Compare · Prices checked October 21, 2026
ChatGPT vs Perplexity (2026)
Published starting prices: ChatGPT, Free; Plus $20/mo. Perplexity, Free; Pro $17/mo. Side-by-side public pricing, what each does, real use cases and who each suits, all from our listings with sources. We haven't tested either hands-on.
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Browser agentsFree tier
ChatGPT (agent & deep research)
OpenAI's assistant. Paid plans add agent features (ChatGPT Work, a built-in browser, scheduled tasks) and deeper research reports.
Subscription · 2 use casesFree; Plus $20/mo
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ResearchFree tier
Perplexity
An AI answer engine with cited sources, deep research reports and 'Computer' tasks that build documents and apps.
SubscriptionFree; Pro $17/mo
Quick answer
- Cheaper: Comparing the lowest listed monthly plans: ChatGPT Go: $8/mo (may include ads), and Perplexity Pro: $17/mo (billed annually). ChatGPT lists the lower one. ChatGPT and Perplexity also have a free plan. Plans differ in what they include, and some are per seat or billed yearly, so compare the plan details. Checked October 21, 2026.
- Free plans: ChatGPT: yes. Its Free plan is $0 (limited deep research and ChatGPT Work), checked October 21, 2026. Perplexity: yes. Its Free plan is $0, checked October 21, 2026.
Pricing side by side
| Item |  ChatGPT |  Perplexity |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free; Plus $20/mo | Free; Pro $17/mo |
| Pricing model | Subscription | Subscription |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Plans |
|
|
| Pricing note | Business prices from OpenAI's Codex pricing page (developers.openai.com/codex/pricing). | Monthly (non-annual) prices weren't shown on the page we captured. |
| Checked | October 21, 2026 | October 21, 2026 |
| Source | Vendor pricing page | Vendor pricing page |
Copied from each vendor's public pricing page on the date shown. "not published" means the vendor doesn't publish it; we don't guess. Prices change; confirm with the vendor.
Features and details from our listings
| Item | ChatGPT | Perplexity |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | OpenAI's assistant. Paid plans add agent features (ChatGPT Work, a built-in browser, scheduled tasks) and deeper research reports. | An AI answer engine with cited sources, deep research reports and 'Computer' tasks that build documents and apps. |
| Made by | OpenAI | Perplexity |
| Listed under | Browser & computer-use agents, Research agents | Research agents |
| Jobs it fits |
|
|
| Verified public use cases | 2 | 0 |
Use cases
ChatGPT
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Use caseBrowser agents
A Washington Post tech columnist let OpenAI's Operator agent run his errands; among the lessons, it spent $31 on a dozen eggs.
Feb 2025The Washington Post
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Use caseBrowser agents
A Reddit user reported having ChatGPT's Operator agent find and book a flight for them.
Jan 2025r/ChatGPT, via Hacker News
Perplexity
We haven't found a verified public use case for Perplexity yet.
Use cases are summarised in our own words from the linked public post; vendor case studies are labelled. All use cases.
Who each is best for
- SubscriptionFree plan
ChatGPT is best for
- Teams that need to: Run multi-step web errands; Write a cited research report; Schedule recurring tasks.
- Budget: starts at Free; Plus $20/mo (subscription, free plan available).
- Watch out: A Washington Post test of the Operator agent found it spent $31 on a dozen eggs: confirm purchases yourself. Source
- SubscriptionFree plan
Perplexity is best for
- Teams that need to: Quick cited answers; Deep research reports.
- Budget: starts at Free; Pro $17/mo (subscription, free plan available).
From our listing data (jobs, public pricing); not a hands-on test. Full details: ChatGPT · Perplexity.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, ChatGPT or Perplexity?
Comparing the lowest listed monthly plans: ChatGPT Go: $8/mo (may include ads), and Perplexity Pro: $17/mo (billed annually). ChatGPT lists the lower one. ChatGPT and Perplexity also have a free plan. Plans differ in what they include, and some are per seat or billed yearly, so compare the plan details. Checked October 21, 2026.
Is ChatGPT free? Is Perplexity free?
ChatGPT: yes. Its Free plan is $0 (limited deep research and ChatGPT Work), checked October 21, 2026. Perplexity: yes. Its Free plan is $0, checked October 21, 2026.
How much does ChatGPT cost?
ChatGPT lists Free: $0 (limited deep research and ChatGPT Work); Go: $8/mo (may include ads); Plus: $20/mo (ChatGPT Work on desktop, web and mobile; expanded deep research); Pro: from $100/mo (maximum deep research; longer agent sessions); Business: $25/user/mo ($20 billed annually, 2+ users). Its lowest listed monthly plan is Go: $8/mo (may include ads). Business prices from OpenAI's Codex pricing page (developers.openai.com/codex/pricing). Checked October 21, 2026 on the vendor's pricing page.
How much does Perplexity cost?
Perplexity lists Free: $0; Pro: $17/mo (billed annually); Max: $167/mo (billed annually). Its lowest listed monthly plan is Pro: $17/mo (billed annually). Monthly (non-annual) prices weren't shown on the page we captured. Checked October 21, 2026 on the vendor's pricing page.
Did AITeamGuide test them?
Not hands-on. This comparison is built from each vendor's public pricing page (with the date we checked it), published product information and credited public use cases.
Can a vendor pay to win this comparison?
No. Nothing here is paid. Paid placements on AITeamGuide are always labelled "Sponsored" or "Featured" and never change a comparison or ranking.
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