Perplexity AI announces free access to its Comet browser

In a bold move to reshape how people experience the internet, Perplexity AI has announced that its advanced Comet browser is now free to use. Previously available only through a $200 per month "Max" subscription, the browser is now accessible to everyone worldwide without cost. The decision, revealed in early October 2025, reflects the company’s ambition to democratize access to its AI-powered browser. CEO Aravind Srinivas affirmed this commitment, stating that the new pricing model aims to make Comet available "to everyone in the world, forever."

Tackling AI-generated "slop" with quality content

Perplexity AI’s decision to make Comet free stems from the company’s mission to combat what Srinivas calls "AI slop", or low-quality, AI-generated web content. The browser is designed to help users avoid clickbait and prioritize high-quality information. "We want to build a better internet, and that needs to be accessible to everybody," Srinivas said, emphasizing the importance of creating a platform that fosters deeper curiosity and exploration online.

Central to this vision is Comet’s AI assistant – a feature built directly into the browser. This assistant can summarize web pages, answer questions, navigate links, and perform multi-step tasks to streamline online activities. For example, users can ask the AI to research a topic, draft emails, or plan travel itineraries, effectively turning routine browsing into a more interactive and productive experience. The assistant transforms every new tab into what Perplexity describes as the start of a conversation.

Freemium model introduces Comet Plus

While Comet’s core features are now free, Perplexity has introduced a $5 per month subscription option called Comet Plus. This add-on provides users and their AI assistants with access to paywalled journalism from major outlets, including CNN, The Washington Post, Fortune, and Le Monde. According to Perplexity, 80% of the revenue from Comet Plus will go directly to these partner publishers, an effort the company says is aimed at supporting quality journalism in the age of AI.

By bundling premium journalism and compensating publishers based on content usage, Perplexity hopes to establish a more equitable model for media consumption. The company believes its approach could address a longstanding criticism of AI tools that scrape content from news sites without benefiting the creators.

A new challenger in the browser wars

Comet enters a competitive market dominated by Google Chrome, which boasts over 3 billion users globally. While Chrome has been slower to integrate AI features, Comet is positioning itself as an AI-native browser, integrating tools and automation at every level. Perplexity’s strategy targets not only Chrome but also a wave of AI-focused browsers like Brave’s Leo, The Browser Company’s Dia, and Microsoft Edge’s Copilot.

During its initial limited release, Comet generated significant interest, with millions joining the waitlist. Now available to all users, the browser aims to build on this momentum by emphasizing its productivity-enhancing features. Early users have reported that Comet feels like "a browser with a built-in personal researcher." One reviewer highlighted its ability to scan emails for upcoming events, compile grocery lists, and even generate charts from academic papers, demonstrating its potential to transform how people interact with the web.

Security and privacy concerns

As innovative as Comet’s features may be, its deep integration with user data has raised concerns among security and privacy advocates. In one notable test, researchers uncovered a vulnerability, dubbed "CometJacking", where a malicious link could manipulate the AI assistant to exfiltrate emails or calendar data. Experts have warned that AI-powered browsers must adopt "security-by-design" principles to mitigate the risks of these emerging threats. Brave and LayerX researchers have specifically pointed out that Comet’s reliance on AI to execute commands across the browser makes it particularly susceptible to prompt injection attacks.

Privacy advocates have also questioned the implications of Comet’s data collection practices. While Perplexity has emphasized its focus on user privacy, critics note that the browser requires significant access to personal and browsing data to deliver its advanced functionality. Some early users reportedly struggled to find clear options for local-only data processing, raising further concerns about how user activity is logged and analyzed.

The road ahead for Comet

Perplexity AI’s vision for Comet goes beyond simply being an alternative to Chrome or Firefox. By integrating AI tools that encourage curiosity and productivity, the browser aims to redefine how people access and interact with the internet. However, key challenges remain, including addressing security risks, earning user trust, and scaling adoption in a market where browser loyalty is strong.

Perplexity is betting that its free-to-use model and unique AI capabilities will attract users and set Comet apart from its competitors. Whether it can live up to its ambitious goals remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Comet has reignited the conversation about what a browser can and should do in an increasingly AI-driven digital landscape. As Srinivas said, "We want to build a better internet." Time will tell if Comet is the tool to achieve that vision.

Read the source