Compare · Prices checked October 21, 2026
Consensus vs Perplexity (2026)
Published starting prices: Consensus, Free; Pro $12/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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ResearchFree tier
Consensus
An AI search engine over peer-reviewed research that summarizes what studies found, with citations.
SubscriptionFree; Pro $12/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: Consensus Pro: $12/mo ($144/yr), and Perplexity Pro: $17/mo (billed annually). Consensus lists the lower one. Consensus 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: Consensus: yes. Its Free plan is $0 (basic paper search), checked October 21, 2026. Perplexity: yes. Its Free plan is $0, checked October 21, 2026.
Pricing side by side
| Item |  Consensus |  Perplexity |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free; Pro $12/mo | Free; Pro $17/mo |
| Pricing model | Subscription | Subscription |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Plans |
|
|
| Pricing note | Prices captured with annual billing. | 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 | Consensus | Perplexity |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | An AI search engine over peer-reviewed research that summarizes what studies found, with citations. | An AI answer engine with cited sources, deep research reports and 'Computer' tasks that build documents and apps. |
| Made by | Consensus | Perplexity |
| Listed under | Research agents | Research agents |
| Jobs it fits |
|
|
| Verified public use cases | 0 | 0 |
Use cases
Consensus
We haven't found a verified public use case for Consensus yet.
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
Consensus is best for
- Teams that need to: Check what the research says about a claim; Find papers for a report.
- Budget: starts at Free; Pro $12/mo (subscription, free plan available).
- 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: Consensus · Perplexity.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Consensus or Perplexity?
Comparing the lowest listed monthly plans: Consensus Pro: $12/mo ($144/yr), and Perplexity Pro: $17/mo (billed annually). Consensus lists the lower one. Consensus 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 Consensus free? Is Perplexity free?
Consensus: yes. Its Free plan is $0 (basic paper search), checked October 21, 2026. Perplexity: yes. Its Free plan is $0, checked October 21, 2026.
How much does Consensus cost?
Consensus lists Free: $0 (basic paper search); Pro: $12/mo ($144/yr); Deep: $45/mo ($540/yr). Its lowest listed monthly plan is Pro: $12/mo ($144/yr). Prices captured with annual billing. 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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Work at Consensus or Perplexity? Vendors can claim their listing for free or feature it with a label that says "Sponsored"; paid status never changes the order on this page. Building a different agent? List it here.
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