Perplexity AI dropped its paywall. The company’s Comet browser now works for everyone, everywhere, at no cost.
This matters because the AI browser wars just got brutal. Google, OpenAI, and Anthropic all launched competing products recently. So Perplexity chose speed over revenue, betting that free access beats slow growth.
The move could reshape how we think about AI browsers. Plus, it puts serious pressure on competitors still charging for similar features.
Comet Started as a Premium Product
Perplexity launched Comet in July 2024. Back then, access cost $200 monthly through Perplexity Max subscriptions.
That pricing kept most people out. But the waitlist exploded anyway. Millions of users signed up hoping for access, according to the company.
Now those millions get in free. The subscription barrier disappeared completely. Anyone can download Comet and start using it immediately.
What Comet Actually Does
The browser works like a personal assistant that lives in your web experience. It searches, organizes tabs, drafts emails, and handles shopping tasks.
Think of it as ChatGPT embedded directly in your browsing. But instead of switching between windows, the AI sits right where you work.
Perplexity built its reputation on AI-powered search. The company’s main product gives simple answers to questions and links back to original sources. So Comet extends that philosophy into a full browser experience.
However, the company faced plagiarism accusations last year. Media outlets claimed Perplexity lifted their content without proper attribution. That prompted a revenue-sharing model with publishers.
The Competition Got Crowded Fast
September 2024 brought Google’s Gemini integration into Chrome. August saw Anthropic announce its browser-based AI agent. Then OpenAI unveiled Operator in January 2025, which uses browsers to complete tasks autonomously.
Each company positioned AI browsers as the next big thing. But most charged for premium features or locked capabilities behind subscriptions.
Perplexity took a different path. Instead of competing on features alone, they competed on access. Free beats expensive when the technology performs similarly.
The company even made an unsolicited $34.5 billion bid for Google’s Chrome browser in August 2024. That bid failed. But it showed Perplexity’s aggressive strategy in the browser market.
Comet Plus Offers Premium Content
While the base browser is free, Perplexity introduced Comet Plus in August 2024. This subscription gives users access to content from trusted publishers and journalists.
The inaugural partners include CNN, Condé Nast, The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Fortune, Le Monde, and Le Figaro. These partnerships launched in early October 2024.
So the business model shifted. Instead of charging for the browser itself, Perplexity monetizes through premium content access. That’s a cleaner separation than forcing users to pay just to use basic AI features.
Moreover, this approach addresses the plagiarism concerns. Publishers get revenue sharing. Users get verified content. Perplexity gets legitimacy.
More Features Coming Soon
Perplexity teased two major additions. First, a mobile version of Comet is in development. That’s crucial because most web browsing happens on phones now.
Second, Background Assistant will let users work on multiple tasks simultaneously and asynchronously. Imagine asking the browser to research three topics while you focus on something else. Then checking back later to find completed results.
These features aren’t available yet. But they signal Perplexity’s roadmap. The company wants Comet to handle complex workflows, not just simple searches.
The Real Strategy Here
Free access changes everything. Competitors now face a choice: match Perplexity’s pricing or explain why their paid products offer enough extra value to justify the cost.
Google might not care. Chrome dominates browser market share already. But OpenAI and Anthropic depend on subscription revenue. So Perplexity’s free tier directly threatens their business models.
Plus, giving Comet away builds user data fast. More users mean more interactions. More interactions improve the AI models. Better models attract more users. That’s the flywheel Perplexity wants to spin.
Will it work? Hard to say. Browser loyalty runs deep. Most people stick with Chrome, Safari, or Edge because switching feels like work.
But AI browsers might be different. The technology is new enough that habits haven’t formed yet. So this could be the moment when offering the best free option captures the market.
One thing’s certain: the browser wars aren’t over. They just got way more interesting.
