Google Chrome Gets Rival As Comet Browser Goes Free For All

Perplexity AI has launched its Comet browser globally and, in a surprise move, made the tool free for all users. Previously priced at $200 per month, Comet is now accessible to everyone, signaling a bold push by Perplexity AI to compete with established browsers like Google Chrome.

Comet is now generally available to download for everyone (free, Pro and Max users)! https://t.co/AWYnhTo4oQ
— Aravind Srinivas (@AravSrinivas) October 2, 2025

This move comes amid fierce competition, as major tech firms race to integrate AI directly into their browsers: Google added Gemini to Chrome, Anthropic introduced a browser-based agent, and OpenAI debuted Operator earlier this year. Perplexity had also made headlines with its audacious $34.5 billion unsolicited bid for Chrome, signaling its ambition to challenge established players.

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Best known for its AI-powered search engine that blends direct answers with source links, Perplexity has navigated a complicated relationship with publishers. After criticism for using content without credit, it introduced a revenue-sharing model in 2024. With Comet Plus, the company now provides premium access to trusted outlets like CNN, Condé Nast, The Washington Post, Fortune, Le Monde, and Le Figaro, enhancing the browser’s credibility and utility.

this is a billion dollar lesson in design.

i bet whoever led Comet has got an extraordinary product sense. It is such an incredible product and ux, not because it’s new—because it isn’t. User ease into it, knows how to navigate around, with some AI integration and not intrusive… https://t.co/DQwKjVhOKn
— Felix Lee (@felixleezd) October 3, 2025

Perplexity is also planning key feature expansions, including a mobile version of Comet and a Background Assistant capable of multitasking asynchronously. The Comet Assistant acts as a personal AI helper, allowing users to search webpages, book flights, and shop online directly through prompts. Since removing the paywall, millions have joined the waitlist, and early testers have reportedly asked 6 to 18 times more questions than before, indicating strong engagement.

While Comet has gone mainstream, the challenge remains for Perplexity to convert interest into daily use. With Google, OpenAI, and Anthropic already embedding AI deeply into their browsers, Comet’s success will depend on whether users adopt it as a primary assistant or continue using familiar tools. The move positions Perplexity as a serious contender in the AI browser race, building on its prior launch for Pro subscribers and reflecting CEO Aravind Srinivas’s bold vision for the company.

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