Perplexity Shopping

Perplexity Shopping is a commerce feature within Perplexity, the AI-powered answer engine that handles over 435 million queries per month (NVIDIA data). Unlike traditional search engines that return links, Perplexity synthesizes information from multiple sources to provide cited, research-grade product recommendations -- and then lets consumers buy without leaving the platform.

The shopping experience operates at multiple levels: all users see product recommendations with images, prices, and reviews. Perplexity Pro subscribers get "Buy with Pro" -- one-click checkout with saved payment details. And since November 2025, all users can complete purchases through PayPal-powered checkout.

For retailers, Perplexity Shopping represents a high-intent shopping channel. Consumers using Perplexity for product research have already moved past the awareness stage -- they are actively comparing options and ready to buy. The research-first format with cited sources builds consumer confidence in ways that ad-driven recommendation engines cannot.

Product Recommendations (All Users). When users ask shopping-related questions, Perplexity displays product cards with images, prices, ratings, and descriptions. These recommendations draw from Perplexity's product index, web data, and reviews. Perplexity explains why it recommends each product with cited sources, building trust.

Buy with Pro (Pro Subscribers). Launched in November 2024, Buy with Pro lets Pro subscribers purchase products with one click using saved payment and shipping information. Select purchases include free shipping -- Perplexity absorbs the cost as a subscriber benefit.

PayPal/Venmo Checkout (All Users). In May 2025, Perplexity partnered with PayPal to bring checkout to all users. Consumers can complete purchases using PayPal or Venmo directly from search results. In November 2025, this was expanded to connect with over 5,000 merchants (TechBuzz, Nov 2025).

Firmly.ai Integration. In March 2025, Perplexity partnered with Firmly.ai to power native checkout within search results, announced at Shoptalk 2025 (GlobeNewswire, March 27, 2025).

The Perplexity Merchant Program is the primary way brands connect their products to the platform. Benefits include:

• Better product indexing: Products are indexed with complete data, increasing the probability of being a "recommended product" in search results
• Richer product data: More detailed product information helps Perplexity match products to relevant queries
• Payment integration: Access to Buy with Pro and PayPal checkout flows
• Performance insights: Visibility into how products appear and perform in Perplexity search

Unlike ChatGPT's 4% transaction fee model, Perplexity has not publicly disclosed a comparable merchant fee structure. The program focuses on improving product visibility and data quality rather than direct payment processing.

Both platforms represent major AI shopping channels, but they take different approaches:

Shopping style: Perplexity is research-driven with cited sources, ideal for considered purchases. ChatGPT Shopping is conversational, like talking to a personal shopper.

Scale: ChatGPT has 800 million weekly active users. Perplexity has 30 million+ monthly active users. ChatGPT dominates on volume; Perplexity users tend to be higher-intent researchers.

Checkout: ChatGPT uses ACP via Stripe. Perplexity uses PayPal/Venmo and Buy with Pro. Different payment infrastructure means separate integrations.

Merchant access: ChatGPT requires ACP compliance and product feed formatting. Perplexity requires Merchant Program enrollment and PayPal integration.

Most retailers will benefit from being present on both platforms. See the Perplexity integration guide or the ChatGPT integration guide.