Perplexity has made its Comet AI browser free worldwide while launching a new “background assistant” for its $200-per-month Max subscribers, positioning the startup against both established browsers and emerging AI competitors. The move comes three months after Comet’s initial launch to paid users attracted “millions” to its waitlist, with the free version now available as OpenAI prepares its own AI browser entry.
Comet’s Core Features and Free Access Strategy
Comet’s signature feature is a sidecar assistant that operates alongside traditional browsing, providing real-time help with webpage comprehension, content summarization, and navigation. The browser includes multiple built-in tools accessible to all users: Discover offers personalized news recommendations similar to OpenAI’s Pulse; Spaces helps organize projects; Shopping compares prices across retailers; Travel aggregates destination information; Finance provides budgeting tools; and Sports delivers score updates and news.
Perplexity’s decision to eliminate Comet’s paywall represents a strategic shift to compete directly with Google Chrome’s dominant market position and newcomers like The Browser Company’s AI-powered Arc browser. Industry analysts note this reflects the growing expectation that AI capabilities will become standard in browsers within two years. The free offering gives Perplexity immediate scale while maintaining premium features for paid tiers.
Max Tier Advantages and Background Assistant Capabilities
Max subscribers gain access to high-performance AI models and Perplexity’s email assistant, which drafts replies matching user tone, organizes inboxes, schedules meetings, and answers questions about email content. The newly launched background assistant functions as “a team of assistants working for you” according to company descriptions, managed through a central dashboard resembling mission control.
This background assistant operates while users work on other tasks or step away from their computers, handling multiple simultaneous requests. In one demonstrated scenario, the assistant could send an email, find the cheapest concert tickets, and locate optimal flights—all concurrently. Users monitor progress through the dashboard and can intervene at any point. The assistant features “better connectors” to access other computer applications, though specific integration details remain undisclosed. According to McKinsey research, such automated task management could save knowledge workers up to 30% of their time on routine activities.
Competitive Landscape and Reliability Challenges
Perplexity enters an increasingly crowded AI browser market where Google continues developing advanced AI features for Chrome while startups like The Browser Company’s Arc gain traction. The timing coincides with OpenAI’s anticipated browser launch, creating pressure for Perplexity to demonstrate Comet’s agentic capabilities deliver tangible productivity improvements.
The success of Comet’s background assistant hinges on reliable performance across diverse tasks and applications. As Andreessen Horowitz notes in their AI agent analysis, “The gap between demonstration and daily utility remains significant” for automated assistants. Perplexity must prove its technology works consistently enough to justify users switching from established browsing habits. Early user feedback from the Max tier will be crucial for refining these capabilities before broader deployment.
Pricing Strategy and Future Development
Beyond the free tier, Perplexity offers Comet Plus as a $5 monthly standalone subscription targeting Apple News users with AI-enhanced content discovery. Pro subscribers paying $20 monthly receive advanced AI models, image generation, file analysis, and automatic Comet Plus access. Max users get all features plus early access to new products like the background assistant.
This tiered approach allows Perplexity to monetize different user segments while gathering valuable usage data. The company’s rapid iteration—launching to paid users in July, expanding to free access in October—demonstrates the accelerated development cycles enabled by generative AI technologies. As CEO Aravind Srinivas emphasized during Wednesday’s announcement, Perplexity aims to “democratize access to AI assistance” while building sustainable revenue through premium features.
References:
