Perplexity has introduced a new $200-per-month subscription tier called Perplexity Max, aimed at its power users.

Announced in a blog post on Tuesday, the plan offers unlimited access to the company’s Labs tool, used for generating spreadsheets and reports (1/3).

Subscribers to Perplexity Max will receive early access to new features, including Comet, an AI-powered browser.

The plan also provides priority access to services that run on advanced frontier models, such as OpenAI o3-pro and Claude Opus 4.

Competing in the AI Premium Tier Market

With the Max tier, Perplexity joins a growing list of AI companies offering high-cost plans to capitalize on usage from power users.

OpenAI was the first to introduce a $200-per-month plan with ChatGPT Pro. Google, Anthropic, and Cursor have recently followed with similar offerings.

Perplexity’s current subscription options include the $20-per-month Pro plan and a $40-per-month Enterprise Pro plan.

The company also plans to launch a Max plan specifically tailored for enterprise customers.

Revenue Growth Amid High Cash Burn

Perplexity reported approximately $34 million in revenue for 2024, driven largely by its $20 Pro plan.

However, the company spent about $65 million, primarily on cloud infrastructure and licensing access to AI models from OpenAI and Anthropic.

By January 2025, the company’s annual recurring revenue (ARR) reached $80 million, indicating business growth since the previous year.

Fundraising and Competitive Pressures

In May, Perplexity engaged in late-stage discussions to raise $500 million at a $14 billion valuation. It remains unknown whether that funding round has closed.

The AI search landscape is becoming more competitive. Google has recently promoted its AI-powered AI Mode search product, which resembles Perplexity’s app.

OpenAI has deepened its integration of search within ChatGPT and has reportedly explored launching a browser.

Strategy to Compete with Model Providers

Perplexity relies on partnerships with AI providers like OpenAI and Anthropic for access to leading models. At the same time, it competes with these companies in the AI search space.

The new Perplexity Max subscription could support the company’s efforts to strengthen its position by increasing revenue from high-tier users.

PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK

This article was created with AI assistance.