Perplexity releases Comet browser globally at no cost after three-month limited rollout

On October 2, 2025, Perplexity released its Comet browser to the public at no cost, marking the end of a limited release that began on July 9. The company indicated that millions of users had joined the waitlist during the three-month period between the initial launch and the free public release. The browser had initially been available exclusively to subscribers of the $200-per-month Max plan and select waitlist participants.

The release follows what Perplexity characterized as unprecedented demand. "It has become the most sought-after AI product of the year, no matter how fast we release invites," the company stated in its announcement. The public release allows any user to download Comet at perplexity.ai/comet without requiring a subscription.

Data from the limited release period revealed significant behavioral changes among users. The number of questions asked by Perplexity users increased between 6X and 18X in their first day after downloading Comet. This measurement represents usage patterns during the July through September period when the browser remained limited to Max subscribers and waitlist participants.

Multiple assistant types expand beyond browser

The October 2 announcement introduced Background Assistants, which operate simultaneously and asynchronously to complete tasks. These assistants work independently of active browser sessions, targeting what the company describes as elimination of items from users' to-do lists. Background Assistants join the previously announced Email Assistant and the Comet Assistant that operates within browser tabs.

Email Assistant, currently available to Max Subscribers, operates through standard email protocols. Users can cc their email assistant on any thread to handle scheduling tasks, receive draft replies, and manage inbox-related requests. The system works through email interfaces rather than requiring direct browser interaction.

The company previously shipped functionality enabling a new Comet Assistant instance to appear in each browser tab. "Every new tab has a new Comet Assistant there to answer any question or take any action on your behalf," according to the announcement. This implementation emerged during what Perplexity referred to as the "Comet Summer" period following the July 9 initial release.

Perplexity first launched Comet as a Max-exclusive browser on July 9, 2025, targeting premium subscribers before gradually expanding access through its waitlist system during subsequent months.

Mobile applications expand AI assistant access

Perplexity announced previews of Comet for mobile devices, representing the browser's first expansion beyond desktop-only availability. The company stated that "soon, the Comet mobile app will be available on any device, with a personal AI designed for your phone." The announcement did not specify exact availability dates for iOS or Android versions.

The mobile implementation will incorporate voice technology for interaction with Comet assistants. "With industry-leading voice technology, your interface with Comet assistants is easier than ever," according to the announcement. The mobile version targets what Perplexity describes as elimination of "clutter and frustration of mobile ads and outdated app models."

Publisher partnership program launches with Comet Plus

The October 2 announcement included Comet Plus, a program bringing together what Perplexity characterized as "some of the world's most reputable sources of news and information." The company stated that a detailed list of participating publishers was available in a separate document but did not name specific publishers in the main announcement.

Comet Plus represents Perplexity's approach to content quality beyond technological capabilities. "Technology alone can't make the internet better—the quality of what's online matters even more," the company stated. The program positions journalism and professional content creation as integral to the Comet ecosystem.

The company has faced scrutiny over its data collection strategy, with CEO Aravind Srinivas revealing in May 2025 plans to track user activities across the internet through the browser to build comprehensive user profiles for advertising purposes.

Browser market context and competition

The October 2 release occurs within an increasingly competitive browser landscape focused on AI integration. Anthropic launched Claude for Chrome as a research preview in August 2025, offering browser extension-based AI capabilities. The Browser Company released Dia in June 2025 with similar AI features. OpenAI has reportedly hired former Google Chrome team members throughout 2024 and early 2025, suggesting potential browser development plans.

Google has integrated Gemini AI capabilities into Chrome throughout 2025, while Microsoft continues developing Copilot features within Edge. DuckDuckGo announced a comprehensive browser redesign in July 2025 with enhanced AI integration while maintaining privacy-focused positioning.

According to data from May 2025, Perplexity processed 780 million queries monthly, representing over 20% month-over-month growth. This query volume provides a substantial user base for potential browser adoption, though browser switching typically requires higher user commitment than search engine changes.

The Comet browser runs on Chromium architecture and supports Chrome extensions while allowing users to import existing settings and bookmarks from current browsers. The technical implementation relies on the same underlying technology as Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and other Chromium-based browsers.

Regulatory and competitive implications

The browser release comes as federal courts address Google's search monopoly through antitrust remedies. U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta ruled in September 2025 that Google illegally maintained search monopolies but rejected Department of Justice demands for Chrome browser divestiture. The court instead imposed behavioral remedies including prohibition of exclusive search distribution agreements and mandated data sharing with competitors.

Google maintains approximately 67% browser market share through Chrome, while also controlling search market share exceeding 89%. The antitrust cases address Google's $26 billion annual distribution agreement payments to device manufacturers and browser developers to maintain default search engine positioning.

Perplexity acquired the OS.ai domain in July 2025, suggesting longer-term ambitions beyond browser development. CEO Aravind Srinivas has described his vision as developing "an operating system with which you can do almost everything," positioning browsers as components of broader computing infrastructure rather than standalone products.

Marketing and advertising implications

For marketing professionals, the browser release represents another distribution channel for AI-powered search and discovery experiences. The free availability eliminates the $200 monthly barrier that limited Comet adoption during its initial three-month period.

Perplexity announced its advertising strategy in November 2024, introducing sponsored questions and side media placements. The company processes over 230 million queries monthly and maintains a user base where 80% hold undergraduate degrees and 30% occupy senior leadership positions.

The browser requires extensive permissions to function fully, including access to view screens, send emails, access contacts, and modify calendar events before utilizing advanced features. These permission requirements affect data privacy considerations for users evaluating browser implementation within corporate environments.

However, the company's advertising head departed in August 2025 after nine months in the role, just weeks after the Comet browser's initial launch to Max subscribers. Taz Patel had joined Perplexity in December 2024 to develop the startup's emerging advertising business.

The free browser release changes acquisition dynamics for Perplexity's advertising business. Where the $200 monthly Max subscription created a narrow audience of premium subscribers, free availability enables broader reach for potential advertising inventory. The company has indicated it plans to use browsing context to build user profiles for "hyper personalized" advertising similar to established technology companies.

Technical specifications and functionality

The browser integrates Perplexity's AI search engine as the default search provider, positioning AI-generated search summaries prominently within the browsing experience. Each tab contains a Comet Assistant capable of answering questions about visible webpage content, providing summaries of documents, and handling routine tasks.

Early demonstrations showed the AI agent autonomously handling customer support interactions, including a FedEx customer service chat where the Comet Assistant tracked packages and communicated with live agents. This demonstration occurred just five days after the July 9 initial launch, representing the first documented public use case of the browser's customer support automation capabilities.

Testing by technology publications during the limited release period revealed proficiency in simple tasks but significant limitations in complex multi-step processes. The AI agent operates through a sidebar panel that appears alongside webpages, enabling real-time analysis of current page content.

The October 2 announcement emphasized philosophical positioning around curiosity and questioning. "We've always believed that curious people lead the world," Perplexity stated. The company framed browsers as tools for enabling questions rather than delivering predetermined answers, contrasting with what it characterized as the internet's transformation into "a digital yellow pages, where every path leads to a checkout button."

The announcement included historical references to technological innovation driven by questioning, citing the Wright brothers and transistor inventors as examples. "Everything great begins with a question," the company stated, positioning Comet as infrastructure for curiosity-driven internet use.

Timeline

• July 9, 2025: Perplexity launches Comet browser for $200 Max subscribers with limited waitlist access
• July 13-14, 2025: Perplexity acquires OS.ai domain for AI operating system development
• July 14, 2025: First documented customer support automation demonstration using Comet browser
• August 26, 2025: Anthropic launches Claude for Chrome extension as research preview
• August 29, 2025: Perplexity's advertising head departs after nine months
• September 2, 2025: Federal court rejects Chrome divestiture demands in Google antitrust case
• October 2, 2025: Perplexity releases Comet browser to public at no cost

Summary

Who: Perplexity AI released Comet browser to the public, ending exclusive access for $200-per-month Max subscribers who had been the only users since July 9, 2025.

What: The free browser includes Comet Assistant for each tab, Email Assistant for Max subscribers, newly announced Background Assistants for asynchronous task completion, mobile app previews for iOS and Android, and Comet Plus publisher partnerships.

When: The public release occurred on October 2, 2025, three months after the July 9 limited launch that had been delayed from an originally scheduled May 2025 release date.

Where: The browser is available globally for download at perplexity.ai/comet, with desktop applications available immediately and mobile applications announced for future release across all devices.

Why: The free release addresses demand from millions of waitlist users while expanding Perplexity's user base beyond premium subscribers, supporting the company's advertising monetization strategy and competitive positioning against established browsers from Google, Microsoft, and emerging AI-powered alternatives.