AI Search Assistants
AI search assistants answer questions in sentences, with sources you can check. This hub compares the free plans — one with published deep-search limits, one with limits Microsoft does not publish.
How to choose a free ai search assistants tool
Start with whether you need an answer or a source, because that decides which tool fits. A chatbot gives you fluent text; a search assistant gives you text with citations, so you can verify each claim against the page it came from. If being wrong has a cost — a fact for work, a figure for a report, a claim you will repeat — the citations are the feature, and the tool with the clearest sourcing wins. Next, count the deep searches, not the basic ones. Basic searches are practically unlimited on one tool and capacity-based on the other, so everyday questions cost nothing either way; the real limit is the deeper research, which is capped at three a day and one a month on one tool and unpublished on the other. Save the deep searches for the hardest questions. Then check where the assistant lives. One is a dedicated website and browser; the other is already inside Windows, Edge, and mobile apps, which means no new account and no new habit for most Windows users, but also means its limits tighten when capacity is busy. Privacy is the next check: on one tool, consumer searches may be used for training unless you opt out, so look at the setting if that matters to you. Finally, be clear about what the free tier cannot do. Neither free plan reaches into your own emails, documents, or meetings — that access is paid — and neither is a business tool on its free tier. Cost is the last comparison worth making honestly: both tools offer a capable free tier, so the paid price only matters once the free limits start getting in your way, and when that day comes, compare the monthly price against how many deep searches or office features you actually use each week. Pick the assistant whose home matches where you already work, whose deep-search allowance fits your research habits, and whose citations you actually click through to check.
Compare free plans
| Tool | Free plan | Best for | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perplexity | Practically unlimited basic searches; 3 Pro Searches/day, 1 Research/month | ||
| Microsoft Copilot | Chat, web answers, images, voice; limit not published |
Free plans change often. The table reflects each tool page and its last verified date; open the tool page for the full, current detail.
Free ai search assistants tools
Perplexity
Search that answers in sentences, with citations — unlimited basic searches free, deep research capped hard.
Microsoft Copilot
Microsoft's AI assistant, free on the web, in Windows, and in Edge — with limits Microsoft does not publish.
Frequently asked questions
What is an AI search assistant?
A tool that answers questions in sentences using live web sources, with citations after each claim so you can check the facts — unlike a chatbot, which answers from training data alone.
Is Perplexity free?
Yes. Basic searches are practically unlimited and free, with citations. Pro Search is capped at 3 a day and Research at 1 a month.
Is Microsoft Copilot free?
Yes, with limits Microsoft does not publish. Its FAQ says the free version is offered subject to available capacity and limits.
Can a free search assistant read my emails and documents?
No. Neither free plan reaches into your emails, documents, or meetings. That access is part of the paid tiers.