Sonar Pro
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Perplexity | 200,000 token context | $3.00/M input, $15.00/M output. Note: Sonar Pro pricing includes Perplexity search pricing. See details hereOpens in new tab For enterprises seeking more advanced capabilities, the Sonar Pro API can handle in-depth, multi-step queries with added extensibility, like double the number of citations per search as Sonar on average. Plus, with a larger context window, it can handle longer and more nuanced searches and follow-up questions.
Guides for this model
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The 10 cheapest ChatGPT alternatives in 2026: free local models, free tiers and flat-rate plans
Captain's notes
Notes from 2026-10-13
Sonar Pro is Perplexity's advanced search-augmented language model, built for multi-step research queries that need real-time web results and detailed citations. It doubles the citation count of the base Sonar model and brings a 200,000-token context window, making it practical for long, iterative research sessions. It suits developers and enterprises who need grounded, sourced answers rather than a general-purpose chat model.
Known for
- Real-time web search baked in, not bolted on as an afterthought
- Roughly double the citations per search compared to standard Sonar
- 200,000-token context handles long threads and follow-up chains
- Designed for multi-step, in-depth queries rather than single-turn chat
- Vision support alongside text
Watch out for
- Pricing covers both model tokens and Perplexity search costs combined; output at $15/M adds up fast.
- Closed API only — no weights to download, no local deployment.
- Not a general coding or reasoning model; the search layer is the point, not raw capability.
Best for
Prompts to try
Deep multi-step research
I'm researching the current state of solid-state battery commercialization. Start with who the leading manufacturers are, then follow up on their announced production timelines, and finally summarize the main technical obstacles still blocking mass-market adoption. Cite your sources throughout.
Competitive landscape snapshot
Give me a detailed comparison of the three largest cloud hyperscalers' current AI infrastructure offerings — compute, storage, and managed model services. I want recent pricing where available, key differences, and which workloads each is best suited for.
Iterative policy analysis
Walk me through the current regulatory status of autonomous vehicle deployment in the US, EU, and China. Then follow up: where have rules changed in the last twelve months, and what do industry groups say are the remaining sticking points? Cite specific sources for each jurisdiction.
Compare with
- Sonar Pro SearchAPI-only model200,000 token context · $3.00/M input, $15.00/M output
- Sonar Reasoning ProAPI-only model128,000 token context · $2.00/M input, $8.00/M output
- Step 5 PreviewOpen-weights model1,048,576 token context · $1.00/M input, $2.70/M output
- Seed 2.0 proOpen-weights model256,000 token context · $0.50/M input, $3.00/M output
More text models from perplexity
Questions people ask
- Can I run Sonar Pro locally?
- No. Sonar Pro is a closed API product from Perplexity; the weights are not published and there is no local deployment option.
- What does Sonar Pro actually cost, and how big is the context?
- Input is $3.00 per million tokens and output is $15.00 per million tokens; that pricing bundles Perplexity's search costs. The context window is 200,000 tokens.
- How does Sonar Pro differ from the base Sonar model?
- Sonar Pro handles more complex, multi-step queries, provides roughly double the citations per search on average, and offers a larger context window for longer research threads.
Captain's verdictIf you need a model that searches the web, cites its sources, and can chase a research thread across many follow-ups, Sonar Pro is purpose-built for exactly that.
Captain writes these notes from the model's own description and model card. Prices and context sizes are the provider's at the time of writing and can change.
Ranking badge
Updated Oct 22, 2026
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How this score adds up
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Glossary: the terms used here
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