Perplexity vs Tavily.
Prices checked
For search over its own index, Perplexity Search API, fast costs $1 per 1,000 searches at 1,000 a month against Tavily Basic search at $8, checked .
Where to start
Each kind of search both sell
Per 1,000 searches, the cheaper of the two marked.
| Kind and volume | Perplexity | Tavily |
|---|---|---|
| Own indexat 1,000 a month | $1Search API, fast | $8Basic search |
| Own indexat 100,000 a month | $1Search API, fast | $5Basic search |
Side by side
| Fact |  Perplexity |  Tavily |
|---|---|---|
| What it returns | Own index, Model tools | Own index |
| Page text | yes | yes |
| Free tier | none listed | 1,000 a month |
| Prices published | 4 | 11 |
How we count
Each kind of search both sell is a row, each side at its cheapest product of that kind, because a Google results page and a written answer are not the same purchase. Each price is per 1,000 searches when you make 1,000 or 100,000 searches a month and buy them the cheapest way that provider sells: pay as you go, the plan that covers them with its overage, or a pack spread over the months it lasts. A free allowance is not subtracted; free tiers are listed on their own.
Frequently asked
- Is Perplexity cheaper than Tavily?
- For search over its own index, Perplexity Search API, fast costs $1 per 1,000 searches at 1,000 a month against Tavily Basic search at $8. Checked 21 Oct 2026, before tax.
- What about at 100,000 searches a month?
- Own index: Perplexity $1, Tavily $5 per 1,000.
- Do Perplexity and Tavily have a free tier?
- Perplexity: none listed. Tavily: 1,000 a month. A free tier is a limit, not a price, so neither is the cheaper for having one.
- How current are these prices?
- Both are read every day from the providers' own pages. Perplexity was last read 21 Oct 2026 and Tavily 21 Oct 2026.
Provider pages