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How Perplexity’s scores are calculated

The full audit trail, recomputed from the verdict data at build time through the same code that produced the leaderboard: verdict × quality × story weight per cell, cells sum to dimension scores, dimensions blend into the PA Score. Every number on the product page is reproducible from this page alone; for why the formula looks like this, see the methodology.

verdict factors: full ×1.0 · partial ×0.6 · disputed ×0.3 · none ×0.0 · n/a excluded from both sides · cell points = weight × quality × factor · cell max = weight × 10

PA Score25/100

Agent-ready 49.4 × 0.30 = 14.82

API quality 32.6 × 0.20 = 6.52

Openness 6.0 × 0.20 = 1.20

Built-in AI 14.3 × 0.15 = 2.15

Automation 2.3 × 0.15 = 0.34

(14.82 + 6.52 + 1.20 + 2.15 + 0.34) ÷ (0.30 + 0.20 + 0.20 + 0.15 + 0.15) = 25.03 ÷ 1.00 = 25.0

Scores are stored to 1 decimal; the product page’s pills round to whole numbers for display. Each dimension below shows the stories, verdicts, and cited evidence behind its number.

Agent-ready49.4/100×0.30 of the PA blend

Outside-in: can YOUR agent reach and drive this product — API, MCP, CLI, headless runs, agent docs.

Point an agent at llms.txt or agent-oriented docsweight 2

2 (weight) × 9 (quality) × 1.0 (full) = 18.0 of 20 max

  • [probe] https://docs.perplexity.ai/llms.txt“PROBE llms.txt: HTTP 200 at https://docs.perplexity.ai/llms.txt # Perplexity > Perplexity API documentation for building with the Agent API, the default for web-grounded AI and multi-”
  • [probe] https://docs.perplexity.ai/docs/getting-started/overview.md“PROBE docs-md: HTTP 200 at https://docs.perplexity.ai/docs/getting-started/overview.md > ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.perplexity.ai/llms.txt > Use this fil”
  • [probe] https://docs.perplexity.ai/openapi.json“PROBE openapi: HTTP 200 at https://docs.perplexity.ai/openapi.json — contains "openapi" key”
  • [claimed-docs] https://docs.perplexity.ai/docs/cli/overview.md“The pplx CLI returns structured JSON from the Perplexity Search API, making it useful for shell pipelines, interactive terminal work, and coding agents that need current web results or query-relevant page snippets.”

Run the product headlessly / in CI for automationweight 2

2 (weight) × 7 (quality) × 1.0 (full) = 14.0 of 20 max

  • [claimed-docs] https://docs.perplexity.ai/docs/cli/overview.md“The pplx CLI returns structured JSON from the Perplexity Search API, making it useful for shell pipelines, interactive terminal work, and coding agents that need current web results or query-relevant page snippets.”
  • [claimed-docs] https://docs.perplexity.ai/docs/cli/overview.md“The `pplx` CLI returns structured JSON from the Perplexity Search API, making it useful for shell pipelines, interactive terminal work, and coding agents that need current web results”
  • [claimed-docs] https://docs.perplexity.ai/docs/cli/overview.md“The `pplx` CLI returns structured JSON from the Perplexity Search API, making it useful for shell pipelines, interactive terminal work, and coding agents that need current web results or query-relevant page snippets.”
  • [claimed-docs] https://docs.perplexity.ai/docs/agent-api/quickstart.md“Get accurate, up-to-date answers grounded in real-time web search, with inline citations in a single call, and conversation context across turns.”
  • [claimed-docs] https://docs.perplexity.ai/docs/agent-api/building-agents/run-code.md“The `sandbox` tool gives the agent an isolated Linux container to run real code and use the output in its answer”
  • [claimed-docs] https://docs.perplexity.ai/docs/agent-api/building-agents/shape-output.md“Structured output makes the model return JSON that conforms to a schema you define, so you can deserialize it directly.”
  • [claimed-docs] https://docs.perplexity.ai/docs/agent-api/model-fallback.md“Model fallback enables specifying multiple models in a `models` array. The API tries each model in order until one succeeds, providing automatic failover when a model is unavailable.”
  • [claimed-docs] https://docs.perplexity.ai/docs/agent-api/profiles.md“A profile is a reusable, versioned configuration that you save and manage.”
  • [probe] https://docs.perplexity.ai/openapi.json“PROBE openapi: HTTP 200 at https://docs.perplexity.ai/openapi.json — contains "openapi" key”
  • [probe] https://docs.perplexity.ai/docs/cli/overview“official CLI documented at https://docs.perplexity.ai/docs/cli/overview”

Plug MCP servers into this product so it can use their toolsweight 3

3 (weight) × 0 (quality) × 0.0 (none) = 0.0 of 30 max

  • [claimed-docs] https://docs.perplexity.ai/docs/getting-started/integrations/computer-mcp-server.md“Through the Model Context Protocol, your MCP client can delegate complex, multi-step work to Computer and receive structured results.”
  • [claimed-docs] https://docs.perplexity.ai/docs/getting-started/integrations/computer-mcp-server.md“Computer can: Search and browse the web for real-time information, including login-gated pages; Write and execute code in an interactive Linux sandbox with Python, Node, and standard Unix tools”
  • [claimed-docs] https://docs.perplexity.ai/docs/getting-started/integrations/computer-mcp-server.md“**Connect to 400+ services** through a managed connector framework with one-click OAuth”
  • [claimed-docs] https://docs.perplexity.ai/docs/getting-started/integrations/computer-mcp-server.md“Browser Control Computer includes a full cloud browser for tasks that go beyond search.”
  • [claimed-docs] https://docs.perplexity.ai/docs/getting-started/integrations/mcp-server.md“The Perplexity MCP Server enables AI assistants to access Perplexity's powerful search and reasoning capabilities directly within their workflows.”
  • [claimed-docs] https://docs.perplexity.ai/docs/getting-started/integrations/computer-mcp-server.md“Give AI assistants the ability to complete real-world tasks using Perplexity Computer through the Model Context Protocol (MCP).”

Connect an agent via an official MCP serverweight 3

3 (weight) × 8 (quality) × 1.0 (full) = 24.0 of 30 max

  • [claimed-docs] https://docs.perplexity.ai/docs/getting-started/integrations/mcp-server.md“The Perplexity MCP Server enables AI assistants to access Perplexity's powerful search and reasoning capabilities directly within their workflows.”
  • [claimed-docs] https://docs.perplexity.ai/docs/getting-started/integrations/computer-mcp-server.md“Give AI assistants the ability to complete real-world tasks using Perplexity Computer through the Model Context Protocol (MCP).”
  • [claimed-docs] https://docs.perplexity.ai/docs/getting-started/integrations/computer-mcp-server.md“Through the Model Context Protocol, your MCP client can delegate complex, multi-step work to Computer and receive structured results.”
  • [claimed-docs] https://docs.perplexity.ai/docs/getting-started/integrations/computer-mcp-server.md“Computer can: Search and browse the web for real-time information, including login-gated pages; Write and execute code in an interactive Linux sandbox with Python, Node, and standard Unix tools”
  • [claimed-docs] https://docs.perplexity.ai/docs/getting-started/integrations/computer-mcp-server.md“**Connect to 400+ services** through a managed connector framework with one-click OAuth”
  • [claimed-docs] https://docs.perplexity.ai/docs/getting-started/integrations/computer-mcp-server.md“Browser Control Computer includes a full cloud browser for tasks that go beyond search.”
  • [probe] https://docs.perplexity.ai/docs/getting-started/integrations/computer-mcp-server“official MCP server documented at https://docs.perplexity.ai/docs/getting-started/integrations/computer-mcp-server”

Use an official CLIweight 2

2 (weight) × 8 (quality) × 1.0 (full) = 16.0 of 20 max

  • [claimed-docs] https://docs.perplexity.ai/docs/cli/overview.md“The pplx CLI returns structured JSON from the Perplexity Search API, making it useful for shell pipelines, interactive terminal work, and coding agents that need current web results or query-relevant page snippets.”
  • [claimed-docs] https://docs.perplexity.ai/docs/cli/overview.md“The `pplx` CLI returns structured JSON from the Perplexity Search API, making it useful for shell pipelines, interactive terminal work, and coding agents that need current web results”
  • [claimed-docs] https://docs.perplexity.ai/docs/cli/overview.md“The `pplx` CLI returns structured JSON from the Perplexity Search API, making it useful for shell pipelines, interactive terminal work, and coding agents that need current web results or query-relevant page snippets.”
  • [claimed-docs] https://docs.perplexity.ai/docs/cli/overview.md“The `pplx` CLI returns structured JSON from the Perplexity Search API, making it useful for shell pipelines, interactive terminal work, and coding agents”
  • [probe] https://docs.perplexity.ai/docs/cli/overview“official CLI documented at https://docs.perplexity.ai/docs/cli/overview”

Drive the product through a documented public APIweight 3

3 (weight) × 9 (quality) × 1.0 (full) = 27.0 of 30 max

  • [claimed-docs] https://docs.perplexity.ai/docs/agent-api/quickstart.md“Get accurate, up-to-date answers grounded in real-time web search, with inline citations in a single call, and conversation context across turns.”
  • [claimed-docs] https://docs.perplexity.ai/docs/agent-api/building-agents/run-code.md“The `sandbox` tool gives the agent an isolated Linux container to run real code and use the output in its answer”
  • [claimed-docs] https://docs.perplexity.ai/docs/agent-api/building-agents/shape-output.md“Structured output makes the model return JSON that conforms to a schema you define, so you can deserialize it directly.”
  • [claimed-docs] https://docs.perplexity.ai/docs/agent-api/model-fallback.md“Model fallback enables specifying multiple models in a `models` array. The API tries each model in order until one succeeds, providing automatic failover when a model is unavailable.”
  • [claimed-docs] https://docs.perplexity.ai/docs/agent-api/profiles.md“A profile is a reusable, versioned configuration that you save and manage.”
  • [claimed-docs] https://docs.perplexity.ai/docs/cli/overview.md“The pplx CLI returns structured JSON from the Perplexity Search API, making it useful for shell pipelines, interactive terminal work, and coding agents that need current web results or query-relevant page snippets.”
  • [probe] https://docs.perplexity.ai/openapi.json“PROBE openapi: HTTP 200 at https://docs.perplexity.ai/openapi.json — contains "openapi" key”
  • [probe] https://docs.perplexity.ai/llms.txt“PROBE llms.txt: HTTP 200 at https://docs.perplexity.ai/llms.txt # Perplexity > Perplexity API documentation for building with the Agent API, the default for web-grounded AI and multi-”
  • [probe] https://docs.perplexity.ai/docs/cli/overview“official CLI documented at https://docs.perplexity.ai/docs/cli/overview”

Issue scoped/least-privilege API credentials for an agentweight 2

2 (weight) × 0 (quality) × 0.0 (none) = 0.0 of 20 max

no evidence cited — the verdict rests on absence of evidence, re-checked on refresh

Build against official SDKsweight 2

2 (weight) × 4 (quality) × 0.6 (partial) = 4.8 of 20 max

  • [claimed-docs] https://docs.perplexity.ai/docs/getting-started/overview“Unified access to open-weight models hosted by Perplexity through one OpenAI-compatible endpoint.”
  • [probe] https://docs.perplexity.ai/openapi.json“PROBE openapi: HTTP 200 at https://docs.perplexity.ai/openapi.json — contains "openapi" key”
  • [claimed-docs] https://docs.perplexity.ai/docs/agent-api/quickstart.md“Get accurate, up-to-date answers grounded in real-time web search, with inline citations in a single call, and conversation context across turns.”

Subscribe to events via webhooksweight 2

2 (weight) × 0 (quality) × 0.0 (none) = 0.0 of 20 max

no evidence cited — the verdict rests on absence of evidence, re-checked on refresh

Agent-ready = 103.8 ÷ 210 × 100 = 49.4

API quality32.6/100×0.20 of the PA blend

The programmable surface once an agent is there — machine-readable spec, interactive docs, sandbox, versioning discipline.

Explore an interactive API reference with runnable examplesweight 2

2 (weight) × 4 (quality) × 0.6 (partial) = 4.8 of 20 max

  • [probe] https://docs.perplexity.ai/openapi.json“PROBE openapi: HTTP 200 at https://docs.perplexity.ai/openapi.json — contains "openapi" key”
  • [claimed-docs] https://docs.perplexity.ai/docs/agent-api/quickstart.md“Get accurate, up-to-date answers grounded in real-time web search, with inline citations in a single call, and conversation context across turns.”
  • [claimed-docs] https://docs.perplexity.ai/docs/agent-api/building-agents/run-code.md“The `sandbox` tool gives the agent an isolated Linux container to run real code and use the output in its answer”
  • [probe] https://docs.perplexity.ai/llms.txt“PROBE llms.txt: HTTP 200 at https://docs.perplexity.ai/llms.txt # Perplexity > Perplexity API documentation for building with the Agent API, the default for web-grounded AI and multi-”
  • [probe] https://docs.perplexity.ai/docs/getting-started/overview.md“PROBE docs-md: HTTP 200 at https://docs.perplexity.ai/docs/getting-started/overview.md > ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.perplexity.ai/llms.txt > Use this fil”

Download a machine-readable API spec (OpenAPI or equivalent)weight 2

2 (weight) × 9 (quality) × 1.0 (full) = 18.0 of 20 max

  • [probe] https://docs.perplexity.ai/openapi.json“PROBE openapi: HTTP 200 at https://docs.perplexity.ai/openapi.json — contains "openapi" key”
  • [probe] https://docs.perplexity.ai/llms.txt“PROBE llms.txt: HTTP 200 at https://docs.perplexity.ai/llms.txt # Perplexity > Perplexity API documentation for building with the Agent API, the default for web-grounded AI and multi-”
  • [probe] https://docs.perplexity.ai/docs/getting-started/overview.md“PROBE docs-md: HTTP 200 at https://docs.perplexity.ai/docs/getting-started/overview.md > ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.perplexity.ai/llms.txt > Use this fil”

Test against a sandbox environment without touching production dataweight 1

1 (weight) × 0 (quality) × 0.0 (none) = 0.0 of 10 max

  • [claimed-docs] https://docs.perplexity.ai/docs/agent-api/building-agents/run-code.md“The `sandbox` tool gives the agent an isolated Linux container to run real code and use the output in its answer”
  • [claimed-docs] https://docs.perplexity.ai/docs/getting-started/integrations/computer-mcp-server.md“Computer can: Search and browse the web for real-time information, including login-gated pages; Write and execute code in an interactive Linux sandbox with Python, Node, and standard Unix tools”
  • [claimed-docs] https://docs.perplexity.ai/docs/getting-started/integrations/computer-mcp-server.md“Computer can: **Search and browse** the web for real-time information, including login-gated pages * **Write and execute code** in an interactive Linux sandbox with Python, Node, and standard Unix tools”

Rely on versioned APIs with a documented deprecation policyweight 2

2 (weight) × 0 (quality) × 0.0 (none) = 0.0 of 20 max

  • [claimed-docs] https://docs.perplexity.ai/docs/agent-api/profiles.md“A profile is a reusable, versioned configuration that you save and manage.”
  • [probe] https://docs.perplexity.ai/openapi.json“PROBE openapi: HTTP 200 at https://docs.perplexity.ai/openapi.json — contains "openapi" key”

API quality = 22.8 ÷ 70 × 100 = 32.6

Openness6.0/100×0.20 of the PA blend

Can you leave, inspect, or self-host — data export, open source, portability.

Do everything through the API that I can do in the UIweight 2

2 (weight) × 5 (quality) × 0.6 (partial) = 6.0 of 20 max

  • [claimed-docs] https://docs.perplexity.ai/docs/agent-api/quickstart.md“Get accurate, up-to-date answers grounded in real-time web search, with inline citations in a single call, and conversation context across turns.”
  • [claimed-docs] https://docs.perplexity.ai/docs/agent-api/building-agents/run-code.md“The `sandbox` tool gives the agent an isolated Linux container to run real code and use the output in its answer”
  • [claimed-docs] https://docs.perplexity.ai/docs/agent-api/building-agents/shape-output.md“Structured output makes the model return JSON that conforms to a schema you define, so you can deserialize it directly.”
  • [claimed-docs] https://docs.perplexity.ai/docs/agent-api/model-fallback.md“Model fallback enables specifying multiple models in a `models` array. The API tries each model in order until one succeeds, providing automatic failover when a model is unavailable.”
  • [claimed-docs] https://apps.apple.com/us/app/perplexity-ask-anything/id1668000334“Assistant: Draft emails, schedule appointments, book reservations, and more.”
  • [claimed-docs] https://apps.apple.com/us/app/perplexity-ask-anything/id1668000334“Voice: Instant, up-to-date answers whether you type or say it.”
  • [claimed-docs] https://apps.apple.com/us/app/perplexity-ask-anything/id1668000334“Your Library: More than search history, it's a curation of your discoveries.”
  • [claimed-docs] https://apps.apple.com/us/app/perplexity-ask-anything/id1668000334“Discover: Learn new things from the community.”
  • [claimed-docs] https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/perplexity-ai-search/hlgbcneanomplepojfcnclggenpcoldo“Contextual Understanding: Get answers relevant to your current page or even specific to your current domain.”

Export all of my data in open formats and leaveweight 3

3 (weight) × 0 (quality) × 0.0 (none) = 0.0 of 30 max

no evidence cited — the verdict rests on absence of evidence, re-checked on refresh

Read the product's source under an open licenseweight 2

2 (weight) × 0 (quality) × 0.0 (none) = 0.0 of 20 max

no evidence cited — the verdict rests on absence of evidence, re-checked on refresh

Self-host the core productweight 3

3 (weight) × 0 (quality) × 0.0 (none) = 0.0 of 30 max

no evidence cited — the verdict rests on absence of evidence, re-checked on refresh

Openness = 6.0 ÷ 100 × 100 = 6.0

Built-in AI14.3/100×0.15 of the PA blend

Inside-out: how agentic the product itself is for its users — built-in assistants, autonomous features.

Get AI-generated insights and suggestions from my data inside the productweight 2

2 (weight) × 4 (quality) × 0.6 (partial) = 4.8 of 20 max

  • [claimed-docs] https://apps.apple.com/us/app/perplexity-ask-anything/id1668000334“Assistant: Draft emails, schedule appointments, book reservations, and more.”
  • [claimed-docs] https://apps.apple.com/us/app/perplexity-ask-anything/id1668000334“Your Library: More than search history, it's a curation of your discoveries.”
  • [claimed-docs] https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/perplexity-ai-search/hlgbcneanomplepojfcnclggenpcoldo“Contextual Understanding: Get answers relevant to your current page or even specific to your current domain.”
  • [community] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49536375“The 'Computer' research feature in Perplexity often fails to trigger via the UI, and when it does work, sessions frequently stall without returning an answer.”

Set up automations that run autonomously in the backgroundweight 2

2 (weight) × 0 (quality) × 0.0 (none) = 0.0 of 20 max

  • [claimed-docs] https://apps.apple.com/us/app/perplexity-ask-anything/id1668000334“Assistant: Draft emails, schedule appointments, book reservations, and more.”
  • [claimed-docs] https://docs.perplexity.ai/docs/getting-started/integrations/computer-mcp-server.md“Computer can: Search and browse the web for real-time information, including login-gated pages; Write and execute code in an interactive Linux sandbox with Python, Node, and standard Unix tools”
  • [claimed-docs] https://docs.perplexity.ai/docs/getting-started/integrations/computer-mcp-server.md“Browser Control Computer includes a full cloud browser for tasks that go beyond search.”
  • [claimed-docs] https://docs.perplexity.ai/docs/getting-started/integrations/computer-mcp-server.md“Give AI assistants the ability to complete real-world tasks using Perplexity Computer through the Model Context Protocol (MCP).”

Delegate tasks to a built-in AI assistant inside the productweight 3

3 (weight) × 5 (quality) × 0.3 (disputed) = 4.5 of 30 max

  • [claimed-docs] https://apps.apple.com/us/app/perplexity-ask-anything/id1668000334“Assistant: Draft emails, schedule appointments, book reservations, and more.”
  • [claimed-docs] https://docs.perplexity.ai/docs/getting-started/integrations/computer-mcp-server.md“Computer can: Search and browse the web for real-time information, including login-gated pages; Write and execute code in an interactive Linux sandbox with Python, Node, and standard Unix tools”
  • [claimed-docs] https://docs.perplexity.ai/docs/getting-started/integrations/computer-mcp-server.md“**Connect to 400+ services** through a managed connector framework with one-click OAuth”
  • [claimed-docs] https://docs.perplexity.ai/docs/getting-started/integrations/computer-mcp-server.md“Browser Control Computer includes a full cloud browser for tasks that go beyond search.”
  • [claimed-docs] https://docs.perplexity.ai/docs/getting-started/integrations/computer-mcp-server.md“When a task requires interacting with a website, filling forms, or accessing login-gated content, Computer launches a browser session automatically.”
  • [claimed-docs] https://docs.perplexity.ai/docs/getting-started/integrations/computer-mcp-server.md“Give AI assistants the ability to complete real-world tasks using Perplexity Computer through the Model Context Protocol (MCP).”
  • [community] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49536375“The 'Computer' research feature in Perplexity often fails to trigger via the UI, and when it does work, sessions frequently stall without returning an answer.”

Operate the product with natural-language commandsweight 2

2 (weight) × 6 (quality) × 0.3 (disputed) = 3.6 of 20 max

  • [claimed-docs] https://apps.apple.com/us/app/perplexity-ask-anything/id1668000334“Assistant: Draft emails, schedule appointments, book reservations, and more.”
  • [claimed-docs] https://docs.perplexity.ai/docs/getting-started/integrations/computer-mcp-server.md“Computer can: Search and browse the web for real-time information, including login-gated pages; Write and execute code in an interactive Linux sandbox with Python, Node, and standard Unix tools”
  • [claimed-docs] https://docs.perplexity.ai/docs/getting-started/integrations/computer-mcp-server.md“**Connect to 400+ services** through a managed connector framework with one-click OAuth”
  • [claimed-docs] https://apps.apple.com/us/app/perplexity-ask-anything/id1668000334“· Voice: Instant, up-to-date answers whether you type or say it.”
  • [community] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49536375“The 'Computer' research feature in Perplexity often fails to trigger via the UI, and when it does work, sessions frequently stall without returning an answer.”

Built-in AI = 12.9 ÷ 90 × 100 = 14.3

Automation2.3/100×0.15 of the PA blend

Depth of automation primitives — rules, scheduling, bulk operations, webhooks.

Perform bulk operations across many items at onceweight 2

2 (weight) × 0 (quality) × 0.0 (none) = 0.0 of 20 max

  • [claimed-docs] https://docs.perplexity.ai/docs/cli/overview.md“The `pplx` CLI returns structured JSON from the Perplexity Search API, making it useful for shell pipelines, interactive terminal work, and coding agents that need current web results”
  • [claimed-docs] https://docs.perplexity.ai/docs/agent-api/quickstart.md“Get accurate, up-to-date answers grounded in real-time web search, with inline citations in a single call, and conversation context across turns.”
  • [claimed-docs] https://docs.perplexity.ai/docs/agent-api/building-agents/run-code.md“The `sandbox` tool gives the agent an isolated Linux container to run real code and use the output in its answer”

Define rules that trigger actions automatically on eventsweight 3

3 (weight) × 0 (quality) × 0.0 (none) = 0.0 of 30 max

no evidence cited — the verdict rests on absence of evidence, re-checked on refresh

Schedule recurring jobs or workflowsweight 2

2 (weight) × 0 (quality) × 0.0 (none) = 0.0 of 20 max

no evidence cited — the verdict rests on absence of evidence, re-checked on refresh

Version, review, and roll back my automationsweight 1

1 (weight) × 3 (quality) × 0.6 (partial) = 1.8 of 10 max

  • [claimed-docs] https://docs.perplexity.ai/docs/agent-api/profiles.md“A profile is a reusable, versioned configuration that you save and manage.”

Automation = 1.8 ÷ 80 × 100 = 2.3