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 Consensus. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Genspark Design. The lowest first paid tier on this page is SciSpace at $1/mo.
If your search starts with a question, compare how each tool helps you explore the sources behind its answer. The entries are ranked, with Perplexity first, then Google AI Mode and Felo Search; Consensus and Scite also appear near the top. Citation format, source filters, and deep research mode show how research features differ. Check API access and browser extension support for ways to use a service, and weigh mobile apps, monthly query limits, free plans, and paid-from prices when considering access and cost. Which criteria matter most will depend on the questions you want to investigate and how you prefer to search.
27 AI search engines ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
#3 Consensus Also great · 7.1 Free plan · $20/mo
- Free plan AndroidapiiOSmacOSWebWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial - Free plan AndroidiOSLinuxmacOSWebWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial$19.99/mofirst paid tier About Genspark DesignVisit site - Free plan AndroidapiextensioniOSWeb
- Free plan
- Yes
- Citation format
- inline
- Deep research mode
- Yes
- Source filters
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial$20/mofirst paid tier About ConsensusVisit site - Free plan AndroidapiextensioniOSWeb
- Free plan
- Yes
- Paid from
- 49 /mo
- Deep research mode
- Yes
- Browser extension
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial$49/mofirst paid tier About Andi AIVisit 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
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial$14.99/mofirst paid tier About Felo SearchVisit site - Free planFree trial apiself-hostedWeb
- Free plan
- Yes
- Citation format
- mixed
- Deep research mode
- Yes
- Source filters
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial - WebWindowsmacOSiOSAndroid
- Free plan
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial - Free planFree trial apiextensionWeb
- Free plan
- Yes
- Paid from
- 20 /mo
- Citation format
- inline
- Deep research mode
- Yes
- Source filters
- Yes
- Browser extension
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial$14/mofirst paid tier About SciteVisit site - Free trial AndroidiOSWeb
- Free plan
- Yes
- Paid from
- 9.99 /mo
- Citation format
- inline
- Deep research mode
- Yes
- Source filters
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial$4.99/mofirst paid tier About Google AI ModeVisit site - Free plan extensioniOSWeb
- Free plan
- Yes
- Paid from
- 20 /mo
- Citation format
- inline
- Deep research mode
- Yes
- Source filters
- Yes
- Browser extension
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial$1/mofirst paid tier About SciSpaceVisit site - Free plan apiWeb
- Free plan
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial$11/mofirst paid tier About ElicitVisit site - Free plan apiextensionWeb
- Free plan
- Yes
- Source filters
- Yes
- Browser extension
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial - AndroidiOSWeb
- Free plan
- Yes
- Paid from
- 3 /mo
- Deep research mode
- Yes
- Source filters
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial$2.50/mofirst paid tier About Brave SearchVisit site - WindowsmacOSiOSAndroid
- Free plan
- No
- Citation format
- inline
- Deep research mode
- Yes
- Source filters
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial - AndroidWeb
- Free plan
- No
- Paid from
- 5 /mo
- Citation format
- source_list
- Deep research mode
- Yes
- Source filters
- Yes
- Browser extension
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial$4.50/mofirst paid tier About Kagi SearchVisit site - AndroidiOSWeb
- Free plan
- No
- Citation format
- inline
- Deep research mode
- Yes
- Source filters
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial - WebiOSAndroid
- Free plan
- Yes
- Citation format
- inline
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial - iOSAndroid
- Free plan
- Yes
- Deep research mode
- No
- Source filters
- No
- Browser extension
- No
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial - Free plan AndroidapiiOSWeb
- Free plan
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial - iOSAndroid
- Free plan
- Yes
- Citation format
- inline
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial - Web
- Free plan
- Yes
- Source filters
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial - Web
- Free plan
- Yes
- Paid from
- 10 /mo
- Source filters
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial - Web
- Free plan
- Yes
- Citation format
- inline
- Source filters
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial - Web
- Free plan
- Yes
- Citation format
- source_list
- Deep research mode
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial - Web
- Free plan
- Yes
- Citation format
- inline
- Deep research mode
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial
Is your tool 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 Specifiction?
Perplexity is ranked #1 of 27 with a score of 7.8. Genspark Design is second and Consensus third.
How many of these have a free plan?
11 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, the fullest spec sheet first: how deeply the product is documented, the platforms it runs on, a free tier or trial to test it, and its standing. Paid placements never change a rank.