Best AI Search Engines in 2026
Updated
In short: Perplexity is ranked #1 of 27 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of Genspark Design and Andi AI. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Genspark Design. The lowest first paid tier on this page is SciSpace at $1/mo.
For questions that call for exploring sources as well as finding information, AI search engines offer different research and access features. Compare citation formats, source filters, and deep research modes, then consider API access and browser extensions. Mobile apps, monthly query limits, free-plan availability, and paid-from pricing can help you assess how each option fits your search habits. Perplexity and Google AI Mode head the ranking, followed by Felo Search and You.com; Consensus also appears among the first entries. Use these criteria to weigh how you want to investigate a question and review its sources.
27 AI search engines ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
#3 Andi AI Also great · 6.9 Free plan · $49/mo
- Free plan AndroidapiiOSmacOSWebWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Free plan AndroidiOSLinuxmacOSWebWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms$19.99/mofirst paid tier About Genspark DesignVisit site - Free plan AndroidapiextensioniOSWeb
- Free plan
- Yes
- Paid from
- 49 /mo
- Deep research mode
- Yes
- Browser extension
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms$49/mofirst paid tier About Andi AIVisit site - Free plan AndroidapiextensioniOSWeb
- Free plan
- Yes
- Citation format
- inline
- Deep research mode
- Yes
- Source filters
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms$20/mofirst paid tier About ConsensusVisit site - Free plan AndroidiOSWeb
- Free plan
- Yes
- Paid from
- 14.99 /mo
- Citation format
- footnotes
- Deep research mode
- Yes
- Source filters
- Yes
- Browser extension
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms$14.99/mofirst paid tier About Felo SearchVisit site - Free plan apiWeb
- Free plan
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms$11/mofirst paid tier About ElicitVisit site - Free plan extensioniOSWeb
- Free plan
- Yes
- Paid from
- 20 /mo
- Citation format
- inline
- Deep research mode
- Yes
- Source filters
- Yes
- Browser extension
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms$1/mofirst paid tier About SciSpaceVisit site - Free planFree trial apiself-hostedWeb
- Free plan
- Yes
- Citation format
- mixed
- Deep research mode
- Yes
- Source filters
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - WebWindowsmacOSiOSAndroid
- Free plan
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Free planFree trial apiextensionWeb
- Free plan
- Yes
- Paid from
- 20 /mo
- Citation format
- inline
- Deep research mode
- Yes
- Source filters
- Yes
- Browser extension
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms$14/mofirst paid tier About SciteVisit site - Free plan apiextensionWeb
- Free plan
- Yes
- Source filters
- Yes
- Browser extension
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Free trial AndroidiOSWeb
- Free plan
- Yes
- Paid from
- 9.99 /mo
- Citation format
- inline
- Deep research mode
- Yes
- Source filters
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms$4.99/mofirst paid tier About Google AI ModeVisit site - AndroidiOSWeb
- Free plan
- Yes
- Paid from
- 3 /mo
- Deep research mode
- Yes
- Source filters
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms$2.50/mofirst paid tier About Brave SearchVisit site - WindowsmacOSiOSAndroid
- Free plan
- No
- Citation format
- inline
- Deep research mode
- Yes
- Source filters
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - AndroidWeb
- Free plan
- No
- Paid from
- 5 /mo
- Citation format
- source_list
- Deep research mode
- Yes
- Source filters
- Yes
- Browser extension
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms$4.50/mofirst paid tier About Kagi SearchVisit site - iOSAndroid
- Free plan
- Yes
- Deep research mode
- No
- Source filters
- No
- Browser extension
- No
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - WebiOSAndroid
- Free plan
- Yes
- Citation format
- inline
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - WebiOSAndroid
- Free plan
- No
- Citation format
- inline
- Deep research mode
- Yes
- Source filters
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - WebiOSAndroid
- Free plan
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Web
- Free plan
- Yes
- Source filters
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Web
- Free plan
- Yes
- Paid from
- 10 /mo
- Source filters
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - iOSAndroid
- Free plan
- Yes
- Citation format
- inline
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Web
- Free plan
- Yes
- Citation format
- inline
- Source filters
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Web
- Free plan
- Yes
- Citation format
- source_list
- Deep research mode
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Web
- Free plan
- Yes
- Citation format
- inline
- Deep research mode
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which AI search engine is ranked first on Everything Xiaomi?
Perplexity is ranked #1 of 27 with a score of 7.5. Genspark Design is second and Andi AI third.
How many of these have a free plan?
10 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, SciSpace has the lowest first paid tier we found: $1/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked on what each maker publishes: documentation depth, a free tier and the platforms it runs on. Paid placements never change a rank.