Is the Perplexity API the same as the Perplexity app subscription?

No. The API is billed on a separate Perplexity API plan, distinct from the consumer Perplexity app subscription. Airbox needs an API key.

How much does it cost?

Airbox has a free plan to get started. You bring your own AI provider API key, so you pay the provider directly for the tokens you use — there is no AI markup from Airbox.

Is it safe to point Airbox at my real email?

Yes — that's exactly what Airbox is designed for. Airbox only acts on mail from senders you allow, and it only treats the subject and first body line (or a (* … *) block) as instructions. Everything else in a forwarded email is quarantined as untrusted content and never obeyed for your own security and privacy. Your API keys stay fully encrypted.

How to email Perplexity

The short version

To email Perplexity, sign up for Airbox to get a private email address, connect your Perplexity API key once, then forward or BCC any email to that address. Airbox routes the message to Perplexity's Sonar models and emails a research-style answer back into your inbox.

What you need

A free Airbox account
A Perplexity API key (from a Perplexity API plan)

1. Get your Airbox address

Create a free account and open the dashboard to make an inbox. You get an unguessable address like c4f8xxxx@airbox.fyi. Save it as a contact or BCC it on outgoing mail. See the quick start for the full walkthrough.

2. Connect Perplexity

Airbox uses your own Perplexity API key. Sonar models are strong for research-style, web-aware summaries.

Open Perplexity → Settings → API and generate an API key — it looks like pplx-…
In your Airbox dashboard, go to Connections → + AI & LLM provider → Perplexity and paste the key.
Set it as your inbox default and Save. Target it with @perplexity in your emails.

Open the Perplexity key page →

Full step-by-step: Perplexity connection guide

3. Send your first email

Forward or BCC any email to your Airbox address. To ask for something specific, put a short instruction on the trusted surface — the subject, the first body line, or a (* … *) block at the top:

Subject: Fwd: Q3 planning thread

(* @perplexity summarize this and add relevant context *)

---------- Forwarded message ----------
...the email you forwarded...

Anything else in a forwarded email is treated as content to read, never as a command. More in the command syntax and forwarding guides.

What you can do

Get research-style summaries of long threads
Add context and background to a forwarded message
Fact-oriented digests of newsletters
Quick briefs you can read in your inbox

Frequently asked questions

Is the Perplexity API the same as the Perplexity app subscription?: No. The API is billed on a separate Perplexity API plan, distinct from the consumer Perplexity app subscription. Airbox needs an API key.
How much does it cost?: Airbox has a free plan to get started. You bring your own AI provider API key, so you pay the provider directly for the tokens you use — there is no AI markup from Airbox.
Is it safe to point Airbox at my real email?: Yes — that's exactly what Airbox is designed for. Airbox only acts on mail from senders you allow, and it only treats the subject and first body line (or a (* … *) block) as instructions. Everything else in a forwarded email is quarantined as untrusted content and never obeyed for your own security and privacy. Your API keys stay fully encrypted.

Ready to try it?

Get your private Airbox address and send your first AI-routed email in minutes. Free to start — bring your own AI.