Perplexity has announced the launch of the Comet browser for iOS, a step that makes the company’s AI assistant (Comet Assistant) accessible to iPhone users. The new version arrives on the market as an alternative to traditional browsers, as it integrates advanced information processing capabilities directly into the browsing experience.
The application includes most of the features familiar from the computer version, chief among them the "Deep Research" – a tool capable of drawing information from many sources on the web and producing focused summaries in real time. In addition, the browser offers "hybrid search" that combines results in the structure of a classic search engine alongside detailed answers from the assistant, as well as a voice mode that allows querying in natural language. However, at Perplexity they note that the iOS version was launched without support for extensions (Extensions), which constitute a central part of the desktop version.
Beyond search capabilities, the Comet Assistant on the iPhone was designed to perform active tasks for the user, such as comparing prices between shopping sites, locating products and summarizing email correspondence. The launch of the application enables continuous synchronization between devices, so that users can start a query or research on the computer and continue the activity from the exact point on the iPhone.
On the business level, this is a strategic change for the company: While at the time of its launch last year the service price stood at 200 dollars per month, the browser is now available for download for free. Alongside the free version, the company offers subscription plans (Pro and Max) at a cost starting from 20 dollars per month. The revenue model of the free version is based on collecting users’ browsing and search history for the purpose of building targeted advertising profiles.