You are trying to add a member to a Perplexity Space, but the option is grayed out or missing. This happens because the free plan of Perplexity does not include collaborative Space features. The ability to add members is a paid feature available only on Perplexity Pro. This article explains exactly why the restriction exists, what the free plan includes, and how to verify your plan status.
Key Takeaways: Why the Free Plan Blocks Adding Members to Spaces
- Perplexity Free plan limitation: Only the Space creator can view and edit a Space; no member sharing is allowed.
- Perplexity Pro plan requirement: Adding members requires a paid Pro subscription at $20 per month.
- Settings > Subscription: Check your current plan to confirm whether you are on Free or Pro.
Why the Free Plan Prevents Adding Members to Spaces
Perplexity Spaces are organized collections of conversations, saved sources, and custom instructions. On the free plan, you can create an unlimited number of Spaces, but each Space is private to you. The feature to invite other users and collaborate is locked behind the Pro subscription. This is a deliberate design choice by Perplexity to reserve collaboration tools for paying users. The restriction applies to all Spaces, whether you created them on the web app, mobile app, or browser extension. There is no workaround or hidden setting to enable member sharing on the free plan.
What the Free Plan Includes for Spaces
On the free plan, you can create Spaces, rename them, add custom instructions, and pin sources. You can also switch between different Spaces and organize your research. However, the Share and Add Member buttons are absent. Only the Space creator can access the Space. If you try to share a Space link with others, they will see a message that the Space is private or that they need Pro access.
What the Pro Plan Adds for Spaces
Perplexity Pro, which costs $20 per month, unlocks the ability to add members to a Space. Once you upgrade, each Space has a Share button that generates a link. You can invite others by email or by sharing the link. Pro users can also set permissions for each member, such as view-only or edit access. Multiple Pro users can collaborate in the same Space in real time.
Steps to Verify Your Plan and Upgrade if Needed
Before assuming the feature is broken, confirm your current subscription status. Follow these steps to check and upgrade.
- Open Perplexity Settings
Click your profile picture or initials in the top-right corner of the Perplexity web app. Select Settings from the dropdown menu. - Navigate to Subscription
In the left sidebar, click Subscription. The page displays your current plan name: Free, Pro, or Enterprise. - Check the Space Sharing Option
If the page shows “Free Plan,” the Add Member feature is not available. If it shows “Pro Plan,” you should see the Share button on any Space. - Upgrade to Pro (Optional)
If you need to add members, click the Upgrade to Pro button on the Subscription page. Complete the payment process. After upgrading, return to your Space and click the Share button. - Test Adding Members
In the Space, click Share at the top-right. Enter the email address of the person you want to add. Click Add Member. The invited person receives an email with a link to join the Space.
If You Still Cannot Add Members After Upgrading
Share Button Is Grayed Out on Pro
If you upgraded but the Share button is still inactive, log out of Perplexity and log back in. This refreshes your session data. If the issue persists, clear your browser cache for perplexity.ai and reload the page.
Invited Member Receives “Space Not Found” Error
The invited person must have a Perplexity account. If they see a “Space Not Found” message, ask them to log in to their account first. Then click the invitation link again. If the problem continues, the Space may have been deleted or the invitation link may have expired. Generate a new share link from the Space menu.
Member Count Limit on Pro
Perplexity Pro allows up to 10 members per Space. If you already have 10 members, the Add Member button is disabled. Remove an existing member first by clicking the three-dot menu next to their name and selecting Remove.
Perplexity Free vs Pro: Space Features Comparison
| Item | Free Plan | Pro Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Spaces | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Add members to a Space | Not available | Up to 10 members per Space |
| Share Space link | Not available | Available with permission settings |
| Custom instructions per Space | Yes | Yes |
| Pin sources to a Space | Yes | Yes |
| Monthly price | $0 | $20 |
The free plan provides full personal use of Spaces but excludes all sharing and collaboration features. Upgrading to Pro is the only way to add members. After upgrading, verify your subscription status in Settings > Subscription and test the Share button on any Space. If you still encounter issues, log out and back in or clear your browser cache. For teams that need more than 10 members per Space, Perplexity offers an Enterprise plan with custom member limits.