How to Use Perplexity AI on iPhone — The Complete Guide

I have used Perplexity AI on iPhone across commutes, during research sessions, and for quick fact-checks mid-conversation. The observation that keeps coming up is that most people who download the app use roughly twenty percent of what it offers. They tap, type a question, read the answer, and close it. That is a completely reasonable way to use it — but it misses the features that make Perplexity genuinely different from every other app on your home screen.

This guide covers everything: how to download and set up both apps, how to get the most from voice search, the six Focus modes that are completely free and dramatically improve result quality, Pro Search and Deep Research for deeper work, Spaces for ongoing projects, the new Comet browser, and the iPhone-specific shortcuts most users never discover. Whether you are on the free plan or considering Pro, this guide covers both.

Step 1 — Download Both Perplexity Apps on iPhone

Perplexity now offers two separate iPhone apps, both free. Download both before starting — and download Comet first, because new users who run a first search through Comet get one free month of Pro automatically.

• 1
  Download Perplexity AI — Search & Chat Open the App Store and search “Perplexity AI”. Developer: Perplexity AI, Inc. Requires iOS 17.0 or later. This is your main research app — all searches, Pro Search, Deep Research, Focus modes, Spaces, file upload, quizzes, and flashcards live here.
• 2
  Download Comet by Perplexity — AI Browser Search “Comet Perplexity” in the App Store. Launched March 18, 2026. A full web browser with Perplexity’s AI engine built into every browsing session. Download this one first — running your first Comet search upgrades your account to Pro free for one month, no card needed.
• 3
  Sign in to both apps with the same account Use Google, Apple ID, or email. Use the exact same account on both apps. This syncs all your search history, Spaces, Collections, and research threads across both apps and your desktop in real time.
• 4
  Claim your free Pro month via Comet Open Comet, tap the address bar, and run any search. Your account automatically upgrades to Perplexity Pro for one full month — no payment details required. Pro gives you ~300 daily Pro Searches and full Deep Research access on both apps.

Step 2 — Learn the Interface in 60 Seconds

The Perplexity AI app has four tabs at the bottom of the screen. Knowing what each one does before your first real search saves the confusion of discovering them by accident.

When you tap the search bar, a row of quick options appears above your keyboard before you submit. This row lets you toggle Focus mode, Pro Search, attach a file, and activate voice input. Setting these before you type — rather than after getting a generic answer — is the single most impactful habit change for any iPhone Perplexity user.

Step 3 — How to Run Your First Search

Tap the search bar and type in natural language. Perplexity is designed for questions, not keywords — the difference in result quality between these two styles is significant and immediately noticeable.

• Keyword style — less effective: “best budget laptop 2026” returns a generic roundup with no context about your situation.
• Question style — much better: “What is the best budget laptop under £700 for a university student who needs long battery life and uses Microsoft Office and Zoom daily?” — Perplexity returns a structured, cited answer addressing every dimension that actually matters to you.

Once the answer loads, you will see numbered superscripts throughout the text. Every number is a citation — tap it to open the original source and verify the claim directly. This is Perplexity’s defining feature and the habit that makes your research trustworthy rather than just fast.

Below the answer, Perplexity generates suggested follow-up questions tailored specifically to your query. These are usually the most efficient path deeper into the topic. Tap any to continue the thread — or type your own follow-up. Full context from the original question is maintained across every exchange in the thread.

Step 4 — How to Use Voice Search on iPhone

Voice search in Perplexity is a genuine research input method, not basic dictation. Spoken questions go through the same search engine as typed ones and return the same cited, structured answers. On a phone keyboard, voice is often the superior way to input a detailed question.

• How to activate: Tap the search bar to open it. Tap the microphone icon inside the input field. Speak your question at a natural, conversational pace.
• Auto-submit: Perplexity submits your question automatically after a short pause. You do not need to tap anything after speaking — just pause and wait.
• Use it for follow-ups too: Inside any existing thread, tap the microphone to speak a follow-up question. Perplexity maintains full context — your spoken follow-up builds on every exchange in the thread so far.
• Better for complex questions: Spoken questions are naturally more detailed and contextual than hurried mobile typing. “What does the latest research say about the long-term effects of ultra-processed food on gut microbiome diversity in adults over 40?” is much faster to speak than to type accurately on a small keyboard.
• Hands-free use: Works while commuting, walking, cooking, or any situation where typing is impractical. Perplexity voice on iPhone is one of the few apps where voice genuinely replaces typing rather than supplementing it.
• Voice in Comet browser: Comet has its own built-in voice mode. Tap the microphone in Comet’s interface and ask questions about whatever page you currently have open — the AI answers in context of your current tab without you switching apps.

Step 5 — How to Use Focus Modes on iPhone

Focus modes are completely free, available on every search, and produce a larger improvement in result quality than any other single setting in the app. Tap the globe or Focus icon below the search bar before submitting to choose where Perplexity searches.

Step 6 — How to Use Pro Search on iPhone

Pro Search turns Perplexity from a fast answer tool into a multi-step research assistant. It breaks your question into sub-queries, searches each separately, cross-references the results, and synthesises a significantly more thorough response. It takes 20–90 seconds — worth it for complex questions, unnecessary for simple lookups.

• How to activate: Tap the search bar → toggle Pro on in the options row below the input → then type or speak your question. The toggle must be set before you submit, not after.
• Free plan daily limit: Approximately 5 Pro Searches per day. Pro subscribers ($20/month) get around 300. Reserve your free allocation for genuinely complex, multi-part questions where the depth makes a real difference.
• Ideal Pro Search question on mobile: “Compare Sky, BT, and Virgin Media broadband deals available in London right now — monthly cost, average download speed, minimum contract length, and recent customer service ratings.” This would require opening five or more browser tabs manually. Pro Search handles it in 60 seconds with citations.
• When to use standard search instead: “What time does Boots close today?” or “Who wrote 1984?” — single-fact questions. Save Pro Search for questions with multiple dimensions that genuinely need multi-step reasoning.

Step 7 — How to Use Deep Research on iPhone

Deep Research is the most powerful feature in the Perplexity iPhone app and the one most users discover last. Rather than deepening a single query, it runs a full multi-stage research process — executing dozens of searches, reading source documents, identifying gaps, running additional searches to fill them, and then producing a structured long-form report with dense citations throughout. On complex topics it takes 1–3 minutes and returns work that would take hours manually.

• 1
  Tap the + icon or mode selector Tap the search bar to activate it. Tap the + icon or the feature selector in the options row that appears below the input field.
• 2
  Select Deep Research from the panel A panel of available modes appears. Tap Deep Research. A visual indicator confirms it is active before you submit your query.
• 3
  Submit a substantive research question Type or speak a question that genuinely needs depth — a comprehensive brief, competitive landscape, literature overview, or any topic where you’d normally spend hours researching manually.
• 4
  Wait 1–3 minutes — put your phone down A progress bar shows as Perplexity works. Come back when it finishes. The report arrives as a structured document with sections, a summary, and citations throughout — ready to read, share, or use as a working document.

Deep Research is available on Pro and Max plans. Free users receive a limited number of Deep Research queries per day — enough to experience the feature before deciding whether the upgrade is worth it for your workflow.

Step 8 — How to Use Spaces on iPhone

Spaces transform Perplexity from a one-off search app into a sustained research system. Create a Space for any ongoing project — a trip you are planning, a subject you are studying, a work project, a thesis — and every related thread saves inside it automatically, with context maintained across all sessions.

• Create a Space: Tap the Spaces tab at the bottom → tap the + button → give it a specific project name. “Japan Trip June 2026” is more retrievable than “Travel”. Specific names matter when you return weeks later.
• Add custom AI instructions: In the Space settings, write instructions that apply to every search you run inside it. Example: “Always cite academic sources with author name and year. Prioritise peer-reviewed research over news articles.” This one-time setup consistently improves every search output within the Space.
• Upload documents to the Space: Tap the attachment icon inside your Space to add PDFs and documents. They become permanently available for Perplexity to reference in any query within that Space — without re-uploading each session.
• Everything syncs with your desktop: Every Space syncs in real time between iPhone and desktop. Start building a research Space on your commute, open it on your computer when you arrive — all threads and documents are there.
• Collaborate with teammates: Pro and Max subscribers can invite others to a shared Space. Teams build collective research archives without emailing threads back and forth.

Step 9 — How to Use the Comet Browser on iPhone

Comet is a separate free app and a genuinely different relationship with Perplexity on iPhone. Where the Perplexity AI app is a search and research tool, Comet is a full web browser where Perplexity’s AI engine runs continuously alongside every page you visit. The AI knows exactly what you are reading and can engage with it without you copying text, switching apps, or losing context.

Step 10 — New in 2026: Quizzes, Flashcards and Health on iPhone

Perplexity added several new iOS-specific features in early 2026 that most users have not discovered yet. These are particularly useful for students and anyone using Perplexity for structured learning.

• Quizzes and flashcards — new in 2026: Type a prompt like “Make me a geography trivia quiz” or “Make me flashcards using these vocabulary words” directly in the iOS app. Perplexity generates interactive study materials from your request or from any content you upload. Available on the iOS app — not yet on web.
• Perplexity Finance in the app: Search any stock ticker (e.g. “AAPL stock”) and the iOS app displays an inline stock chart with expanded data, ETF holdings breakdowns, and analyst ratings — all cited with sources. Useful for quick financial research without opening a separate app.
• Perplexity Health (Pro/Max): Connect health data from over 1 million medical providers, Fitbit, Google Fit, and other devices. Ask questions about your health trends, recent blood panel results, or chronic condition management. Available to Pro and Max subscribers via the iOS app.
• Improved Deep Research in 2026: Perplexity upgraded Deep Research to achieve state-of-the-art performance on the Google DeepMind Deep Search QA benchmark and Scale AI Research Rubric — outperforming competing deep research tools on accuracy and reliability. The iOS app runs the same upgraded engine as desktop.

10 iPhone Tips Most Perplexity Users Never Find

• Action Button shortcut (iPhone 15 Pro / 16 / 16 Pro). Settings → Action Button → Shortcut → Open App → Perplexity AI. Press from any screen for instant access — faster than Siri for research questions. Pair with voice input for zero-friction research from anywhere.
• Add Perplexity to your Lock Screen. Long press Lock Screen → Customise → tap the shortcut slot → choose Perplexity AI. Access the app without unlocking your phone — useful for quick fact-checks throughout the day.
• Ask for specific output formats. “Put the answer in a bullet list” or “give me a comparison table with three columns” produces output formatted for how you want to use it — far more practical on a small mobile screen than long paragraphs.
• Share threads with one tap. Tap the share icon inside any thread to copy a shareable link. Anyone can view the full thread and all citations without needing a Perplexity account — useful for sharing research with colleagues or saving a session for later.
• Upload a photo to start a visual research thread. Tap the paperclip icon and upload a photo — a product, plant, food label, receipt, or document. Ask Perplexity to identify it and follow up with research questions about what it finds.
• Academic Focus + voice during commutes. Activate Academic Focus, tap the microphone, and speak a broad literature overview question while on the move. You get a cited academic survey of a topic completely hands-free.
• Use the Discover tab as a research starting point. The Discover feed shows what people are actively researching on Perplexity globally right now. It surfaces framing angles on topics you might be investigating yourself and often highlights recent developments you were not looking for.
• Ask Comet to email article summaries. Reading something useful in Comet? Say “summarise the three key points from this article and email them to me.” Comet drafts the email and opens Mail pre-filled — no copying, no pasting, no switching apps.
• Try the new quiz and flashcard feature for studying. Type “make me flashcards for [topic]” or “quiz me on [subject]” in the iOS app to generate interactive study materials from your own topic or uploaded notes. This feature shipped in early 2026 and is iOS-first.
• Save key research to Library before flying. Saved threads in your Library are readable offline. Add important research threads to your Library before travel — you can read fully cited research without internet access at 35,000 feet.

iPhone vs Desktop: What You Get on Each Platform

Read: The Complete Perplexity AI Guide — All Features Explained

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Perplexity AI free on iPhone?

Yes. The Perplexity AI app is a free download from the App Store and requires iOS 17.0 or later. The free plan includes unlimited standard searches, all six Focus modes, voice search, Collections, limited Spaces access, and limited file uploads — all at no cost with no expiry. Pro Search is limited to approximately 5 queries per day on the free plan. Pro ($20/month) unlocks around 300 daily Pro Searches, full Deep Research, AI model selection, image generation, and expanded file upload capacity. The Comet browser is also a completely free separate download.

What iPhone model do I need to use Perplexity AI?

Any iPhone running iOS 17.0 or later. iOS 17 is supported on iPhone XS and newer models — most iPhones from 2018 onwards. The Action Button shortcut feature is exclusive to iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 16, and iPhone 16 Pro. There is no dedicated iPad version of either Perplexity app as of April 2026, though both run in compatibility mode on iPad.

What is the difference between the Perplexity AI app and Comet?

The Perplexity AI app is a dedicated search and research tool — you ask questions and receive structured, cited answers. Comet is a full web browser with Perplexity’s AI engine built into every browsing session. In Comet, the AI knows what page you currently have open and can summarise it, answer questions about it, compare prices across other sites, complete web-based tasks, and conduct Deep Research without you switching apps. Comet launched on iPhone on March 18, 2026 and is a free separate download from the App Store.

How do I use voice search on the Perplexity iPhone app?

Tap the search bar to activate it, then tap the microphone icon that appears inside the input. Speak your question at a natural pace — Perplexity submits it automatically after a short pause and returns the same cited, structured answer as a typed query. Voice input also works for follow-up questions within existing threads: tap the microphone on the thread page and speak your follow-up without navigating back to the main search bar.

How do I set the Action Button to open Perplexity on iPhone?

This works on iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 16, and iPhone 16 Pro only. Go to Settings → Action Button → scroll to Shortcut → tap Choose a Shortcut → select Open App → choose Perplexity AI. The Action Button then opens Perplexity instantly from any screen — including the Lock Screen — ready for voice or text input. For maximum speed, press the Action Button and immediately speak your question without waiting for any additional tap.

Can I use Perplexity AI offline on iPhone?

No for new searches. Perplexity retrieves from the live web in real time, which requires an active internet connection. Previously saved threads in your Library are accessible offline for reading. If you are travelling without reliable internet, save your most important research threads to your Library beforehand — the saved content is fully readable without connectivity.

Does the Perplexity iPhone app sync with desktop?

Yes, completely and in real time. Sign in with the same account on both your iPhone app and the desktop web version or desktop Comet app. All search history, Spaces, Collections, and research threads sync automatically across all devices. Start a research thread on your laptop, pick up your iPhone, and the full thread is there with complete context ready for follow-up questions.