Saad Ullah
The browser landscape is shifting. What started as a $200-per-month exclusive experiment is now accessible to anyone. This isn't just another browser update—it's a calculated gamble. Comet was built from the ground up as an AI-native browser, functioning as a research assistant, task manager, and intelligent navigator rolled into one. By going free, Perplexity is prioritizing user growth and market penetration over immediate revenue.
Comet's Strategic Shift
According to a recent tweet from Indian Tech & Infra, Perplexity AI has made its Comet browser available globally at no cost, eliminating the subscription requirement that previously restricted access.
Key features that set Comet apart:
- Built-in AI agent that works directly within your browsing flow, not as an afterthought add-on
- Sidecar Mode keeps AI assistance visible alongside web content for seamless multitasking
- Cross-platform availability expanding beyond the initial macOS-only release to Windows and other systems
- Publisher revenue sharing to address concerns about AI scraping and content attribution
- Comet Plus tier at $5/month for users wanting curated news and higher usage limits
When Comet launched in mid-2025, it was locked behind Perplexity's premium subscription. Now the base version is free for everyone, while power users can upgrade to Plus. The strategy is simple: get people using it first, figure out monetization later. This positions Comet as a legitimate challenger to Chrome, Safari, and Opera—all of which are scrambling to bolt AI features onto their existing frameworks.
Headwinds and Hurdles
Going free sounds great, but it's not without risk. Early security audits caught some red flags, including vulnerability to phishing attempts and prompt-injection attacks that could manipulate the AI assistant. There's also the question of performance—AI features are resource-intensive, and what works smoothly for a limited user base might struggle when millions start using it daily. And then there's the elephant in the room: Google and Microsoft have virtually unlimited resources to integrate AI into their browsers. Perplexity is betting on agility and innovation to compete with those giants.
For everyday users, this is straightforward good news—you get AI-powered browsing without paying or committing to anything. For the tech industry, it's a signal that browsers are transforming from simple web gateways into intelligent agents. This could force competitors to speed up their own AI integration, potentially triggering the biggest browser market shakeup since Chrome dethroned Internet Explorer.
Saad Ullah
