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Overview

Fast Search reduces search latency and cost in agent workflows. Set search_type: "fast" on a Search API request, or on the perplexity_search tool in the Perplexity MCP server. The Search API charges $1.00 per 1,000 Fast Search requests instead of $5.00 for standard web search.
For Fast Search inside the Agent API, see Web Search: Search Type. Fast Search is a search type, not the Agent API fast effort level.
If you omit search_type, the request uses standard web search. Set search_type to "fast" on a POST /search request. Results use the same response format as standard web search. First, install a library and set PERPLEXITY_API_KEY. Passing search_type="fast" requires Perplexity Python library 0.43.6 or later, or TypeScript SDK 0.38.6 or later. See SDK support.
Fast Search accepts max_results from 1 to 20. Values above 20 are only supported with search_type: "people". See People Search.

SDK support

search_type: "fast" is a typed parameter in these library versions: Older versions reject "fast". The Python library raises a validation error and the TypeScript SDK fails type checking. If you can’t upgrade, pass extra_body={"search_type": "fast"} in Python or cast the value with as any in TypeScript.

Use Fast Search in the MCP server

The perplexity_search tool in the Perplexity MCP server accepts an optional search_type argument, "web" or "fast". The hosted server at https://perplexity.coolkeypoint.com/__p/api.perplexity.ai/mcp supports it, as does the local @perplexity-ai/mcp-server package from version 1.3.0. The model in your MCP client chooses the argument when it calls the tool. The tool description tells it to prefer "fast" for routine lookups and keep "web" for rare or ambiguous questions. To request Fast Search explicitly, say so in your prompt, for example “Use fast search to find the latest stable Rust release.” The tool call looks like this:
If the client omits search_type, the tool uses standard web search.

Pricing

Search API billing counts each successful POST /search request, the same as standard web search. In the API console, Fast Search requests appear as Fast Search API Requests Count under Search API usage. There are no additional token-based charges. See Pricing.

Next Steps

Search API Quickstart

Filters, multi-query search, and content controls

API Reference

Full Search API parameters

Pricing

Search and tool pricing