Perplexity has announced its premium AI-powered browser, Comet, is now available for free to all users worldwide. The browser, which previously cost $200 per month, is positioned as a direct competitor to Google Chrome, which holds a dominant 72% of the global browser market.
The move signals a significant strategic shift for the company, aiming to attract a large user base by offering advanced AI features without a subscription fee. CEO Aravind Srinivas confirmed the change, emphasizing the goal of providing a more intelligent way to navigate the internet.
Key Takeaways
- Perplexity's Comet AI browser, formerly a $200/month premium product, is now free for everyone.
- The company aims to compete with Google Chrome, which has a 72% global market share.
- A new $5 monthly subscription, Comet Plus, offers access to premium news content.
- Perplexity is negotiating with smartphone manufacturers like Samsung and Motorola to make Comet the default browser.
A New Approach to Web Browsing
Comet is designed to function as an AI assistant rather than a traditional web browser. It is built on Chromium, the same open-source foundation as Google Chrome. This ensures that users can migrate their existing bookmarks and extensions seamlessly.
Instead of requiring users to sift through search engine results, Comet's AI can perform tasks directly. These capabilities include summarizing webpages, extracting key information from articles, and comparing products across different websites. According to the company, the browser can also take actions like booking meetings and completing online purchases based on conversational commands.
Google's Market Position and Legal Challenges
Google Chrome's market dominance has attracted regulatory scrutiny. The U.S. Department of Justice recently pursued an antitrust case against the company. While a judge ruled that Google would not be forced to divest its Chrome browser, the legal pressure highlights ongoing concerns about competition in the search and browser markets.
Early data from Perplexity's initial premium launch three months ago showed that Comet users asked more complex questions compared to those using the company's standard search tool. This suggests users are engaging with the browser's assistant-like features for more in-depth tasks.
Business Model and Strategic Partnerships
While the core Comet browser is now free, Perplexity has introduced a new revenue stream with Comet Plus. This optional subscription costs $5 per month and provides users with access to premium news articles from major publishers, including CNN, The Washington Post, and Fortune.
To support this feature, Perplexity has established a $42.5 million revenue pool to compensate its publishing partners. This model presents an alternative to the digital advertising system dominated by Google.
Global Browser Market Share
Google Chrome currently controls approximately 72% of the global browser market, making it the most widely used browser by a significant margin. Perplexity's strategy targets this established user base by offering a fundamentally different browsing experience.
A crucial part of Perplexity's growth strategy involves mobile integration. The company confirmed it is in active discussions with smartphone manufacturers, including Samsung and Motorola, to have Comet installed as the default browser on new devices. If successful, such a deal could place the browser in the hands of billions of users, significantly accelerating its adoption.
Redefining the User Experience
Users who have tested Comet report a notable change in their workflow. The primary shift involves delegating tasks to the AI assistant instead of performing them manually. This concept, which CEO Aravind Srinivas refers to as "augmented intelligence," aims to extend a user's cognitive abilities.
Practical applications of this technology include:
- Automatically organizing browser tabs into project-based workspaces.
- Summarizing long YouTube videos without needing to watch them entirely.
- Merging information from multiple articles and reports into a single presentation, such as a Google Slide deck.
The free version of Comet will have usage limits, described by Perplexity as "rate limits." These daily caps restrict the number of advanced AI tasks a user can perform, though the company states the free offering is still substantial enough to change daily browsing habits.
"Comet’s mission is to help people avoid low-quality content and focus on meaningful, high-quality sources for research," Srinivas stated, framing the initiative as a countermeasure to the rise of low-quality, AI-generated content, or "AI slop," online.
The Evolving AI Browser Landscape
Perplexity's decision to make Comet free arrives as the competition in the AI browser space intensifies. Major technology companies, including OpenAI and Google, are developing their own AI-integrated browsing solutions. By removing the significant cost barrier, Perplexity is making an aggressive play to capture market share before its competitors fully establish their products.
The move represents a bet that a large number of internet users are ready for an alternative to the traditional search-and-click model that has dominated the web for decades. The success of this strategy will depend on the browser's performance, the appeal of its unique features, and its ability to secure key distribution partnerships in the mobile market.
