Query Perplexity AI with explicit model selection. COSTS 1 PRO SEARCH QUERY per call.

Prefer pplx_smart_query for automatic quota-aware routing. Use this only when you need a specific model or thinking mode. Omitted model, thinking, and source_focus fall back to saved defaults (set with pwm config in the CLI), then to auto/web/off.

Args: query: The question to ask model: Model to use - auto, sonar, deep_research, gpt56_terra, gpt56_sol, gpt6_sol, grok45, grok47, claude_sonnet, claude_opus, claude_opus55, gemini_pro, gemini38, nemotron, glm52, glm53, kimi_k26, kimi_k3 (any live catalog identifier is also accepted). An unknown name returns an error with close-match suggestions. thinking: Enable extended thinking mode (available for gpt56_terra, gpt56_sol, gpt6_sol, grok45, grok47, claude_sonnet, claude_opus, claude_opus55, gemini38, kimi_k26; always on for gemini_pro, nemotron, glm52, glm53, and kimi_k3) source_focus: Source type - none (model only, no search), web, academic, social, finance, all, or connector source ID from pplx_connectors() files: Local file paths to attach (PDF or image). On Free-tier accounts an attachment can make the query count as a Pro Search.

Quick Q&A with auto model. COSTS 1 PRO SEARCH QUERY. Prefer pplx_smart_query(intent='quick') for simple lookups (Sonar 2 first).

An omitted source_focus falls back to your saved default (set with pwm config), then web.

Deep Research — in-depth reports. COSTS 1 DEEP RESEARCH QUERY (limited monthly pool, typically 5-10 total). Only use when the user explicitly requests deep research.

Start a deep research task asynchronously. COSTS 1 DEEP RESEARCH QUERY.

Use this instead of pplx_deep_research for complex queries to avoid connection timeouts. Returns a task_id immediately. Poll pplx_research_status with the task_id to get the result.

Check the status of an asynchronous deep research task.

Returns 'in_progress' if the task is still running, the final research report if completed, or an error message if it failed.

Sonar 2 — Perplexity's latest in-house model. Subject to your plan and Perplexity usage counters (see pplx_usage).

GPT-5.6 Terra — OpenAI's versatile model. COSTS 1 PRO SEARCH QUERY.

GPT-5.6 Terra Thinking — OpenAI's versatile model with thinking. COSTS 1 PRO SEARCH QUERY.

GPT-5.6 Sol — OpenAI's most powerful model. COSTS 1 PRO SEARCH QUERY. Requires Max subscription.

GPT-5.6 Sol Thinking — OpenAI's most powerful model with thinking. COSTS 1 PRO SEARCH QUERY. Requires Max subscription.

Grok 4.5 — xAI's most advanced model. COSTS 1 PRO SEARCH QUERY.

Grok 4.5 Thinking — xAI's most advanced model with thinking. COSTS 1 PRO SEARCH QUERY.

Claude Sonnet 5 — Anthropic's fast model. COSTS 1 PRO SEARCH QUERY.

Claude Sonnet 5 Thinking — Anthropic's newest reasoning model. COSTS 1 PRO SEARCH QUERY.

Claude Opus 4.8 — Anthropic's most advanced reasoning model. COSTS 1 PRO SEARCH QUERY. Requires Max subscription.

Claude Opus 4.8 Thinking — Anthropic's most advanced reasoning model with extended thinking. COSTS 1 PRO SEARCH QUERY. Requires Max subscription.

Gemini 3.1 Pro Thinking — Google's most advanced model with extended thinking. COSTS 1 PRO SEARCH QUERY.

Nemotron 3 Ultra — NVIDIA's Nemotron 3 Ultra 550B model with extended thinking. COSTS 1 PRO SEARCH QUERY.

GLM 5.2 — Z.ai's advanced model with thinking always enabled. COSTS 1 PRO SEARCH QUERY.

Kimi K2.6 — Moonshot's advanced model. COSTS 1 PRO SEARCH QUERY.

Kimi K2.6 Thinking — Moonshot's advanced model with extended thinking. COSTS 1 PRO SEARCH QUERY.

RECOMMENDED DEFAULT TOOL. Quota-aware query — checks limits and picks the best model automatically.

USE THIS FOR EVERY QUERY unless the user explicitly requests a specific model. Default to intent='quick' for most lookups — it routes to Sonar 2 when appropriate. Only escalate intent when the question genuinely requires it.

Intent guide (choose the LOWEST sufficient level):

• quick: Facts, definitions, simple lookups, 'what is X' → Sonar 2 (check pplx_usage)

• standard: How-to, comparisons, explanations needing web sources → 1 Pro Search

• detailed: Complex multi-source analysis, technical deep-dives → 1 Pro Search (premium model)

• research: Comprehensive report → 1 Deep Research (scarce monthly quota, user must request)

Response includes a metadata block showing the model used, routing reason, and current quota snapshot.

Args: query: The question to ask intent: Query complexity — quick (default for most), standard, detailed, research source_focus: Source type — none (model only, no search), web, academic, social, finance, all, or connector source ID from pplx_connectors(). Omit it to use your saved default (set with pwm config), then web. conversation_id: Pass the ID from a previous response to continue that thread files: Local file paths to attach (PDF or image). On Free-tier accounts an attachment can make the query count as a Pro Search.

Model Council — query multiple models in parallel, get synthesized consensus.

IMPORTANT — BEFORE calling this tool, you MUST:

1. Tell the user the available models: sonar, gpt56_terra, gpt56_sol, gpt6_sol, grok45, grok47, claude_sonnet, claude_opus, claude_opus55, gemini_pro, gemini38, nemotron, glm52, glm53, kimi_k26, kimi_k3

2. Check pplx_usage() first. If Subscription is Pro, do not include Max-only models: gpt56_sol, claude_opus, claude_opus55

3. Ask the user WHICH models they want in their council and HOW MANY

4. Inform them of the cost: each council model = 1 Pro Search query, plus synthesis (default chairman sonar = Sonar 2 pass — still counts as a normal query toward limits)

5. Get explicit confirmation before executing

Default council: GPT-5.6 Terra, Claude Sonnet 5, Gemini 3.1 Pro (Pro-compatible, 3 diverse providers).

Args: query: The question to ask all council models source_focus: Source type for all models (none/web/academic/social/finance/all or connector source ID) models: Comma-separated model names to use as council members. Available: sonar, gpt56_terra, gpt56_sol, gpt6_sol, grok45, grok47, claude_sonnet, claude_opus, claude_opus55, gemini_pro, gemini38, nemotron, glm52, glm53, kimi_k26, kimi_k3. Default: "gpt56_terra,claude_sonnet,gemini_pro" (3 models + synthesis = 4 Pro Searches) Max-only: gpt56_sol, claude_opus, claude_opus55. Exclude these when pplx_usage shows a Pro subscription. synthesize: Whether to synthesize a consensus from all responses. Set false to get only individual responses (saves 1 Sonar 2 call). thinking: Enable extended thinking for council models (gpt56_terra, gpt56_sol, gpt6_sol, grok45, grok47, claude_sonnet, claude_opus, claude_opus55, gemini38, kimi_k26 support toggle; gemini_pro, nemotron, glm52, and glm53 are always thinking). chairman: Model to use for synthesis (default: "sonar" / Sonar 2). Non-sonar chairmen cost 1 extra Pro Search query.

Browse your Perplexity thread library. FREE — zero quota cost.

Returns a paginated list of your past Perplexity conversations with their slugs, titles, models used, and answer previews.

PRIMARY USE CASES:

1. "Did I already research X?" — search before spending a Pro query: pplx_list_threads(search_term="quantum computing")

2. Find a conversation to resume — get its slug, then pass it as conversation_id to any pplx_* query tool to continue right where it left off.

3. Retrieve full history — call pplx_get_thread(slug) with any slug from this list.

Args: limit: Max threads to return (default 20, max 100). offset: Skip this many threads — use for pagination (e.g. offset=20 for page 2). search_term: Optional keyword to filter threads by title or content.

Fetch the full conversation history for a Perplexity thread. FREE — zero quota cost.

Returns the complete Q&A turns, sources, and related queries for any past thread. Get the slug from pplx_list_threads, or from the [Conversation ID: ...] footer returned by any pplx_* query tool.

RESUME PATTERN — to continue a past conversation:

1. pplx_list_threads(search_term="topic") — find the thread and its slug

2. pplx_get_thread(slug) — read the full history for context

3. pplx_smart_query("follow-up question", conversation_id=slug) — continue it

Args: slug: Thread UUID / slug. Obtain from pplx_list_threads or a previous [Conversation ID: ...] response footer.

Check current Perplexity usage limits and remaining quotas.

CALL THIS AT THE START OF EVERY SESSION before making any queries. Shows remaining Pro Search (weekly), Deep Research (monthly), and other quotas. Use the results to decide whether to conserve Pro quota (e.g. quick intent before premium models).

Args: refresh: Force refresh from Perplexity (ignores cache). Default False.

List account connector source IDs that can be passed as source_focus.

Returns source IDs from the Perplexity rate-limit API. Use these IDs as source_focus values, for example source_focus="pitchbook_mcp_cashmere".

Check if Perplexity is authenticated.

Returns the current authentication status and subscription tier if authenticated. Use this to check if re-authentication is needed before making queries.

Request a verification code for Perplexity authentication.

Sends a 6-digit verification code to the provided email address. After calling this, check the email inbox and use pplx_auth_complete with the code to finish authentication.

Args: email: Your Perplexity account email address

Returns: Status message indicating if the code was sent successfully

Complete Perplexity authentication with the verification code.

Use the 6-digit code received via email after calling pplx_auth_request_code. On success, the session token is saved and all pplx_* tools will work.

Args: email: Your Perplexity account email (same as used in pplx_auth_request_code) code: The 6-digit verification code from your email totp_code: The 6-digit authenticator code when TOTP is enabled

Returns: Status message with authentication result and subscription tier