A detailed comparison of Consensus and Perplexity to help you choose the right tool for your needs.
AI search engine that finds and summarizes evidence from scientific research papers.
| Plan | Consensus | Perplexity |
|---|---|---|
| Free Tier | ✓ 20 searches/mo | ✓ Free with limited Pro searches |
| Lowest Paid | $8.99/mo | $20/mo (Pro) |
| Enterprise | Custom pricing | Custom pricing |
| Feature | Consensus | Perplexity |
|---|---|---|
| Evidence-based search | ✓ | — |
| Paper summaries | ✓ | — |
| Consensus meter | ✓ | — |
| Citation export | ✓ | — |
| Copilot feature | ✓ | — |
| 200M+ papers | ✓ | — |
| AI search | — | ✓ |
| Cited sources | — | ✓ |
| Follow-up questions | — | ✓ |
| Collections | — | ✓ |
| Focus modes | — | ✓ |
| File upload | — | ✓ |
| Image generation | — | ✓ |
| API | — | ✓ |
| Copilot mode | — | ✓ |
| Threads | — | ✓ |
| Open Source | ✗ | ✗ |
| Rating | ⭐ 4.2 | ⭐ 4.4 |
Choose Consensus if: You need anyone needing evidence-based answers from scientific literature. Consensus excels with its evidence-based and peer-reviewed sources.
Choose Perplexity if: You need research and fact-finding. Perplexity stands out with its sourced answers and great for research.
Best free option: Both Consensus and Perplexity offer free tiers. Consensus offers "20 searches/mo" while Perplexity offers "Free with limited Pro searches".
It depends on your needs. Consensus is better for anyone needing evidence-based answers from scientific literature, while Perplexity is better for research and fact-finding. Both are excellent tools rated 4.2 and 4.4 respectively.
Consensus starts at $8.99/mo while Perplexity starts at $20/mo (Pro). Both offer free tiers.
Most tools offer import/export features to help you migrate. We recommend trying Perplexity's free tier before fully committing to a switch.
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