Exa vs Perplexity
A side-by-side look at 2 AI & ML tools for 2026 — the verdict, pricing, ratings, features, and what readers think.
E
exa.ai
A web search API built for AI agents: fast, accurate retrieval with token-efficient page contents and deep research in one endpoint.
Visit ExaHead to head
| Exa | Perplexity | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $4/1k requests | — |
| Free tier | Yes | — |
| Free trial | Free plan: $10 credits monthly plus $10 bonus, no card | — |
| Platforms | Web · API | — |
| HQ | San Francisco, USA | — |
Features compared
| Exa | Perplexity | |
|---|---|---|
| Plans & pricing | ||
| Free tier | ✓ Yes | — |
| Pricing model | Per usage | — |
| Platforms & access | ||
| Web app | ✓ Yes | — |
| Integrations & extensibility | ||
| Public API | ✓ Yes | — |
| Security & compliance | ||
| SOC 2 | ✓ Yes | — |
| GDPR compliant | ✓ Yes | — |