AI WORLD HQCompare Products with Perplexity Before You Buy
Use Perplexity to get a clear, side-by-side breakdown of product features and reviews, helping you make smarter shopping choices.
Want to make sure you're getting the best value or the right features before spending your hard-earned cash? This guide will show you how to use Perplexity, an AI-powered search engine, to quickly compare products, understand their differences, and even check user opinions, all in one place. By the end, you'll be able to compare anything from new phones to kitchen appliances, helping you shop smarter and more confidently.
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- An internet-connected device (computer, tablet, or phone).
- Access to the Perplexity website (perplexity.ai) or the Perplexity app.
- This guide focuses on the free version of Perplexity, which offers plenty of comparison power.
- The whole process should take about 5-7 minutes.
Open Perplexity
Start by opening Perplexity in your web browser or launching the app on your device. When you first arrive, you'll see a clean interface designed for asking questions. The main feature is usually a large text box in the centre, often labelled "Ask anything..." or "Search here." This is your gateway to getting information. If you're on a mobile device, the layout might be slightly more compact, but the central search bar will still be prominent. You'll know it worked when you see the main Perplexity screen with a clear input box, ready for your query.
Enter your comparison query
Now it's time to tell Perplexity what you want to compare. Click or tap inside the main search box and type a clear question asking for a comparison. Think about what specific products you're interested in and what aspects you want to know about. After typing, you might see a "Search" or "Ask" button appear, or you can simply press the 'Enter' key on your keyboard or the 'Go' button on your mobile device's keyboard. If it looks different, some versions might have a microphone icon if you prefer to speak your query. You'll know it worked when the AI starts processing your request, often showing a spinning icon or a "Generating answer" message.
Review the AI's summary
Once Perplexity has finished processing your request, it will present a summary of the comparison. This usually appears as a concise, easy-to-read answer, often using bullet points, short paragraphs, or even a simple table to highlight key differences and similarities between the products. Below the summary, you'll typically see numbered source links – these are the websites and articles Perplexity used to gather its information. If it looks different, the exact layout can vary slightly, but always look for a clear answer section at the top of the page. You'll know it worked when you see a well-organised summary directly comparing the products you asked about.
Explore the sources
To ensure the information is reliable and to dig deeper into specific details, it's a good idea to check Perplexity's sources. Each piece of information in the summary often has a small, numbered link next to it. Click on these numbers, or find the "Sources" section usually located below the main answer. What happens next is that clicking a source link will open the original webpage in a new tab in your browser. If it looks different, sometimes the sources are just listed with their titles, and you click the title rather than a number. You'll know it worked when a new browser tab opens to an external website, letting you see where the AI got its information from, like a review site or a manufacturer's product page.
Ask follow-up questions
Perplexity isn't a one-shot tool; you can continue the conversation to get more detailed insights. Below the initial answer, you'll often find a section with suggested "Related Questions" or a new input box where you can type your own follow-up. This allows you to ask for clarification, or to explore other aspects of the products you're comparing. For example, if the initial summary didn't cover specific features you care about, now's your chance to ask. If it looks different, you might need to scroll down to find a new prompt area labelled "Ask a follow-up" or simply type directly into the main chat box again. You'll know it worked when Perplexity provides a fresh answer, refining its previous information based on your new question.
Refine your query for specific details
Sometimes, you need to go beyond a general comparison and focus on very specific features or scenarios. You can start a completely new query (by clicking "New Thread" or clearing the search bar if available) or continue in your current conversation. For this step, try asking Perplexity a highly specific question about a particular product feature or how it performs in certain conditions. This is where Perplexity shines for deep dives, pulling targeted information from various sources. If it looks different, some versions might automatically clear the search bar for a new query, while others require you to click a "Start a new query" button. You'll know it worked when Perplexity gives you a highly focused answer, directly addressing your specific detail.
- Being too vague with your query: If you just type "compare phones," Perplexity won't know what you're looking for.
- The fix: Be specific! Name the products and the aspects you care about (e.g., "Compare iPhone 15 vs Samsung Galaxy S24 for camera and battery").
- Not checking the sources: Perplexity is excellent, but like any AI, it draws from various sources, and some might be outdated or biased.
- The fix: Always glance at the numbered sources. If you see a review site you trust, or the manufacturer's official page, that's a good sign. If something seems off, check another source.
- Expecting live pricing or stock information: Perplexity excels at product specifications, features, and reviews, but it's not a live shopping tool.
- The fix: Use Perplexity for product research, then check specific retailer websites for the latest prices, deals, and stock availability.
Open Perplexity and ask it to compare two household items you might consider buying, like "Compare features of the Dyson V15 Detect vs Samsung Bespoke Jet for pet hair removal." See how quickly you get a concise answer!
❓ Quick questions
How long does this take?
About 6 minutes — the guide has 6 steps, and you can tick each one off as you go.
Which tool do I need?
This guide uses Perplexity AI Perplexity — but the approach works very similarly in other AI assistants.
Do I need to prepare anything?
- An internet-connected device (computer, tablet, or phone).
- Access to the Perplexity website (perplexity.ai) or the Perplexity app.
- This guide focuses on the free version of Perplexity, which offers plenty of comparison power.
- The whole process should take about 5-7 minutes.
What mistakes should I avoid?
- Being too vague with your query: If you just type "compare phones," Perplexity won't know what you're looking for.
- The fix: Be specific! Name the products and the aspects you care about (e.g., "Compare iPhone 15 vs Samsung Galaxy S24 for camera and battery").
- Not checking the sources: Perplexity is excellent, but like any AI, it draws from various sources, and some might be outdated or biased.
- The fix: Always glance at the numbered sources. If you see a review site you trust, or the manufacturer's official page, that's a good sign. If something seems off, check another source.
- Expecting live pricing or stock information: Perplexity excels at product specifications, features, and reviews, but it's not a live shopping tool.
- The fix: Use Perplexity for product research, then check specific retailer websites for the latest prices, deals, and stock availability.
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✦ Original step-by-step guide by AI World HQ's AI editorial team. Written in plain language, reviewed for accuracy.
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