Rick Boers vs Perplexity
Explore what we can build. Examples describe possible workflows; integrations, hosting, and scope are agreed for your project.
Perplexity is an AI answer engine that returns cited, real-time answers from the web, now expanded into a broader assistant platform. In 2026 it spans the free Comet AI browser, Deep Research, and Perplexity Computer — an autonomous cloud agent (launched February 2026) that orchestrates 19+ models across sub-agents to complete multi-step tasks like research reports, data analysis, and building and publishing websites. It remains search-first: you come to Perplexity with questions or task prompts, and it works in ephemeral cloud sandboxes backed by a persistent memory system called Brain.
Rick Boers is an independent AI product builder. I design and build custom agents, document workflows, internal tools, and complete web and mobile applications, with one person owning the work from brief to delivery.
At a glance
| Comparison dimension | Rick Boers | Perplexity |
|---|---|---|
| Always-on computer | Hosting and runtime architecture are chosen for your project; dedicated VMs are one option. | No dedicated machine — Computer tasks run in ephemeral Firecracker microVM sandboxes (SPACE) that can pause, resume, and branch, with live state archived for up to one week; persistence comes from the Brain memory layer, not a per-user VM. |
| Tool integrations | I build integrations around the tools your workflow needs. Access, permissions, API availability, and any service subscriptions are checked and scoped before implementation. | 400+ prebuilt connectors (Gmail, Outlook, Slack, GitHub, Linear, Notion, Snowflake, Databricks, Salesforce) plus custom remote MCP servers on Pro, Max, and Enterprise. |
| Messaging channels | Messaging or web interfaces are implemented where supported and included in the agreed scope. | Perplexity web/mobile/desktop apps and Comet browser; Computer in Slack (@computer) and Microsoft Teams plus Office plugins (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook); Max-only Email Assistant you CC on threads. WhatsApp bot shut down January 2026 by Meta policy; no iMessage/SMS or Telegram. |
| Persistent memory | Storage and memory can be designed for the workflow, with retention and access controls agreed first. | Brain (June 2026): a self-improving private context graph across sessions, connectors, files, and past decisions, refreshed overnight; currently a Research Preview for Max and Enterprise Max. Sandbox files themselves persist up to a week. |
| Background automations | Scheduled and background jobs can be included with monitoring, limits, and human review where needed. | Scheduled Tasks (reminders, recurring searches) plus scheduled Computer agents and a 70+ library of reusable Workflows (market research, sales prep, site audits) that run server-side; runs consume credits. |
| Pricing | The first 20-minute fit call is free. Paid work is scoped individually. We agree the deliverables, price, and payment milestones before work begins; hosting and model costs depend on the system we build. | Check the provider’s current pricing and plan limits. |
Where Perplexity shines
- Best-in-class cited web answers: unlimited quick searches on the free plan, Pro Search and Deep Research that synthesize sources with citations, plus finance research via Perplexity Finance and Morningstar, PitchBook, and FactSet connectors (premium feeds require your own data licenses).
- Perplexity Computer is a genuinely capable autonomous agent: it decomposes tasks into sub-agents across 19+ models (Claude Opus 4.8, GPT-5.5, Gemini 3.1 Pro, Kimi K2.7), runs them in parallel in cloud sandboxes, and can publish real websites to pplx.app or your own domain via Vercel.
- 400+ prebuilt connectors (Gmail, Slack, GitHub, Notion, Snowflake, Databricks, Salesforce) plus custom MCP server support, with Computer embedded in Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Microsoft 365 apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
- Comet, a full AI browser with an in-page assistant, voice mode, and integrated Deep Research, has been free on Mac and Windows since October 2025, with Android and iOS (March 2026) apps rounding out mobile.
- Brain (June 2026) gives the agent self-improving memory — a private context graph across sessions, connectors, and files that refreshes overnight; Perplexity reports a 25% lift in answer correctness on tasks with prior context, though it is currently a Research Preview for Max and Enterprise Max subscribers.
Where it falls short
- The full agent experience is gated behind Max at $200/month: only Max includes a monthly Computer credit allowance (10,000), while Pro users get a one-time starter bonus and must otherwise buy credits pay-as-you-go.
- Computer runs in ephemeral Firecracker microVM sandboxes (SPACE), not a dedicated always-on machine — session state and files are archived for up to a week, so long-lived work persists through Brain's memory rather than a persistent computer with its own disk and logged-in browser.
- Messaging reach shrank in 2026: the popular WhatsApp bot was shut down by Meta's January 15, 2026 ban on third-party AI chatbots, and there is no iMessage/SMS or Telegram channel — you interact mainly through Perplexity apps, Comet, Slack, or Teams.
- Proactive, unprompted work is limited to scheduled Tasks, scheduled Computer runs, and the Max-only Email Assistant; it is assistant-shaped (you go to it with a task) rather than an employee that messages you across channels as work completes.
- Parts of the agent stack are still platform-limited: Computer reached iOS only in March 2026 with Android still pending, the local Personal Computer agent is Mac-only, and sites and apps published from Computer carry a 'Generated with Perplexity Computer' watermark.
Choose Perplexity if…
- Your main job is research and answers: you want fast, cited web search, Deep Research reports, and finance-grade data sources, with a generous free tier.
- You want AI woven into everyday browsing for free — Comet's in-page assistant, summarization, and voice mode cost nothing on desktop and mobile.
- You want one $20/month subscription that bundles frontier models from multiple labs (Anthropic, OpenAI, Google) for search, chat, and light agent use.
- You are an enterprise standardizing on AI search and document work inside Microsoft 365, Teams, and Slack, and need SSO, SCIM, audit logs, and MDM-deployable browser policies.
Choose Rick Boers if…
- You need a custom workflow or product built around your team.
- You want one builder to own design, implementation, and delivery.
- Your project needs integrations or behavior beyond a packaged tool.
- You need a custom workflow or product built around your team.
Common questions
Is Perplexity better than Rick Boers?
This comparison is between using a packaged tool and commissioning a custom system. Provider features change; check current documentation. For a custom build, we agree the specific workflow, infrastructure, integrations, and operating responsibilities.
How much does Perplexity Computer cost?
The first 20-minute fit call is free. Paid work is scoped individually. We agree the deliverables, price, and payment milestones before work begins; hosting and model costs depend on the system we build.
Can Perplexity work autonomously in the background?
This comparison is between using a packaged tool and commissioning a custom system. Provider features change; check current documentation. For a custom build, we agree the specific workflow, infrastructure, integrations, and operating responsibilities.