Short answer: Perplexity Computer is Perplexity’s agent for multi-step projects. Since 20 October 2026 it can run entirely on a supported Apple silicon Mac, so the model, the agent and your files stay on the device while it works across apps like Notes, Messages and Mail. It is available to Pro, Max and Enterprise subscribers, and local tasks do not use Computer credits.

By Agent Playbox Editorial · Published · Updated

Perplexity Computer now runs fully local on Mac

Key facts

What did Perplexity launch on 20 October 2026?

Perplexity announced that Perplexity Computer can now run fully local on the Mac. In its words, the update makes it possible “to run the AI model, harness, and task execution entirely on device” (Perplexity). With your permission, Computer works across local files and Mac apps like Notes and Mail without sending personal data to the cloud, which gives you more control over sensitive data and over how many credits you spend.

The announcement on X said simply that you can work with your native Mac apps and local files “without sending sensitive data to the cloud”, and that it is available now in the Perplexity Mac app (@perplexity_ai). MacRumors, 9to5Mac and The Verge all covered the launch the same day, with 9to5Mac noting that tasks can even run without an internet connection.

What is Perplexity Computer and what can it do?

One agent for whole projects

Perplexity introduced Computer on 26 February 2026 as a system that brings research, design, code and deployment together in a single conversation. You hand off a project such as a website, a report or a data analysis, and Computer breaks it down, delegates to specialised agents and delivers the finished result. At launch it could orchestrate work across 19 models, remember past work and connect to hundreds of services (Perplexity changelog).

From the web to Slack and the desktop

On 12 March 2026 Computer opened to all Pro subscribers on the web and iOS, and to Enterprise customers. It also arrived in Slack, where it responds to direct messages and channel mentions, runs analysis, writes code and schedules recurring workflows (Perplexity changelog). Personal Computer, Perplexity’s desktop app for Mac and Windows rebuilt around Computer, gives it access to local files, native apps, voice control and an always-on desktop experience; Perplexity says it works best on a Mac mini for continuous use (Perplexity Help Center).

Hybrid Compute came first

On 1 September 2026 Perplexity added Hybrid Compute on Mac, which splits each task between cloud models for reasoning, search and planning and a local model that handles private files. An on-device privacy gate checks for names, addresses, account numbers and secrets, and can mask them, keep them local, refuse the step or ask for your consent before anything leaves the Mac (Perplexity). The new fully local mode goes one step further and keeps the whole task on the machine.

How does fully local mode work on a Mac?

The Perplexity Mac app now offers two ways to run Computer. Hybrid Compute starts in the cloud and coordinates research with local work on private files. Fully local starts on the Mac and keeps planning, reasoning and file processing on the device, using the Mac’s own processing power (Perplexity). Perplexity’s example is a status update: Computer reads a to-do list in Notes, checks a teammate’s budget request in Messages, pulls planned and actual spending from a spreadsheet, prepares the update and sends a meeting invitation to discuss next steps.

You stay in charge of when the cloud is used. If a task needs current information, browser use or connected apps, you can authorise Computer to escalate, and the local orchestrator can call on one of more than 15 frontier models for harder reasoning. Code and tool execution run in isolated sandbox environments with controlled access to files and connected apps (Perplexity).

What do you need, and how much does it cost?

Fully local Computer is available to Perplexity Pro, Max and Enterprise subscribers in the Perplexity Mac app on supported Apple silicon Macs. Perplexity recommends 36 GB of unified memory or more and names the new Mac mini with M6 and M5 Pro as examples (Perplexity).

Local tasks do not consume Computer credits (@perplexity_ai). For cloud work, Pro costs USD 17 a month billed annually and includes a weekly amount of Computer usage, and Max costs USD 167 a month billed annually (Perplexity pricing). Max includes 10,000 credits a month, extra credits cost USD 1 per 100, and a multi-step research report typically uses 350 to 950 credits (Perplexity Help Center). Enterprise Max is listed at USD 271 per seat a month, billed annually (Perplexity).

What does it mean for people and businesses?

For individuals, fully local mode makes it easier to hand an agent the jobs that touch private material, such as a portfolio review based on your own holdings or a pile of personal email and notes, without that data leaving your Mac. It is a good fit for an inbox zero coach or a personal finance tracker, and for skills like file organisation and inbox triage.

For businesses, the choice between fully local and hybrid fits how confidential work is actually done. Perplexity’s own example is a deal review that combines current market research with confidential financials, which suits Hybrid Compute, while purely internal analysis can stay on the device (Perplexity). Our research analyst template and the weekly update draft use case show the kind of multi-step work Computer is built for.

How does Perplexity Computer compare with Claude Cowork and ChatGPT Work?

Claude Cowork is Anthropic’s agentic workspace for knowledge work on your desktop, centred on files in folders you choose. ChatGPT Work is OpenAI’s agent in ChatGPT for long, multi-step tasks across connected apps, now used company-wide at Uber. Perplexity Computer stands out for choosing models per task and, since October, for letting the whole task run on your own Mac.

See Perplexity Computer vs Claude Cowork and Perplexity Computer vs ChatGPT Work for side-by-side facts. If on-device agents interest you, also read about MacPaw’s Eney and Underdog’s on-device assistant.

What should you watch next?

Perplexity frames this as part of a longer shift: as models and hardware improve, the machines people already own will take on a larger share of their AI work (Perplexity). Watch which local models arrive next and whether fully local mode comes to Windows and Linux, where Perplexity already offers a related Portable Computer mode on supported AMD and NVIDIA hardware (Perplexity Help Center). We will update the Perplexity Computer profile as new facts are confirmed.

Timeline: how did we get here?

Agent snapshot: what do we know so far?

Facts below come from the agent profiles in our directory, each linked to its source.

Perplexity Computer at a glance

Full Perplexity Computer profile

Claude Cowork at a glance

Full Claude Cowork profile

ChatGPT Work at a glance

Full ChatGPT Work profile

Related comparisons and guides

Agents in this story

Perplexity Computer

business agent

Perplexity's agent for end-to-end projects: it plans the work, picks the right model for each step, connects to hundreds of apps and hands back finished research, reports, dashboards and apps. Since 20 Oct 2026 it can also run fully on your Mac.

Claude Cowork

business agent

Agentic workspace for non-coding knowledge work: give it a goal and it works across your files and tools.

ChatGPT Work

business agent

OpenAI's agent inside ChatGPT for longer, multi-step work: it works across your connected apps and files, stays with a project for hours and hands back finished docs, sheets, slides, reports and Sites.

Frequently asked questions

What is Perplexity Computer?

Perplexity Computer is Perplexity's agent for multi-step projects. It plans the work, delegates to specialised agents, picks models for each step and delivers finished research, reports, dashboards and apps.

Can Perplexity Computer run offline on a Mac?

Yes. Since 20 October 2026 it can run fully local on supported Apple silicon Macs, so the model, the agent and file processing stay on the device. You can still authorise the cloud for current information or browser use.

How much memory do I need for fully local mode?

Perplexity recommends 36 GB of unified memory or more for fully local tasks. Hybrid mode has lower requirements.

Does running Computer locally use credits?

No. Perplexity says local tasks do not consume Computer credits. Cloud tasks use credits, at USD 1 per 100.

Who can use fully local Perplexity Computer?

Perplexity Pro, Max and Enterprise subscribers, in the latest Perplexity Mac app.

Sources

Updated