In a significant move aimed at democratising access to cutting-edge research tools, Perplexity has announced that it will provide students around the world with free access to its premium AI features through a partnership with SheerID. This global initiative is designed to support academic pursuits by offering up to two years of Perplexity Pro at no cost to eligible students.

Breaking Barriers to Information Access

The program, powered by SheerID’s secure academic verification system, enables students from as many as 190 countries to instantly confirm their academic status and begin using Perplexity Pro. Once verified, students can access a robust set of AI-powered tools tailored to enhance learning and research. Perplexity Pro comes equipped with advanced capabilities such as cited answers for queries, long-form Deep Research reports, automated task flows through Perplexity Tasks, and interactive learning environments within Perplexity Labs. These features are designed to simplify complex research and accelerate academic productivity.

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Built-In Security and Easy Onboarding

Privacy and ease of use are central to this initiative. The verification process is integrated directly into the Perplexity platform and adheres to a strict privacy-first model, ensuring that student information is neither shared nor sold. What’s more, students have the opportunity to extend their free access for up to 24 months by referring their peers to the platform.

More Than Just a One-Off Move

This partnership is not an isolated development in Perplexity’s roadmap. Just a week ago, the company teamed up with Coinbase to integrate real-time cryptocurrency market insights into its platform. This feature allows users to track live crypto prices and receive AI-powered explanations, making financial data more transparent and accessible.

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Top AI Models at Students’ Fingertips

In addition to these updates, Perplexity’s Pro and Max subscribers—now including verified students—can use some of the most advanced AI models available today. These include Grok 4, OpenAI’s O3 Pro, and Claude 4.0 Sonnet Thinking, offering users a versatile and powerful AI experience. With this strategic partnership, Perplexity is not just extending a helping hand to students—it’s opening the door to next-gen research, learning, and innovation on a global scale.