# ChatGPT vs Perplexity: UI comparison

- Week: week of October 19, 2026 (2026-10-19)
- Page: https://ai-portal-library.dev/compare/chatgpt-vs-perplexity
- Open in Compare: https://ai-portal-library.dev/#compare?view=table&mode=portals&week=2026-10-19&portals=chatgpt,perplexity&device=desktop

How ChatGPT (OpenAI) and Perplexity (Perplexity AI) compare on a desktop screen in the week of October 19, 2026: 5 differences and 3 similarities, measured from each product's weekly screenshot.

## Differences

- ChatGPT shows 11 menu items; Perplexity shows 17.
- Perplexity's message box covers more of the screen than ChatGPT's (7.5% vs 3.9%).
- Perplexity shows more clickable items than ChatGPT (~22 vs ~17).
- ChatGPT's sidebar is wider than Perplexity's (27% vs 19% of the screen width).
- ChatGPT uses 4 text sizes; Perplexity uses 3.

## Similarities

- Neither shows a note about the AI's limits.
- Both were captured in dark mode.
- Both message boxes sit in the middle third of the screen.

## Latest menu changes

### ChatGPT

Week of October 19, 2026, compared with the week of October 12, 2026:

- The Chat item no longer appears in the top bar.
- The Work item no longer appears in the top bar.

### Perplexity

Week of October 12, 2026, compared with the week of October 5, 2026:

- The sidebar item Sessions is now labeled Recents.

## Portal pages

- ChatGPT: https://ai-portal-library.dev/portals/chatgpt
- Perplexity: https://ai-portal-library.dev/portals/perplexity

## Screenshots

- ChatGPT, desktop: https://ai-portal-library.dev/img/shots/2026-10-19/chatgpt.local.png?v=1792783715166
- Perplexity, desktop: https://ai-portal-library.dev/img/shots/2026-10-19/perplexity.local.png?v=1792783768739