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AI & ML

OpenAI vs Perplexity: Pricing Comparison 2026

Side-by-side pricing comparison of OpenAI and Perplexity. See all plans, features, and costs at a glance.

Bottom line: OpenAI starts at $0.0045/mo, making it $17/mo cheaper than Perplexity ($17/mo). Perplexity offers a free plan.

Last updated: August 31, 2026

Data compiled by Arthur Jacquemin
Updated August 31, 2026
Try OpenAI freeTry Perplexity freePrice updated yesterday
Best Value

Perplexity - Perplexity offers a free plan.

OpenAI vs Perplexity: Quick Pricing Facts

FeatureOpenAIPerplexity
Starting Price$0.0045/mo$17/mo
Number of Plans113
Free TierNoYes
Pricing Modelusage-basedfreemium
Annual DiscountN/AN/A

OpenAI is the more affordable option, starting at $0.0045/mo compared to Perplexity's $17/mo. Both are AI & ML tools with 14 combined pricing plans and 12 features compared.

Perplexity stands out with a free plan for getting started. OpenAI uses usage-based pricing while Perplexity uses freemium pricing, which may affect your total cost at scale.

Review the detailed tier-by-tier comparison above to see exactly which features are included at each price point and find the best fit for your AI & ML needs.

Pricing Plans
OpenAI
OpenAI
Try free
Perplexity
Perplexity
Try free
Tier 1
GPT-5.6 Sol
Custom pricing
Start with GPT-5.6 Sol
Free
$0/monthCheapest
Includes
  • Basic access to AI models
  • Limited usage
Start with Free
Tier 2
GPT-5.6 Terra
Custom pricing
Start with GPT-5.6 Terra
ProPopular
$17/monthCheapest
$17 / year
Includes
  • Access to the latest AI models
  • Select between Sonar and Claude Sonnet 4.6
  • Better for complex questions
  • Deeper sourcing from proprietary data
  • Usage limits best for most users
Start with Pro
Tier 3
GPT-5.6 Luna
Custom pricing
Start with GPT-5.6 Luna
Max
$167/monthCheapest
$167 / year
Includes
  • Automate complex tasks
  • Best answers with advanced AI models
  • Run deep investigations
  • Work with massive datasets
  • Priority access to new features
Start with Max
Tier 4
GPT-Image-2
Custom pricing
Start with GPT-Image-2
-
Tier 5
GPT-Realtime-2.1
Custom pricing
Start with GPT-Realtime-2.1
-
Tier 6
GPT-Realtime-2.1 mini
Custom pricing
Start with GPT-Realtime-2.1 mini
-
Tier 7
GPT-Live-Transcribe
$0/monthCheapest
Start with GPT-Live-Transcribe
-
Tier 8
GPT-Transcribe
$0/monthCheapest
Start with GPT-Transcribe
-
Tier 9
GPT-Realtime-Translate
$0/monthCheapest
Start with GPT-Realtime-Translate
-
Tier 10
Web search
Custom pricing
Start with Web search
-
Tier 11
Containers
Custom pricing
Start with Containers
-

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OpenAI

AI models for text, image, and code generation via API

View all OpenAI plans

Perplexity

AI-powered search engine with cited, real-time answers

View all Perplexity plans

What Reviewers Say

Frequently Asked Questions: OpenAI vs Perplexity

Which is cheaper, OpenAI or Perplexity?
As of September 2026, OpenAI starts at a lower price point. OpenAI starts at $0.0045/mo while Perplexity starts at $17/mo. However, the best value depends on the features you need at each tier.
How many pricing plans does OpenAI have vs Perplexity?
OpenAI offers 11 pricing plans, while Perplexity offers 3 plans. More plans typically means more flexibility to match your exact needs and budget.
Does OpenAI or Perplexity offer a free plan?
Perplexity offers a free plan, while OpenAI does not. If budget is a concern, Perplexity lets you get started at no cost.
Can I save money by paying annually for OpenAI or Perplexity?
Both OpenAI and Perplexity offer annual billing options. Check each plan's yearly pricing for potential savings compared to monthly billing.
What is the most popular Perplexity plan?
The Pro plan is Perplexity's most popular tier, priced at $17/mo. Key features include Access to the latest AI models, Select between Sonar and Claude Sonnet 4.6, Better for complex questions.
Does OpenAI or Perplexity offer custom enterprise pricing?
OpenAI offers a custom-priced enterprise tier for larger teams. Perplexity lists all its pricing publicly.
What pricing models do OpenAI and Perplexity use?
OpenAI uses a usage-based pricing model, while Perplexity uses freemium pricing. The right model depends on your team size and usage patterns.
AI Recommendations

Sources

  1. OpenAI Official Pricing- Vendor pricing page
  2. Perplexity Official Pricing- Vendor pricing page

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