Short answer, then the detail.
For Free PPT and spreadsheet generation; WeChat and public-account content, Yuanbao is the more direct fit. For Research where sources must be checkable; Fact-checking a claim quickly, Perplexity gets there with less fighting.
Both have free tiers, so cost only separates them once you hit the limits. Context limits aren't published for both, so treat this as untested until you hit the ceiling yourself.
| Dimension | Yuanbao | Perplexity |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing | Every feature is free as of this check, including generating and downloading PPT, Word, Excel, PDF and HTML files; a July 2026 report said no paid plan was scheduled (checked 2026-10-29) | Free $0; Pro $20/mo ($200/yr); Max $200/mo ($2,000/yr); Education Pro $10/mo for verified students; Enterprise Pro $40/seat/mo; Enterprise Max $325/seat/mo (checked 2026-10-29) |
| Context window | not published | not published |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android, Desktop (PC) | Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows |
| Best for | Free PPT and spreadsheet generation; WeChat and public-account content; Students and light office work | Research where sources must be checkable; Fact-checking a claim quickly; Students who need citations |
| Availability | Directly reachable in mainland China with no proxy, and a China edition exists (checked 2026-10-29). | Unreachable from mainland China without a proxy, confirmed by a blocked connection from this host on 2026-10-29, and there is no China edition. |
Free PPT and spreadsheet generation; WeChat and public-account content; Students and light office work. Its strongest point: Agent-style office work, including file export, costs nothing. Watch out for: Flagship model context window is not published.
Research where sources must be checkable; Fact-checking a claim quickly; Students who need citations. Its strongest point: Every answer carries clickable source links you can audit. Watch out for: Free tier caps you at 3 Pro Searches a day.
Running both is not wasteful here: one earns its keep on retrieval and tool use, the other on long text you intend to keep.
Yuanbao if you want Free PPT and spreadsheet generation. Perplexity if Research where sources must be checkable. Neither has a learning curve worth worrying about past the first day.
Yes — both have free tiers, and the pair covers more ground than either alone.
Context limits aren't published for both, so treat this as untested until you hit the ceiling yourself.