How do I get a Perplexity API key?

Create an account at https://perplexity.ai, open the API keys page, and generate a key. Then paste it into the Dracon key manager, where it is stored encrypted and used browser-direct.

Does Perplexity have a free tier?

Perplexity does not advertise a recurring free tier as of the last check; usage is billed per their listed pricing.

Perplexity API key setup

API access to Perplexity's Sonar models. Excellent for research and factuality.

Get your key

Open the Perplexity API keys page: www.perplexity.ai/settings/api
Create an account and generate an API key.
Paste it into the Dracon BYOK provider keys — stored encrypted (AES-256-GCM), used browser-direct, works in every Dracon tool.

Free tier

No recurring free tier advertised as of the last check. Usage is billed per the provider's listed pricing — you pay them directly, no Dracon markup.

Rate limits: ~50 RPM (tiered by spend)

Connection details

Base URL: https://api.perplexity.ai
API shape: OpenAI-compatible
Env var: PERPLEXITY_API_KEY
Models: sonar, sonar-pro
Model lineup: Sonar, Sonar Pro, Sonar Deep Research, Sonar 3.5

Our verdicts on this kind of provider

Independent comparisons we keep current as pricing and free tiers shift. A guide is setup; a verdict is whether it's worth setting up.

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