Does Perplexity (Free / Pro / Max) train on your data?
Trains by default
Trains on business data unless you opt out.
Free, Pro and Max: the "AI data retention" setting is on by default, which lets Perplexity use your search data to train its own models (Sonar). Its third-party model providers (OpenAI, Anthropic) are contractually barred from training on it.
Why this matters: Data used for training can't be pulled back out of a trained model, so opting out only protects what comes after. Why training matters →
Covers: Free, Pro, Max. Compliance fields (SOC 2, ISO, DPA, BAA) have not been checked yet for personal plans.
Personal vs business plan
The same assistant can have different data terms depending on the plan. Here is Perplexity (Free / Pro / Max) next to Perplexity Enterprise Pro.
| What we checked | Personal Perplexity (Free / Pro / Max) | Business Perplexity Enterprise Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Trains on your data by default | Yes, opt-out | No |
| Data retention | While account is active; files 30 days | Configurable (file deletion down to 1 day) |
| Data location / residency | US and other countries (no consumer region choice stated) | Unknown |
| SOC 2 Type II | Not checked yet | Yes |
| DPA available | Not checked yet | Yes |
| BAA / HIPAA | Not checked yet | Yes |
Trains on your data by default
Free, Pro and Max: the "AI data retention" setting is on by default, which lets Perplexity use your search data to train its own models (Sonar). Its third-party model providers (OpenAI, Anthropic) are contractually barred from training on it.
- perplexity.ai/help-center/en/articles/11564572-data-collection-at-perplexity · checked Oct 17, 2026
“For Free, Perplexity Pro and Perplexity Max users, AI Data Retention is enabled by default.”
- perplexity.ai/help-center/en/articles/10352990-account-settings · checked Oct 17, 2026
“Enabling the “AI Data Usage” feature allows for your search data to be used to improve Perplexity’s AI models (Sonar).”
- perplexity.ai/help-center/en/articles/10354963-are-third-party-model-providers-training-on-my-data · checked Oct 17, 2026
“Perplexity’s agreements with third-party model providers like OpenAI and Anthropic prohibit using Perplexity data for training their models.”
Can you turn training off?
Account > Preferences > AI data retention (labeled "AI Data Usage" in some places). This is forward-only: previously collected training data can't be removed.
- perplexity.ai/help-center/en/articles/11564572-data-collection-at-perplexity · checked Oct 17, 2026
“Toggle off to opt out of AI training data collection”
- perplexity.ai/help-center/en/articles/11564572-data-collection-at-perplexity · checked Oct 17, 2026
“Previously collected training data cannot be deleted or removed”
Data retention
Personal info is kept while the account is active. Uploaded files are kept 30 days by default. No retention period is stated for individual deleted threads.
- perplexity.ai/help-center/en/articles/10354873-how-long-does-perplexity-retain-my-search-history-profile-data-and-personal-information · checked Oct 17, 2026
“We retain your personal information as long as your account is active.”
- perplexity.ai/help-center/en/articles/11564562-self-serve-data-deletion · checked Oct 17, 2026
“Files are kept for 30 days by default.”
Retention after you delete
- perplexity.ai/help-center/en/articles/10354873-how-long-does-perplexity-retain-my-search-history-profile-data-and-personal-information · checked Oct 17, 2026
“If you delete your account, your personal information will be removed from our servers within 30 days.”
- perplexity.ai/help-center/en/articles/11564562-self-serve-data-deletion · checked Oct 17, 2026
“All account and personal data will be permanently deleted within 30 days.”
Human review of chats
No statement on human review of consumer threads found in the privacy notice or help articles checked.
Temporary / incognito chat
Profile icon > Incognito. Threads expire within 24 hours. Whether Incognito threads are excluded from training is not stated.
- perplexity.ai/help-center/en/articles/10352990-account-settings · checked Oct 17, 2026
“Yes, you can switch to incognito mode by selecting your profile icon in the bottom left corner of the interface and choosing “Incognito” from the menu. Searches in incognito mode are never stored.”
- perplexity.ai/help-center/en/articles/12639758-incognito-mode-troubleshooting · checked Oct 17, 2026
“All incognito sessions expire within 24 hours and are not recoverable.”
Data location
- perplexity.ai/hub/legal/privacy-policy · checked Oct 17, 2026
“By submitting your personal data to us you agree to the transfer, storage, and processing of your data in a country other than your country of residence including, but not limited to, the United States.”
SOC 2 Type II
Not checked in this personal-plan research pass (consumer/business compliance docs not reviewed).
ISO/IEC 27001
Not checked in this personal-plan research pass (consumer/business compliance docs not reviewed).
ISO/IEC 42001
Not checked in this personal-plan research pass (consumer/business compliance docs not reviewed).
DPA available
Not checked in this personal-plan research pass (consumer/business compliance docs not reviewed).
BAA / HIPAA
Not checked in this personal-plan research pass (consumer/business compliance docs not reviewed).
Zero-retention option
Not checked in this personal-plan research pass (consumer/business compliance docs not reviewed).
How to turn off training in Perplexity (Free / Pro / Max)
Turn off the "AI data retention" toggle.
Web
- Navigate to your Account settings.
- Go to the Preferences page.
- Locate the AI data retention toggle.
- Toggle it off.
Mobile
- Go to your profile.
- Under Settings, find the AI Data Usage toggle and turn it off.
Keep in mind
- Only applies to data collected after you opt out; earlier training data can't be removed.
- Applies per user, not per organization.
- perplexity.ai/help-center/en/articles/11564572-data-collection-at-perplexity · checked Oct 17, 2026
“Locate the AI data retention toggle”
- perplexity.ai/help-center/en/articles/10354855-what-data-does-perplexity-collect-about-me · checked Oct 17, 2026
“If you wish to opt out, go to your profile, navigate to the AI Data Usage toggle under Settings, and turn it off to stop Perplexity from using your search data to enhance our AI models.”
Vendor pages we monitor for this tool
We save a fingerprint (SHA-256 of the page's visible text) on every check so we can spot when a vendor edits its terms.
| Page | Checked | Fingerprint |
|---|---|---|
| https://www.perplexity.ai/help-center/en/articles/11564572-data-collection-at-perplexity | Oct 17, 2026 | 41f29a0b16af… |
| https://www.perplexity.ai/help-center/en/articles/10352990-account-settings | Oct 17, 2026 | 23bd7df273f5… |
| https://www.perplexity.ai/help-center/en/articles/10354855-what-data-does-perplexity-collect-about-me | Oct 17, 2026 | fb0d61d1d6ac… |
| https://www.perplexity.ai/help-center/en/articles/10354873-how-long-does-perplexity-retain-my-search-history-profile-data-and-personal-information | Oct 17, 2026 | 06466353df07… |
| https://www.perplexity.ai/help-center/en/articles/11564562-self-serve-data-deletion | Oct 17, 2026 | ff5c63b54d29… |
| https://www.perplexity.ai/help-center/en/articles/12639758-incognito-mode-troubleshooting | Oct 17, 2026 | 36337811568f… |
| https://www.perplexity.ai/help-center/en/articles/10354963-are-third-party-model-providers-training-on-my-data | Oct 17, 2026 | cfd119cb881d… |
| https://www.perplexity.ai/hub/legal/privacy-policy | Oct 17, 2026 | 1d5af9526773… |
Compare with
- Glean Not stated
- Perplexity Enterprise Pro Doesn't train
- ChatGPT (Free / Plus / Pro) Trains by defaultPersonal · Assistant, same training default
See all Search tools · Why AI training on your data matters · How we source and verify this