About Perplexity

Perplexity AI is an AI-powered search engine that combines large language models with real-time web search to deliver accurate, cited answers with up-to-date information. Key features include Pro Search (access to GPT-5, Claude 4, Gemini 2.5 Pro, Grok 4, and proprietary Sonar models), Deep Research (autonomous multi-step research synthesizing hundreds of sources into comprehensive reports with PDF export), Comet Browser (free AI-powered Chromium browser with conversational web control and sidecar assistant for summaries and automation), and API access for enterprise integration.

Pro subscribers enjoy unlimited Deep Research queries, advanced model selection, domain-specific searches, file uploads, and image generation/editing tools, while free users get limited access to core features with real-time citations. Access at perplexity.ai with API documentation available for Pro users.

Step by step guide to use Perplexity API Key to chat with AI

1. Get Your Perplexity API Key

First, you'll need to obtain an API key from Perplexity. This key allows you to access their AI models directly and pay only for what you use.

  1. Visit Perplexity's API console
  2. Sign up or log in to your account
  3. Navigate to the API keys section
  4. Generate a new API key (copy it immediately as some providers only show it once)
  5. Save your API key in a secure password manager or encrypted note
Sometimes, this provider will require you to add a payment method to your account before you can use your API key to chat with AI. So, to avoid any hiccups, make sure you’ve got a payment method set up and ready to go!
Important: Keep your API key secure and never share it publicly. Store it safely as you'll need it to connect with TypingMind.

2. Connect Your Perplexity API Key on TypingMind

Once you have your Perplexity API key, connecting it to TypingMind to chat with AI is straightforward:

  1. Open TypingMind in your browser
  2. Click the "Settings" icon (gear symbol)
  3. Navigate to "Models" section
  4. Click "Add Custom Model"
  5. Fill in the model information:
    Name: sonar-reasoning via Perplexity (or your preferred name)
    Endpoint: https://api.perplexity.ai/chat/completions
    Model ID: sonar-reasoning for example (check Perplexity model list)
    Context Length: Enter the model's context window (e.g., 32000 for sonar-reasoning)
    Perplexity Endpoint URL input fieldsonar-reasoninghttps://api.perplexity.ai/chat/completionssonar-reasoning via Perplexityhttps://www.typingmind.com/model-logo.webp32000
  6. Add custom headers by clicking "Add Custom Headers" in the Advanced Settings section:
    Authorization: Bearer <PERPLEXITY_API_KEY>:
    X-Title: typingmind.com
    HTTP-Referer: https://www.typingmind.com
  7. Enable "Support Plugins (via OpenAI Functions)" if the model supports the "functions" or "tool_calls" parameter, or enable "Support OpenAI Vision" if the model supports vision.
  8. Click "Test" to verify the configuration
  9. If you see "Nice, the endpoint is working!", click "Add Model"

3. Start Chatting with Perplexity models

Now you can start chatting with Perplexity models through TypingMind:

  • Select your preferred Perplexity model from the model dropdown menu
  • Start typing your message in the chat input
  • Enjoy faster responses and better features than the official interface
  • Switch between different AI models as needed
The best frontend AI chat for Perplexity API KeyThe best frontend AI chat for Perplexity API Keysonar-reasoningThe best frontend AI chat for Perplexity API Key
Pro tips for better results:

4. Monitor Your AI Usage and Costs

One of the biggest advantages of using API keys with TypingMind is cost transparency and control. Unlike fixed subscriptions, you pay only for what you actually use. Visit https://www.perplexity.ai/account/api/billing to monitor your Perplexity API usage and set spending limits.

Perplexity Subscriptions vs. Perplexity API Keys — Complete comparison:
FeaturePerplexity Subscription PlansUsing Perplexity API Keys
Cost Structure❌ Fixed monthly fee
Pay even if you don't use it
Pro Plan:$20/month or $200/year
Enterprise Pro:$40/month per user
 ✅ Pay only for actual usage
$0 when you don't use it
Usage Limits ❌ Hard daily/hourly caps
You have to wait for the next period to use it again		✅ Unlimited usage
No limits. Only limited by your budget
Model Access ❌ Platform decides available models
Old models get discontinued		✅ Access to all API models
Including older & specialized versions
💡 Cost-saving tips:
  • Use less expensive models for simple tasks
  • Keep prompts concise but specific to reduce token usage
  • Use TypingMind's prompt caching to reduce repeat costs (How to enable prompt caching)
  • Using RAG (retrieval-augmented generation) for large documents to reduce repeat costs (How to use RAG)