Perplexity Comet
A Tier · 8.4/10
Perplexity's agentic AI browser -- FREE on all platforms as of 2026-03-18 (previously $200/mo Max-only). iOS, Android, Windows, Mac. Browses the web, executes multi-step tasks, and summarizes pages in-line. Comet Plus ($5/mo) adds premium publisher content
Score Breakdown
The Good and the Bad
What we like
- +Went FREE on all platforms 2026-03-18 -- previously $200/mo Max-only, PC-only. This is one of the biggest pricing pivots in the agent-browser category and likely the single most consumer-friendly move Perplexity has made in 2026
- +Agentic browsing does real work -- books, reservations, researches products across multiple tabs, summarizes pages in a sidebar. Meaningfully different from just a chatbot with a browse tool. iOS launch (2026-03-18) closed the mobile gap that kept Comet niche through Q1 2026
- +Bundled into Perplexity's existing account -- if you already use Perplexity Pro, Comet and Comet Plus are already included. No new subscription to evaluate
- +Category timing is good: AI browsers are a rising category (ChatGPT Atlas, Arc, Dia, Opera Neon all in motion in 2026). Comet going free lets Perplexity compete on distribution and may pressure competitors to drop their pricing
What could be better
- −Still primarily a Perplexity-ecosystem browser -- search results, chat, and agent behavior all lean into Perplexity's own models and indexes. If you want Google search + agent behavior, use Google's own AI Mode instead
- −Comet Plus at $5/mo gates premium publisher content (Condé Nast, select paywalled sources) -- not a huge fee, but worth noting that 'fully free' is not literally true for every use case
- −The core chatbot Perplexity pricing (Free / Pro $20 / Max $200) is unchanged -- this free pivot is Comet-specific. Do not conflate them
- −Browser extension + app surface area is new and still maturing. Expect some UX rough edges through Q2 2026, especially in the Android and Windows installers
Pricing
Free (all platforms)
- ✓Free on iOS (launched 2026-03-18), Android, Windows, Mac
- ✓Full agentic browsing -- page summaries, multi-step tasks, shopping research
- ✓Previously gated to Perplexity Max ($200/mo) on PC only -- Max paywall removed
- ✓Bundled Perplexity account sync
Comet Plus
- ✓Premium publisher content (Condé Nast, select paywalled sources)
- ✓Bundled into Perplexity Pro ($20) and Max ($200) -- no separate charge for those subscribers
- ✓Standalone add-on for Comet users without Perplexity Pro/Max
Perplexity Max
- ✓Still exists for priority inference + background assistant features
- ✓No longer required for Comet access
- ✓Includes Comet Plus automatically
Known Issues
- Comet went free on all platforms 2026-03-18 with the iOS launch completing the rollout. Previously Max-only ($200/mo) and PC-only. This is a pricing event, not a product rebuild -- the same agentic-browser product is now accessible to every Perplexity accountSource: Perplexity changelog, MacRumors iOS launch coverage, The Keyword · 2026-03
- Comet Plus ($5/mo) is a separate paid add-on for premium publisher content. Bundled into Perplexity Pro and Max but not into Free. Worth pointing out if users ask why some articles require paymentSource: Perplexity pricing page · 2026-04
Best for
Users who already use Perplexity for search and want an agent browser that can complete multi-step tasks (booking, research, shopping, document summarization) across tabs. Also a strong introduction to the AI-browser category for anyone curious but unwilling to pay $200/mo for a preview -- the 2026-03-18 free rollout makes evaluation risk-free.
Not for
Users committed to Google Search workflows -- Perplexity's results skew toward its own index and chatbot. Also not the right pick if you want a browser that stays out of your way -- Comet is opinionated about AI-everywhere and the sidebar is always present.
Our Verdict
Perplexity Comet going free on all platforms (2026-03-18) is the single most consequential AI-browser pricing event of 2026. The product itself did not change; Perplexity's go-to-market did. For anyone who wants to try an agentic AI browser without paying $200/mo for a research preview, Comet is now the default experimental path. For power users already paying for Perplexity Pro ($20/mo) it is a free addition to your existing stack. Compare against ChatGPT Atlas (when it generally releases), Arc, Dia, and Opera Neon as those each make their own pricing moves through 2026.
Sources
- Perplexity Comet product page (accessed 2026-04-17)
- Perplexity changelog: Comet iOS launch 2026-03-27 (accessed 2026-04-17)
- MacRumors: Perplexity Comet on iPhone 2026-03-18 (accessed 2026-04-17)
- The Keyword: Perplexity drops Comet paywall (accessed 2026-04-17)
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