might occasionally surface controversial or biased content from its sources, though it typically attempts to present information with appropriate context and warnings.
ChatGPT employs extensive ethical training, which helps it recognize and avoid harmful content. OpenAI has implemented various safeguards to prevent misuse, including restrictions on generating harmful content, spreading misinformation, or engaging in illegal activities.
Verdict: Yet another tie as both Perplexity and ChatGPT offer excellent performance.
Customizing Perplexity AI and ChatGPT
Perplexity offers customization, but it’s limited. While it doesn’t have a direct equivalent to custom GPTs, which ChatGPT offers, it provides varying levels of capability through its subscription tiers. Perplexity Pro users gain access to more powerful models like GPT-4 and Claude, along with the ability to switch between different AI models for different types of queries.
2023 saw ChatGPT significantly expand its customization capabilities with the introduction of custom GPTs. These models allow users to create specialized versions of the AI for specific tasks, industries, or interests without requiring coding knowledge.
Users can customize their GPTs by defining specific instructions, knowledge bases, and capabilities, such as web browsing or image generation. ChatGPT lets users browse through its library of custom GPTs on its homepage.
How Well Do Perplexity and ChatGPT Analyze Documents and Images?
For this exercise, we downloaded a scientific study titled “Effect of Protein Intake on Strength, Body
Composition and Endocrine Changes in Strength/Power Athletes.” The study is 8 pages long, has complex language, and utilizes infographics. You can view the document here.
We then uploaded both to Perplexity and ChatGPT and waited for the results.
Perplexity’s response was almost instantaneous, and its analysis was spot on. Comparatively, ChatGPT took about 20 seconds to finish the job, but it also offered good insights.
Perplexity and ChatGPT Take on Creative Challenges
AI tools are most useful when users struggle to come up with ideas or complete extensive writing tasks. For this comparison, we put Perplexity and ChatGPt through three typical situations where a creative approach would be useful — telling a story, writing poetry, and solving riddles.
Storytelling
Perplexity delivered an interesting ending — while it’s not exactly a twist, it shows a certain level of introspection. We then gave ChatGPT the same prompt.
ChatGPT delivered a strange and incomprehensible twist at the end of the story. We’re confident Hollywood writers won’t face any threats from AI if this is the best it can do.
Poetry
We gave Perplexity and ChatGPT the same prompt: “write a poem from the perspective of a 10-year-old who dislikes his school cafeteria.”
Both Perplexity and ChatGPT did a good job of writing poetry. While there is a focus on rhyming, there are also clever references to things you would observe in a typical school cafeteria.
Riddles
Perplexity solved these with ease. Did it do a quick search in the background for the site we took the riddles from? Possibly, but we’ll never know!
We then gave the same prompt to ChatGPT. It was equally quick.
Verdict: For most of our tests, both tools showed an equal level of creativity. We declare this round a tie.
Which is Better for Image Generation, Perplexity or ChatGPT?
Perplexity cannot generate images, but it doesn’t explicitly say so. It offers image generation in its Pro plan but doesn’t reveal its process.
Perplexity first helps you create a solid image-generation prompt. Once you have a prompt, Perplexity then runs it through — wait for it — DALL-E, which is ChatGPT’s image generation platform. It also offers Playground AI and SDXL as options. Technically, you don’t have to pay more, as this is part of the Pro plan, but it’s image generation with additional steps.
We checked online reviews and forums for thoughts on this, and users of Perplexity agree it is a weak point. It’s much simpler to use ChatGPT’s DALL-E tool to generate images.
We gave ChatGPT this prompt: “Create an image of Rocky Balboa boxing with a shark on top of a commercial airplane. make the image realistic and not surreal and keep the colors natural.” Here’s what the tool came up with.
It’s not very realistic due to the surreal nature of the art itself. We would have liked to see the shark wear safety gear such as gloves, but that can be added with another prompt. All in all, a decent job by ChatGPT!
Is Perplexity Better for Coding than ChatGPT?
The short answer is that they both take different approaches to coding, but overall, ChatGPT is the better option. It has access to more languages, is good at writing code, and also does a better job than Perplexity at debugging it.
This table explains the situation better:
| Feature | Perplexity | ChatGPT |
|---|---|---|
| Coding tasks | ‣ It can look up definitions, concepts, or coding best practices. ‣ Perplexity offers quick answers with references. ‣ It can help understand programming terms or errors. | ‣ ChatGPT can write complete scripts or functions. ‣ It can debug and troubleshoot code. ‣ It’s good at learning and understanding programming concepts. |
| Strengths | ‣ Provides precise and sourced answers for doubts about code. ‣ Good for researching or fact-checking programming questions. | ‣ It has extensive training in programming concepts, frameworks, and libraries. ‣ It’s good for debugging, code generation, and explaining code snippets. |
| Language support | ‣ Compared to ChatGPT, fewer languages are supported. | ‣ ChatGPT supports a wide range of programming languages and tools. |
| Weaknesses | ‣ Perplexity is less interactive for actual coding tasks. ‣ It has issues with debugging. | ‣ There are context limitations for long code snippets. |
ChatGPT is better for hands-on coding tasks, such as writing, debugging, and explaining code, especially if you’re working on a project or solving coding challenges. As for Perplexity, it’s better for understanding documentation, exploring specific concepts, or finding references for programming queries.
Verdict: Go with ChatGPT if coding ability is critical.
Comparing Costs of Using Perplexity vs ChatGPT
Cost is key when choosing an AI assistant, but which platform delivers the most bang for your buck? Choosing the right AI tool goes beyond just features; it’s about the price tag, too.
Below, we compare their pricing structures so you can choose the AI tool that offers the most value.
Perplexity Pricing
Perplexity AI keeps things simple with three plans:
| Perplexity plan | Price | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | ‣ Free | ‣ Unlimited Quick searches ‣ 3 Pro Searches per day ‣ Standard Perplexity AI Model optimized for speed and quality ‣ No image generation |
| Pro | ‣ $20 per month | ‣ Unlimited Quick searches ‣ 300+ Pro searches per day ‣ Choose from GPT-4o, Claude-3, Sonar Large (LLama 3.1), and more ‣ Upload and analyze unlimited files ‣ Visualize answers using Playground AI, DALL-E, SDXL, and more ‣ Get $5/month in API credits |
| Enterprise Pro | ‣ Companies with fewer than 250 employees pay $40 per month per seat. ‣ Larger companies get a custom quote. | ‣ Increased Data Privacy ‣ Enhanced SecurityUser Management ‣ Single Sign-On (SSO) ‣ Pro Search ‣ Team workspaces |
ChatGPT Pricing
Users can opt for any of the plans below:
| Model | Pricing | Features |
|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT Free | ‣ $0 | ‣ Limited access to GPT-4o and GPT-3.5, ‣ Limited messages, ‣ Text-only responses |
| ChatGPT Plus | ‣ $20/month | ‣ Access to GPT-4o, ‣ OpenAI o1-preview, and OpenAI o1-mini ‣ Unlimited messages, ‣ Advanced Voice ModeDALL-E, ‣ Chat history, ‣ Voice assistant on mobile |
| ChatGPT Team | ‣ $30 per user/month | ‣ All of the above + ‣ Higher message limits, ‣ Team workspace, ‣ Data privacy controls, ‣ Customizable GPTs, ‣ File uploads, ‣ Analytics |
| ChatGPT Enterprise | ‣ Custom | ‣ All of the above + ‣ High-speed access to all OpenAI tools ‣ Enterprise-level security, ‣ Custom data retention ‣ Expanded context window |
| DALL-E | ‣ Included in Plus, Team, and Enterprise | Image generation,Editing |
| Whisper (Audio) | ‣ Available with API access | Speech-to-text capabilities |
| API GPT-4o | ‣ Input: $2.50 per million tokens ‣ Output: $10 per million tokens | Includes all the features of the ChatGPT Plus plan |
| API GPT-4o mini | ‣ Input: $0.15 per million tokens ‣ Output: $0.6 per million tokens | Same as web and mobile access |
| OpenAI o1-preview | ‣ Input: $15 per million tokens ‣ Output: $60 per million tokens | Includes all the functions available on web and mobile access |
| Realtime API | ‣ Input: $5 per million tokens ‣ Output: $20 per million tokens | All text-based functions offered by web-access models |
Final Verdict on Perplexity AI vs ChatGPT
Both Perplexity AI and ChatGPT are powerful tools to help you harness artificial intelligence. Your choice between them depends on what tasks you wish to execute.
Perplexity AI shines for users seeking concise, search-driven responses and quick access to factual information. It’s an ideal choice for researchers, students, and professionals who prioritize accuracy and streamlined answers over creative or conversational depth.
ChatGPT stands out for its conversational fluency and creativity. Whether you’re brainstorming ideas, crafting content, or engaging in complex discussions, ChatGPT is the go-to tool for those who need AI with a human-like touch.
Our outlook is simple: both platforms offer immense value, but their strengths cater to distinct audiences. Assess your priorities — whether it’s research or creativity — and you’ll find a clear winner based on what you need most.
Choosing Between Perplexity AI and ChatGPT for Email Marketing
Email marketing demands precision, creativity, and strategic insight. Perplexity AI and ChatGPT offer complementary tools that can transform how marketers approach campaign development, content creation, and email engagement.
Below, we check out the different tasks these AI tools can assist email marketers with.
Using Perplexity for Email Marketing
You can use Perplexity to:
- Research trends: Use this AI tool to find recent email marketing trends, benchmarks, or statistics with credible sources.
- Analyze competition: Quickly gather insights about competitors’ email strategies by sourcing industry reports and blogs.
- Check facts: Validate claims or data in different types of email campaigns by checking multiple references.
- Discover best practices: Look up guides and sourced tips on email design, email subject lines, or email segmentation strategies.
- Follow compliance guidelines: Learn about regulations like GDPR, CAN-SPAM, or new email authentication updates to ensure your campaigns comply.
How Email Marketers Can Use ChatGPT
ChatGPT can help with tasks such as:
- Content generation: ChatGPT can create exciting email content such as engaging subject lines, email copywriting, and email CTAs tailored to your audience.
- A/B testing methods: It can suggest multiple variations of subject lines or email sign-offs for split testing.
- Personalization: ChatGPT can help you generate and send mass personalized emails to different audience segments.
- Report analysis: Get recommendations on strategy by uploading email campaign metrics to ChatGPT and studying its suggestions.
Here are additional resources to help you understand how AI tools can help transform your business:
If you enjoyed reading this AI comparison, we also review and compare various email platforms on our blog.
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