SeekFiles AI vs Perplexity
Perplexity is the best AI search engine on the public web. SeekFiles AI searches your library. The two are complements, not competitors.
Use Perplexity for "where does this fact live on the public internet?" — research questions where the answer is out there.
Use SeekFiles AI for "what do my own files say?" — contracts, reviewers, case files, lecture notes, receipts. Same citation-first UX, but scoped to documents you uploaded.
Most professionals run both. Picking one isn't really the question — knowing which to ask is.
What it searches
Your private file library
Perplexity Spaces has file mode; not the core product
- SeekFiles AI
- Perplexity
The public internet
- SeekFiles AI
- Perplexity
Cited answers
- SeekFiles AI
- Perplexity
Chunk-level citations (page + literal)
- SeekFiles AI
- Perplexity
Hybrid retrieval (vector + BM25)
- SeekFiles AI
- Perplexity
Refuse on weak grounding
- SeekFiles AI
- Perplexity
Sharing & mobile
Public assistants via shared link
Turn your file library into a Q&A bot
- SeekFiles AI
- Perplexity
Native iOS + Android apps
- SeekFiles AI
- Perplexity
Persistent assistants scoped to file sets
- SeekFiles AI
- Perplexity
Pricing
Free tier
- SeekFiles AI
- 50 credits + 3 assistants
- Perplexity
- Unlimited basic searches
Pay-as-you-go top-ups
- SeekFiles AI
- Perplexity
File mode in free tier
- SeekFiles AI
- Perplexity
What it searches
- Your private file library— Perplexity Spaces has file mode; not the core product
- The public internet
- Cited answers
- Chunk-level citations (page + literal)
- Hybrid retrieval (vector + BM25)
- Refuse on weak grounding
Sharing & mobile
- Public assistants via shared link— Turn your file library into a Q&A bot
- Native iOS + Android apps
- Persistent assistants scoped to file sets
Pricing
- Free tier50 credits + 3 assistantsUnlimited basic searches
- Pay-as-you-go top-ups
- File mode in free tier
Comparison reflects publicly available product features at time of writing. Both products evolve quickly — verify on the vendor's site for the latest.
Pick SeekFiles AI if…
- The answer lives in your own files
- You need chunk-level citations (page + literal)
- You want shareable Q&A bots
- You need scoped assistants per project
- Confidentiality matters (your files don't train models)
Pick Perplexity if…
- The answer lives on the public internet
- You want today's news + citations
- Cross-source web research is the main job
See for yourself
Free to try. No credit card.
50 welcome credits. 3 assistants. Upload your first file in under two minutes.
Still deciding? Get the comparison breakdowns by email.
Honest, side-by-side write-ups on AI file search tools as new ones launch. Plus product updates from SeekFiles.