Perplexica

Self-Hosted

Open-source self-hosted alternative to Perplexity AI

Overview

Perplexica is a self-hosted AI search engine that combines web scraping with local or remote LLM processing to deliver context-rich, cited answers. It prioritizes privacy by letting users control their data (no third-party sharing when using local LLMs) and supports customization of search sources (web, local files) and LLM providers (Ollama for local models like Llama 2, or APIs like OpenAI/Gemini). Deployment is simplified via Docker, making it accessible to users with basic server knowledge to set up their private AI search tool.

Self-Hosting Resources

Find Official Image on Docker Hub View Source & Docs

Below is a reference structure for docker-compose.yml. ⚠️ Do NOT run blindly. Replace placeholders with official values.

docker-compose.template.yml TEMPLATE


version: '3'
services:
  perplexica:
    image: <OFFICIAL_IMAGE_NAME>:latest
    container_name: perplexica
    ports:
      - "8080:<APP_INTERNAL_PORT>"
    volumes:
      - ./data:/app/data
    restart: unless-stopped

Key Features

Privacy-focused data control (no external sharing with local LLMs)
Flexible LLM integration (local Ollama models or remote APIs)
Customizable search sources and result citation

Frequently Asked Questions

? Is Perplexica hard to install?

No—Perplexica uses Docker Compose for deployment, so basic setup only requires a few commands (docker compose up) after configuring your LLM preferences (local Ollama or API keys). Docker knowledge is helpful but not mandatory for getting started.

? Is it a good alternative to Perplexity AI?

Yes—Perplexica replicates core features like AI-powered search with cited sources while adding self-hosted privacy and customization options (e.g., local LLMs) that Perplexity AI does not offer.

? Is it completely free?

Perplexica itself is open-source (MIT License) and free to self-host. However, costs may apply if using paid remote LLM APIs (like OpenAI) or hosting it on a paid server.

Top Alternatives

Perplexity AI Compare

ChatGPT Plus (with web search) Search Google

Tool Info

Pricing Open Source

Category Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI)

Platform Self-Hosted

Pros

⊕ Full control over user data and AI models
⊕ No recurring subscription fees

Cons

⊖ Requires server deployment and maintenance
⊖ Technical setup for LLM configuration (local/API keys)