Perplexity vs GPT-5.2 o1

A detailed comparison to help you choose the right AI tool for your needs.

Perplexity AI

Perplexity AI

4.6
Try Perplexity
Winner
OpenAI

GPT-5.2 Thinking

4.9
Try GPT-5.2 o1
Our Pick
GPT-5.2 Thinking

GPT-5.2 Thinking edges out Perplexity AI with superior overall performance and features that make it the better choice for most users.

Try GPT-5.2 o1

Feature Comparison

Feature
Perplexity
GPT-5.2 o1
Ratings
Overall Rating
4.6
4.9
Coding
3.5
4.8
Writing
4.2
4.5
Reasoning
4.4
5.0
Speed
4.8
3.8
Value
4.7
4.0
Pricing
Monthly Price
$20
$200
Free Tier
Input (per 1M tokens)
-
$15
Output (per 1M tokens)
-
$60
Features
Context Window
128K
128K
Vision/Images
Audio
Video
Code Generation
AI Agents

Perplexity AI

Pros

  • Real-time web access
  • Cites all sources
  • Great for research
  • Fast responses
  • Generous free tier

Cons

  • Not as capable for coding
  • Writing not as polished
  • Limited context for complex tasks

GPT-5.2 Thinking

Pros

  • Best reasoning model from OpenAI
  • Edges out Gemini 3 and Claude Opus 4.5 on most tests
  • Performs at/above human expert level on GDPval
  • Excellent for coding, math, and document analysis
  • State-of-the-art on SWE-Bench Pro

Cons

  • Expensive ($200/mo for Pro subscription)
  • Slower than Instant variant
  • Requires Pro subscription for full access
  • Writing can feel robotic

Choose Perplexity if you need:

Research, fact-checking, current events

Choose GPT-5.2 o1 if you need:

Complex reasoning, software engineering, research, math proofs

Ready to get started?

Both tools offer free tiers or trials. Try them out and see which one works best for your workflow.