How to Get Perplexity API Key

Updated on:

May 13, 2026

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Use this interactive demo to learn how to generate your Perplexity API key in minutes.

Quick summary

Getting a Perplexity API key requires signing in, navigating to the API dashboard, and using the Create key button after adding a payment method for API credits. This step-by-step process takes just a few minutes and gives developers programmatic access to Perplexity's AI search capabilities.

Steps

Head over to the Perplexity website and click 'Sign In' to access your account.
After logging in, click on your profile picture in the top-right corner to open your account settings.
In the account menu, locate the API section and click 'View All' to see your available options.
Select 'API' from the navigation menu to open your API dashboard.
Fill in the required information about your API usage needs and click 'Save' to proceed.
Add your payment method and click 'Done' to purchase API credits.
Click the '+ Create key' button in the API Keys section to generate your new Perplexity API key.

📌 Why this matters

Getting a Perplexity API key unlocks programmatic access to one of the most powerful AI-powered search and answer engines available today. Developers and teams can integrate real-time, citation-backed AI search directly into their applications, workflows, and tools. With API access, you can automate research tasks, build intelligent assistants, and deliver accurate, sourced answers at scale. Understanding exactly how to obtain and activate your Perplexity API key is the critical first step to leveraging AI search in any custom integration.

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