Head-to-head · facts checked 21 Sept 2026
Google NotebookLM vs Perplexity
Perplexity uniquely has 11 features · Google NotebookLM uniquely has 7 features.
From
Not applicable, Gemini Notebook has no standalone price; access comes via Google AI Plus/Pro/Ultra subscriptions
Free plan
Yes
From
$20/mo (Pro)
Free plan
Yes
The verdict
Google NotebookLM or Perplexity?
Section 01
Pricing, plan by plan
Every plan each vendor publishes, monthly and yearly where both are offered.
Google NotebookLM
Free
Free
Up to 50 sources per notebook, standard Audio and Video Overviews
NotebookLM
Free
Up to 50 sources per notebook, standard Gemini model access, standard Audio & Video Overview generations
Google AI Plus
$4.99/mo · $59.88/yr
Up to 100 sources per notebook, 2X more generations vs. standard, early access to new features
Google AI Pro
$19.99/mo · $239.88/yr
Up to 300 sources per notebook, 5X more generations vs. standard, higher Gemini model access, priority access
Google AI Ultra
$99.99/mo
Up to 600 sources per notebook, up to 50X more generations vs. standard, highest Gemini model access, priority access and no watermarks on generations
Perplexity
Free
Free
Cited answers, limited file uploads, auto model
Perplexity Pro
$17/mo · $204/yr
4,000 bonus credits + US$40 free Computer credits; access to latest AI models including Claude Sonnet 5, Gemini 3.1 Pro, Sonar 2
Perplexity Max
$167/mo · $2,004/yr
35,000 bonus credits + 10,000 monthly credits + US$450 free Computer credits; unlimited usage and top performance
Enterprise Pro
$34/seat/mo · $408/seat/yr
US$85 free Computer credits; guaranteed no training on your data, SOC 2 Type II, HIPAA, GDPR, PCI DSS compliance
Enterprise Max
$271/seat/mo · $3,251/seat/ye
US$550 free Computer credits; unlimited usage, premium security features including SCIM, audit logs, and data retention settings
Education Pro
$9/mo · $108/yr
For everything else about each tool, read the full Google NotebookLM review and Perplexity review.
Side by side
| Company | ||
| Founded | 2023 | 2022 |
| HQ | Mountain View, USA | San Francisco |
| AI model | Gemini | Sonar 2, GPT-5.6 Terra, Claude Sonnet 5, Gemini 3.1 Pro, Grok 4.5 |
| User base | Millions (Google product) | 15 million MAU |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | Web, Windows, Mac, iOS, Android |
| Languages | 80+ | 50+ |
| Pricing | ||
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | No | No (free tier available instead) |
| Starting price | Not applicable, Gemini Notebook has no standalone price; access comes via Google AI Plus/Pro/Ultra subscriptions | $20/mo (Pro) |
| Enterprise | Available via Google Workspace (Business), Google Workspace for Education, and Google Cloud (Enterprise) — custom pricing | $40/user/mo |
| All plans | Free — Free NotebookLM — Free Google AI Plus — $4.99/mo Google AI Pro — $19.99/mo Google AI Ultra — $99.99/mo | Free — Free Perplexity Pro — $17/mo Perplexity Max — $167/mo Enterprise Pro — $34/seat/mo Enterprise Max — $271/seat/mo Education Pro — $9/mo |
| Positioning | ||
| Best for | Research, analysis, and learning from uploaded sources | Researchers who want cited answers, memory across sessions and an agent that works in a cloud sandbox |
| Differentiator | Source-grounded AI notebooks with Audio & Video Overviews and large notebook sizes up to 600 sources | Perplexity combines real-time web search with AI synthesis and inline citations, delivering concise research answers with transparent source verification in a single interface. |
| Competitors | Notion AI, Perplexity AI, Elicit, ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot | ChatGPT, Google Gemini, You.com, Bing Copilot |
| Features | ||
| Artifact Creation | ✓ | — |
| Audio Overviews | ✓ | — |
| Deep Research | — | ✓ |
| Enterprise API (Preview) | ✓ | — |
| File Uploads & Analysis | — | ✓ |
| Image Generation | — | ✓ |
| Large Notebook Size | ✓ | — |
| Perplexity Computer | — | ✓ |
| Pro Search | — | ✓ |
| Slides Generation | ✓ | — |
| Video Generation | — | ✓ |
| Video Overviews | ✓ | — |
| Academic Search | ✕ | ✓ |
| AI Summarization | ✓ | ✓ |
| API Access | — | ✓ |
| Browser Extension | ✕ | ✓ |
| Citation Generation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Data Privacy | ✓ | ✓ |
| Document Upload | ✓ | ✓ |
| Export Formats | Google Docs, Google Sheets, PDF, DOCX, Markdown, CSV, JSON, XLSX, PPTX | Markdown, copy to clipboard, shareable link |
| Fact Checking | ✓ | ✓ |
| Follow Up Questions | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mobile App | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multi Source Synthesis | ✓ | ✓ |
| Team Collaboration | ✓ | ✓ |
| Web Search | ✓ | ✓ |
| Integrations | ||
| API Access | ✕ | ✓ |
| Browser Extension | ✕ | ✓ |
| Google Docs Export | ✓ | ✕ |
| Key Integrations | Google Workspace (Docs, Drive, Slides), Google Cloud, Google One AI Premium subscription | Perplexity API, Chrome Extension, iOS Shortcuts, Android integration, Spaces sharing |
| Notion Integration | ✕ | — |
| Zotero Integration | ✕ | ✕ |
Section 02
Google NotebookLM vs Perplexity: common questions
Is Google NotebookLM or Perplexity cheaper?
Google NotebookLM's cheapest paid plan is Not applicable, Gemini Notebook has no standalone price; access comes via Google AI Plus/Pro/Ultra subscriptions and Perplexity's is $20/mo (Pro). Compare what each plan includes below before going on price alone.
Keep comparing
More Google NotebookLM matchups
