Big news in AI browsing: Perplexity’s Comet browser, which previously cost $200/month under select plans, is now free for everyone.
Comet brings AI search, an assistant that “travels the web with you,” and deeper integrations baked into browser behavior.
In this post, you’ll get:
- What makes Comet unique
- How to download and install it today
- How Comet competes with Chrome, Gemini, and AI browsers
- What Comet Plus is and how its news content is now free
- Risks, privacy concerns, and adoption challenges
What Makes Comet Browser Stand Out?
Comet is not just a browser with AI features tacked on — Perplexity positions it as an “agentic” browser, meaning the AI is meant to proactively assist during your browsing rather than passively answer queries.
Some key features:
- Built on Chromium, so it supports many Chrome extensions and familiar browser behaviors.
- AI search is default — Comet uses Perplexity’s search engine as core, integrating summarization, context extraction, and navigation help.
- Assistant “travels the web with you”: a side panel that can interpret the content of web pages, answer questions, summarize sections, or interact with page elements.
- Comet Plus content is now free: curated news that was previously a paid addon is being unlocked for all users.
- Promise to remain free forever, albeit with usage limits in the free version.
Because the AI is built into the browsing layer, Comet aims to streamline tasks like summarizing articles, comparing items, filling forms, or navigating complex pages — tasks that usually break the flow in traditional browsing.
How to Download & Install Comet Browser
Here’s a step-by-step “how to”:
- Visit the official Comet page on Perplexity’s site.
- Choose the appropriate version for your OS — Windows or Mac.
- Download the installer.
- On Windows: run the installation wizard and follow prompts.
- On macOS: drag the Comet icon to your Applications folder.
- Launch the browser, log in with your Perplexity account (or create one).
- Optionally, grant permissions for the assistant to access page content to enable interaction.
Platform support: currently Comet supports Windows and macOS.
Mobile / Android / iOS: as of now, Comet is not broadly available on mobile; on the Google Play Store, you may see “coming soon” or placeholder listings.
Note on availability: Although Comet is now free for all users, some media report that usage rate limits may apply to free users. Some older sources mention it was once behind a waitlist or subscription, but that model has changed.
If you are in a region where Comet is newly rolled out, you might see slight delays in availability.
Comet Plus Free & Curated News
- Perplexity’s Comet Plus, previously a $5/month subscription for curated news content, is now made free for all users.
- This means curated, high-quality articles from partner publishers will be accessible inside Comet without extra cost.
- Previously, Pro and Max users had it included; now everyone gets access.
This move helps Comet compete not just as a browser, but as a news aggregator + assistant layer (like Apple News + AI search combo).
Comparing Comet vs Chrome, Gemini, & AI Browsers
| Browser / Tool | Strengths | Weaknesses / Challenges |
|---|---|---|
| Comet (Perplexity) | Deep integration of AI + browsing; assistant travels with you; summarization, navigation help built-in; free for all | New product, usage limits unknown, privacy / data access concerns, extension compatibility issues |
| Google Chrome + Gemini integration | Chrome is ubiquitous; Gemini search & AI mode are integrated; large user base | May not have the same seamless assistant-in-browser behavior; slower to evolve AI-native features |
| OpenAI / AI-native browsers (rumored / future) | Could combine GPT-level intelligence with browser experience | Yet to fully mature or be publicly available at scale |
| Other AI browsers (e.g. Dia, Opera AI, etc.) | Some specialize in UI/UX or lightweight AI features | May lack depth in search or assistant-level context |
Comet’s advantage: the AI is not just a plugin — it’s core. The browser tries to blur the line between browsing and conversational interaction. For users who often dive deep into research, summaries, or complex pages, that may prove compelling.
But incumbents (Chrome, Safari) have a huge distribution advantage. Comet’s challenge is convincing users to switch to something new and trusting it with browsing habits, privacy, and reliability.
Limitations, Risks & Privacy Considerations
- Rate limits / usage caps: Free plan users likely have some limits.
- Data permissions: To let the AI “see” pages and help you, Comet might request access to page content or metadata. That raises privacy concerns.
- Extension / plugin compatibility: While built on Chromium, not all Chrome extensions may work flawlessly or be compatible with Comet’s AI layers.
- Maturity / bugs: New products often have rough edges—occasional misinterpretations, UI quirks, or performance lags.
- Trust & security: Because AI may interact with content, there’s risk if malicious pages exploit AI behavior. Users should be careful with sensitive sites (banking, passwords).
- Transition / switching cost: Many users are comfortable in Chrome or Safari; migrating bookmarks, habits, and trust takes time.
Summary
In summary, Perplexity has taken a bold step by making the Comet browser free for everyone. They combine AI search + assistant deeply integrated into the browsing experience, aiming to compete with Chrome, Gemini-integrated browsers, and future AI-native browsers.
If you want to try it:
- Go to the Comet download page on Perplexity’s official site
- Download the version matching your OS (Windows or Mac)
- Install and log in
- Explore features: ask the AI to summarize, navigate, or assist on any web page
FAQs
What is Perplexity Comet?
Perplexity Comet is an AI-powered web browser that integrates real-time AI search, contextual assistance, and personalized recommendations. It acts like an “AI co-pilot” that travels with you as you browse, answering questions, surfacing insights, and summarizing web pages instantly.
How much does Comet cost?
Comet was previously priced at $200/month for enterprise and pro users, but as of September 2025, Perplexity has made it free for everyone. The Comet Plus curated news feed is also free.
How do I download Comet?
You can download Comet directly from Perplexity’s official website.
Versions are available for:
– Mac & Windows (desktop installer)
– iOS & Android (mobile app)
– Chrome/Edge extension (AI companion inside your existing browser)
👉 Visit: https://www.perplexity.ai/comet
How is Comet different from Chrome, Gemini, or other AI browsers?
– Versus Chrome: Chrome relies on Google Search, while Comet integrates Perplexity AI’s conversational search by default.
– Versus Gemini in Chrome: Gemini enhances search within Chrome, but Comet embeds AI assistance across the entire browsing journey, not just queries.
– Versus Arc, Brave, or Opera AI: Comet prioritizes real-time answers and fact-checked references over cosmetic UI or ad-blocking features.
Does Comet work with plugins or extensions?
Yes. Comet supports standard Chrome extensions as well as Perplexity’s own AI plugins. This makes it flexible for workflows like research, note-taking, citation management, and productivity integrations.
Can Comet replace Google Search or ChatGPT?
Not entirely — but for many use cases (research, quick answers, live fact-checking, news summaries), it acts as a hybrid of search engine + AI assistant. It complements, rather than fully replaces, Google Search or ChatGPT.
