Mobile appAI productsOriginal by Perplexity AI
Instead of the classic search engine's ten blue links, Perplexity delivers a single answer with cited sources. Users type a question in natural language; the system searches the web, picks reliable pages, synthesises the information and shows with numbers which source each sentence came from. Follow-up questions deepen the topic. That transparency reduces distrust of AI answers and cuts research time significantly.
To build something similar you need a search and crawling pipeline, a processor that cleans and chunks page content, a re-ranking model, an LLM layer that writes cited answers and a chat interface. For search data you can use a search API, or build your own index of selected domains with your own crawler. There is a constant balance between answer speed, source quality and cost; choosing quality sources for non-English content takes extra care.
How Perplexity works: the core user flow
How many apps and dashboards do you need?
Web app
The search interface where users ask questions and see cited answers and follow-ups.
Mobile app
The iOS and Android app with voice questions, camera search and quick answers.
Browser extension
The extension that summarises the open page and searches about selected text.
Admin panel
The internal panel that tracks source-quality rules, quotas, subscriptions and costs.
Critical features of a product like Perplexity
Cited answer generation
Each sentence is linked by number to its source, and users can click through to verify the original page.
Search and re-ranking
Results from the search API are re-ranked with relevance and trust models, and low-quality sites are filtered out.
Page content extraction
Ads and menus are stripped, the main text is chunked and only the relevant parts are sent to the model.
Focus modes
Source filters such as academic papers, video, forums or specific sites only can be selected.
Deep research
The assistant runs dozens of searches in sequence, merges the findings and prepares a sectioned report.
Collections and sharing
Searches are saved in topic folders, and answers can be shared with a public link.
What goes into the first version, what comes later
First version (MVP)
- Question box and streamed cited answers
- Search API integration and page extraction
- Follow-up questions and search history
- Freemium plan and subscription
- Cost and quota tracking
Later releases
- Deep research and report mode
- Focus modes and site filters
- Browser extension
- Your own index and vertical search domains
Modules and how the budget is calculated
The budget is calculated with 360 SOFT’s pricing model from the modules below, about 20 screens and the project’s complexity: roughly 74 person-days for the full scope and 47 person-days for the first version. Every module you drop lowers the budget directly.
| Module | Phase |
|---|---|
| Sign-up, login, social login | First version |
| User profile and settings | First version |
| Admin dashboard | First version |
| Subscriptions and recurring billing | First version |
| Online payments (Stripe / PSP) | First version |
| AI features (LLM, RAG, recommendations) | Later release |
| Advanced search and filters | First version |
| Real-time messaging | First version |
| File, photo, video upload | First version |
| Multi-language | First version |
| Third-party API integration | First version |
| Reporting and analytics | Later release |
Hosting, SMS, map APIs, app store accounts and payment-provider fees are separate items. Maintenance and improvements (optional): €250 / month. We send a fixed written price within 24 hours after a free discovery call.
The hard parts
Source quality
The web is full of wrong and duplicated content, and picking trustworthy sources affects answer quality more than the model does.
Speed and cost
Every question triggers a search, page downloads and a model call; without caching and parallel processing, answers slow down and costs climb.
Relationship with publishers
Summarising publisher content raises copyright and traffic debates, so respecting robots rules and linking back to sources matters.
Business model
A freemium subscription is the core revenue: the free plan offers limited advanced search, while the paid plan brings stronger models, deep research and file upload. Enterprise plans can be sold with team management and internal document search. Clearly labelled sponsored follow-up questions placed in search results and API access for developers add revenue.
Get a free quote for your project
Let us scope it together and send a fixed written quote within 24 hours. NDA on request; you own the source code.
Choosing a company to build an app like Perplexity
Most people searching “build an app like perplexity” are really looking for a reliable app development company. When comparing quotes, check four things:
- Can you try similar products they have shipped, in the stores or live?
- Are the source code, design files, servers and store accounts transferred to you by contract?
- Do they show a working demo every two weeks, with written scope and acceptance criteria?
- Are maintenance, scaling and GDPR/security costs written into the quote?
Copyright and trademarks
A business model and features are generally not protected on their own, but the Perplexity name, logo, interface design, content and source code are. That is why we build a product with similar functionality but your own brand, design and code. This is not legal advice; we recommend a trademark search before launch.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to build an app like Perplexity?
A first release that gives cited answers using a search API and a ready-made LLM can be working in a few weeks. Source quality, speed and the deep research mode are then improved over months.
Do I need to build my own search index?
Not at the start; commercial search APIs are enough. If you want to stand out in a particular industry or language, you can build your own index from selected sites.
Will there be copyright or trademark issues?
The AI search business model is generally free to use; however, the name, logo, interface design and code cannot be copied. Copyright and site rules must be observed when using web content; this is not legal advice.
What should I look for when choosing a company to build an AI search engine?
Choose a team with experience in search, crawling, RAG and re-ranking. Ask which metrics they use to measure answer quality and how they optimise cost.
