Overview

Built on Chromium, Comet combines standard browsing with an assistant that can answer questions about open tabs, search the web, and interact with websites on the user’s behalf. It can summarize or explain content, compare information across tabs, and help with tasks such as drafting emails, scheduling meetings, or making purchases. That range makes it a practical fit for people who move between research and online tasks, though users should review an agent’s actions before confirming them.

Perplexity is the default search engine. Comet also includes ad blocking and cross-device sync. It supports most Chrome extensions, but does not carry over extension data from Chrome, so users switching browsers must reinstall and configure their extensions.

Key features

Assistance in context

Comet Assistant can use open-tab context to answer questions and compare information across pages. That is useful when the answer depends on material already in the browser, rather than a fresh prompt alone. It can also interact with websites, but Comet advises users to review actions before confirming them and says the agent can be stopped at any time. Those safeguards matter most when a task could send a message, schedule something, or make a purchase.

Connected services and privacy

For email or scheduling tasks, Comet may ask users to opt in to Perplexity Connector access to third-party services. Permissions can be changed or revoked in Perplexity settings. Browsing data—including URLs, searches, cookies, open tabs, and site permissions—is stored locally on the device, while passwords and credit cards are held in the device’s secure vault rather than on Perplexity’s servers. Users can delete browsing and search history, cookies, and cached data in Comet’s privacy settings.

That local storage does not mean every interaction stays on-device: Comet may process page context, including text or email, on Perplexity’s servers when needed to fulfill a query. This is a meaningful consideration for anyone handling sensitive material in the browser.

Pricing

Comet is free to download and use. Its Comet plan costs 0.00 USD per free, making it a straightforward choice for readers who want page-aware assistance without a subscription. There is no paid Comet tier in the plan details provided, so there is no higher plan to compare for additional features or limits.

Platforms

Comet is available on Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows. Its Chromium foundation and support for most Chrome extensions will help users who depend on browser add-ons, but the initial switch requires reinstalling and reconfiguring those extensions. Enterprise deployments support MDM on macOS and Windows and configuration of more than 500 Chromium-based policies.

Who it's for

Comet is best suited to people who want an assistant to interpret open pages and help carry out ordinary web tasks, particularly across research, email, and scheduling. Cross-device sync and extension support also make it a more plausible everyday browser for users who want to bring familiar tools along. It is a weaker fit for users who do not want page context processed on Perplexity’s servers or who prefer a browser that does not involve AI-assisted website actions.

Pros and cons

Pro: Page-aware answers and comparisons can make research across multiple tabs more direct than asking about each page separately.
Pro: Ad blocking, cross-device sync, Chrome extension support, and availability on desktop and mobile give it the essentials of a general-purpose browser.
Pro: Browsing data and credentials have distinct protections: browsing data stays in local device storage, while passwords and payment cards go to the device’s secure vault.
Con: Page context, including text or email, may be processed on Perplexity’s servers to complete a query, which may not suit privacy-sensitive browsing.
Con: Chrome extension data does not transfer, adding setup work for users moving from Chrome.
Con: Website actions require user oversight; the assistant’s ability to act is useful, but users should check what it proposes before confirming.

Alternatives

Pick Norton Neo if you want a free browser with unlimited AI included and a VPN allowance of 5 GB per month, or unlimited VPN when Neo is your default browser. Arc Search is another free mobile browser option; its premium and team features may be charged in the future, with no specifics announced.

Dia is a macOS-only alternative whose free browser plan has no AI features, so it fits readers who want profiles, tab groups, split view, picture-in-picture, and ad blocking without AI. Fellou offers a free macOS plan with 1,000 Sparks as a new-user bonus—approximately four tasks—and two scheduled tasks, making it an option for readers comparing task allowances.

Genspark AI Browser is worth considering if you want an on-device free AI option built around 169 open-weight models, with no internet required and no subscriptions or limits. Mind Browser suits macOS and Windows users who value no account and no telemetry, but its AI agents require the user’s model or Ollama. MoltBrowser is a free, fully open-source alternative for users who prioritize open-source software.

Polar offers a free browser-agent plan with 3,000 starting credits and 100 daily credits, capped at 1,000, alongside advanced AI features. That makes it a relevant comparison for readers who want an explicit credit-based allowance.

Browse more options in AI Browsers, AI Browser Agents, and Web browsers.

Verdict

Choose Comet if you want a free Chromium browser that can answer questions about open pages and help with tasks across websites. Its most compelling advantage is assistance grounded in what you are already browsing; its main reason to look elsewhere is that page context may be processed on Perplexity’s servers, alongside the extension migration work for Chrome users.

	Comet	Lightning Browser
Free plan	Yes	No
Free trial	No	No
Paid from	Free	—
Open source	No	Yes
Platforms	Android, iOS, macOS, Windows	Android
Free plan	Yes	—
Supported platforms	both	mobile
Browser engine	chromium	—
Built-in ad blocking	Yes	Yes
Extension support	chrome_store	—
Cross-device sync	Yes	—
Open source	No	Yes

Comet vs Lightning Browser

Comet

Lightning Browser