Is Perplexity safe for business data?
Perplexity says Enterprise data is never used for AI training; on Free, Pro, and Max, the “AI data retention” setting is on by default, so your data may be used for AI training until you turn it off.
Training, plan by plan
- Used for training: Free, Pro, and Max: used by default, unless you turn it off.
- Not used for training: Enterprise Pro and Enterprise Max: not used.
What it does with your data
| Question | Free, Pro, and Max | Enterprise Pro and Enterprise Max |
|---|---|---|
| Trains on your data by default? | Yes, by default. Perplexity says “AI Data Retention is enabled by default” on these plans. Turn off the “AI data retention” toggle to opt out. Data collected before you opt out cannot be removed from training. Read on October 23, 2026 · source: perplexity.ai | No. Perplexity says Enterprise data is never used to train or fine-tune its models, and its agreements with outside AI providers prohibit them from training on your data. Read on October 23, 2026 · source: perplexity.ai |
| How long chats are kept | Perplexity says it keeps personal data only as long as needed for the purposes in its privacy notice, unless the law requires or permits longer. It gives no set number of days. Read on October 23, 2026 · source: perplexity.ai | Files attached to sessions are deleted after 7 days. The sessions themselves stay unless deleted. Organizations with 50 or more seats, or at least one Enterprise Max user, can set a session retention period. Read on October 23, 2026 · source: perplexity.ai |
| Who can read them | Not described on the pages we read. Not confirmed · page checked: perplexity.ai, October 23, 2026 | Not described on the pages we read. Perplexity says admins manage file, sharing, and connector permissions, but not whether they can read members’ threads. Not confirmed · page checked: perplexity.ai, October 23, 2026 |
| Where data is stored | Perplexity says it sends data between its affiliates and may process your data in a country with weaker privacy laws than yours. It does not name the countries. Read on October 23, 2026 · source: perplexity.ai | Not stated on the pages we read. Not confirmed · page checked: perplexity.ai, October 23, 2026 |
| How to delete | To delete your account and data, cancel any subscription first, then go to perplexity.ai/account/details and select “Delete account” at the bottom of the page. Read on October 23, 2026 · source: perplexity.ai | Admins of eligible organizations can set a retention period. Sessions older than that period become inaccessible at once and are permanently deleted within 7 days. Read on October 23, 2026 · source: perplexity.ai |
How to turn training off
- On Free, Pro, or Max, open Account settings > Preferences and turn off the “AI data retention” toggle. Perplexity says opting out applies only to data collected after that date. Source: perplexity.ai
- For a team, use Perplexity Enterprise. Perplexity says Enterprise data is never used for AI training. Source: perplexity.ai
- Enterprise organizations with 50 or more seats, or at least one Enterprise Max user, can set a session retention period under Organization Settings > Data and privacy. Source: perplexity.ai
Safer setup for a small team
Use Perplexity Enterprise for work. On a personal plan, turn off the “AI data retention” toggle under Account settings > Preferences.
Plan to approve: Perplexity Enterprise Pro or Enterprise Max
Setting to check: “AI data retention” (personal plans)
A line for your AI policy: Staff may use Perplexity for work only through our company Enterprise account. Customer data never goes into a personal Perplexity account.
Want this in your team’s AI policy? The SafeStart kit, a plain-English AI policy and training for small teams, is coming soon.
Questions about your own setup? Write to hello@terrapilgrim.org.
What changed
No changes recorded since we first published this page on October 23, 2026. Every change goes in the change log.
Sources (4)
- perplexity.ai/help-center/en/articles/11564572-data-collection-at-perp… · read on October 23, 2026
“For Free, Perplexity Pro and Perplexity Max users, AI Data Retention is enabled by default.”
- perplexity.ai/hub/legal/privacy-policy · read on October 23, 2026
“We keep your personal data for only as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes in this Notice unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law.”
- perplexity.ai/help-center/en/articles/11187708-data-retention-and-priv… · read on October 23, 2026
“Enterprise data is never used to train or fine-tune Perplexity’s models, and our agreements with third-party AI providers prohibit them from training on your data.”
- perplexity.ai/help-center/en/articles/11652701-data-retention-for-ente… · read on October 23, 2026
“Files attached to sessions are automatically deleted after seven days.”
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