AI startup Perplexity has officially announced that its new web browser, Comet, will now be available to everyone for free. The move is being seen as a bold challenge to giants like Google Chrome and a preemptive step against a rumored AI-powered browser from OpenAI.
What Makes Comet Different?
Comet isn’t just another web browser — it’s designed to be AI-first. It can summarize webpages, pull out key details, and help users cut through the noise of low-quality content online. Perplexity says the goal is to make it easier to reach reliable, high-quality sources in an age where misinformation is spreading fast.
The free version of Comet also packs in several useful tools, including:
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Discover – a personalized content feed
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Spaces – for organizing projects and research
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Built-in hubs for Shopping, Travel, Finance, and Sports
Premium Plans Stay in Place
Even though Comet is free to use, Perplexity isn’t abandoning its subscription model. A $5 monthly plan will give users access to content from premium publishers.
At the top tier, subscribers to the Max plan ($200/month) will keep access to the most advanced AI models along with extra perks. These include a powerful email assistant that can draft replies, manage schedules, and even answer questions by scanning your inbox.
The Big Picture
By making Comet free, Perplexity is clearly aiming to build a large user base quickly, while still monetizing advanced AI features. With competition heating up in the AI browser space, the question now is whether Comet can carve out a spot alongside Chrome, Safari, and the incoming wave of AI-driven browsers.
