Kagi

Privacy-first AI search engine with no ads and no tracking

Perplexity AI

AI-powered answer engine that searches the web and cites its sources

Kagi

Caution

11/25

Perplexity AI

Moderate

15/25

Score Breakdown

DimensionKagiPerplexity AI

Data Residency

Where is your data stored and processed?

Kagi: All data is processed on US infrastructure with no EU data residency option currently available.

Perplexity AI: US-based AWS infrastructure; no regional data residency options currently

1/5

All data is processed on US infrastructure with no EU data residency option currently available.

2/5

US-based AWS infrastructure; no regional data residency options currently

Legal Jurisdiction

Which laws govern the company and your data?

Kagi: US-incorporated and subject to CLOUD Act; strong privacy-by-design model but US legal jurisdiction is a residual risk.

Perplexity AI: US Delaware corporation subject to CLOUD Act; GDPR compliance via DPA

2/5

US-incorporated and subject to CLOUD Act; strong privacy-by-design model but US legal jurisdiction is a residual risk.

2/5

US Delaware corporation subject to CLOUD Act; GDPR compliance via DPA

Data Retention & Training

Is your data used for model training?

Kagi: No training on user search data, no persistent user profiling, and no ad-based tracking by design.

Perplexity AI: Enterprise plans offer zero data retention; no use of enterprise data for AI training

5/5

No training on user search data, no persistent user profiling, and no ad-based tracking by design.

5/5

Enterprise plans offer zero data retention; no use of enterprise data for AI training

Certifications

ISO 27001, SOC 2, Cyber Essentials, etc.

Kagi: No SOC 2, ISO 27001, or other formal third-party security certifications are currently published.

Perplexity AI: SOC 2 Type II certified; HIPAA BAA available for enterprise

1/5

No SOC 2, ISO 27001, or other formal third-party security certifications are currently published.

3/5

SOC 2 Type II certified; HIPAA BAA available for enterprise

Regulatory Fit

Suitability for regulated industries and professional services

Kagi: Privacy-first business model is commendable, but lack of certifications and US jurisdiction limit regulated institutional use in Europe.

Perplexity AI: Strong for research-focused business use; US hosting limits EU data residency suitability

2/5

Privacy-first business model is commendable, but lack of certifications and US jurisdiction limit regulated institutional use in Europe.

3/5

Strong for research-focused business use; US hosting limits EU data residency suitability

Total Score

11/25

15/25

Best For

Kagi

Best for privacy-conscious teams who need strong data retention controls.

Perplexity AI

Best for privacy-conscious teams who need strong data retention controls; teams on a tight budget; enterprises requiring SSO integration.

Detailed Comparison

Kagi vs Perplexity AI: Trust & Compliance Comparison

Kagi (Kagi, US) scores 11/25 overall with a Review Required (Caution) trust badge. Privacy-first AI search engine with no ads and no tracking. Perplexity AI (Perplexity AI, Inc., US) scores 15/25 with a Bronze (Moderate) trust badge. AI-powered answer engine that searches the web and cites its sources.

Dimension-by-Dimension Breakdown

#### Data Residency

Perplexity AI leads with 2/5 vs 1/5.

●Kagi (1/5): All data is processed on US infrastructure with no EU data residency option currently available.

●Perplexity AI (2/5): US-based AWS infrastructure; no regional data residency options currently

#### Legal Jurisdiction

Both score equally at 2/5.

●Kagi (2/5): US-incorporated and subject to CLOUD Act; strong privacy-by-design model but US legal jurisdiction is a residual risk.

●Perplexity AI (2/5): US Delaware corporation subject to CLOUD Act; GDPR compliance via DPA

#### Data Retention & Training

Both score equally at 5/5.

●Kagi (5/5): No training on user search data, no persistent user profiling, and no ad-based tracking by design.

●Perplexity AI (5/5): Enterprise plans offer zero data retention; no use of enterprise data for AI training

#### Certifications

Perplexity AI leads with 3/5 vs 1/5.

●Kagi (1/5): No SOC 2, ISO 27001, or other formal third-party security certifications are currently published.

●Perplexity AI (3/5): SOC 2 Type II certified; HIPAA BAA available for enterprise

#### Regulatory Fit

Perplexity AI leads with 3/5 vs 2/5.

●Kagi (2/5): Privacy-first business model is commendable, but lack of certifications and US jurisdiction limit regulated institutional use in Europe.

●Perplexity AI (3/5): Strong for research-focused business use; US hosting limits EU data residency suitability

Certifications at a Glance

Certification	Kagi	Perplexity AI
SOC 2 Type II	No	Yes

Overall Verdict

Perplexity AI has a clear trust advantage, scoring 15/25 compared to Kagi's 11/25. Perplexity AI particularly excels in data residency, certifications, regulatory fit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for EU compliance, Kagi or Perplexity AI?

Kagi has a TrustKit score of 11/25 while Perplexity AI scores 15/25. Perplexity AI currently rates higher across data residency, legal jurisdiction, data retention, certifications, and regulatory fit.

How do Kagi and Perplexity AI compare on data residency?

Kagi scores 1/5 for data residency (All data is processed on US infrastructure with no EU data residency option currently available.), while Perplexity AI scores 2/5 (US-based AWS infrastructure; no regional data residency options currently).

Are Kagi and Perplexity AI GDPR compliant?

Both tools are assessed across five compliance dimensions. Kagi has a regulatory fit score of 2/5 and Perplexity AI scores 3/5. Check the full comparison above for a detailed breakdown.

Explore Each Tool