# Kagi vs Perplexity

> Kagi: Ad-free, subscription-funded search engine with built-in AI assistant and summarization tools
> Perplexity: AI answer engine that searches the live web and cites its sources

- Kagi profile: https://finderatlas.com/tools/kagi
- Perplexity profile: https://finderatlas.com/tools/perplexity
- Comparison page: https://finderatlas.com/compare/kagi-vs-perplexity
- Last reviewed: October 2026

## Verdict

Kagi and Perplexity are both AI Assistants tools. Perplexity scores higher in FinderAtlas's editorial review (8.7 vs 8.1 out of 10). Both have a free plan or trial.

### Choose Kagi if

- You want a tool built for people who want ad-free, personalizable search results and are willing to pay a subscription to get them.
- No advertising; revenue comes from subscriptions.
- Site-level raise, lower and block controls let users tune results.

### Choose Perplexity if

- You want a tool built for answering factual and current-events questions with checkable sources, and running multi-step web research.
- Every answer links to numbered sources, so claims are easy to check.
- Free plan includes search with citations.

## Pricing

| | Kagi | Perplexity |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pricing model | Free trial | Freemium |
| Free plan or trial | Yes | Yes |
| Starting price | $0 | $0 |

## Features

| Feature | Kagi | Perplexity |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Ad-free search | Yes | Not listed |
| Site personalization | Yes | Not listed |
| Lenses | Yes | Not listed |
| Kagi Assistant | Yes | Not listed |
| Quick Answer and Summarize Page | Yes | Not listed |
| Developer APIs | Yes | Not listed |
| Orion browser | Yes | Not listed |
| Kagi Translate and Kagi News | Yes | Not listed |
| Cited answers | Not listed | Yes |
| Pro Search | Not listed | Yes |
| Research | Not listed | Yes |
| Model selection | Not listed | Yes |
| File uploads | Not listed | Yes |
| Perplexity Computer | Not listed | Yes |
| Comet browser | Not listed | Yes |
| Perplexity API | Not listed | Yes |

## Platforms

| Platform | Kagi | Perplexity |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | No | No |
| macOS | No | No |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Browser Extension | No | No |

## Kagi strengths

- No advertising; revenue comes from subscriptions.
- Site-level raise, lower and block controls let users tune results.
- Lenses give quick topic-specific filtering such as Academic or Forums.
- Ultimate bundles access to Claude, GPT and Gemini models in Assistant.
- Public APIs and an MCP server support developer use.
- Transparent funding history published by the company.

## Kagi limitations

- No permanent free tier: the trial is limited to 100 searches.
- The $5 Starter plan caps searches at 300 per month, which users report running out of quickly.
- Reviewers report that lens use and loading more results can count as extra searches.
- Full AI model access requires the $25 Ultimate plan.

## Perplexity strengths

- Every answer links to numbered sources, so claims are easy to check
- Free plan includes search with citations
- Paid plans offer a choice of advanced models from several providers
- Available on web, iOS, Android and through a developer API
- Separate Comet browser integrates the assistant into browsing

## Perplexity limitations

- Free plan is limited to 3 Pro Searches per day and 1 Research query per month
- Pro and Max limits are described as weekly or monthly allowances rather than fixed numbers
- Max costs $200 per month, and Enterprise Max costs $325
- Answers can still contain errors, so the cited sources need checking

## FAQ

**Is Kagi better than Perplexity?**

It depends on your workflow. Kagi is built for people who want ad-free, personalizable search results and are willing to pay a subscription to get them. Perplexity is built for answering factual and current-events questions with checkable sources, and running multi-step web research.

**What are the key feature differences between Kagi and Perplexity?**

Kagi: Ad-free, subscription-funded search engine with built-in AI assistant and summarization tools. Perplexity: AI answer engine that searches the live web and cites its sources.

**Does Kagi or Perplexity have a free plan?**

Yes, both do. Kagi is free trial and Perplexity is freemium, and each has a free plan or trial.

**Which is cheaper, Kagi or Perplexity?**

Both can be used for free. Paid plans differ in limits and features, so compare the tiers in the pricing table above.