Is Perplexity Pro Worth It? My 2 Years Review

Key takeaways:

• Pro plan gives way more credits, more AI models, and image generation
• API access with $5 credit is a hidden perk for automation fans
• Some UI quirks, dropped models, and shorter answers can be annoying

I’ve been on Perplexity Pro for almost two years, so this is coming from real, daily use. If you’re wondering if the upgrade is worth your money or if the free version is enough, I’ll break down what’s good, what’s not, and what you actually get for $20 a month. 🤔

If you’re just browsing or need a few queries a day, you might not need Pro. But if you’re heavy into research, automation, or want the best AI models, things get interesting. Here’s my honest rundown.

Pro credits and why they matter if you use Perplexity a lot

The free version of Perplexity gives you 3–5 credits a day. That’s fine for light users, but I burn through way more than that. With Pro, you get 300 credits a day (some early users still get 600). I use Perplexity all day and rarely hit 100, so it’s basically unlimited for me.

If you’re the type who needs to run lots of queries, compare models, or do deep research, those extra credits mean you never have to worry about running out. It’s a relief not having to ration your questions or wait until tomorrow.

Multiple AI models in Perplexity Pro make a real difference

One of my favorite things: you can pick from a bunch of AI models in Pro. There’s Sonar (Perplexity’s own), GPT-4o from OpenAI, Claude 3.7 Sonnet, Groq, and Gemini 2.0 Flash from Google. They even add new models fast—Claude 3.7 Sonnet showed up right after launch.

You can set your default model, switch models for a specific answer, or even rewrite a response with another model. Some models are better for math, some for science, some for creative stuff. If you want to really get the most out of your AI, this flexibility is a big deal.

Deep research mode is a game changer for complex questions

Deep research is a newer feature and honestly, it’s really good for tough questions. It takes longer to answer, but it gives you a detailed, step-by-step breakdown. I use it when I need more than just a quick summary.

You can also rewrite any answer with a different model, which is handy if you want to see how Claude handles something compared to GPT-4o.

Image generation: a bonus for creative work

Pro users get access to image generation. There’s a button on the side—pick your style, enter a prompt, and you get an image in seconds. You can even choose between different image models like Flux, Playground, or DALL-E.

If you need quick illustrations, cover images, or just want to play around, this is a nice perk. Free users don’t get this at all.

API access: $5 credit every month for automation and bots

This is a hidden gem. With Pro, you get $5 in Perplexity API credit monthly. That’s enough to build chatbots, automate tasks, or integrate Perplexity into your own projects. The API gives you access to most of the models, and it’s cheap compared to other AI APIs.

If you’re into automation, you can build Chrome extensions, connect to make.com, or run your own bots. The API is reliable and online, and the $5 credit goes further than you’d think.

If you want to learn more about automating your workflow, check out how to create a new workflow in Zapier.

Things I dislike about Perplexity Pro (and what you should know)

AI model selection is inconsistent and sometimes models disappear

This one’s annoying. The list of available models changes a lot. One day Llama is there, next day it’s gone. Same with Mistral and others. If you rely on a specific model, you might wake up to find it missing.

You also have two different menus for picking models—one in the settings, one when starting a new search. The options aren’t always the same, and it’s confusing. I wish they’d just unify the UI.

Answers are often shorter than on the official sites

If you ask for a 1,000-word essay, Perplexity usually gives you less than that, even with Pro. You have to do some prompt tricks to get longer answers. On the official OpenAI or Claude sites, you get more detailed responses by default.

I think this is because Perplexity uses a lot of system prompts, which eats up the token limit. If you need long-form content, this might bug you.

If you’re looking for ways to get around content limits, sometimes using PDF conversion tools can help for document work.

Mobile version is missing features

The mobile app is handy, especially with voice input and a cleaner interface. But you can’t generate images on mobile, and some features are just missing. It feels stripped down compared to desktop.

UI quirks and model selection menus

Picking models is inconsistent. Sometimes you get all the options, sometimes just a few. After you get an answer, you can rewrite it with any model, but starting a new search gives you a different set of choices. It’s a minor thing, but it gets old fast.

For more on improving your workflow and getting around app limitations, see how to speed up your Windows.

Free version vs Pro: who should pay?

If you’re a casual user, the free plan is honestly enough. You get 5 credits a day, which covers basic searches and light research. If you’re just using it for homework, quick answers, or the occasional brainstorm, save your money.

But if you’re like me—using Perplexity for work, research, automation, or you want the best models and features—Pro is worth it. The API credit alone knocks the price down to $15/month if you use it.

If you want a totally free option, the Arc browser lets you use Perplexity as a search engine without logging in. Not as full-featured, but a cool workaround.

Table: Free vs Pro Features

Feature	Free Plan	Pro Plan
Daily credits	3–5	300 (sometimes 600)
AI models	Limited	All major models
Image generation	No	Yes
Deep research	No	Yes
API access	No	$5 credit/month
Model switching	No	Yes
Mobile app features	Limited	Somewhat better

FAQs

Is Perplexity Pro worth the $20 a month?

If you use it daily for research, automation, or need more credits and models, yes. For casual use, the free version is fine.

What’s the biggest perk of Pro?

Unlimited credits, access to all the latest AI models, image generation, and the $5 API credit for automation.

Does Perplexity Pro give longer answers?

Not really—answers are often shorter than on the official AI sites. You can prompt for more, but there’s a limit.

Can I use Perplexity Pro features on mobile?

Some, but not all. The mobile app misses out on image generation and a few other features.

What happens if a model I like disappears?

Models do get removed sometimes. There’s no way to guarantee a model will stick around, so be ready to adapt.

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If you want to optimize your daily workflow, check out how to speed up Windows easily or how to automate tasks with Zapier. Got questions or your own experience with Perplexity Pro? Drop them in the comments!