ChatGPT vs Perplexity: Complete Comparison Guide
Compare ChatGPT and Perplexity on search capabilities, citations, AI features, and pricing. Discover which AI tool best fits your research and productivity needs.
ChatGPT
OpenAI's versatile AI assistant capable of a wide range of tasks: from creative writing and code generation to analysis and brainstorming. ChatGPT offers web browsing, code execution, DALL-E image generation, and Custom GPTs. With 300M+ weekly users, it is the most popular AI assistant in the world.
Perplexity
An AI-powered answer engine specifically designed for research and information gathering. Perplexity searches the internet in real-time and provides answers with inline citations, so you can verify every claim. It combines the conversational experience of a chatbot with the reliability of a search engine.
Comparison table
| Feature | ChatGPT | Perplexity |
|---|---|---|
| Primary function | Versatile AI assistant for all tasks | AI search engine with citations — optimized for research |
| Citations | Web browsing available but no standard inline citations | Automatic inline citations with every answer — verifiable |
| Real-time data | Web browsing for current information (not always default) | Default real-time search — always current sources |
| Creative tasks | Excellent — writing, brainstorming, code, image generation | Limited — primarily focused on factual information and research |
| Pricing | Free tier, Plus $20/month | Free tier, Pro $20/month |
| Code capabilities | Strong — code generation, execution, and debugging | Basic — can explain code and generate simple snippets |
Verdict
ChatGPT and Perplexity complement each other more than they compete. ChatGPT is the ultimate all-rounder: it writes, codes, generates images, and brainstorms. Perplexity is the specialist in gathering information: it searches the web, cites sources, and provides verifiable answers. If you must choose one AI tool, ChatGPT is more versatile. If accurate research with citations is your priority, Perplexity is unmatched. Many professionals use both: ChatGPT for creative and technical tasks, Perplexity for research and fact-finding.
Our recommendation
At MG Software, we use both tools in our workflow. Perplexity is our go-to for technical research: evaluating new frameworks, comparing APIs, and keeping up with the latest developments in the React and Next.js ecosystem. The citations give us confidence in the information. We use ChatGPT for code generation, brainstorming, and creative tasks. We recommend developers use Perplexity for research and ChatGPT or Claude for productive coding tasks.
Frequently asked questions
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