Perplexity AI, the AI-powered search startup, has made its innovative Comet browser available for free to all users worldwide, removing the previous $200-per-month Max subscription barrier. Announced on October 2, 2025, this rollout ends a millions-long waitlist and opens Comet—a Chromium-based browser with an embedded AI assistant—to everyone without any account requirement, though signing in unlocks additional features. For web users, developers, and AI enthusiasts searching Comet AI browser free, Perplexity Comet launch 2025, or AI-powered browser, Comet integrates Perplexity’s search engine directly into the browsing experience, offering a sidecar chatbot for answering questions, summarizing pages, and handling tasks like shopping or directions. The free version remains limited to the sidecar assistant, but a new $5/month Comet Plus add-on provides access to premium media partners like CNN, The Washington Post, and Fortune, alongside enhanced tools. This move intensifies competition with Google Chrome, Arc, and Opera’s Neon, as Perplexity aims to combat “AI slop” with curated, high-quality content.
A mobile app is in development, promising AI assistance “on any device.” Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas emphasized: “The internet is better on Comet,” highlighting its role in reducing distractions and boosting productivity.
Key Features of Comet: AI at the Core of Browsing
Comet, built on Chromium for familiarity, embeds Perplexity’s AI to make web surfing more intuitive and less cluttered.
- Sidecar Assistant: A persistent chatbot for real-time queries, page summaries, and actions like price comparisons or directions—free for all.
- Curated Discovery: Personalized recommendations across news, shopping, travel, finance, and sports, pulling from trusted sources.
- Background Assistants: For Max subscribers ($200/month), multiple AI agents handle asynchronous tasks like email organization or research.
- Comet Plus ($5/month): Adds premium content from CNN, WaPo, Fortune, LA Times, and Condé Nast (Wired, The New Yorker), plus unlimited tool access.
Early users report 6-18x more questions asked on day one, praising its “delightful default-mode” for curiosity-driven browsing.
| Feature | Free Version | Comet Plus ($5/mo) | Max ($200/mo) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sidecar Assistant | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Premium Media Access | No | Yes (CNN, WaPo, etc.) | Yes |
| Background Assistants | No | Limited | Unlimited |
| Tool Usage | Rate-Limited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Availability: Download Now, Mobile App Incoming
Comet is immediately available for download on Windows and macOS via perplexity.ai/comet—no waitlist or subscription needed. A mobile app is in the works, extending the experience to iOS and Android for “any device” AI assistance. While not yet on app stores, it’s positioned as a Chrome alternative with 3 billion potential users in mind.
Context: Perplexity’s Browser Bet Against Google
Launched in July 2025 to Max subscribers, Comet’s free release counters Chrome’s AI delays and tackles “AI slop”—low-quality generated content flooding the web. Perplexity, valued at $3 billion, aims to differentiate with “helpful actions” and fewer distractions, though security risks like LLM vulnerabilities persist. businessinsider
