How to Use Perplexity AI for Your Side Hustle [2026 Guide] Master Research Efficiency
"I know ChatGPT, but what makes Perplexity different?" - you might be wondering.
Perplexity AI is an "AI search engine" that's different from ChatGPT. Its biggest feature is searching for the latest information and providing answers with sources. It can dramatically improve the efficiency of your side hustle research.
This article explains specific ways to use Perplexity AI for your side hustle and how to differentiate between it and ChatGPT.
*Perplexity's features and pricing may change. Please check the official website for the latest information.
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What is Perplexity AI? How it Differs from ChatGPT
Perplexity AI is "an AI search engine that answers". It searches the web for the latest information in response to your questions, summarizes it, and provides answers.
ChatGPT vs Perplexity AI
| Feature | ChatGPT | Perplexity AI |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Use | Text generation/conversation | Research/search |
| Information Freshness | Limited to training data | Real-time search |
| Sources | None | Displays URLs |
| Fact-checking | Self-verification needed | Verify from sources |
| Free Version | GPT-3.5 | Limited daily searches |
| Paid Version | $20/month | $20/month |
Perplexity's Main Features
AI Search
Searches the web for your question, integrates information from multiple sources, and provides an answer. Source URLs are displayed so you can verify reliability.
File Analysis
Upload PDFs and documents to ask questions about the content. Convenient for summarizing papers and reports.
Thread Feature
Continue conversations with follow-up questions. Allows you to dig deeper into your research.
Collections
Save and organize research results as collections. You can organize information by project.
Tips for choosing: Use Perplexity for research and getting latest information, ChatGPT for writing and brainstorming. Using both together is the most powerful approach.
5 Ways to Use Perplexity AI for Your Side Hustle
1. Streamline Research for Content Creation
High ImpactPerplexity dramatically changes research for web writing and blogging. Tasks that previously required opening multiple sites to gather information can now be done in one go.
Specific Use Cases
- 1. Research latest trends on a topic
Example: "AI side hustle market trends and predictions for 2025" - 2. Collect statistics and data
Example: "Side hustle population trends and latest statistics in the US" - 3. Confirm accurate definitions of technical terms
Example: "What is E-E-A-T, official Google explanation" - 4. Analyze competitor articles
Example: "Characteristics of top-ranking articles for [keyword]"
Time-saving effect: Research that previously took 1 hour can potentially be reduced to about 15 minutes. Fact-checking is easy because sources are included.
2. Market Research & Competitor Analysis
High ImpactUse it for market research before starting a new side hustle or creating client proposals. Quickly grasp industry trends.
What You Can Research
- • Market size and growth forecasts for specific industries
- • Competitor characteristics, strengths, and weaknesses
- • Target customer needs and challenges
- • Latest trends and technological developments
- • Regulatory and legal changes
Prompt example: "Tell me about the [industry] market in the US, including 2024 market size, major players, and future growth forecasts. Please include sources."
3. Catching Up on Trends
Medium ImpactQuickly catch the latest trends useful for social media posts and content planning. Understand the background of trending topics.
Use Cases
- • Finding social media post topics
- • Selecting blog article topics
- • Providing information to clients
- • Catching up on industry news
4. Creating Proposals & Reports
Medium ImpactWhen creating client proposals or reports, quickly gather data and evidence.
Report Creation Flow
- 1. Collect industry data and statistics with Perplexity
- 2. Research competitor information and market trends
- 3. Organize collected information into report format with ChatGPT
- 4. Visualize with Canva
5. Learning for Skill Development
Medium ImpactUse it for finding learning materials when acquiring new skills and researching things you don't understand.
Examples
- • "Recommended materials and courses for learning [skill]"
- • "Roadmap for acquiring [skill]"
- • Research technical questions (when latest information is needed)
- • Research industry certifications and exam information
How to Use Perplexity AI Effectively
How to Write Effective Prompts
1. Be Specific
Bad example: "Tell me about side hustles"
Good example: "Tell me the top 5 popular side hustles in the US in 2024 and the average income for each"
2. Specify Time Period
Bad example: "What's the market size for AI tools?"
Good example: "Tell me the 2024 generative AI market size and 2025 forecast"
3. Request Sources
Good example: "Based on official sites and reliable research institutions, tell me about [topic]"
4. Use Follow-up Questions
After seeing the initial answer, ask follow-up questions to dig deeper. Following up with "Among those, please tell me more about [specific point]" is efficient.
Using Convenient Features
Collections Feature
Save research results to collections by project. You can review them later and organize information for each side hustle project.
Sharing Feature
Share research results via URL. Convenient for sharing information with clients or team knowledge sharing.
File Upload
Upload PDFs and ask questions. Quickly understand content of materials received from clients. (Pro version)
Focus Feature
Narrow search targets to "Academic papers," "YouTube," "Reddit," etc. Useful when looking for specialized information.
How to Choose Between Perplexity AI and ChatGPT
When to Use Perplexity
- ✓ Looking up latest news and trends
- ✓ Verifying statistics and numbers
- ✓ Research requiring sources
- ✓ Competitor and market research
- ✓ Gathering information about specific companies/services
When to Use ChatGPT
- ✓ Writing articles and content
- ✓ Brainstorming and ideation
- ✓ Rewriting and editing text
- ✓ Writing and debugging code
- ✓ Extended conversations and creative work
Best approach: First use Perplexity for research and information gathering, then create articles and content with ChatGPT based on the collected information. This combination is the most powerful.
Perplexity AI Pricing Plans
Free Version
$0/month
- • Basic AI search
- • Limited daily searches
- • Standard AI model
- • Basic source display
Perplexity Pro
Recommended$20/month
- • Unlimited searches (300+ Pro searches per day)
- • Choose latest models like GPT-4, Claude 3
- • File upload (PDF analysis)
- • Image generation feature
- • API access
For side hustle use: Pro version is recommended for serious research. Unlimited searches and file analysis features greatly improve side hustle efficiency. The $20/month investment can easily be recovered through time saved on research.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Perplexity's information accurate?
Perplexity displays source URLs so you can verify the accuracy yourself. However, AI can sometimes misinterpret information, so always verify important information from the sources.
Can I use it in other languages?
Yes, you can ask questions and receive answers in multiple languages. Web sources in various languages are included in the search. However, English sources tend to be more abundant, so for specialized research, it may be worth searching in English as well.
If I can only choose one - ChatGPT or Perplexity?
It depends on your use case. If content generation is your main focus, choose ChatGPT. If research is your main focus, choose Perplexity. If you can use both, the best approach is to use Perplexity for research and ChatGPT for writing.
Is there a smartphone app?
Apps are available for both iOS and Android. Convenient for research on the go.
Summary: Boost Your Side Hustle Efficiency with Perplexity AI
Perplexity AI is a tool that can dramatically improve research efficiency for your side hustle.
Since it has a different role than ChatGPT, using both together is recommended. Establishing a workflow where you gather information with Perplexity and create content with ChatGPT will greatly improve your side hustle productivity.
Action Items for Today
- 1. Sign up for Perplexity AI free version
- 2. Try researching something related to your side hustle
- 3. Practice using both ChatGPT and Perplexity together
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