Perplexity vs ChatGPT vs Google vs Claude
| Perplexity | ChatGPT | Google Search | Claude | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary purpose | AI search with citations | General purpose AI assistant | Web search engine | Writing, reasoning, coding AI |
| Citation quality | Every answer cited with links | Citations when web search is active | Links to source pages | Citations via Brave Search |
| Data freshness | Real time on every query | Web search when triggered | Real time (largest index) | Web search when triggered |
| Writing quality | Good for research summaries | Strong, versatile | N/A | Best in class |
| Image generation | Yes (Pro tier, multiple models) | Yes (GPT Image, excellent) | ||
| Free tier | Unlimited basic + 5 Pro/day | Generous (GPT-5.2 access) | Fully free | Limited (no Opus model) |
| Pro plan | $20/mo | $20/mo (Plus) | Free (AI Pro: $19.99/mo) | $20/mo |
Bottom line
Perplexity is the best tool for research where you need every claim backed by a verifiable source. ChatGPT is the most versatile all in one AI tool. Google has the most comprehensive search index and is unbeatable for discovery and browsing. Claude excels at writing quality, complex reasoning, and developer tooling. Many power users combine two or more of these tools depending on the task.