- Comet is a Chromium-based browser with a built-in AI assistant that understands context and acts on the page.
- Offers practical automation: summarize, compare, purchase, manage emails and tasks, with memory between tabs.
- Privacy: Browsing data is stored locally and only minimal context is sent when necessary.
- Available for free on Windows and macOS; paid plans add background assistants and Comet Plus.
The arrival of Comet, Perplexity's browser, is shaking up the web browsing game by putting artificial intelligence at the center of the experience, not as a mere add-on. The proposal is based on an integrated assistant capable of understanding the context and acting on its own., so many common tasks can be accomplished with fewer clicks and without having to jump from tab to tab.
Those who had been with us for years Google Chrome You'll recognize that Comet feels familiar because it's based on Chromium and supports common extensions, bookmarks, and configurations. The big difference is that Assistant button that pops up in a sidebar and changes the way you navigate.: You can ask it to summarize, compare, search, fill out forms, or close tabs for you, with a time-saving digital copilot approach.
What is Comet and who is behind it?
Comet is the first browser created by Perplexity, the AI company founded in 2022 known for its chatbot that always cites sources. The company presents Comet as a reinvention of the way we interact with the web., combining search engine, assistant, and automation in a single product so that AI is not a patch, but the core.
From a technical point of view, Comet is based on Chromium, the open source project who also use browsers like Chrome or Edge. For practical purposes the interface is very similar to Chrome's. and the same extensions can be used, making it easy to transition from other browsers without any hassle.
One relevant difference is the default search engine. If you had Google configured, in Comet searches are channeled to PerplexityYou can continue searching on Google at any time, although it means an extra click. Perplexity's idea is for the browser to respond with verified results linked to reliable sources, reducing the noise of the clickstream model that, according to its CEO, has turned the web into a maze of ads and paywalls.
How it works: Side Assistant, Actions, and Memory
The heart of Comet is its Assistant, accessible from a sidebar in any tab. This assistant understands the context of what you are viewing and can act on the page itself.: type, click, fill out forms, follow links, or open additional tabs as needed.
When you ask it to navigate for you, Comet seamlessly displays the process, opening tabs just like you would yourself. At any time you can stop the execution to regain control., which makes automation feel natural and under your supervision.
The built-in memory allows the assistant to remember what you've looked at in other tabs or previously, a valuable aid for creating comparisons or resuming research. This ability to remember and cross-reference context between tabs speeds up research and purchasing tasks., and avoid having to repeat instructions every now and then.
Comet goes beyond a simple summary or response: You can complete purchasing processes, answer emails, close and organize tabs, or search for very specific information. about what's on the screen. If you grant it access to your tools, it can also integrate with work suites.
In this sense, the browser offers integrations that unlock superpowers. With access to Google, Comet can create events in Calendar or compose and reply to emails in Gmail.; with access to Slack, they can read channel conversations and even create new ones, all guided by your instructions.
In addition to the main assistant, Perplexity has introduced background assistants that work in parallel. These automated assistants can handle simultaneous or asynchronous tasks., such as sorting emails or setting reminders, expanding the scope of what Comet solves without you being glued to the screen.
The experience is completed with specialized modules that make Comet more than just a browser. Modules include Discover, Spaces, Shopping, Travel, Finance, and Sports, intended for recommendations, project organization, shopping, travel, finances, and sports monitoring.
- Discover: Personalized recommendations of content and news based on your interests.
- Spaces: spaces to organize projects and documents in smart folders.
- Shopping: price comparison and locating offers in online stores.
- Travel: travel planning, flight and accommodation search.
- Finance: tools for budget control and investment monitoring.
- Sports: Access to results, schedules, and real-time updates.
As if that weren't enough, Perplexity complements the browser with Comet Plus. For $5 a month, Comet Plus integrates a constant selection of reference media to enhance the quality of what you read directly in the browser; this plan is included with Pro and Max.
What Comet can do in practice
The charm of Comet isn't in the theory, but in what it accomplishes on a day-to-day basis. With a few natural language prompts, you can perform tasks that previously required multiple searches and multiple tabs., and do so with links to reliable sources for verification.
A classic example is travel planning. Simply request a Barcelona-New York flight for a specific day with arrival in the morning. so that Comet returns summarized options, adds direct links to airlines, and suggests saving it to your calendar.
In shopping, if you ask for “best wireless headphones for less than 100 euros”, the browser It shows you models, specifications and links to stores, always linking the original sources to be able to contrast and minimize the typical hallucinations.
If you're following a match, you can ask it to let you know when your team scores. Comet monitors sports feeds in the background and sends you an instant notification., without having to refresh pages.
For intensive reading, the sidebar shines. You select a long article and ask for a summary of a few lines.In seconds, the wizard condenses the information and shows you where the data comes from.
It is also useful as a personal manager within the browser. From the same interface you can access your calendar and to-do list to note down events. or reminders without having to change tools, and with the advantage that the assistant understands the context.
Beyond the above, Comet handles contextual actions well: Reply to emails with your tone, translate paragraphs, open links related to a specific topic, or create events on the fly.. Everything orchestrated from the sidebar with simple prompts.
Privacy, permissions, and how your data is handled
One point of debate is the access required to operate with ease. The level of permissions you can apply for gives some respect., especially when you connect to accounts like Google or Slack. However, Perplexity details how they manage that access to balance utility and privacy.
According to the company's public explanations, part of the computation is hybridized between the browser and the servers, with a clear principle: Your browsing data is stored extensively locally, on your own device.This includes activity, technical data, and sensitive items like extensions or credentials.
- Browsing activity: URLs, searches, cookies, open tabs, and site permissions.
- Technical data: Operating system information, crash logs, and IP address for security and troubleshooting.
- Extensions and credentials: add-ons, passwords, payment methods, and profile settings.
This local storage enables features like recommendations, tab management, and AI-powered help without sending your activity to remote servers. Only when you ask a question that requires personalized context is minimal, relevant data sent. to Perplexity servers, and the transmission is limited to that specific purpose.
Additionally, you can delete these queries from your history or work in incognito mode to keep interactions exclusively local. In practice, this means you have reasonable control over what the assistant shares and when., although the boundary can be expanded as the functions become more ambitious.
Another practical detail: as we have mentioned, The address bar defaults to Perplexity instead of Google.You can still access Google search, but it offers an additional step. If you're coming from the Google ecosystem, you'll need to decide what balance you want between convenience and custom.
Availability, price and plans
Comet debuted in July 2025 in a fairly controlled phase. For months it was reserved for the Max subscription or invitations from a huge waiting list, and in September it was opened to Pro plan users.
After that period, Perplexity has taken the big step: Since October 3, Comet is available free to everyone.The desktop version is available for download for Windows and macOS; mobile apps for iOS and Android are on the way, although no official date has yet been announced.
Those who pay for higher plans enjoy additional benefits. The Max plan offers more powerful AI models, an advanced email assistant, and so-called background assistants., capable of handling tasks automatically without your constant intervention.
The ecosystem is strengthened with Comet Plus. For $5 a month, and already included in Pro and Max, integrate content from highly reputable media outlets. to improve what you read from the browser itself, a sort of Google News with AI within Comet.
Advantages, limitations and criticisms
For some users, Comet is a breath of fresh air in a market that has been largely unspoiled for some time. For others, it feels like it's basically Chrome with a layer of AI on top., useful but not exactly a game-changer if you already use AI extensions in Chrome.
Along these more critical lines, some point out that the experience feels the same as with regular Chrome and that the unique value comes down to having the built-in helpers. There was even criticism that early access cost $200., a figure that is difficult to justify for testing a browser in its early stages.
Emerging alternatives are also cited. BrowserOS, for example, supports multiple LLMs, allowing you to use two or three models at once and boasts an assistant capable of generating websites from simple commands; some believe Comet is starting to do what BrowserOS already had.
In parallel, proposals such as Dia from The Browser Company appear, still to be tested for some users, and OpenAI's long-awaited AI browser. Meanwhile, Chrome, Arc, and Opera are competing to inject AI into browsing. with its own helpers, although Comet's key difference is that it is born with AI at its core, not as an accessory.
Perplexity's Strategy and Ambition
Perplexity does not hide its objective: wants to challenge the gateway to the Internet that Chrome currently monopolizes.Their motto is resounding: the Internet is now better on Comet. In their speech, they attack a click-through model that pushes the web toward ads and paywalls.
The company has even shown the extent of its ambition with high-profile offers. There was talk of attempts to acquire Chrome with figures ranging around 29.500 billion euros and 34.500 billion dollars., maneuvers that underline this desire to accelerate the change in navigation habits.
Comet's free opening fits with that roadmap. First, the ground was tested in a controlled and paid manner, then it was decided to give away the port to attract the general public.The move comes just as other companies are pushing to launch their own AI-powered browsers, and as traditional browsers are trying to add smart features at breakneck speed.
Who is Comet for?
If you spend your day between emails, documents, comparison tabs, and searches, Comet can save you hours. Its value grows the more you let it act on the page and the more context you give it., always within the permissions you feel comfortable with.
For general users, the browser is also suitable. The ability to summarize articles, follow events in the background, compare prices, or translate on the fly It makes typical tasks easier without installing half a dozen extensions. The curve is smooth because it's visually very Chrome-like.
If you're already using Chrome with multiple AI extensions, you'll likely see less jumps. Native integration and memory between tabs are the assets that can tip the balance., along with background assistants if you're on a higher plan.
In professional environments, integration with Gmail, Calendar, or Slack opens up juicy scenarios. Delegate email responses, schedule meetings, or read team threads without leaving your workflow. lays the foundation for an assistant that not only answers, but executes.
The question of trust remains. Local storage and minimal sending of custom data only when needed These are steps in the right direction, but the debate over broad permissions will continue, especially if automation becomes more ambitious over time.
After trying it out, many agree that it's a breath of fresh air reminiscent of what Chrome could be like if it fully integrated its AI. We're likely to see Chrome evolve into something similar., but Perplexity has gone ahead by putting all its eggs in one basket from the very beginning.
The feeling that Comet leaves is clear: If you're looking for real productivity and are willing to let AI guide you while you browse, it will win over browsers that only add smart features as an accessory. If you prefer absolute manual control and zero permissions, it will seem less distinctive.
Between the power of its modules, the background wizards, and the free launch, Comet has gone from being an exclusive promise to an option for everyone. If the value proposition suits you, it is worth installing it and measuring how much time it saves you in your routine.; few pieces of evidence are more compelling than that.
