How to use Perplexity AI — 2026 guide

Learn how to effectively use Perplexity AI for conversational search and AI assistance across web, mobile, and Firefox, with tips on access and

Quick reference summary - What it is: Perplexity AI is a conversational search and generative-AI assistant at https://www.perplexity.ai - Access: Web app, mobile apps, or built into Firefox (address bar shortcut) - Cost: Free tier available; Perplexity Pro (paid) around €20/month or an annual plan (2026 prices) - Best for: fast factual answers with source links, summaries, quick research, content ideas - Irish checks: follow Data Protection Commission guidance at https://www.dataprotection.ie and gov.ie AI pages for public-sector rules

Introduction

Perplexity delivers quick, sourced answers and a chat interface you can use for research, drafting, coding or homework. It's built around web-aware models that return citations and links so you can follow the trail. This guide shows how to use Perplexity in Ireland in 2026 — from signing up and making better prompts to using the Firefox add-on, checking privacy and comparing alternatives.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, check that you've got the basics:

Internet access — any modern broadband or mobile data connection will do.
A device — laptop, tablet, or phone. Perplexity runs in desktop browsers and on mobile apps.
An email account or social sign-in (Google/Microsoft) to create an account for saved history and Pro subscription management.
A browser — Chrome, Edge, Safari or Firefox. If you use Firefox, you can use its Perplexity integration (see steps below).
Awareness of Irish rules — check the Data Protection Commission (https://www.dataprotection.ie) and gov.ie AI pages for how public bodies and personal data should be handled.

Step-by-step: Getting started (web)

1. Open the web app: go to https://www.perplexity.ai. The home page shows a search/chat box. You can start without signing in, but signing up gives you history, preferences, and Pro management.

2. Create an account: click Sign up / Log in. You can register with email and password or use one-click sign-in with Google or Microsoft. For organisations, use a business email to keep work separate from personal use.

3. Pick a mode: Perplexity presents results like a search engine plus a chat. Type a natural language prompt — e.g., "Summarise the 2026 Irish budget housing measures" — and press Enter.

Perplexity typically gives a concise reply, often with bullets and numbered source links you can follow.

4. Follow sources: every factual answer includes clickable citations.

Click a link to open the original article or report. This is useful for verifying claims, quoting, or deeper reading.

5. Refine with follow-ups: you can ask follow-ups in plain English — "Show me the gov.ie press release on housing 2026" — and Perplexity keeps context for a few turns.

Step-by-step: Using Perplexity in Firefox

1. Update Firefox to the latest version from https://www.mozilla.org/firefox and restart the browser.

2. Access Perplexity via the address bar: click the downward arrow beside the search icon in the address bar and select "Perplexity." Then type your prompt directly into the address bar and hit Enter. That opens Perplexity-style results in a side panel or new tab depending on your settings.

3. Disable or remove if you don't want it: click the three horizontal lines (menu) at the top-right, choose Settings > Search, scroll to the "Search engine keywords" or search engine list. Uncheck Perplexity to disable it or select the entry and click Remove to delete it. To restore defaults, click "Restore default search engines."

Step-by-step: Mobile app and extensions

1. Install the app: search "Perplexity" in the iOS App Store or Google Play. Sign in with the same account for synced history across devices.

2. Use voice or text: mobile apps accept typed prompts and often support voice input. They replicate the web features — citations, conversation, and saved chats.

3. Browser extensions: if you use extensions, install Perplexity plugins cautiously. They can add context menus for quick lookups, but check permissions before enabling.

Costs, subscriptions and eligibility (2026 figures)

Perplexity has a free tier and a paid Pro plan—around €20 a month in 2026—with an annual option that cuts the effective monthly price. Pro usually adds higher request limits, faster responses, priority access to new features, and some advanced model options. Students and educators should check for discounts or campus licensing; business teams can ask Perplexity for enterprise pricing and terms.

Basically, how to subscribe:

Sign in at https://www.perplexity.ai.
Open Account > Subscription or click "Upgrade" in the app.
Choose monthly or annual billing, enter payment details (credit/debit card or business invoicing where offered) and confirm.

Privacy, data and Irish/EU rules

Perplexity may process and retain prompts to improve models unless you change the default settings or opt out. If you're handling personal data — whether Irish citizens or EU residents — follow Data Protection Commission guidance at https://www.dataprotection.ie. Public bodies in Ireland should consult gov.ie AI policy pages and the EU AI Act requirements; some high‑risk uses require documentation, risk assessments, and stronger controls.

To protect privacy:

Don't paste sensitive personal data into prompts (IDs, bank details, health records).
Use account settings to delete chat history when available.
For business use, consider enterprise controls like SSO, data residency, and contractual data processing terms.

How to write prompts that work

To get better answers, try this simple prompt structure:

Start with the task: "Summarise", "Compare", "Draft", "Explain".
Add context: length, audience, tone — e.g., "Summarise in 6 bullet points for a policy brief."
Ask for sources: "Include links and cite gov.ie or academic papers."

Examples:

"List five practical steps in 100 words to reduce energy use in a Dublin apartment, with links to gov.ie or SEAI pages."
"Compare two explanations of the EU AI Act and give me the key compliance items for an Irish SME."

Alternatives and quick comparison

Perplexity vs others:

OpenAI ChatGPT (ChatGPT Plus ~ €20/month) — broader creative writing and plugins; less emphasis on immediate source links unless using browsing features.
Google Bard — integrated with Google Search and Docs; strong at web facts and drafts.
Microsoft Copilot / Bing Chat — tied into Microsoft 365 and Edge; good for enterprise workflows.
Perplexity — quick factual answers with explicit citations; handy when you want to check sources fast.

Tips

Ask for sources every time if accuracy matters — Perplexity often includes numbered citations in the reply.
Use follow-up prompts to narrow or expand results — it's conversational, so iterate.
For long research, export or copy the citation list and open the primary sources for verification.
Keep a separate account for work and personal use if you handle sensitive or regulated info.
Check settings for model preferences and history retention; clear history if needed.

Common mistakes to avoid

Assuming every automated answer is correct — the AI can still hallucinate or misinterpret a source. Always click the linked sources.
Pasting confidential personal or client details — this risks privacy and possible regulatory breaches.
Using Perplexity alone for legal, medical, or regulated advice — get a qualified professional and use the AI for draft or background work only.
Relying on cached or out-of-date web sources — check the publication date of the source articles.
Not checking account permissions for browser or mobile integrations — extensions can request broad access.

Perplexity AI is a fast, source-focused assistant good for fact-checking, summarising and quick research. Use the web app or the Firefox integration for speedy lookups, upgrade to Pro if you need more capacity, and always verify claims by opening the citations. For Irish users, follow Data Protection Commission guidance at https://www.dataprotection.ie and the relevant gov.ie AI pages when handling personal or public-sector data.

This article was created with AI assistance.