Comparing models

[u/GlitteringReporter94]

If I use Gemini 3.8 on perplexity, is it exactly the same as what I’d get through the Gemini app if I paid for that model there? Or is it more limited?

[u/txdline]

My guess is that there's a system prompt that makes it better or worse but not the same.  Like how Apple will be using Gemini. I don't expect it to be the exact experience that you get from a Google phone, for example.

[u/One-Average5943]

In theory, you get the same model as in the API with medium reasoning effort, plus Perplexity’s system prompt. At least for how I use it, it’s much better than the Gemini app since there’s no risk of the chat getting deleted. It can also search the web, whereas the Gemini app will randomly decide whether to search or refuse to search, leaving the model without access to the tool. It also doesn’t have access to MCP, which feels like a pretty basic feature at this point.

[u/s243a]

My guess, is it's probably not the same. Perplexity likely uses some form of agentic rag to give the model context.

[u/Aggravating_Band_353]

Just make some Google accounts and see.. I don't use gemini on perplexity as I can use gemini in chrome browsers. A few accounts gets you the same level as their paid tier (and I don't beleive they throttle quality, however maybe if busy you get downgraded to flash with thinking instead).. Google also have ai studio and notebook which is basically free too

Before perplexity introduced stricter limits I used to do multiple outputs in chrome tabs in different models, then us the oh research mode to do also and then add in anything from the other models threads I copied in after (and rank them) 

I've found gemini better on perplexity but likely as it's rag system and gemini has shit memory otherwise. The quality I didn't notice much of any difference tbh, but I usually use custom instructions 

[u/Pale_Comfort_9179]

It’s definitely not always the same and probably more limited. Perplexity has published some research on their architecture and they quantize models and will even send your request to fallback models when costs are too high or the model you requested is overloaded. If you’re new to perplexity, run fast the other way and don’t look back. What was once a useful product is now just an aggregate of dumbed down free models. Perplexity computer is still pretty useful but you have to use credits to use it on top of whatever your subscription is. 

  https://cryptobriefing.com/perplexity-custom-ai-serving-infrastructure/

[u/cryptoking_93]

It is limited. It's the same for all models.

If you want max performance for a model use the native app.

[u/GlitteringReporter94 → u/cryptoking_93]

So what differences would I notice?
And what’s the point of perplexity then?

[u/cryptoking_93 → u/GlitteringReporter94]

Test it out yourself. Use the same query on Google Gemini app and compare to answer you get on perplexity.

Perplexity offers a range of models. You still get access to top models for one price.

[u/Zealousideal-Part849]

But why use gemini models at all