B2C · AI search app

How Perplexity grows

3 tactics from 1 interview.

Perplexity is an AI answer app that grows through paid ads, as outside ad-tracking data describes it. Its top creatives pitch one app in place of several AI subscriptions, its biggest push lined up with good press, and it targeted the US before India and Brazil.

Among Perplexity's top-ranked ad creatives was a creator saying they deleted rival AI apps for one app with sourced answers; it was picked from ad-tracking data, with no performance numbers.Perplexity
Perplexity began paid campaigns in May 2024 and peaked them in September-October 2025, when it made a top 100 AI app list; no results were shared.Perplexity
Perplexity's ads targeted the US first, then India and Brazil, chosen for large populations, low install costs and young users; no results were shared.Perplexity

Summary written 2026-10-09 from the tactics below. Figures are as founders stated them.

About Perplexity

What it is: AI answer engine; SocialPeta's case study for AI app marketing

As described in the interviews, not independently verified.

Perplexity's 3 tactics

Perplexity · B2C · AI search app

Open ads with 'I deleted ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini' to pitch one app

Among its top-ranked creatives; no numbers

Creator on camera: 'I just deleted ChatGPT and Claude and Gemini and Grok... Four apps, four logins, four subscriptions, and still no clarity. Perplexity reads the entire internet in under a second to give you one answer and with verified sources.' Another top creative is a podcast-style clip debating whether splitting the bill on a first date is a red flag, resolved by 'let me ask Perplexity'.

Workedpaid-socialugc-creators

App Masters · 2026-04-04

Perplexity · B2C · AI search app

Time your biggest ad push with good news, like a top-100 list

Guest calls it smart; no results shared

Perplexity started paid campaigns in May 2024 and pushed its campaign to a peak in September-October 2025, the same time it made the top 100 AI app list, pairing paid ads with the good news.

Unknownpaid-socialpr-launch

App Masters · 2026-04-04

Perplexity · B2C · AI search app

Target the US first, then big cheaper markets like India and Brazil

US, India and Brazil were its top ad regions; no results shared

Ad targeting by region: United States first, then India and Brazil, chosen for large populations, low CPI and young users who can be educated to pay.

Unknownmarket-selectionpaid-social

App Masters · 2026-04-04

Topics

Hooks for short-form video ads and posts1 Launching an app: waitlists, press and launch day1 Ad creative and creative testing1 UGC creator programs for apps1 Picking a niche and positioning an app1

Interviews

AI Apps & $6B Trends: What’s REALLY Working in 2026 · App Masters · 2026-04-04