Perplexity Beginner’s Guide 2025: Get Started with the AI Chatbot and Master It in 10 Minutes Easily

Tired of AI chatbots making stuff up? Yeah, me too.

That’s why Perplexity AI feels so refreshing. It’s not just another chatbot, but more like an AI answer engine. It gives you real answers and actually shows where they come from.

In this beginner’s guide, we’ll walk through how to use Perplexity step by step. You’ll learn how to sign up, how to use its “Focus” feature, and how to check its sources. It’s all pretty simple once you know where to look.

By the end, you’ll know how to get quick, reliable answers without the usual guesswork.

What is Perplexity? The AI Answer Engine Explained

Perplexity AI is a new way to find information. Think of it as an AI answer engine. It’s not a search engine like Google, and it certainly isn’t a creative chatbot like ChatGPT. It sits somewhere in between, pulling real information from the web in real time.

Here’s what makes it special: Perplexity doesn’t just list links. It gives you a direct answer and then shows you where that answer came from. You can check the sources yourself. You’re getting proof.

Behind the scenes, Perplexity runs on some of the best AI models out there, including GPT-5, Gemini 2.5 Pro, Claude Sonnet 4.5, and its own Sonar model fine-tuned for deep research.

That means it can really understand your questions, pull info from multiple places, and give you a single, clear summary that actually makes sense.

Also Read: These 9 Secret and Super-Useful macOS Settings Will Boost Efficiency and Save You Time

Perplexity vs. Google vs. ChatGPT: What’s the Difference?

You might be thinking, “Why not just use Google?”

Well, Google gives you a list of links. You have to click through each one, hunt for the answer, and deal with ads and clutter along the way. It works, but it’s slow. Perplexity skips all that. It reads the links for you and gives you the answer right away.

So, what about ChatGPT? ChatGPT is great for creative stuff: it can write stories, poems, and even bits of code. But it doesn’t always show where its answers come from, and sometimes it just makes things up. Plus, its information can be a little out of date.

Perplexity is different. It’s built for facts. It focuses on accuracy and real-time information. If you want to brainstorm ideas, use ChatGPT. If you’re looking for a specific site, use Google. But if you want solid answers and reliable research, Perplexity is the one to open. It’s like getting the best parts of a chatbot and a search engine in one place.

How to Get Started: A 5-Step Perplexity Beginner’s Guide

Alright, let’s get hands-on. Here’s how to start using Perplexity step by step.

Step 1: Create Your Account

Head to the Perplexity website, or grab the app on iOS or Android. Signing up is free; you can use Google, Apple, or your email.

You don’t need a credit card, and the free version is more than enough to get started. You can ask as many questions as you want while you learn the ropes.

Step 2: Get Comfortable with the Interface

When you open Perplexity, you’ll see a clean, simple layout. The big search bar in the middle is where you ask your questions.

Right below it, you’ll notice a globe icon called “Set sources for search.” This tells Perplexity where to look for answers.

Here’s what each source does:

• Web: Searches the entire internet. This is the default.
• Academic: Finds research papers and scholarly articles.
• Social: Searches social media posts and forums.
• Finance: Finds SEC filings.

Always pick a source. It improves your answer quality.

You will also see a “Choose a model” option. You’ll have access to all the popular chatbot models, including the latest ones from OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google. Also, with the free plan, you can only attach three documents to your queries per day.

Step 3: How to Use Perplexity for Answers

Now for the fun part: ask your first question. Don’t type in short keywords like you would in Google. Instead, write full, natural questions. For example:

❌ “Mediterranean diet benefits”

✅ “What are the specific health benefits of a Mediterranean diet for heart health?”

Be specific. The more detail you give, the better your answer will be.

Perplexity will scan the web. It will read the top articles. Then, it writes a custom summary for you. It combines information from multiple sources. It’s like a super-fast research assistant.

Step 4: Check Your Sources

This is the part that makes Perplexity special. After it gives you an answer, you’ll see little numbers next to sentences. Those are citations.

Click a number and you’ll see exactly where the info came from, right down to the quoted text on the webpage. This lets you fact-check every answer instantly.

Make it a habit to check the sources. It’s how you avoid bad info and stay confident in what you’re reading.

Step 5: Ask Follow-Ups and Organize

Once you get your first answer, the conversation doesn’t stop there. Perplexity will suggest follow-up questions. You can click one or ask your own. Ask it to go deeper, simplify things, or compare topics.

When you find something worth keeping, click the “Spaces” button. You can create spaces for anything, like “Japan Trip,” “AI Tools,” or “Marketing Strategy.” It’s a great way to keep your research tidy and easy to revisit later.

Perplexity Free vs. Pro: Is the Upgrade Worth It?

The free version of Perplexity is seriously good. For most people, it’s all you’ll ever need. You can make unlimited searches and get solid answers without spending a cent.

But if you use Perplexity a lot, there’s also a Pro plan. It costs $20 a month or $200 a year, about the same as ChatGPT Plus, and it’s built for people who want to do deeper research.

The biggest perk? Hundreds of Pro Searches per day, which is huge if you’re doing ongoing research or complex projects.

Pro also lets you upload your own files: PDFs, text docs, even images. You can have Perplexity summarize a long report or answer questions about data in a chart. It’s like having your own AI research assistant.

Another cool feature is model selection. You can pick which AI model you want to use: GPT-5, Claude Sonnet 4.5, Gemini 2.5 Pro, or others. That gives you more control over how detailed or creative your answers are.

My take? Start with the free version and use it for a week or two. If you find yourself hitting the Pro Searches limit or needing more flexibility, the Pro plan is absolutely worth it.

Also Read: I Put ChatGPT Atlas and Perplexity Comet Browser to the Test – Here’s the Real Winner!

A Practical Example: How to Use Perplexity for Research

Let’s walk through a real example. Say you’re planning a trip to Japan.

Your question: “What are the top three neighborhoods to stay in Kyoto, Japan, for a first-time visitor?”

You could keep the Source set to “Web,” or switch to “Social” if you want to hear what real travelers are saying.

Next, you turn on Pro Search or Research. It might ask, “Are you looking for nightlife, quiet temples, or good food?” You reply, “Quiet temples and good food.”

A few seconds later, Perplexity gives you a clean summary: Gion, Higashiyama, and Arashiyama. It explains why each fits your preferences: Gion for its history, Higashiyama for peace and quiet, and Arashiyama for its scenic charm.

You notice a little citation number next to Gion. You click it, and it takes you to a trusted travel guide. You can see exactly where the info came from, no guessing.

Then you spot a suggested follow-up: “What’s the best way to travel between these neighborhoods?” You click it, and Perplexity keeps the conversation going.

When you’re done, you hit Save and add the whole chat to a new “Kyoto Trip” Collection. In just ten minutes, you’ve done the kind of research that used to take hours.

Tips, Tricks, and Limitations

You’re basically a pro now, but here are a few last tips to make sure you’re getting the most out of Perplexity.

Be specific. The quality of your question really matters. Asking “best laptop” won’t get you much. But if you say, “best laptop under $1000 for a college student majoring in engineering,” you’ll get a way better answer. Give the AI some context, and it’ll do the heavy lifting for you.

Use the Chrome extension. With the Perplexity Chrome extension, you can click a button to summarize any page you’re on, or ask questions about it right there. It’s great for quick learning without leaving your browser.

Check out Discover. The “Discover” feed shows what’s trending and what others are asking about. It’s a fun way to explore new ideas or see what’s buzzing in the AI world.

Know its limits. Perplexity isn’t for everything. It’s not the tool for writing songs or crafting jokes. ChatGPT is better for that. Perplexity shines when you need facts, clarity, and research.

And remember, even though it’s accurate most of the time, it can still misread a source now and then. That’s why checking citations is so important. It’s what separates a casual user from a skilled one, and now you’re definitely in that second group.

Also Read: I use Perplexity daily: Here are my Favorite 7 prompts that actually help

Your Next Steps with the AI Answer Engine

Now you know your way around Perplexity. It’s not just another search tool, but a whole new way to find answers, built for accuracy and trust.

You’ve learned what Perplexity is, how it stacks up against Google and ChatGPT, and the five simple steps to get started. You also know the difference between the free and Pro plans, so you can choose what fits you best.

There’s only one thing left to do: try it yourself. Open Perplexity, ask your first real question, and see how fast it gives you clear, sourced answers. No more scrolling through links; just straight answers that make sense!