ChatGPT vs Perplexity: price, free plan and which to pick

Catalog facts. Choose for your task.

Catalog facts by tool · Prices checked Oct 18, 2026
Catalog field	ChatGPT	Perplexity
Price	Free · Plus $20/mo	Free · Pro $20/mo
Free tier	Yes · limits apply	Yes · limits apply
Listed uses	Plan dinners with what is in my fridge Find a gift for grandma Write a script to lower my internet bill	Research a gift for grandma Compare products with source links Find sources for an everyday question
Tasks where it is the pick	Explain a medical term Make a cleaning checklist Plan a restaurant menu Translate a document Write a wedding speech	Find a gift

Which to pick

First picks in our published task catalog; these are editorial matches, not hands-on test results.