# Search & Research

Canonical page: `https://nanthai.tech/features/search`

Tier: Free + Pro

From quick lookups to full research papers — search the web without leaving your chat.

Basic web search is free. Pro unlocks three complexity tiers and a full research pipeline that plans queries, iterates on sources, and writes a cited paper.

## How it works

1. **Activate search** — On iOS, tap the globe icon in the chat toolbar to toggle search on or off; long-press the globe to open the search mode panel and choose a tier (Pro). On web, click the globe to open the panel directly. The globe icon changes colour to show which mode is active — green for basic, blue for web search, orange for research paper.
2. **Choose your tier and depth** — Pick from three tiers: Basic (single web lookup, free), Web Search (multi-query with source analysis, Pro), or Research Paper (multi-phase pipeline, Pro). Web Search and Research Paper each offer three complexity levels — Quick, Thorough, and Comprehensive — with cost estimates shown in the panel.
3. **Ask your question** — Type naturally — Edge handles the rest. For basic searches, it finds and summarises relevant results. For research paper mode, it breaks your question into sub-queries, searches each one, and synthesises findings.
4. **Review sources and citations** — Every answer comes with linked sources. In research paper mode, you see the pipeline running in real time — planning, searching, analysing, and composing — with full citation tracking and a bibliography.

## What you can do

- **Basic web search (free)** — A single web search via Exa built into any chat. Get fast answers with source links without leaving your conversation. No Pro subscription required.
- **Web Search (Pro)** — Multi-query web search with source analysis across three complexity levels — Quick, Thorough, and Comprehensive.
- **Research Paper (Pro)** — A multi-phase pipeline that plans queries, iterates on sources, writes sections, and produces a cited paper with bibliography. Three complexity levels available.
- **Three complexity levels** — Within each Pro tier, choose Quick, Thorough, or Comprehensive. Cost estimates are shown in the panel so you know what you're spending before you search.
- **Colour-coded globe indicator** — The globe icon in the toolbar changes colour based on your active search mode — green for basic, blue for web search, orange for research paper — so you always know what's enabled.
- **Platform-aware access** — On iOS, tap to toggle and long-press for the full panel. On web, click to open the panel. On Mac, right-click for a context menu. You can also set a default search tier in Settings.
- **Pipeline visibility** — See every step of the research process — planning queries, searching, analysing results, and composing — as it happens in real time.
- **Works with knowledge base** — Combine web search with your uploaded documents. Edge can cross-reference internet sources with your private files.
- **Schedule research tasks** — Pair search with automated tasks to run recurring research jobs — daily market scans, weekly competitor analysis, and more.
- **Any model, any persona** — Run search with any model. Combine with a persona to get research in a specific voice or from a specific angle.
- **Default tier in Settings** — Set your preferred search tier in Settings under Chat Defaults. On iOS, tapping the globe toggles this default on and off so you don't have to pick a tier every time.

## Perfect for

- Quickly checking a fact during a conversation — asking "what's the current population of Tokyo?" without breaking your flow.
- Researching a complex topic — getting a structured, cited report on a market opportunity, technology, or academic question.
- Staying current — setting up a recurring research job that scans for news on topics you care about and sends you a daily briefing.
- Writing with confidence — verifying claims and finding supporting sources before publishing an article or report.
- Comparing information across sources — letting Edge find and synthesize perspectives from multiple websites in one response.

## Related features

- Multi-Model Chat (`/features/multi-model-chat`)
- Knowledge Base (`/features/knowledge-base`)
- Automated Tasks (`/features/automated-tasks`)