I Tried Perplexity’s AI Shopping Feature and I Found Exactly What I Needed

Shopping can be super overwhelming. That is until I started using Perplexity Shopping, which turned what used to be a dreaded task into something simple and fun.

Imagine a shopping experience where you can research and buy products all in one place. Sounds awesome, right? That’s exactly what Perplexity AI Shopping delivers by blending powerful AI research tools with the convenience of shopping directly on its platform. This combination creates a seamless solution for finding what you need without constantly switching between websites.

One feature that stands out is “Buy with Pro.” You can save your shipping and billing info for one-click checkout, making purchases quick and hassle-free. Another helpful feature is “Snap to Shop,” which allows you to search for products using pictures or screenshots. It’s perfect for those moments when you spot something you love but have no idea where to find it.

Perplexity AI Shopping offers unbiased recommendations. Through its Merchant Program, businesses can share product data without worrying about hidden algorithms promoting paid ads. This ensures fair product visibility, giving shoppers better and more trustworthy options. Additionally, features like Summarized Product Reviews and Product Comparisons provide clear, concise information. Whether comparing two gadgets or looking for a quick breakdown of reviews, these tools make decision-making easier. To top it off, Shopify is already a partner, which means access to an even wider selection of smaller, unique stores.

When I first heard about Perplexity Shopping, I was eager to try it. I am already a big fan of the Perplexity Pro subscription, so adding a shopping tool is an exciting upgrade. With the holidays just around the corner, the timing could not have been better. It allowed me to check off my kids’ gift lists without the usual stress or endless searching online.

One of my go-to gift ideas is STEM kits, but the sheer number of options can be overwhelming. Perplexity Shopping took all that hassle away by handling the research for me. It combed through countless choices, narrowed them down, and showed me exactly what I was looking for. The convenience of buying directly through Perplexity saved me from bouncing between websites, allowing me to stay focused and get my shopping done quickly.

I also decided to see how well it could help with Christmas party decoration ideas. The results were surprisingly creative, with suggestions like an upside-down Christmas tree that I would never have considered on my own. What impressed me most was how easy it was to see the logic behind the recommendations and check the sources. This made planning my event much smoother and gave me confidence in the choices I made.

Of course, no system is perfect, and I encountered a minor drawback. Occasionally, I found products that could not be purchased directly through Perplexity because the “Buy with Pro” feature is only available with partnered merchants. While this was a little frustrating, Perplexity is still expanding its partnerships, so this limitation will likely improve over time.

Benefits and Drawbacks

Perplexity AI Shopping has many benefits and saves me time and energy. The convenience of everything in one place, research, product comparison, and checkout, helps me save time. I do not like visiting multiple websites to find the right product.

One of the features that has come in handy in my household is the ability to find the best price on an item. Simply ask Perplexity Shopping to find the best price on an item, and it will return the search for the best price and where to find it. It will also provide other related products if one of those fits your needs better.

However, it isn’t flawless. One of the significant drawbacks is that you have to have Perplexity Pro to use it, which is currently $20 a month. Another drawback is the limited merchant partnerships so far. However, with partnerships like Shopify, it is always adding more products. It never hurts to check price tracking sites CamelCamelCamel or Keepa to make sure you are getting the best deal. Additionally, getting the best results requires a certain level of query specificity. If your search is too vague, the platform can struggle to return exactly what you need, which could frustrate some.

Perplexity AI Shopping is an exciting option for those who appreciate an easy and efficient online shopping experience. Its ability to integrate research, decision-making, and checkout in one seamless process made the experience enjoyable. I was able to find products I never would have thought of. It seems that prompting is still important in getting the desired results, but it makes the discovery process fun.

Perplexity Shopping is a tool worth considering, and as Perplexity AI has so many wonderful reasons to sign up, the pro version is worth the price. That said, it’s not without its limitations. It may let you down if you’re seeking something very specific or outside the partnered merchants. Nevertheless, for a fast and hassle-free shopping experience that offers honest product suggestions, Perplexity Shopping is a tool worth considering.