The Planet AI app is a free, map-based chat tool that lets you search ten years of satellite imagery just by describing what you want to find. You don’t need coordinates or GIS training, and Planet made it generally available on November 5, 2026.
If you’ve ever wondered how a coastline, farm, or construction site changed over the years, this is the easiest way yet to look.
Here are the quick facts before we get into the details:
- Launched: November 5, 2026, at ai.planet.com
- Data: more than ten years of Planet satellite imagery
- Price: free right now, with premium features planned for later
- Works on desktop and phone, and results can be shared
- Pricing after the free period has not been announced
How the Planet AI app turns plain English into a satellite search
You type a request in everyday language, and the app searches large areas for matches. Behind the scenes, language models query a searchable map built from Planet’s monthly image mosaics. That’s why you can skip lat/long numbers entirely.
Once you find a site, you can ask when it changed. The app shows side-by-side comparisons or timelapses so you can see the difference yourself.
One detail matters here. The search layer is built on monthly mosaics, not daily images, so it’s better for spotting slow change than for tracking something hour by hour.
What you can do with it
Planet describes four main jobs for the app. The table below shows what each one does and who it suits.
| Feature | What it does | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Search the planet | Finds matching sites across big areas from a plain-language request | Locating industrial sites or habitats |
| Investigate change | Shows when something changed, with side-by-side views or timelapses | Checking deforestation or land-use shifts |
| Deep Research | Runs longer, multi-step analysis on a question | Complex questions that need context |
| Uploads and reports | Accepts your own images or CSVs, tracks trends, schedules reports | Ongoing monitoring |
The app also adds publicly available information to what you find, so a result comes with some context instead of just a picture.
How to try the Planet AI app in a few minutes
Head to ai.planet.com and sign in. Start with somewhere you already know well, like your hometown, a favorite beach, or a local construction project. That way you can tell right away whether the results match reality.
Planet doesn’t publish sample queries, so these are our own ideas for a first session:
- Ask it to find large solar farms near a city you pick, then open the timelapse to see when they appeared.
- Pick a lake or reservoir and ask how its shoreline has changed over the years.
- Upload a CSV of locations you care about and ask for a scheduled report on changes.
Keep your first questions narrow. A small area and a clear question will usually give you something easier to check than a sweeping request across a whole country.
Free now, but the catch is what Planet hasn’t said
Planet’s launch post says access is free right now. It also points to a Planet Insights account for premium features in the future.
What’s missing matters just as much. According to FourWeekMBA’s write-up, Planet hasn’t disclosed a price after the free period, which premium features will cost extra, or any usage limits. Planet’s own announcement also doesn’t state image resolution.
So treat the free access as a trial window. If you plan to rely on it for work, save your findings and exports early.
Who should try it first
Planet points to conservation teams and environmental compliance teams as early users. Conservation groups can watch habitats for illegal encroachment or fire threats. Compliance teams can find industrial sites near waterways across a whole county.
You don’t have to work in either field, though. Journalists, students, and curious readers can use it to check how a place has changed over a decade.
The app’s chat-plus-map approach also fits a wider trend. Airbnb says its AI travel agent will lean on maps, photos, and comparisons instead of text alone. And the scheduled reports here echo what we covered in Perplexity Teammates, where AI agents watch for changes while you do something else.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Planet AI app really free?
Yes, for now. Planet says access is free right now, but it hasn’t said how long that lasts or what premium features will cost.
Do I need GIS skills to use it?
No. You describe what you want in plain language, and the app searches for it. Planet says no training is needed to start.
How far back does the satellite imagery go?
The app covers more than ten years of Planet data. The search itself runs on monthly mosaics.
Does it work on a phone?
Yes. Planet says the app works on both desktop and phone, and you can share results.
Where do I sign up?
Go to ai.planet.com. Planet says a Planet Insights account will give easier access to future premium capabilities.
Is the Planet AI app worth your time?
Yes, and sooner rather than later. A free tool that turns a decade of satellite imagery into a chat is rare, and the price will probably change. Try it on a place you know well, so you can judge the results yourself, and don’t build a workflow on it until Planet shares its pricing and limits.
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