Alternatives guide

Perplexity alternatives: AI search with sources, compared

Alternatives to Perplexity that answer from the web with sources include ChatGPT, Claude, Google's AI Mode and Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, Kagi Assistant, and the open-source Vane (formerly Perplexica). Bearly has web search with sources in one app with Claude, GPT, Gemini, and Grok, and your search query reaches the search provider without your name, account, or IP address.

Checked against each company’s own pages. We make Bearly, which this guide also covers.

Claude, GPT, Gemini, Grok, and more in one app, with a Zero Data Retention setting.

What Perplexity offers

Perplexity calls itself an AI-powered search engine, and each answer includes citations and links to the original sources. On Pro and Max you can pick models from several labs: as of November 11, 2026, Pro offers GPT-6.1 Sol, Gemini 3.8 Flash, Claude Sonnet 5.5, Grok 4.7, Kimi K3, GLM 5.3, and Nemotron 3.5 Super VL, and Max adds GPT-6 Astra, Gemini 4 Carbon, Claude Opus 5.5, and Claude Fable 5.2. On Free, you can't choose an advanced model. (Perplexity: What is Perplexity?; Advanced AI models by plan)

On Free, Pro, and Max, AI data retention is on by default, and Perplexity may use your data to train AI models until you turn it off. Its privacy notice also lists browsing and search history among the data it shares with advertising partners for targeted ads. (Perplexity: Data Collection; Privacy Notice) Our Perplexity privacy guide covers every setting.

Perplexity alternatives at a glance

In alphabetical order, with what each company says about its own product:

  • Bearly has web search with sources in one app with Claude, GPT, Gemini, Grok, and more, plus deep research. Web search sends the provider your query, never your name, account, or IP address. We make Bearly, so weigh this entry with that in mind.
  • ChatGPT searches the web on every plan, even when you're signed out, and answers that use search may include citations. OpenAI says it doesn't share your IP address or account with third-party search providers, though it may share a general location. (OpenAI Help Center)
  • Claude searches the web on every plan, including Free, and every answer that uses web search includes citations. (Claude Help Center)
  • Gemini sometimes shows links to sources below its answers; not every answer includes them. (Gemini Apps Help)
  • Google AI Mode is the AI answer mode in Google Search, with links to web sources. When it isn't confident, it can show only web links. (Google Search Help)
  • Kagi Assistant can search the web with Kagi Search and offers models from Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, xAI, and others. Kagi doesn't pass your account to the AI provider and doesn't train on your chats. (Kagi: Assistant; Kagi: LLMs and privacy)
  • Microsoft Copilot searches the web, summarizes the top results, and lists hyperlinked citations below the answer. (Microsoft Copilot transparency note)
  • Vane (formerly Perplexica) is an open-source answer engine you run on your own hardware. It searches through SearxNG, can use local models through Ollama, and answers with cited sources. (Vane on GitHub)

Perplexity alternatives compared

What each company's own pages said on November 11, 2026. Plans and models change often; check the vendor's pages before you buy.

App Models Sources in answers Training on your chats Plans
Perplexity GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, and others on Pro and Max Citations in every answer On by default on Free, Pro, and Max; you can turn it off Free, Pro, Max
Bearly Claude, GPT, Gemini, Grok, and more Web search with sources Bearly doesn't train on your chats Free, Pro, Analyst, Research
ChatGPT OpenAI's GPT models Citations when it searches Used unless you opt out Free, Go, Plus, Pro
Claude Anthropic's Claude models Citations in every search answer Used if you allow it Free, Pro, Max, Ultra
Gemini Google's Gemini models Sometimes Used while Keep Activity is on, the default for adults Free; Google AI Plus, Pro, Ultra
Google AI Mode Google's Gemini models Links to web sources Not checked Gemini 4 Carbon needs Google AI Ultra
Kagi Assistant Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, xAI, and others Searches with Kagi Search Kagi doesn't train on your chats Kagi plans; premium models on Ultimate
Microsoft Copilot Not checked Hyperlinked citations Not used to train foundation models (personal accounts) Not checked
Vane Local models through Ollama, or hosted models you connect Cited sources Runs on your own hardware Free and open source (MIT)

Sources for every cell are listed at the end of this guide.

What goes to the search provider

When an AI app searches the web, your question, or a rewrite of it, goes to a search provider. What else goes with it differs:

  • Bearly sends the search provider your query, never your name, account, or IP address.
  • ChatGPT sends rewritten queries to its search partners, without your IP address or account information, but may share a general location based on your IP address. If memory is on, saved memories can shape the query. (OpenAI Help Center)
  • Kagi Assistant doesn't pass your account to the AI provider. (Kagi)
  • Vane runs on your own hardware and searches through SearxNG. (Vane on GitHub)
  • Perplexity is the search engine itself, so your questions go to Perplexity, and its privacy notice lists search history among the data it shares with advertising partners. (Perplexity Privacy Notice)

Use Bearly with zero data retention

Bearly gives you Claude, GPT, Gemini, Grok, and more in one app, with web search with sources. With ZDR mode on, every chat model you can pick runs with zero data retention. That means the provider running the model doesn't keep your prompt or the answer once it has finished processing them. Our AI proxy doesn't store your prompts or the answers either. Bearly doesn't train AI models on your chats, has no ads, and doesn't sell your data.

To turn it on:

  1. In Bearly, open your account menu at the bottom of the sidebar and choose App Settings.
  2. Select Privacy & Security.
  3. Turn on Zero Data Retention only.
  4. Start a chat, choose a model from the model picker, and ask your question.

With the setting on, the picker shows only zero-retention models, and automatic fallbacks stay on them too. Each model carries a ZDR badge. The setting belongs to your account, so it follows you to your other devices. (Bearly docs: zero data retention)

What it covers: the models that write chat replies. Web search, image generation, voice, and memory run separately. Web search sends the provider your query, never your name, account, or IP address. Image search runs on a provider that keeps nothing after it answers. Your chats are still saved in your Bearly history so you can come back to them. In the same pane, select Set up end-to-end encryption, and new chats are encrypted on your devices; we store and sync only the locked copies.

Questions people ask

Who competes with Perplexity?

ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Google's AI Mode, Microsoft Copilot, and Kagi Assistant all answer from the web with sources, and Vane is an open-source answer engine you run yourself. Bearly has web search with sources in one app with Claude, GPT, Gemini, and Grok, and doesn't train AI models on your chats.

Is there a free alternative to Perplexity?

Yes. ChatGPT and Claude search the web on their free plans, and Vane is free and open source. Bearly has a free plan too; sign up with a personal email address, and no credit card is needed.

Is there an open-source alternative to Perplexity?

Yes. Vane, formerly called Perplexica, is an open-source answer engine under the MIT license. You run it on your own hardware; it searches the web through SearxNG, can use local models through Ollama, and answers with cited sources.

Does ChatGPT search the web like Perplexity?

Yes. ChatGPT can search the web on every plan, including Free, and even when you're signed out. It searches on its own when a question needs current information, or you can choose Search from the tools menu. Answers that use search may include citations.

Which AI search doesn't train on my searches?

Bearly doesn't train AI models on your chats, and Kagi doesn't train on Kagi Assistant chats. Perplexity can use your data for training on Free, Pro, and Max until you turn off AI data retention in your account's Preferences.

Can I use several AI models for search in one app?

Yes. Bearly puts Claude, GPT, Gemini, Grok, and more in one app with web search with sources, and with ZDR mode on, every chat model you can pick runs with zero data retention. Perplexity's Pro and Max plans also let you pick models from several labs, and Kagi Assistant offers models from Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, and xAI.

Related

Sources

All checked November 11, 2026, unless noted.

Try ZDR mode on your next question.

Claude, GPT, Gemini, Grok, and more in one app. Turn on Zero Data Retention only in Settings, then pick a model.

How privacy works in Bearly

Get Bearly

Choose how to continue

Continue in your browser to start using Bearly. Desktop downloads are available from the footer.

Continue in browser