Perplexity Comet Review – Speed, Features, Pricing & Privacy Tested

What Is Perplexity Comet?

This Perplexity Comet review examines Perplexity AI's bold attempt to reimagine web browsing for the AI era. Comet positions itself as the first truly "AI-native" browser, introducing what the company calls "agentic browsing" – a fundamental shift from navigation to cognition where users engage in natural conversations to accomplish complex tasks.

Built on Chromium, Comet ensures instant familiarity for Chrome users and full compatibility with existing extensions. The onboarding process allows users to import all their Chrome settings, bookmarks, and login information with a single click, making the transition friction-free.

Core Features That Set Comet Apart

The Comet Assistant Sidebar

The browser's standout feature is the Comet Assistant, an AI agent that lives in a sidebar and can see, understand, and act on the content of any active webpage. According to Perplexity, this allows users to:

• Ask questions about YouTube videos without watching them
• Analyze text in Google Docs for summaries
• Compare products across different retail sites
• Book meetings directly from calendar information
• Automate form filling and data entry tasks

Early testers report that Comet feels noticeably faster than Chrome, with quicker page loading times and more responsive browsing. The browser includes a native ad blocker, distinguishing it from Chrome's increasingly restrictive approach to ad blocking.

Multi-Agent Architecture

Comet employs a sophisticated multi-agent system that can launch multiple AI assistants working in parallel across different tabs. This allows for complex task automation, such as simultaneously researching flight prices, checking hotel availability, and comparing rental car options – all from a single natural language request.

Hybrid AI Processing

The browser uses a hybrid architecture combining local processing for basic tasks with cloud-based APIs for more complex operations. Users can choose between three privacy modes:

Voice Mode Integration

Comet includes native voice interaction capabilities, allowing users to control the browser through spoken commands. This feature enables hands-free browsing and task automation, further streamlining the user experience.

Performance Analysis: Speed vs. Resource Usage

Early reviewers have praised Comet's speed and performance. Multiple testers noted that Comet feels faster and more responsive than Chrome. The browser's seamless integration allows it to reference multiple tabs and maintain context across browsing sessions.

However, despite these speed improvements, testing reveals Comet consumes 20-25% more power than Chrome during intensive AI tasks. The browser also requires significant processing power and network connectivity for real-time AI assistance.

The $200 Question: Pricing and Availability

The $200 monthly price point has drawn criticism as potentially limiting mainstream adoption. For comparison, this represents a tenfold increase over competitors like ChatGPT Plus ($20) or Claude Pro ($25).

Privacy Trade-offs and Publisher Controversies

To function effectively, Comet requires extensive access to personal data, including email, calendar, and browsing history. This raises questions about data security and user privacy, especially given Perplexity's ongoing legal disputes with publishers over content usage.

The browser's ability to summarize and process web content without driving traffic to original sources could exacerbate disputes with major publishers who already accuse Perplexity of scraping content without permission or compensation. This ongoing tension could create new legal challenges for the platform.

Real-World Testing: Strengths and Limitations

Where Comet Shows Promise

Success stories from early testers include automated research compilation, travel planning, and product comparisons. Reviewers particularly praise the browser's ability to maintain context across multiple tabs and execute complex research tasks.

According to comparative reviews, Comet excels in automation and multi-tab integration, providing superior agentic task execution when functioning correctly.

Critical Limitations

TechCrunch's testing revealed significant problems with AI hallucinations, including incorrect date bookings and failed task completions. When asked to research and book parking for a trip, Comet Assistant provided completely wrong dates and couldn't complete the booking process.

Competitive Landscape: How Comet Stacks Up

OpenAI reportedly plans to launch its own browser with ChatGPT integration soon, which could pose a significant threat to Comet's market position. Comet represents a direct assault on Google Chrome's 66-68% market share.

Who Should Consider Comet?

Who Should Wait

• Budget-conscious users shocked by the $200 price tag
• Privacy advocates uncomfortable with extensive data sharing
• Casual browsers who mainly check email and social media
• Users requiring 100% reliability for mission-critical tasks

The Verdict: Revolutionary Promise, Evolutionary Reality

Perplexity Comet represents an ambitious attempt to reimagine web browsing for the AI era. While the browser shows promise in automation and integration, significant challenges remain around accuracy, pricing, and privacy.

For Comet to succeed, Perplexity must address several critical issues:

• Improve AI accuracy and reliability for complex tasks
• Develop sustainable pricing strategies for broader adoption
• Resolve publisher relations and content usage disputes
• Enhance privacy protections while maintaining functionality

The coming months will be crucial in determining whether this innovative approach can overcome its current limitations and achieve meaningful market adoption. For now, Comet serves as an intriguing glimpse into the future of AI-powered browsing, but it remains a work in progress rather than a ready replacement for established browsers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Perplexity Comet free?

No, Comet requires a $200/month Perplexity Max subscription. Free users can join a waitlist for future access, though no specific timeline has been announced for broader availability.

Does Comet work with Chrome extensions?

Yes, since Comet is built on Chromium, it maintains full compatibility with existing Chrome extensions. Users can import their entire Chrome setup including bookmarks, passwords, and settings with one click.

What are the main privacy concerns with Comet?

Comet requires extensive access to personal data including email, calendar, and browsing history to enable its AI features. Users must choose between three privacy modes, but advanced functionality requires sharing data with Perplexity's servers.

How does Comet compare to Arc's Dia browser?

According to early comparisons, Comet excels in automation and multi-tab integration with superior agentic task execution, while Dia offers better memory management and customization through system prompts for research workflows.

What are the main limitations of Comet?

Testing reveals accuracy issues including AI hallucinations and incorrect task completions, struggles with multi-step processes, 20-25% higher power consumption than Chrome during AI tasks, and inconsistent reliability for complex operations.