In short
How they differ.
Worked out from the makers' own pages, read Oct 20, 2026. Prices change; check before you pay.
- Only Perplexity has a free plan.
- DeepSeek also has a web.
- Perplexity shipped an update more recently (Oct 19, 2026).
Side by side
The details.
| DeepSeek | Perplexity | |
|---|---|---|
| Made by | DeepSeek · China | Perplexity AI · United States |
| What it says it is | “Now live on our website, app, and API.” | “Perplexity Pro unlocks more ways to learn and get work done.” |
| Free plan | Not statedNot verified from a fetched page (see unverified). DeepSeek's own pages read did not state prices or a free/paid split. | YesFree (Standard): Pro Searches "3/day", Research Queries "1/month", "Practically unlimited basic searches". |
| Plans | Not shown | Standard (Free): freePro: not in US$Max: $200 a monthEducation Pro: $10 a monthEnterprise Pro: $40 a month |
| Runs on | web, app, API | Not stated |
| Latest update | DeepSeek-V4.1-Flash-1017: Wish-Driven Programming Made Real, Oct 17, 2026 | Ultrafast Computer models, Decisions API, and connector controls, Oct 19, 2026 |
| Its terms | “To provide you with our services, we directly collect, process and store your Personal Data in People's Republic of China.”What it does with your data · DeepSeek Privacy Policy | “Some data may be used to train AI models and improve search quality, unless you opt out through Account Settings”What it does with your data · Perplexity Help Center: Data Collection at Perplexity |
| Disputes | None on file | None on file |
| Sources | Prices, Oct 20, 2026 · Description · company-reported | Prices, Oct 20, 2026 · Description · company-reported |
More comparisons