ConsensusvsPerplexity
Two research tools, the same questions. Every answer comes from the official pages, with the date we checked. Nothing here is ranked.
last check 2026-10-10
Consensus
by Consensus
Consensus is an AI academic search engine that finds peer-reviewed papers and summarizes them with in-line citations; a beginner might try it to see what published studies say about a question.
All Consensus factsPerplexity
by Perplexity
Perplexity is an AI search engine that answers questions from real-time web results with numbered citations; a beginner might try it to look up a topic and then open the cited sources.
All Perplexity factsWhere they differ
- Search scopeConsensus: Peer-reviewed research papers (over 220 million; sources include Semantic Scholar, OpenAlex, Consensus's own crawl and publisher partnerships); optional Medical Mode subsetPerplexity: Real-time web search; Pro Search can be narrowed to Academic, Finance or your own files
- Export formatsConsensus: CSV, RISPerplexity: PDF, Markdown, DOCX
- PlatformsConsensus: WebPerplexity: Web, Mobile app, Desktop app
Confirmed for only one of the two so far: AI models, account. The table below shows which.
Same answer for both: free plan, file upload, traceable citations.
Plans and prices
As listed on each official pricing page, in the currency we were shown. No conversion, no rounding.
Consensus
- Free Free plan$0.00 / month
- Pro Paid, individual$144.00 / year, annual commitment
- Deep Paid, individual$540.00 / year, annual commitment
- Teams TeamPrice not confirmed
Perplexity
- Free (Standard) Free planPrice not confirmed
- Pro Paid, individual$17.00 / month, billed annually
- Max Paid, individual$167.00 / month, billed annually
Full comparison with sources
| Research | ||
| What it is for | ||
| What it is for | Consensus is an AI academic search engine that finds peer-reviewed papers and summarizes them with in-line citations; a beginner might try it to see what published studies say about a question. | Perplexity is an AI search engine that answers questions from real-time web results with numbered citations; a beginner might try it to look up a topic and then open the cited sources. |
| Good for | ||
| Editor's suggestion |
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| Cost | ||
| Free planA free plan that is not time-limited. Trials are listed separately. |
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| Plans and pricesOriginal currency and billing period. No conversion. |
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| AI models | ||
| AI modelsThe AI models the official pages name for this product. Line-ups change often, so check the date. |
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| Input and output | ||
| File uploadYou can give it files such as PDFs or documents. |
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| Checking facts | ||
| Traceable citationsAnswers link to the specific sources they rely on. |
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| Search scopeWhat it searches: the open web, academic papers, or both. |
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| Workflow | ||
| Export formatsFile formats you can download results in. |
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| PlatformsWhere the product is offered: web, desktop app, mobile app, or editor extension. |
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| Requirements | ||
| AccountWhether you need to sign up before using it. |
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| Not yet confirmed | ||
| Where it is availableCountries or regions where the provider says it can be used. |
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| Usage limitsHow much each plan lets you use it, in the official pages' own words. |
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| Context windowHow much text it can take in at once (a long document, a long chat). |
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| Sources and confidence | ||
| Confidence | Last checked 2026-10-10 Not yet confirmed: AI models, Account, Where it is available, Usage limits, Context window | Last checked 2026-10-10 Not yet confirmed: Where it is available, Usage limits, Context window |
What it is for
What it is for
Consensus:
Consensus is an AI academic search engine that finds peer-reviewed papers and summarizes them with in-line citations; a beginner might try it to see what published studies say about a question.
Perplexity:
Perplexity is an AI search engine that answers questions from real-time web results with numbered citations; a beginner might try it to look up a topic and then open the cited sources.
Editor's suggestion
Consensus:
- Editor's suggestion: Try summarising a document you are allowed to share, then check the summary against the original.
- Editor's suggestion: Use it to find sources on a specific question, then open each citation to confirm it says what the answer claims.
Perplexity:
- Editor's suggestion: Try summarising a document you are allowed to share, then check the summary against the original.
- Editor's suggestion: Use it to find sources on a specific question, then open each citation to confirm it says what the answer claims.
Cost
Free plan
A free plan that is not time-limited. Trials are listed separately.
Consensus:
- Supportedconsensus.appchecked 2026-10-10
Free plan
Perplexity:
- Supportedintercom.helpchecked 2026-10-10
Free (Standard) plan
Plans and prices
Consensus:
- Free (Free plan)$0.00 / month
- Pro (Paid, individual)$144.00 / year, annual commitment
- Deep (Paid, individual)$540.00 / year, annual commitment
- Teams (Team)Price not confirmed
- All plan details and sources
Perplexity:
- Free (Standard) (Free plan)Price not confirmed
- Pro (Paid, individual)$17.00 / month, billed annually
- Max (Paid, individual)$167.00 / month, billed annually
- All plan details and sources
AI models
AI models
The AI models the official pages name for this product. Line-ups change often, so check the date.
Consensus:
- Not yet confirmed
Perplexity:
- Sonar 2, GPT-5.6 Terra, GPT-5.6 Sol, Gemini 3.7 Flash, Claude Sonnet 5, Claude Opus 5, Kimi K3, GLM 5.3perplexity.aichecked 2026-10-10
Input and output
File upload
You can give it files such as PDFs or documents.
Consensus:
- Supportedintercom.helpchecked 2026-10-10
Plan not specified
Perplexity:
- Supportedintercom.helpchecked 2026-10-10
Plan not specified
Checking facts
Traceable citations
Answers link to the specific sources they rely on.
Consensus:
- Supportedintercom.helpchecked 2026-10-10
Plan not specified
Perplexity:
- Supportedintercom.helpchecked 2026-10-10
Plan not specified
Search scope
What it searches: the open web, academic papers, or both.
Consensus:
- Peer-reviewed research papers (over 220 million; sources include Semantic Scholar, OpenAlex, Consensus's own crawl and publisher partnerships); optional Medical Mode subsetintercom.helpchecked 2026-10-10
Perplexity:
- Real-time web search; Pro Search can be narrowed to Academic, Finance or your own filesintercom.helpchecked 2026-10-10
Workflow
Export formats
File formats you can download results in.
Consensus:
- CSV, RISintercom.helpchecked 2026-10-10
Perplexity:
- PDF, Markdown, DOCXintercom.helpchecked 2026-10-10
Platforms
Where the product is offered: web, desktop app, mobile app, or editor extension.
Consensus:
- Webintercom.helpchecked 2026-10-10
Perplexity:
- Web, Mobile app, Desktop appintercom.help +2checked 2026-10-10
Requirements
Account
Whether you need to sign up before using it.
Consensus:
- Not yet confirmed
Perplexity:
- Basic use without signing in; threads created while signed out are not saved long-term (visible 14 days); sign in to keep them in Historyintercom.helpchecked 2026-10-10
Not yet confirmed
Where it is available
Countries or regions where the provider says it can be used.
Consensus:
- Not yet confirmed
Perplexity:
- Not yet confirmed
Usage limits
How much each plan lets you use it, in the official pages' own words.
Consensus:
- Not yet confirmed
Perplexity:
- Not yet confirmed
Context window
How much text it can take in at once (a long document, a long chat).
Consensus:
- Not yet confirmed
Perplexity:
- Not yet confirmed
Sources and confidence
Confidence
Consensus:
Last checked 2026-10-10
Not yet confirmed: AI models, Account, Where it is available, Usage limits, Context window
Perplexity:
Last checked 2026-10-10
Not yet confirmed: Where it is available, Usage limits, Context window