Cluely vs Perplexity
Two of the most-asked-about agents in the productivity space. Here's how they actually stack up.
Cluely
Real-time AI assistant that listens to your meetings and feeds you answers
Free tier
Read full review →Perplexity
AI search engine with citations and an agentic browser layer
Free + $20/mo
Read full review →Side-by-side comparison
| Cluely | Perplexity | |
|---|---|---|
| Tagline | Real-time AI assistant that listens to your meetings and feeds you answers | AI search engine with citations and an agentic browser layer |
| Pricing | Free tier | Free + $20/mo |
| Categories | productivity, meetings, ai-assistant | search, research, browser-agent |
| Made by | Cluely | Perplexity AI |
| Launched | 2024-12 | 2022-12 |
| Platforms | macOS, Windows | Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android |
| Status | active | active |
Cluely highlights
- + Real-time transcription across 12+ languages with 300ms response time
- + Instant AI answers triggered by Cmd/Ctrl + Enter during live meetings
- + Undetectable overlay that never shows up in screen shares or recordings
- + Automatic meeting notes with summaries and action items after each call
- + Sales call coaching with live talking points and objection responses
Perplexity highlights
- + Citation-first answers with numbered source links on every response
- + Multi-model picker supporting Claude, GPT-5, Gemini 3, and Perplexity Sonar
- + Spaces for organizing research into shared collections
- + Pages for publishing AI-generated reports as shareable documents
- + Perplexity Comet agentic browser with web automation and task execution
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Cluely or Perplexity?
Neither is universally better. Cluely (Free tier) leans into productivity, while Perplexity (Free + $20/mo) is closer to search. Pick based on which workflow you actually do every day.
What is the price difference between Cluely and Perplexity?
Cluely is free tier. Perplexity is free + $20/mo. See the pricing row in the comparison table.
Can I use Cluely and Perplexity together?
In most cases, yes. They serve overlapping but distinct needs, so running them side by side is common until you decide which fits your workflow.