The AI Tool Shelf
Rachid Amesrouy- Perplexity answered our four questions in 1 to 6 seconds, using 15 to 25 sources each time.
- The two news sources we opened were real and matched the answer.
- On the Moroccan passport photo it got the 35 × 45 mm size and background right, but said one photo instead of the three applicants are asked for.
- It understood a question in Moroccan Darija and answered in Darija; Pro costs $17/month billed yearly.
Perplexity is an AI search engine: instead of a list of links, it searches the web and writes an answer with numbered sources. The real question is whether those answers are correct and the sources real. We tested the free plan in October 2026 with four questions, including one where our tester is a genuine expert: Rachid Amesrouy has run a photo lab in Morocco since 2007 and takes passport photos every day.
The short verdict
| Test | Speed | Sources | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| This week's AI news | 6 s | 25 | ✅ Dated stories; the two sources we opened were real and matched |
| Moroccan passport photo | 2 s | 15 | ⚠️ Size and background right; number of photos wrong |
| Question in Moroccan Darija | 2 s | 15 | ✅ Understood and answered in Darija; missed one tool and one detail |
| Comparing free plans | 1 s | 15 | ✅ Gamma details matched our own test |
Signing up and the free plan
Sign-up with a Google account takes seconds, followed by a plans page. The free plan is described as "ideal for limited daily use and simple questions", with citations in every answer and basic AI models. Pro costs $17/month billed yearly and adds deeper research, the best models, model choice and access to Perplexity's new Computer agent; Max costs $167/month billed yearly. Both paid plans were showing limited-time bonus credits for Computer.
Expect upgrade nudges: after our first question, a "This question seems difficult, try a more powerful model" box and a full-screen pop-up for Computer appeared. Later the free account also got a temporary free preview of advanced search. You can close all of these and keep using the free plan.
Test 1: this week's AI news
In 6 seconds and from 25 sources, Perplexity picked Anthropic's IPO filing (dated October 26, sourced to the Wall Street Journal), OpenAI's GPT-6.1 Terra and SK hynix's AI-driven earnings. Each story had a date and a linked source, and it suggested follow-up questions. We opened two of the sources: both pages existed and said the same thing as the answer.
For comparison, when we asked ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude the same question, each picked a different set of stories. Perplexity's answer was the quickest and the most clearly sourced.
Test 2: a question for an expert
Perplexity listed the application form, the 16-digit e-stamp (e-timbre) payment code and a copy of the electronic ID card (CNIE), and a photo table: 35 × 45 mm, a plain blue, white or light grey background, facing forward, recent. It also separated applications made inside Morocco from those made at a consulate abroad and advised checking the consulate's own page.
Our photo-lab tester confirmed that the size and background were correct. But Perplexity said one photo is needed in Morocco; in practice, applicants in Morocco are asked for three photos. Someone who trusted the answer would arrive one or two photos short. A small error, but exactly the kind a confident, well-sourced answer can hide.
Test 3: a question in Moroccan Darija
Perplexity understood the Darija question and answered in Darija, which most AI tools don't do. It gave a table of tools (Suno, Udio, BandLab, ACE-Step and Mureka) with their free plans, a five-step method and a ready-to-use style prompt ("Moroccan chaabi pop, warm oud, darbuka groove…"), and a useful warning that free plans usually don't include commercial rights.
Two gaps, compared with our own tests of AI music tools: it did not mention EasyMusic, which gave us the best Arabic singing, and it said Mureka offers free daily generation, while our free account had a small one-off balance of credits.
Test 4: comparing free plans
In one second it produced a clear table and a "which one to choose" summary. The Gamma details matched our own Gamma test exactly: 400 one-time credits, free PDF and PowerPoint export, and a "Made with Gamma" badge on free exports. For Ideogram it reported 30 free credits a week and that free images are public, which agrees with what we saw.
Other things we noticed
- Every claim carries a small source tag you can click, and a counter shows how many sources were used.
- You can export any answer to PDF, Markdown or Word (DOCX) for free.
- Some sources are lesser-known blogs rather than official pages, so check which site a key number comes from.
Pros and cons
| 👍 Pros | 👎 Cons |
|---|---|
| Very fast (1-6 seconds) | Confident small errors (1 passport photo instead of 3) |
| Real, clickable sources that matched | Some sources are minor blogs |
| Understands and answers in Moroccan Darija | Frequent upgrade pop-ups |
| Free export to PDF, Markdown and Word | Free plan uses basic models |
The verdict
Perplexity is the best free tool we have tested for quick, sourced answers about things that change: news, prices and plans. Its sources were real, its comparison of free plans matched our own tests, and it even answered in Darija. But our photo-lab test showed the limit of any AI search engine: an answer can be fast, neat and well-sourced and still get one practical detail wrong. Use Perplexity to find and summarise, then check the official page before anything important, like a passport appointment.