What is Comet Browser? Perplexity’s AI Browser Explained.

If you’ve been hearing people mention Comet and wondering what it is, you’re not alone. Perplexity just launched an AI browser that’s making people rethink how they interact with the web.

Chrome has been my go to browser, but recently, I downloaded Comet to see if it lives up to the hype. So far, I really like what I am seeing. I am still learning the ins and out and as with any free AI tool, I am learning where it fits into my workflow.

Here’s what I’ve learned about the Comet browser so far, what it can do, and whether you should care about it.

Curious how Comet compares to ChatGPT’s Atlas browser? See our Atlas vs. Comet comparison to understand which fits your workflow.

What Is Comet Browser?

Comet is a web browser from Perplexity AI, the same company behind that AI search engine you’ve probably used when Google wasn’t cutting it.

But this isn’t just Chrome with some AI tools added on. Comet is built from the ground up with artificial intelligence as the core experience. Think of it like having a personal assistant living inside your browser, ready to help with whatever you’re doing online.

The big idea? Instead of you doing all the clicking, searching, and tab-juggling, the browser helps you get stuff done.

What Makes Comet Different from Chrome or Safari?

Regular browsers: You type, you click, you search, you read. The browser just sits there waiting for your next command.

Comet: The browser actively participates. It can understand what you’re trying to do and take action on your behalf.

I use AI tools to increase productivity with small wins. In other words, when I rely on AI tools to do the work for me it almost always fails. I can’t get consistent results and spend more time trying to use the tool than it would have taken to just do the task myself.

The way Comet works, it simply makes things a bit easier. I can find information faster and get better results with less effort. This is what a good AI tool should do in my opinion.

Here’s what that looks like in practice:

Comet Assistant

This is the AI that lives in your browser. You can:

• Ask it questions about any webpage you’re on
• Tell it to summarize articles or videos
• Have it compare products across multiple tabs
• Ask it to draft emails based on what you’re looking at

The assistant can see what’s on your screen, so you don’t have to copy/paste stuff into ChatGPT anymore.

I am a big fan of YouTube videos for learning. There are so many of them. It is easy to waste time trying to find useful videos. With Comet, I can browse YouTube and ask the browser to summarize the video for me! This gives me a quick overview so I can decide if the video is useful enough to watch. Simple small win!

Agentic Browsing

This is the part that sounds like sci-fi but works. Comet can navigate websites for you.

Tell it “find the cheapest flights to Miami next month” and it’ll browse flight sites, compare prices, and show you options. Or ask it to “book a table at that restaurant I saved last week” and it handles it.

It’s not perfect. Sometimes it gets confused on complex tasks. But when it works, it feels like magic.

I find, the simpler the task the better the outcome. Keep things simple and it works great!

Smart Search Bar

Type a question into the address bar and you get a Perplexity AI answer with sources, right there. No need to open a new tab or visit a search engine.

Who Made Comet and Why Should You Trust Them?

Perplexity AI built Comet. They’re the team behind Perplexity search, that AI answer engine that gives you answers instead of ten blue links.

The company processes over 780 million searches per month and has been growing 20%+ month-over-month. (They tried to buy Chrome from Google for $34.5 billion last summer. Google said no.)

Their whole thing is “accurate, trustworthy answers,” which is why Comet’s built on that same foundation. When it gives you information, it cites sources just like Perplexity does.

What Comet Can Do

Based on what Perplexity says (and early user reports), here’s what works:

Research & Learning:

• Summarize long articles or YouTube videos
• Get explanations for complex topics
• Compare multiple sources side-by-side
• Highlight any text to get instant context

Productivity:

• Organize your tabs intelligently
• Draft emails based on webpage content
• Set reminders from things you read
• Connect to your calendar and email

Shopping & Decisions:

• Compare prices across multiple sites
• Research products and reviews
• Help you decide between options
• Even complete purchases for you

General Browsing:

• Block ads and trackers
• Fast page loading
• Works on Windows, Mac, and Android

Comet on Mobile (Android)

Comet launched on Android on November 20, 2025. Perplexity didn’t just port the desktop version to your phone. They redesigned the mobile experience from scratch.

Here’s what you get on Android:

• Voice Mode: Talk to your Comet Assistant about open tabs using voice commands
• Multi-tab summarization: The assistant can pull information from all your open tabs at once
• Shopping assistant: Price comparison and product research on the go
• Built-in ad blocker: Same as desktop
• Expanded reasoning display: See what the assistant is doing and step in if needed

What’s coming to mobile soon: password manager (currently uses Android’s native manager), cross-device syncing for bookmarks and history, and quick action shortcuts.

iOS is expected to launch any day now, according to Perplexity.

The Honest Limitations

Comet isn’t perfect yet. Here’s what doesn’t work great:

Privacy trade-offs: To do its job, Comet needs access to your browsing data, emails, and calendar. That’s a lot of trust to give any company.

As with any AI tool, you should be careful what information you are giving it. Don’t share personal information. Passwords, Social Security numbers, bank information, etc. I don’t use this to fill out sensitive forms.

If you are concerned about privacy (and you should be), check out our AI Privacy 101 guide for some useful tips on how to stay safe.

Beta rough edges: It’s still new. Expect crashes, weird behavior, and features that don’t work quite right yet.

Complex tasks trip it up: Ask it to do something with 5+ steps and it often gets confused or just gives up.

It’s Chromium-based: If you hate Chrome’s memory usage, Comet won’t fix that.

Limited extension support: Some Chrome extensions work, but the ecosystem is much smaller than Chrome’s. Full extension support is still in development.

Mobile limitations (for now): No cross-device syncing yet between desktop and mobile. Your bookmarks and history don’t transfer between devices. Perplexity says these features are coming in the next few weeks.

How Much Does Comet Cost?

Here’s the big news: Comet is now completely free.

When it launched in July 2025, you needed a $200/month Perplexity Max subscription. Perplexity just made it free worldwide in early October 2025.

Comet Plus: $5/month. Launched in August 2025, this gives you access to premium content from trusted publishers. If you already have Perplexity Pro or Max, Comet Plus is included free. Otherwise, it’s $5/month on top of the free browser.

If you want the advanced AI capabilities, you can subscribe to Perplexity Pro for around $20/month, which unlocks more powerful search and research features.

For a limited time, Perplexity is offering a free month of Perplexity Pro when you download Comet. No catch.

For students, it’s even better. If you have an .edu email, you get a full year free!

Should You Switch to Comet?

Try Comet if you:

• Use AI tools like ChatGPT or Perplexity multiple times a day
• Feel like you’re constantly copying stuff between tabs and AI chat windows
• Want your browser to help you instead of just display web pages
• Want an AI browser on your phone (Comet is available on Android now, Atlas is still desktop-only)
• Don’t mind being an early adopter with some bugs

Stick with your current browser if you:

• You’re happy with Chrome/Safari/Edge
• Privacy is your top concern (Comet needs a lot of access)
• You rely heavily on browser extensions
• You don’t want to deal with beta software bugs

My take: Comet is worth trying. As with any AI tool, you really have to use it for yourself and decide if it’s worth it. Everyone’s needs are different and not every tool works for them.

Use it alongside Chrome for a few weeks and see if the AI features save you time.

Ready to explore Comet fully? Our complete Comet browser guide covers all features, productivity workflows, and advanced techniques.

How to Get Started with Comet

1. Download it: perplexity.ai/comet for desktop (Windows and Mac) or Google Play Store for Android (requires Android 12 or later). iOS coming soon.
2. Set up: Connect your Google account if you want calendar/email features
3. Try the assistant: Click the Comet icon in the sidebar and ask it something
4. Start small: Use it for research and reading first, not critical tasks

For more detailed setup and feature walkthroughs, check our complete Comet browser guide with step-by-step instructions and pro tips.

Quick FAQ

Q: Is Comet Browser safe?
A: It’s built on Chromium (same as Chrome), so the core is solid. But giving any AI access to your browsing data has privacy implications. Perplexity says your data stays private, but you’re trusting them with a lot.

Q: Can I import my Chrome bookmarks and passwords?
A: Yes, Comet can import from Chrome, Edge, Safari, and other browsers. It’s pretty seamless.

Q: Does Comet work offline?
A: The browser works offline, but the AI features need an internet connection. Without internet, it’s just a regular browser.

Q: What’s the difference between Comet and ChatGPT in a browser?
A: ChatGPT lives in a tab. Comet’s AI is built into the browser itself and can navigate websites for you. It’s more integrated.

Q: Will my favorite extensions work?
A: Some Chrome extensions work now, but the ecosystem is limited. Full extension support is still in development.

Q: Is Comet available on mobile?
A: Yes! Comet launched on Android on November 20, 2025. iOS is expected to launch within days. The mobile version includes most desktop features plus voice mode for hands-free browsing.

Q: Does Comet sync between desktop and mobile?
A: Not yet. Bookmarks and browsing history don’t sync between devices right now. Perplexity says this feature is coming in the next few weeks.

Q: What about passwords on mobile?
A: Comet for Android currently uses your phone’s built-in password manager. A dedicated Comet password manager is in development.

The Bottom Line

Comet is Perplexity’s bet that artificial intelligence should be built into your browser, not just added as a chatbot in a sidebar.

It’s rough around the edges, but the core idea is solid: instead of you doing all the digital grunt work, the browser helps.

Is it ready to replace Chrome? No. Is it interesting enough to try? Absolutely.

Download it, play with it for a week, and see if having AI tools built into your browser makes your life easier. It’s free, so the only cost is your time.

More on AI Tools

• How to Use Perplexity: Step-by-Step Guide (Pro Search + Examples)
• What is Perplexity AI? Complete Guide (2026)
• AI Tools for Content Creation 2026
• Best Free AI Tools for Students 2026
• Best Free AI Tools for Teachers: 4 Tools That Save Prep Time

• Atlas vs. Comet: Complete comparison
• Using Comet for price checking
• Comet browser for students – free pro

Keep Learning

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• Coming soon: Complete Guide to Using Comet Browser

Students get special benefits with Comet and Perplexity, learn about free Pro for students including academic features and benefits.