Perplexity AI
Perplexity's Comet browser went free in March 2026, while Pro stays $20/month with Sonar models, Spaces, and Max at $200/month for autonomous agents.
About Perplexity AI
What is Perplexity AI (2026 update)
Perplexity AI is an AI-powered answer engine that searches the web and returns cited, conversational answers instead of a list of links, positioned as an alternative to traditional search. Beyond the core chat product, Perplexity now ships Comet, its own Chromium-based AI browser, and by September 2026 the company offers a full spread of consumer and enterprise plans built around both products.
What is new in 2026
The biggest 2026 change is that Perplexity dropped Comet’s paywall on March 18, 2026, making the browser and its core agentic features free across Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android, after launching as a $200/month premium product in 2025. Comet is a Chromium-based browser with an AI agent living natively in a sidebar that tracks which tab a user is on, retains context across a session, and can take actions on a user’s behalf. As of April 2026, Max subscribers can choose which model powers that browser agent, including Claude Opus 4.6 (the default) and Sonnet 4.5. Perplexity’s Deep Research feature is now built directly into the browser so users can request research-grade, cited answers from any tab without visiting perplexity.ai separately, and a voice mode powered by GPT Realtime 1.5 lets users talk to the browser directly. Comet for iOS received a major update in May 2026 with eight improvements, including one-tap phone actions like calling, FaceTiming, or messaging a number found on any page. Comet’s agentic browsing has also been integrated into Samsung Internet, with Perplexity available as an optional default search engine on Samsung devices.
Key features
- Comet, a free Chromium-based AI browser with an agent that retains context and can take actions across tabs
- Deep Research built directly into the browser for cited, research-grade answers from any page
- Model choice for Max subscribers powering the Comet browser agent, including Claude Opus and Sonnet
- Voice mode for talking to the browser, powered by GPT Realtime 1.5
- Spaces, which organize files and context (up to 50 files per Space on Pro)
- Comet Plus for premium partner-publisher content inside the browser
Pricing in 2026
Perplexity runs six pricing tiers across consumer and enterprise plans.
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | Core Perplexity search and the Comet browser with its agentic features (paywall removed March 2026) |
| Education Pro | $10/month | Pro-tier features at a discount for verified students |
| Pro | $20/month ($200/year) | Full Sonar model family, selectable third-party frontier models, Spaces up to 50 files, and $40 in Perplexity Computer credits |
| Max | $200/month ($2,000/year) | Autonomous Background Assistants that run tasks hands-free, plus model choice for the Comet browser agent |
| Enterprise Pro | $40/seat/month | Team-oriented Pro features with admin controls |
| Enterprise Max | $325/seat/month | Team-oriented Max features including autonomous agents at enterprise scale |
Comet Plus, roughly $5/month, unlocks premium partner-publisher content and is bundled into Pro and Max or available standalone.
Who should use it
Casual users who want a free, agentic AI browser with built-in research now get real value from the Free tier alone. Professionals doing regular research, writing, or multi-file analysis are the target for Pro at $20/month, which most reviewers consider the best value tier. Power users who want autonomous Background Assistants running tasks unattended, or who want to choose which frontier model powers their browser agent, need Max at $200/month. Businesses managing Perplexity across a team should use Enterprise Pro or Max instead of individual consumer seats.
Limitations and alternatives
Max’s $200/month price is a steep jump from Pro for the added autonomy and model choice, and Comet, while now free, is still a full browser switch from Chrome or Safari that some users may not want to make. Enterprise pricing for both Pro and Max is per seat, which adds up quickly for larger teams. For general-purpose chat and coding, ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini are the closest direct alternatives. For an AI-native browser specifically, Google’s rollout of Gemini-powered browsing in Chrome is emerging as Comet’s most direct competitor.
Frequently asked questions
Is Perplexity's Comet browser free in 2026?
Yes, Perplexity removed Comet's paywall on March 18, 2026, making the browser and its core agentic features free on Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android.
What is the difference between Perplexity Pro and Max?
Pro costs $20/month and includes the full Sonar model family, selectable third-party models, and Spaces. Max costs $200/month and adds autonomous Background Assistants and the ability to choose which model powers the Comet browser agent.
What models power the Comet browser agent?
Max subscribers can choose the model powering Comet's agent, including Claude Opus 4.6 as the default option and Sonnet 4.5, as of an April 2026 update.
Does Perplexity have an enterprise plan?
Yes, Enterprise Pro costs $40/seat/month and Enterprise Max costs $325/seat/month, both aimed at teams needing admin controls on top of Pro or Max features.
Information last verified: September 2026.
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