DeepSeek vs Perplexity
DeepSeek and Perplexity compared on what matters day to day: price, features, apps and privacy.
Data as of October 22, 2026
Side-by-side comparison
| Criterion | DeepSeek | Perplexity |
|---|---|---|
| Developer | DeepSeek | Perplexity AI |
| Country | China | United States |
| Launched | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Free version | Yes | Yes, limited |
| Plans | Not disclosed | from $10 / month |
| Web search | Yes | Yes |
| Agent mode | Not disclosed | Yes |
| File upload | Yes | Yes |
| Image generation | No | Yes |
| Voice mode | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Memory | Not disclosed | Yes |
| Code execution | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Autonomous browsing | Not disclosed | Yes |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| macOS | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Browser extension | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| French interface | Yes | Yes |
| Spanish interface | Yes | Yes |
| Opt out of training on your chats | Yes | Yes |
| Temporary chat | Not disclosed | Yes |
| EU data residency | No | Not disclosed |
Who are they?
DeepSeek is made by DeepSeek; Perplexity by Perplexity AI. Both answer questions, write and summarise, but their plans, features and privacy rules differ.
DeepSeek runs on DeepSeek-V4-Pro and DeepSeek-V4-Flash; Perplexity runs on Sonar.
DeepSeek’s developer is based in: China. Perplexity’s developer is based in: United States.
Survey carried out on October 22, 2026 from the official pages of both services.
Price and free version
- DeepSeek: full free version
- Perplexity: limited free version
- DeepSeek: no publicly priced paid plan
- Perplexity: first paid plan at $10 per month
What they can do
Both offer: web search and file upload.
Perplexity also offers image generation, which DeepSeek lacks.
Not confirmed for one of the two: agent mode, memory and autonomous browsing.
In total, of the 8 features we track, 2 are confirmed for DeepSeek and 6 for Perplexity. A feature may only be available on a paid plan: check before you subscribe.
Apps and languages
Both available on: Web, iPhone and Android.
Privacy compared
Both allow: opt out of training on your chats.
In short
The best way to decide is still to try both free versions on the same task. To widen the choice, use the AI assistants comparison or the which-AI quiz.
- Choose DeepSeek for coding and writing and rewriting.
- Choose Perplexity for teamwork.
Other comparisons
Frequently asked questions
DeepSeek or Perplexity: which one is free?
DeepSeek: full free version. Perplexity: limited free version.
Which one is cheaper?
A direct comparison is not possible (unpriced plan or different currencies). DeepSeek: no publicly priced paid plan. Perplexity: first paid plan at $10 per month.
Which one protects my data best?
Perplexity, with 2 of three safeguards confirmed (training opt-out, temporary chat, EU data residency), versus 1.
Which one should I choose?
Choose DeepSeek for coding and writing and rewriting. Choose Perplexity for teamwork.
Data sources
Data as of October 22, 2026
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