Perplexity
Research a question with Perplexity, then verify the cited sources yourself
An AI answer engine that searches the web and cites its sources. Handy for a first scan of a topic before reading primary material.
Written from the tool's official pages, listed under Official sources at the end of this guide. Check them for current features, limits and terms.
Try it (opens in a new tab)Steps to try
- Write the question precisely, including the time period, place and what kind of source you want.
- Run it in the web app and read the answer as a lead list, not as a finished fact.
- Open the cited sources and confirm each important claim appears there, in the form the answer gives.
- Prefer primary sources such as official documents, filings or papers, and note where sources disagree.
- Ask a follow-up to narrow gaps, or try Pro Search or Deep Research if your plan offers them.
- Save the links you verified and write your summary in your own words.
Limitations
Citations make checking easier but do not make the answer correct; the help page itself warns responses may contain mistakes. Sources can be weak, outdated or misread. A summary is not a substitute for reading the source for legal, medical or financial decisions.
Pricing
The help center mentions a Pro plan and extra search modes. What is free, what is paid and the limits change, so check the official site for your account.
Privacy and data
Queries and uploaded files go to a service, so leave out client, patient or confidential data unless the privacy pages and your organisation's rules allow it. The help center has a privacy and data section worth reading first.
About the sources
Based on the vendor's published documentation, not hands-on testing. Its answers and citations were not tested here.
Alternatives
A conventional search engine gives you the sources directly. NotebookLM suits questions limited to documents you provide.
Official sources
The official pages this guide was written from. Read them for current features, limits and terms.