Real-time AI search engine and web search API for live data.

AI-powered answer engine for real-time, cited information and advanced research.
Exa: Real-time AI search engine and web search API for live data.. Perplexity AI: AI-powered answer engine for real-time, cited information and advanced research.. Both tools take different approaches to address similar needs.
Both offer a free or freemium plan. Exa is freemium and Perplexity AI is freemium.
The best choice between Exa and Perplexity AI depends on your specific needs. Compare their features, pricing, and target audience on this page to find the tool that best fits your use case.
Exa is primarily designed for businesses and professionals, while Perplexity AI is built for individuals.
Exa offers: Real-time AI search engine, Powerful Web Search API, Web Crawling API, SERP API. Perplexity AI offers: Real-time answers with cited sources, Perplexity Computer for autonomous, multi-model AI workflows, Access to advanced AI models (GPT-5.1, Claude Opus 4.5, o3-pro, etc.), File upload and analysis (PDFs, spreadsheets, reports).
Based on our data, Perplexity AI currently enjoys greater popularity. However, popularity isn't the only factor — compare features to find the right tool for your needs.