Overview
Exa and Perplexity are both AI Search tools, but they take different approaches. Exa: AI-native search engine and API built for retrieving web content. Perplexity: AI answer engine with cited, up-to-date sources.
Not every plan here is sold as a flat monthly price — check each official pricing page for current plans. Both offer a free plan, so you can try each before paying.
Platform support also differs. Exa: Web, API · Perplexity: Web, iOS, Android, API.
Which one fits depends on your workflow and budget. The table below lines up the verified facts, and the interactive comparison lets you put Exa, Perplexity, and any other tool side by side.
Side-by-side comparison
| Exa | Perplexity | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | See pricing | $20/month |
| Free Plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free Trial | No | No |
| Pricing Type | Freemium | Freemium |
| Supported platforms | Web, API | Web, iOS, Android, API |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile | No | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Categories | AI Search | AI Search |
At a glance
Perplexity: strengths & weaknesses
Pros
- Answers come with clickable citations
- Fast, up-to-date web search grounding
- Focus mode for filtering source types
Cons
- Less suited to long-form creative writing
- Free tier limits the more advanced 'Pro search'
Choose Exa if…
- its focus matches what you're building — see the overview above
Choose Perplexity if…
- you need it on iOS, Android
- your use case matches: Research questions that need cited sources, Quick fact-checking, Comparing viewpoints across sources
Alternatives worth considering
Other tools in the same category.
Google's AI research assistant that summarizes and answers questions from your own documents.
AI search engine that answers questions using findings from research papers.
AI research assistant for finding, summarizing, and extracting data from papers.
Search and content-extraction API for building AI agents and LLM applications.
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper, Exa or Perplexity?
At least one of them doesn't sell a flat monthly plan, so there's no single number to compare — check both official pricing pages.
Do Exa and Perplexity have free plans?
Yes — both offer a free plan you can start with.
Do Exa and Perplexity offer free trials?
Neither lists a free trial.
Which is better, Exa or Perplexity?
There's no single answer — it depends on your use case and budget. Compare the verified facts above, then open the interactive comparison to line Exa and Perplexity up with any other tools you're considering.
Can I use Exa and Perplexity together?
Yes — nothing stops you from using both, and many people combine tools for different tasks. Add Exa and Perplexity to the AI stack builder to see what the combination costs per month.
What platforms do Exa and Perplexity run on?
Exa: Web, API. Perplexity: Web, iOS, Android, API.
What are alternatives to Exa and Perplexity?
Popular alternatives include NotebookLM, Consensus, Elicit, You.com, ChatPDF — each has its own detail page on ToolScanner with verified pricing.
Where can I verify current pricing for Exa and Perplexity?
On each official website — providers change prices and plans at any time. ToolScanner shows the monthly-billing price as of our last verification, with the date on each tool's page.