Perplexity AI has made its Comet browser available for free to users worldwide, marking a major shift from its initial July release that was exclusive to $200-per-month Max subscribers. The AI-powered browser, which had accumulated “millions” of people on its waitlist, now offers its core features to anyone at no cost.
Comet functions as a personal assistant that can search the web, organize tabs, draft emails, compare prices while shopping, and manage other browsing tasks. Built on the Chromium platform, it integrates Perplexity’s AI search engine to deliver direct answers with source citations rather than just lists of links.
“We want to build a better internet, and that needs to be accessible to everybody,” said Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas at a launch event in San Francisco. The free release positions Comet to compete with major browsers like Google Chrome, which recently added AI features, as well as newcomers in the AI browser space.
The free version includes rate limits, though Perplexity hasn’t specified exact usage caps. Users can access the browser’s core features without creating an account, including the Comet Assistant that appears alongside web pages to answer questions, summarize content, and perform tasks.
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Alongside the free release, Perplexity announced Comet Plus, a $5 monthly subscription providing access to content from major publishers including CNN, The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Fortune, Le Monde, and Le Figaro. This subscription is also included for users of Perplexity’s Pro ($20/month) and Max ($200/month) tiers.
Max subscribers gain access to additional premium features, including a new “Background Assistant” that can perform multiple tasks simultaneously. This feature functions like “a team of assistants working for you” that can be managed from a central dashboard, allowing users to delegate tasks while continuing other work.
The company also teased upcoming developments including a mobile version of Comet, which is currently only available for Windows and Mac desktops. Some security experts have raised concerns about potential vulnerabilities in the browser, with reports of a “CometJacking” risk that could potentially compromise user data.
Perplexity’s move comes amid increased competition in the AI browser market. Google recently integrated its Gemini AI assistant into Chrome, while Anthropic announced a browser-based agent in August, and OpenAI unveiled Operator, which uses a browser to complete tasks, earlier this year. Perplexity previously made headlines with an unsolicited $34.5 billion bid to acquire Google’s Chrome browser.
Following the announcement, Alphabet (Google’s parent company) stock fell approximately 0.6%, indicating investor sensitivity to potential new competition in the browser market.
