AI Startup Perplexity Unleashes Revolutionary Comet Browser Globally, Drops $200 Paywall
AI search startup Perplexity has announced that its groundbreaking Comet browser is now available worldwide for free, eliminating the previous $200 monthly subscription barrier that had restricted access to Perplexity Max subscribers since July 2025.
The company reported that millions of users had joined the waitlist, making Comet “the most sought-after AI product of the year.”
Comet signifies a fundamental shift in web browsing by integrating an AI assistant that “travels the web with you“. Unlike traditional browsers, Comet can actively participate in browsing sessions by:
- Summarizing pages
- Organizing tabs
- Drafting emails
- Comparing shopping options
- Automating complex tasks in the background
Users with Comet access reportedly ask “6-18 times more questions” on their first day compared to regular browsing. The browser’s “agentic” capabilities allow it to navigate websites autonomously, fill out forms, and complete multi-step workflows on behalf of users.
For Perplexity Max subscribers, the company has introduced an enhanced “Background Assistant” feature that can handle multiple tasks simultaneously while users focus on other work.
Perplexity’s decision to make Comet free positions it as a direct challenger to Google Chrome’s dominance, with the company having previously made an unsuccessful $34.5 billion bid to acquire Chrome from Google.
The move also includes Comet Plus, a $5 monthly subscription bringing premium journalism from partners like CNN, The Washington Post, and Fortune directly into the browser.
Source: CNBC