Comparison · Research
Exa vs Perplexity Deep Research: which AI agent is better?
A side-by-side look at Exa and Perplexity Deep Research on quality, price, capabilities and trust. Scores measure observable public data; prices come from each vendor's own pricing page. Every fact is sourced and dated.
| Exa Exa Labs | Perplexity Deep Research Perplexity AI | |
|---|---|---|
| Agent Score | 82 | 59 |
| Entry price | Free plan | $20/mo · free plan |
| Trust | ✓ VERIFIED | ✓ VERIFIED |
| Capabilities documented | 7 | 6 |
| Free plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Public API | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| MCP support | ✓ Yes | — |
| Open source | No | No |
| Last verified | 24 Oct 2026 | 07 Oct 2026 |
Score breakdown
| Component | Exa | Perplexity Deep Research |
|---|---|---|
| Capabilities | 88 | 75 |
| Integrations | 50 | 25 |
| Documentation | 100 | Not measured |
| Pricing clarity | 100 | 100 |
| Transparency | 100 | 100 |
| Freshness | 100 | 100 |
| Human oversight | Not measured | 0 |
Choose Exa if…
- You want a higher Agent Score (82 vs 59).
- You want more documented capabilities (7 vs 6).
- You want MCP support.
Choose Perplexity Deep Research if…
On the measured criteria, Exa leads — see opposite.
See the full picture: Exa · Perplexity Deep Research · more Research agents · all comparisons.