Lumo vs Perplexity AI (2026): Pricing, Features & Which to Choose

Who comes out ahead

Based only on the facts in our directory. The right pick still depends on the job you need done.

Lower starting price
Not comparable
Not comparable: Lumo does not list a price
Free plan
Tie
Both have one
Higher rating
Perplexity AI
4.0 against 4.6
Same job?
Yes
Both are Chatbots tools

Side by side

Compared on	Lumo	Perplexity AI
Our rating	4.0	4.6Better
Starts at	Free	$20/mo
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Category	Chatbots	Chatbots
Plans	Free$0 Lumo PlusPrice shown at checkout	FreeFree Pro$20/mo
Key features	Zero-access encrypted chat history Web search and small file uploads Proton Drive files and folders as context Image generation, projects and custom assistants Open-source code and apps for iOS and Android	Citation-first answers with linked, verifiable sources Deep Research for multi-step, multi-source investigation Comet browser extending search into general browsing Choice of underlying AI models on paid tiers Free tier with daily limits on advanced features
Pros	Free plan with no card Chats are not used to train models, per Proton Business edition for teams	Citation-first design remains the category reference point for verifiable answers Deep Research handles genuinely complex, multi-part questions well Comet browser extends the same approach beyond search alone
Cons	Free plan limits model usage, history and images Plus prices are not shown in the static page and vary by currency Privacy claims rest on Proton's own documentation	Advanced research features are rate-limited on the free tier Faces direct competition from well-funded search-focused rivals across this category Pro subscription needed for full model choice and higher usage
Company	Proton AG, founded 2014	Perplexity AI, founded 2022

Prices come from each vendor's pricing page, last checked 20260629. Check the vendor before you buy.

FAQ

Questions people ask

Is Lumo better than Perplexity AI?

In our reviews Lumo scores 4.0 and Perplexity AI scores 4.6. The better pick depends on the job. Lumo: Proton's privacy-first AI chat assistant with zero-access encrypted chats, open-source code, web search and image generation, on web, iOS and Android. Perplexity AI: The AI answer engine most competitors measure themselves against.

Which is cheaper, Lumo or Perplexity AI?

Lumo: free. Perplexity AI: from $20/mo.

Do Lumo and Perplexity AI have free plans?

Yes, both have a free plan.

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