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You.com

AI search engine with real-time web citations — chat, research, and code assistance

TextFreemium

You.com is an AI-powered search engine that combines real-time web search with conversational AI. You Chat answers questions with cited sources; You Research produces multi-source research reports; You Code assists with programming. Supports multiple AI models including Claude, GPT, and Gemini on a single platform.

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Key specs
5,000,000 Monthly active users source
as of 2026-03-27

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What we know

PricingFreemiumfrom our original listing, not yet re-checked

Why it matters

  • Real-time web search with citations distinguishes it from offline models — answers include current news and data, not just training knowledge.
  • Multi-model support means one subscription gives access to GPT, Claude, and Gemini in one interface.
  • You Research generates structured, multi-source research reports — more comprehensive than single-turn Q&A.
  • Privacy-focused positioning: You.com does not sell user data and offers private browsing modes.

Key capabilities

  • AI Chat with citations: Conversational search with inline citations — every answer links to source pages.
  • Multi-model switching: Access GPT, Claude, Gemini, Llama, and You.com Smart from a single interface.
  • You Research: Generate structured multi-source research reports on complex topics — longer, more detailed than chat responses.
  • You Code: Code assistance with execution, debugging, and explanation integrated with search.
  • Real-time web data: All responses can draw from current web results, not just training data.
  • Private search: Option for private browsing with no tracking or data selling.
  • Personalization: Customize which apps and sources appear in search results.
  • API (YouAPI): Developer API for custom AI search and LLM-augmented applications.

Technical notes

  • Models: You.com Smart (free); GPT, Claude, Gemini (Pro)
  • Real-time search: Web results integrated into all AI responses
  • API: YouAPI available for developers (enterprise/startup pricing)
  • Pricing: Free (limited queries); YouPro ~$20/mo (unlimited + advanced models)
  • Privacy: Private mode available; no user data sold
  • Founded: 2020 by Richard Socher (former Salesforce Chief Scientist) and Bryan McCann; San Francisco; raised $45M+

Ideal for

  • Researchers and students who need cited, up-to-date answers beyond what static AI models know.
  • Power users who want to access multiple AI models (Claude, GPT, Gemini) without multiple subscriptions.
  • Developers building LLM-augmented search applications via the YouAPI.

Not ideal for

  • Deep creative writing or coding tasks — specialized tools like Claude.ai or Cursor are better for those.
  • Users who just want fast factual lookups — Google's AI Overview or Perplexity may be faster for simple queries.
  • Enterprise teams needing SOC2, data residency, or on-premise deployment.

See also

  • Perplexity — Fast AI search with citations; cleaner focused interface.
  • Elicit — AI research assistant for scientific papers and literature review.
  • Consensus — AI search for peer-reviewed research papers specifically.

FAQ

What is You.com?

You.com is an AI search engine built as an alternative to Google, with an emphasis on conversational search with citations. You Chat answers questions by searching the web and citing sources. You Research creates structured research reports. You Code provides programming help with code execution. The platform lets you switch between multiple AI models including Claude, GPT, Gemini, and You.com's own model.

Is You.com free?

You.com has a free tier with limited daily queries. YouPro (~$20/mo) unlocks unlimited AI queries, access to advanced models (GPT, Claude, Gemini), and priority access. Annual billing saves ~25%. You.com for Teams adds shared workspaces for business teams.

How does You.com compare to Perplexity?

Both You.com and Perplexity are AI search engines with real-time citations. Perplexity has a cleaner interface and is more focused on fast Q&A with sources. You.com offers more multi-model flexibility (switch between Claude, GPT, Gemini) and has You Research for deeper multi-source reports. You.com also has stronger code execution capabilities with You Code.

What models does You.com support?

You.com supports multiple AI models on its Pro plan: GPT, Claude, Gemini, Llama, and You.com's own Smart model. You can switch models per conversation. The free tier uses You.com Smart (a capable but smaller model). This multi-model access on one subscription is a key differentiator.

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Listed 2026-02-28 · updated 2026-11-12