Leaving Perplexity AI? Here's everything you need
Compare 4 EU alternatives side-by-side. Find the right fit based on migration difficulty, pricing, and privacy features.
Your data may be subject to US surveillance laws
Perplexity AI is headquartered in the US. Under the CLOUD Act and FISA Section 702, US authorities can access your data without your knowledge. Switch to an EU alternative to keep your data protected under GDPR.
All EU Alternatives at a Glance
| Alternative | Country | Pricing | Difficulty | Time Estimate | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mistral AIRecommended Leading European AI company. Open-weight models (Mistral 7B, Mixtral 8x7B, Mistral Large) competing with GPT-4. Strong focus on efficiency and open source. Le Chat interface for consumers. | 🇫🇷France | Free plan available | Medium | 1-2 days | |
Aleph AlphaRecommended German AI company building sovereign AI for European enterprises and governments. Luminous model family with explainability features. Strong focus on data sovereignty and compliance. | 🇩🇪Germany | Paid | Medium | 1-2 days | |
Hugging Face The GitHub of machine learning. Hosts 500K+ models, datasets, and Spaces. Open-source transformers library. Inference API and enterprise solutions. | 🇫🇷France | Free plan available | Medium | 1-2 days | |
LightOn French AI company offering Paradigm platform for enterprise AI. Focus on private, sovereign AI deployments. Alfred LLM for document processing. | 🇫🇷France | Paid | Medium | 2-3 days |
Our Top Picks
Best for Privacy
German AI company building sovereign AI for European enterprises and governments. Luminous model family with explainability features. Strong focus on data sovereignty and compliance.
Certifications:
Best Free Option
Leading European AI company. Open-weight models (Mistral 7B, Mixtral 8x7B, Mistral Large) competing with GPT-4. Strong focus on efficiency and open source. Le Chat interface for consumers.
- Mistral AI is GDPR compliant, ensuring EU data protection standards.
- Open source models allow for customization and transparency in usage.
- EU-based servers reduce latency for European users and ensure data sovereignty.
Migration difficulty data is being enriched for these alternatives.
Detailed Comparison of Each Alternative
Leading European AI company. Open-weight models (Mistral 7B, Mixtral 8x7B, Mistral Large) competing with GPT-4. Strong focus on efficiency and open source. Le Chat interface for consumers.
Advantages
- Mistral AI is GDPR compliant, ensuring EU data protection standards.
- Open source models allow for customization and transparency in usage.
- EU-based servers reduce latency for European users and ensure data sovereignty.
- Mistral AI's foundation in 2023 may offer modern architecture and features.
Trade-offs
- Mistral AI lacks known features, making it hard to assess capabilities.
- Switching requires migration of data and retraining on new models.
- Learning curve may be steep due to different functionalities and interfaces.
German AI company building sovereign AI for European enterprises and governments. Luminous model family with explainability features. Strong focus on data sovereignty and compliance.
Advantages
- GDPR compliance ensures data protection for EU users.
- ISO 27001 certification indicates strong security management practices.
- EU-based servers reduce latency for European users.
- BSI C5 certification highlights adherence to cloud security standards.
Trade-offs
- Migration may disrupt workflows and require retraining staff.
- Limited feature set compared to Perplexity AI's contextual capabilities.
The GitHub of machine learning. Hosts 500K+ models, datasets, and Spaces. Open-source transformers library. Inference API and enterprise solutions.
Advantages
- Hugging Face is fully GDPR compliant, ensuring EU data protection.
- Open source allows for customization and community-driven improvements.
- EU-based servers enhance data sovereignty for European users.
- Access to a wide range of pre-trained models for diverse tasks.
Trade-offs
- Migrating data and workflows may require significant effort and time.
- Learning curve for using Hugging Face's API compared to Perplexity AI.
- Some features in Perplexity AI may not have direct equivalents in Hugging Face.
French AI company offering Paradigm platform for enterprise AI. Focus on private, sovereign AI deployments. Alfred LLM for document processing.
Advantages
- GDPR compliance ensures strict data protection for EU users.
- Data stored on EU servers enhances sovereignty and local control.
- LightOn offers a focus on AI transparency and ethical use.
- Sovereign AI aligns with EU regulations and local standards.
Trade-offs
- Limited feature details may hinder informed decision-making.
- Migration from Perplexity AI may require retraining users.
- Potential lack of contextual understanding compared to Perplexity AI.
Before You Switch
Export your data from Perplexity AI before you start the migration. This ensures you have a backup and makes the transition smoother.
General Data Export Steps
- 1Log into your Perplexity AI account and navigate to Settings or Privacy.
- 2Look for "Download your data", "Export", or "Data portability" options.
- 3Select all data you want to export and choose a standard format (ZIP, CSV, JSON).
- 4Wait for the export to complete — large accounts may take hours or days.
- 5Download and verify the export before proceeding with migration.
Under GDPR Article 20, you have the right to data portability. Perplexity AI is required to provide your data in a structured, commonly used format upon request.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best EU alternatives to Perplexity AI?
There are 4 European alternatives to Perplexity AI. Mistral AI, Aleph Alpha, Hugging Face are among the top-rated options. All are GDPR-compliant and store your data in European data centers.
How long does it take to switch from Perplexity AI?
Migration time varies by alternative. Most migrations can be completed in under an hour with our step-by-step guides. We provide detailed migration guides for each alternative.
Can I export my data from Perplexity AI?
Yes, most services including Perplexity AI allow you to export your data. Check the settings or privacy section of your Perplexity AI account for data export options. GDPR also grants you the right to data portability.
Is switching from Perplexity AI to an EU alternative safe?
Yes, switching is safe when done correctly. We recommend: 1) Export your data from Perplexity AI first, 2) Set up the new EU service, 3) Import your data, 4) Run both services in parallel for a transition period, 5) Update any linked accounts or integrations, and 6) Cancel your Perplexity AI subscription only after verifying everything works.
Why should I switch from Perplexity AI to an EU alternative?
EU alternatives provide stronger privacy protection under GDPR, keep your data in European data centers, and are not subject to US surveillance laws like the CLOUD Act or FISA Section 702. By switching, you gain true data sovereignty and support European tech innovation.