Sonar Pro
Sonar Pro is Perplexity's search model with deeper web retrieval across more sources. It returns citation-rich answers for complex research queries within a context window of 200K tokens.
import { streamText } from 'ai'
const result = streamText({ model: 'perplexity/sonar-pro', prompt: 'Why is the sky blue?'})What To Consider When Choosing a Provider
Zero Data Retention
AI Gateway does not currently support Zero Data Retention for this model. See the documentation for models that support ZDR.Authentication
AI Gateway authenticates requests using an API key or OIDC token. You do not need to manage provider credentials directly.
Sonar Pro searches more sources per request than base Sonar. This increases both response quality and latency. Profile response times under realistic query loads before setting user-facing timeout expectations. Web search calls bill separately (N/A per thousand when listed for this model).
When to Use Sonar Pro
Best For
Complex research queries:
Require synthesizing information from many web sources into a single answer
Competitive analysis and market research:
Breadth and depth of source coverage drive answer quality
Technical due diligence:
Compare frameworks, products, or approaches across multiple authoritative sources
Regulatory and compliance research:
Needs to cross-reference policies across jurisdictions or evolving standards
Knowledge work:
Detailed, well-cited answers justify the higher per-token cost over base Sonar
Consider Alternatives When
Simple factual lookups:
Base Sonar provides sufficient accuracy at lower cost
Chain-of-thought needed:
Sonar Reasoning Pro adds structured deliberation over search results
Minimal latency required:
Base Sonar's lighter retrieval is faster for time-critical paths
No web grounding:
Pure code generation or creative writing doesn't benefit from search
Conclusion
Sonar Pro fits when answer quality depends on how many sources you consult and how fully they're synthesized. It delivers the depth that research and due diligence workflows expect while keeping the zero-configuration search experience that defines the Sonar family.
FAQ
Sonar Pro retrieves and processes more web sources per query, producing longer answers with broader citation coverage. Base Sonar is faster and cheaper for simpler factual queries.
Yes. Like all Sonar models, responses include inline citations referencing the web sources consulted. Sonar Pro typically cites more sources per response due to its deeper retrieval.
No. The API interface is identical. Switching from Sonar to Sonar Pro requires only changing the model identifier. You don't need code changes or configuration adjustments.
200K tokens. This supports extended multi-turn research sessions where context accumulates across exchanges.
Check the pricing panel on this page for today's numbers. AI Gateway tracks rates across every provider that serves Sonar Pro.
Use your AI Gateway API key with the model identifier `perplexity/sonar-pro`. AI Gateway handles provider routing and authentication automatically.
Use Sonar Pro when you need broad source coverage and detailed synthesis but don't need explicit step-by-step reasoning. For queries that benefit from chain-of-thought deliberation over search results, use Sonar Reasoning Pro.
