How to Decide If Perplexity Pro Is Worth Your Money

Key takeaways:

• UI changes often and can be confusing
• Features differ between mobile, web, and desktop
• Context window limits long document analysis

Thinking about dropping cash on Perplexity Pro? I’ve been using it for almost two years, and yeah, I like it. But before you hit subscribe, you need to know what you’re really getting. There’s a lot to love, but also some stuff that’ll make you scratch your head. Let’s break it down, so you don’t regret that monthly bill.

Why I Like Perplexity Pro but Still Have Issues

I’m not here to bash Perplexity Pro—I actually enjoy most of what it does. Fast research, multiple AI models, even a $5 Sonar API credit every month. The little features stack up, and on paper, it sounds like a dream for anyone who needs answers quick.

But if you’re expecting a flawless AI tool, you might want to pump the brakes. There are some problems that just don’t seem to go away, and honestly, they can get annoying. Here are the main things that bug me, and probably a lot of other users too.

UI Changes All the Time and It Gets Annoying

Perplexity loves to tinker with its interface. Sometimes it’s for the better, but often it just makes things confusing. Features get moved or disappear without warning. For example, the writing mode—a feature some people loved—just vanished. No warning, no option, just gone. You’re left hoping your favorite tool doesn’t get axed next.

They also changed how you generate images. It used to be a button right there, now it’s hidden away and not obvious at all. If you want to keep up, you have to relearn the layout every couple of weeks. It’s like playing hide and seek with your own productivity tools.

If you’re the type who likes consistency, this is going to drive you nuts. You might want to reset your settings every now and then just to keep things clean.

Features Are Not the Same Everywhere

This is where things get weird. Perplexity is on mobile, web, and desktop, but the features don’t line up. On mobile, you get voice mode—talk to the AI and get answers in a natural voice. Sounds cool, right? But you won’t find this on desktop or web. No voice mode for you if you’re not on your phone.

Flip it around: the image generation tool is only on desktop and web, not on mobile. So if you’re trying to generate images on your phone, you’re out of luck. It’s like buying a full-access pass but finding out some doors are locked depending on what device you use.

If you’re only using one platform, you’ll want to know what’s missing. Maybe you’re used to syncing features across devices, but here, you’ll need to adjust your workflow. If you’re switching between devices, you’ll feel the pain.

Context Window Is Small Compared to the Competition

Let’s talk about the context window—the amount of info the AI can read and remember at once. Gemini can handle up to 2 million tokens. That’s like feeding it an entire book and asking questions about any detail. Perplexity? You’re capped at 32,000 tokens. That’s not tiny, but it’s nowhere near what some competitors are doing.

If you’re planning to use Perplexity for reading long documents or books, you’ll hit that wall fast. I’ve tried feeding it big files, and sometimes the answers just don’t match the content because it can’t see everything. No matter which AI model you pick—GPT, Sonar, Gemini, Grok—the limit is the same.

If you need to work with long docs, you might want to split your files or just use ChatGPT or Claude directly, since they have bigger context windows.

Some Features Feel Like Filler

Perplexity sometimes adds stuff nobody asked for. The Discover tab is a good example—it just fills your homepage with random news, celeb gossip, or politics. You can’t control what shows up, and honestly, it just clutters the interface. If you want your homepage clean, you’ll have to ignore it or look for ways to remove unwanted content.

The Good Stuff: What Makes Perplexity Pro Stand Out

• Fast, accurate answers for most research tasks
• Multiple AI models in one platform
• $5 Sonar API credit every month
• Unlimited Pro search and file uploads
• Priority server access and ad-free experience

If you’re a power user who needs quick research and can deal with some quirks, you’ll probably still like it.

Table: Perplexity Pro Features vs. Frustrations

How to Work Around Perplexity’s Limitations

• Bookmark the help docs and keep an eye out for UI changes.
• If you need to process big files, break them up into smaller chunks. Here’s a guide to split large files.
• For features that disappear, check the official blog or Reddit for workarounds.
• If you want to keep your homepage clean, see how to remove unwanted news feeds.
• If you’re missing voice or image generation, try using the web and desktop together, or look for third-party tools.

Should You Buy Perplexity Pro?

If you want a fast, multi-model AI tool and can handle the quirks, go for it. If you need stability, consistent features across devices, or want to process huge files, you might want to look elsewhere or just use the free version first.

FAQs

Is Perplexity Pro the same on mobile and desktop?

Nope. Some features like voice mode are mobile-only, while image generation is desktop/web-only.

Does Perplexity Pro support long documents?

Only up to 32,000 tokens. If your document is longer, the AI might miss details or ignore your instructions.

Can I get rid of the Discover news on the homepage?

Not really. It’s just part of the homepage, but you can try to remove other unwanted news if you’re annoyed by clutter.

What happens if a feature I like disappears?

You’re out of luck. Perplexity can remove or move features at any time, so be ready to adapt.

Is the Sonar API credit useful?

If you’re a developer or like to tinker with APIs, the $5 Sonar credit is a nice bonus every month.

Hope this helps you make a smarter choice before you buy. Any other questions? Drop them in the comments or check out my other guides! 🚀