If you want facts you can check, you want a tool that searches the web and shows you where each claim came from. A chatbot answering from memory is a good starting point for understanding a topic and a poor one for citing anything. The candidates here are the ones that search.
| Tool | Free tier | Main paid plan | Good at for research | One limitation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perplexity | $0 | Pro $20 | Search-first answers with numbered sources on every claim | Weaker at long writing and follow-up tasks than a general chatbot |
| ChatGPT (with search) | $0 | Plus $20 | Research plus everything else in one place, follow-up drafting | Search is not always on; check that links appear |
| Gemini | $0 | Google AI Pro $19.99 | Google's index, good for recent news and local results | Can blend searched facts with unsourced ones; click the links |
A worked example: a question worth researching
"Is it worth switching my electricity plan?" is a question a chatbot will answer fluently from nothing. A better research question names what it needs: "What are the current standard variable and time-of-use rates for residential customers in my state, and which sites publish comparisons?" Perplexity returns links for each part. ChatGPT with search does too, if search is on. Gemini gives Google results and a summary. The quality of the sources decides the answer, not the tool.
Try it
Turn a vague question into a researchable one
Which would you trust?
You asked a research tool for the current small-facilities grant deadline from your local council. Which answer should you trust more?