How to cite Perplexity
Need to cite a conversation with Perplexity (Perplexity AI)? Choose your style, add the date and (optionally) your prompt, and copy a correctly formatted citation — free, no sign-up.
Live preview
Fill in the details and your formatted citation will appear here.
How do you cite an AI chatbot?
Because an AI chatbot's output isn't publicly retrievable, most style guides treat it like software or an algorithm. The core pieces are the company that made it (Perplexity AI), the tool and version (Perplexity), the date you used it, and the URL. In APA you list Perplexity AI as the author; in MLA you start with your prompt; Chicago usually puts the whole thing in a note.
One rule holds across every style: describe how you used it in your text or methods, and keep your own record of the prompt and reply, because Perplexity conversations can't be retrieved by your reader.
Perplexity citation examples by style
APA 7th edition
Perplexity AI. (2026). Perplexity [Large language model]. https://www.perplexity.ai
In-text: (Perplexity AI, 2026)
MLA 9th edition
“Find recent studies on sleep and memory” prompt. Perplexity, Perplexity AI, 12 March 2026, https://www.perplexity.ai.
In-text: (“Find recent studies on…”)
Chicago (notes–bibliography)
Perplexity AI, Perplexity, 12 March 2026, https://www.perplexity.ai.
In-text: (Perplexity AI, 2026)
Examples use a sample date (12 March 2026) and prompt; the generator above uses your own details.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to cite Perplexity at all?
Yes — if you quote, paraphrase, or build on Perplexity's output, cite it, and check your instructor's policy on AI use. Passing AI text off as your own is plagiarism.
Who is the author — me or Perplexity AI?
In APA and Chicago, the author is Perplexity AI (the company that made Perplexity). MLA starts the entry with the prompt you used instead.
What if I don't know the version?
Leave it blank — it's optional. If you can find it (often shown in the app), adding the version makes your citation more precise.