Grok vs Perplexity

Grok

• Following news and conversations on X as they happen
• Generating images and short videos alongside chat
• People who want email, files and calendar reachable from a chat

Perplexity

• Research questions where you want the sources behind each answer
• Follow-up questions that build on an earlier search
• Quick, current answers by voice or text on a phone

Grok

• Prices are from the US App Store listing, which does not state billing periods; the grok.com plans page showed no prices when read.
• On a paid plan, paid features pause when the weekly allowance runs out, unless you buy Extra Usage Credits, sold from $5 on the web.
• Companions are available in the iOS app only, with no plans to bring them to the web or Android, according to the Grok FAQ.
• The docs list the web, iOS and Android; no Windows or Mac app is mentioned.

Perplexity

• The plans page quotes annual-billing prices only: Pro at $17 and Max at $167 a month. The US App Store lists monthly subscriptions at $20.00 for Pro and $200.00 for Max.
• Pro and Max are described as for personal use only.
• Credits are sold separately in packs from $5.00 for 500 to $50.00 for 5,000.

Grok

Live answers from X and the web

Draws on X and the web for current news, trends and conversations, and can run advanced searches on X to show what people are saying.

Deep research and file analysis

Researches a question across the web and works with uploaded documents, spreadsheets, code, images, audio and video, up to 150 MB per file.

Grok Imagine

Generates images from text, creates short videos with sound and edits existing images. SuperGrok includes 720p, 30-second video and SuperGrok Plus adds 1080p.

Voice Mode

Spoken conversations with replies in real time and a choice of conversation styles. Paid plans allow longer voice sessions.

Connectors

Built-in OAuth connectors reach Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Drive, Outlook, OneDrive, Microsoft Teams, SharePoint and Salesforce, and custom MCP servers can be added.

Grok Bot

AI teammates that run on a persistent cloud computer with messaging, approvals, connectors and routines. The plans page lists Grok Bot access under SuperGrok.

Perplexity

Cited answers

Responds to questions with answers drawn from current web content and lists the sources used for each one.

Pro Search and Deep Research

Guided AI search modes for exploring a question in more depth than a single answer.

Thread follow-ups

Ask follow-up questions in the same thread so later answers build on earlier ones. Past threads are kept in your Library.

Assistant

Handles tasks such as drafting emails, scheduling appointments and booking reservations.

Perplexity Labs

Turns a request into a finished report or project rather than a short answer.

Voice

Ask questions by speaking instead of typing and get up-to-date answers back.

Grok

• Free$0

  Chat and Voice within free-tier limits. The docs describe Grok as free to start.

• SuperGrok Lite$10.00

  US App Store price; billing period not shown

  The entry paid tier. The plans page describes SuperGrok as everything in Lite plus more, without listing Lite's own features.

• SuperGrok$30.00

  per month (per Wikipedia; the App Store listing shows no period)

  5x longer chats, Expert mode with higher limits, 720p 30-second video, longer Voice conversations and Grok Bot access.

• SuperGrok Plus$100.00

  US App Store price; billing period not shown

  Everything in SuperGrok, with 1080p video, much higher usage across Chat, Imagine, Voice and Build, and priority access at peak times.

• SuperGrok Heavy$300.00

  US App Store price; billing period not shown

  Everything in Plus, with the highest usage, a larger team of collaborating agents and X Premium+ at no extra cost.

• EnterpriseCustom

  Sold through xAI sales, with team workspaces, custom retention policies and the option to disable personal workspaces.

Perplexity

• Free$0

  Cited answers, follow-up threads, a library of past searches and sync across devices.

• Pro$17

  per month, or equivalent, when billed annually

  Deep research, a choice of AI models, expanded Computer access, document and app creation, and higher usage limits and memory.

• Max$167

  per month, or equivalent, when billed annually

  Everything in Pro with the highest usage limits, 10,000 monthly credits, frontier models and priority access to new features.

• EnterpriseCustom

  Listed alongside Pro and Max on the plans page; pricing is not shown.

Grok

• Annual discount

  Annual billing costs less

  The grok.com plans page offers a "Save with annual" option on SuperGrok plans. The page did not display the amounts when it was read.

Perplexity

• Annual discount

  Lower monthly cost with annual billing

  Perplexity's plans page prices Pro at the equivalent of $17 a month when billed annually; the US App Store lists the monthly subscription at $20.00.