Perplexity review: the AI personal assistant for research while you browse
Answer in brief: Perplexity is the AI personal assistant for people whose work happens on the web. Its answers come with cited sources, and its free Comet browser (macOS, Windows, iOS and Android) has an assistant that reads across your tabs, researches and summarizes, navigates sites, and takes on tasks such as inbox work, shopping and planning. Pro costs $20/month and Max $200/month. It ranks #7 overall.
Top pick for web research: Perplexity Pro with Comet. For $20/month you get extended Pro Search and Research, advanced models, more file uploads and browser-agent queries in Comet.
Last updated November 9, 2026. This is independent research based on Perplexity's help center, hub and changelog. We did not test Perplexity hands-on.
Answers you can check, tasks you can delegate
Perplexity's core is an answer engine that shows its sources, which matters when you act on what it tells you. Comet turns that into an assistant inside your browser. Perplexity says the Comet assistant can understand content across tabs, answer questions, summarize and research, move between sites, and handle delegated tasks such as inbox work, shopping, planning and multi-tab workflows. On Max you can run several background assistants at the same time.
Who it fits
- Researchers, students, shoppers and analysts who compare a lot of sources.
- People who want their assistant built into the browser rather than in a separate chat window.
- Heavy users who need parallel background agents (Max).
Why it stands out
- Cited answers by design.
- A free AI browser on all four major platforms. Comet arrived on iOS in March 2026.
- Pro extras: Create files and apps, more file and photo uploads and analysis, better image generation and limited video generation.
- Max extras: the highest access to advanced models and browser-agent queries, Max Assistant, Brain memory in research preview, early access to new products and priority support.
Honest drawbacks
- Perplexity's plan table includes no browser-agent queries on the free tier.
- Perplexity describes Pro and Max limits as average-use and advanced-use tiers rather than fixed numbers.
- Max costs $200/month, and annual Max billing is only available on the web.
- It is less integrated with your personal calendar and devices than Gemini or Siri AI.
Pricing
| Plan | Price (USD) |
|---|---|
| Free | $0 (no browser-agent queries) |
| Pro | $20/month or $200/year |
| Max | $200/month or $2,000/year |
| Comet browser | Free download |
Best alternatives
- ChatGPT: deep research plus a built-in browser and scheduled tasks.
- Claude: Research and Claude in Chrome for turning findings into finished documents.
- Google Gemini: Deep Research plus Chrome auto browse on AI Pro.
Perplexity FAQ
Is the Comet browser free?
Yes. Comet is free to download on macOS, Windows, iOS and Android. Browser-agent queries come with Pro and Max.
How much is Perplexity Max?
$200/month or $2,000/year. Annual billing is web-only.
Can Comet run tasks in the background?
Yes. Max users can run several background assistants in parallel.
Sources
- What is Perplexity Pro?
- Perplexity Max
- Which Perplexity plan is right for you?
- Comet available for everyone; background assistants
- Comet iOS launch
- Perplexity hub
← Back to the full ranking of the best AI personal assistants
Named on this page? Join the network for a linked profile, Visit buttons and featured placement.