Perplexity Launches Free Comet AI Browser; Max Users Get Access to Exciting New ‘Background Assistant’ Feature

AI search startup Perplexity is providing its new Comet browser free of charge to users worldwide as part of its strategy to compete with major browsers and search engines. In addition, the startup has introduced a new “background assistant” for select paid subscribers, designed to handle multiple tasks through Comet.

Originally, Perplexity launched Comet for subscribers of its $200-per-month Max plan three months ago, and since then, “millions” have signed up for the waitlist to download the browser. The browser’s standout feature is a sidecar assistant that supports you during your browsing sessions, answering queries related to the webpage you’re on, summarizing content, managing web materials, and navigating web pages on your behalf.

Perplexity’s choice to offer Comet for free is driven by its goal to compete with established browsers like Google Chrome and emerging competitors such as The Browser Company’s AI-driven Dia. This decision also comes ahead of OpenAI’s much-anticipated release of its own AI-integrated browser.

Given the competitive landscape, Perplexity needs to prove that Comet’s agentic features are dependable. Without noticeable productivity gains, users may have little incentive to switch from their current browsers.

For free users, the Comet browser experience is limited to the sidecar assistant. All users can utilize various tools, such as Discover (personalized news and content suggestions similar to OpenAI’s new Pulse); Spaces (for project organization and management); Shopping (to compare prices and discover deals across online retailers); Travel (to gather information about travel destinations, flights, accommodations, etc.); Finance (offering budgeting tools, expense tracking, investment monitoring); and Sports (providing updates on scores, schedules, and news).

Max users benefit from access to high-performing AI models and can make use of Perplexity’s email assistant, which promises to draft replies and generate responses that match your tone; organize and prioritize your inbox; schedule meetings; and answer queries about your inbox.

Max users will also receive early access to Perplexity products and features, including a new “background assistant” revealed by CEO Aravind Srinivas during an event on Wednesday evening.

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Perplexity’s “background assistant” is capable of executing multiple tasks simultaneously. A company spokesperson described the assistant as “a team of assistants working for you,” which can be managed and monitored via a centralized dashboard similar to “mission control.”

This assistant carries out various tasks on your computer in the background while you concentrate on other work or take a brief break. For instance, the spokesperson shared an example where you can direct the assistant to send an email, add the lowest-priced concert tickets to your cart, and search for the best direct flight on specific dates and times. You can track the progress of these tasks on the dashboard and can intervene to finalize tasks—such as sending the email—or take over if necessary. The assistant will alert you once it has completed its tasks.

The background assistant also features “better connectors,” enabling it to access other applications on your computer, according to the spokesperson. TechCrunch asked about specific scenarios and tasks where the background assistant performs exceptionally well.

Free Comet users can also choose to subscribe to Comet Plus for $5 per month, an upcoming product designed to offer an AI-enhanced alternative to Apple News. Pro users (who pay $20 per month for advanced AI models, image and video generation, file uploads and analysis, etc.) and Max users will automatically gain access to Comet Plus.