Perplexity vs ChatGPT: which is right for your business?
Use Perplexity when the job is finding and checking current information: every answer comes with numbered citations, which makes it quicker to verify claims against ASIC, ATO or industry sources. Use ChatGPT when you need to create something, such as drafts, analysis, spreadsheets, images or code, where research is one step among many. ChatGPT also searches the web, but Perplexity is built around search first. Both offer enterprise plans that exclude your data from training. For many teams, Perplexity complements a general assistant rather than replacing it.
Last reviewed October 2026
Side-by-side comparison
| Perplexity | ChatGPT | |
|---|---|---|
| Best at | Answering research questions with current, cited sources and quick follow-up searches. | Creating content and analysis: drafting, data work, images, code and multi-step tasks. |
| Plan structure | Free, Pro and Max for individuals; Enterprise Pro and Enterprise Max for organisations. | Free, Go, Plus and Pro for individuals; Business and Enterprise for organisations. |
| Citations | Numbered citations on every answer, with source filters for academic, social or specific sites. | Cites sources when it searches the web; not every answer uses search. |
| Training defaults | Enterprise data is not used for training; consumer users can turn off data use in settings. | Business, Enterprise and API data excluded from training by default; consumer users must check the setting. |
| Team and admin controls | Enterprise plans add SSO, user management, file retention settings and SOC 2 Type II assurance. | Business and Enterprise add SSO, workspace admin, connector controls and a data processing agreement. |
| Choice of models | Paid plans let users pick between models from several AI companies. | Uses OpenAI's own GPT models. |
| Writing and file work | Can draft and summarise uploaded files, but long-form writing is not its main strength. | Strong drafting, editing and data analysis, with code execution for spreadsheets and charts. |
| Browser and agents | Comet browser and an agent for multi-step web tasks. | Agent mode for multi-step tasks and the Atlas browser. |
| API access | Sonar API for adding cited search answers to your own products. | OpenAI API for text, image, voice and agent applications. |
Choose Perplexity if…
- →Staff do regular desk research and must check every claim against a source
- →You track regulatory, industry or competitor news and want current answers
- →You want to compare answers from several AI models in one tool
- →You need a cited-search API for your own product
Choose ChatGPT if…
- →Most of your AI use is drafting, editing and analysing documents or spreadsheets
- →You need images, voice or code alongside research
- →You want custom GPTs that package repeatable team tasks
- →You want one tool for the whole team rather than a specialist research tool
- →You need Enterprise data stored at rest in Australia
For Australian businesses
Both are US services billed in US dollars, so assess each under the Privacy Act 1988 before staff use them for work. Keep client names and confidential details out of research queries, especially on consumer plans. Perplexity's citations make it easier to check answers against primary Australian sources such as legislation.gov.au, the ATO or the OAIC, but always open the source for anything with legal or financial consequences. ChatGPT Enterprise offers storage at rest in Australia; Perplexity has not published an Australian residency option.
Our verdict
If your team does a lot of fact-finding, Perplexity is the better research tool because citations come first and it is quicker to verify. For everything else, including writing, analysis, images and coding, ChatGPT is the more complete assistant. A single general assistant is enough for most small businesses, and ChatGPT's web search covers occasional research. Add Perplexity for roles such as policy, marketing, sales and analysts whose daily work is research that must be checked against current sources.
Full reviews
Perplexity
Free plan + paidSearch & Research
An AI search engine that answers questions with a written summary and numbered citations to its sources, instead of a list of links. Follow-up questions keep the context of the search, and the company also offers the Comet browser and an agent for multi-step tasks.
Best for: Analysts and consultants doing frequent desk research with sources
Perplexity review →ChatGPT (OpenAI)
Free plan + paidGeneral Assistant
OpenAI's general-purpose AI assistant. It handles writing, coding, file and image analysis, data analysis and web research through a chat interface, with an API for building it into your own systems.
Best for: Small and mid-sized teams wanting one general assistant for everyday writing and analysis
ChatGPT review →
Frequently asked questions
Is Perplexity more accurate than ChatGPT?
Not necessarily, but it is easier to verify. Perplexity attaches numbered citations to each answer so you can check the original source quickly. Its citations sometimes do not fully support the claim, so you still need to open them. ChatGPT also cites sources when it searches, but not every answer uses search.
Can Perplexity replace ChatGPT?
For research-heavy roles, it can cover much of the daily work. For drafting long documents, analysing spreadsheets, generating images or writing code, ChatGPT is more capable. Most businesses choose one general assistant and add Perplexity only for staff who research constantly.
Does Perplexity train on business data?
Perplexity says Enterprise data is not used to train models, and enterprise plans include file retention settings, SSO and SOC 2 Type II assurance. Consumer users can switch off data use in their settings. Check the current enterprise terms and data processing agreement before staff upload confidential documents.
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Still deciding?
AI Lab Australia can trial both tools against your own documents and workflows, and set up the one that fits with the right privacy controls.