TL;DR
Should I use Comet or the ChatGPT browser?
Both are free to start. Pick Comet if you want a new browser with AI built in and you'll pay for Perplexity Pro to let it do tasks for you. Pick ChatGPT's browser if you already use ChatGPT, since it's on every plan. Happy with Chrome? Add the free ChatGPT extension and keep your browser.
What's the difference between Comet and the ChatGPT browser?
Comet is a full web browser from Perplexity, the AI search company. It's built on Chromium, the same open-source base as Chrome, so your Chrome extensions work in it. It has ad blocking built in, and its AI helper, Comet Assistant, can work through web pages for you.
ChatGPT has two pieces. The ChatGPT desktop app for Mac and Windows now has a browser built into it, which you open from a ChatGPT Work or Codex chat (Cmd+Shift+B on a Mac, Ctrl+Shift+B on Windows). ChatGPT Work is the part of ChatGPT that handles longer, multi-step jobs. Then there's the free ChatGPT extension, which lets ChatGPT use the browser you already have to get tasks done.
So the real choice is between switching browsers (Comet) and keeping your browser with ChatGPT plugged in.
Comet vs ChatGPT browser at a glance
| Perplexity Comet | ChatGPT built-in browser | ChatGPT browser extension | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | A full Chromium browser with an AI assistant | A browser inside the ChatGPT desktop app | An add-on for the browser you already use |
| Price to get it | Free | Free, on every ChatGPT plan | Free |
| AI agent on the free plan? | No. Comet Assistant needs a paid plan | Limited ChatGPT Work, desktop app only (Free and Go) | OpenAI doesn't name a required plan |
| Cheapest paid plan | Pro, US$20/month or US$200/year | Go, US$8/month | Free extension; OpenAI names no required plan |
| Works on | Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android | macOS and Windows desktop app only | Chrome, Edge, Brave, Opera and Vivaldi |
| Account needed? | No for basic AI features | Yes, a ChatGPT account | Yes, a ChatGPT account |
| Best for | People ready to switch browsers | People who already live in ChatGPT | People who want to keep Chrome |
Is Comet browser free?
Yes. You can download Comet and use its basic AI features without even making an account. Signing in to a Perplexity account gets you stronger AI features and higher limits.
The catch is Comet Assistant, the agent that does things on web pages for you. Perplexity's plan table lists it as "No" on the free plan. You need a paid plan:
| Perplexity plan | Price | Comet Assistant |
|---|---|---|
| Free | US$0 | Not included |
| Education Pro | US$10/month, with student verification | Same as Pro |
| Pro | US$20/month, or US$200/year (about US$17/month) | Monthly limits, no number published |
| Max | US$200/month, or US$2,000/year | Higher limits, plus Max Assistant with reasoning models |
Perplexity doesn't publish how many agent tasks Pro or Max gets, so you'll find out by using it. The free plan still gives you plenty of basic searches, 3 Pro Searches a day and 1 Research query a month.
One extra comes up a lot. New Pro subscribers currently get a limited-time bonus of 4,000 one-time credits for Perplexity Computer, which expire about 30 days after you get them. Perplexity gives no end date for that offer.
On computers, Comet needs Windows 10 or 11, or macOS 13 or later. It doesn't run on Linux or ChromeOS.
Does ChatGPT have a browser?
Yes. The new ChatGPT desktop app for macOS and Windows has a built-in browser, and OpenAI's pricing page lists it on Free, Go, Plus and Pro at no extra cost. It keeps its own logins and supports sign-in, autofill, password management, extensions and downloads. It isn't on the web version or the phone apps.
What your plan changes is how much ChatGPT can do for you in that browser:
| ChatGPT plan | Price | ChatGPT Work | Cloud browser |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | US$0 | Limited, desktop app only | Not included |
| Go | US$8/month | Limited, desktop app only | Not included |
| Plus | US$20/month | Desktop, web and mobile | Included in supported regions |
| Pro | US$100, US$200 or US$500/month | Desktop, web and mobile, with longer sessions | Included in supported regions |
The cloud browser is ChatGPT's agent browsing on OpenAI's servers, so a task keeps going after you close your laptop. OpenAI lists it for paid plans except Free and Go. If you're stuck between the two cheaper paid plans, our ChatGPT Go vs Plus guide walks through what the extra US$12 gets you.
The desktop app also changed recently. The new app combines Chat, Work and Codex, and the older one is still around as "ChatGPT Classic". OpenAI says new agent features may only show up in the new app.
What does the ChatGPT Chrome extension do?
It lets ChatGPT, on the web or in the desktop app, use your browser to complete tasks. OpenAI makes it, it's free in the Chrome Web Store, and it also works in Edge, Brave, Opera and Vivaldi. The side chat panel works in all of those except Opera.
You don't need the desktop app for it. OpenAI's help page says the extension works with ChatGPT on the web too. OpenAI doesn't say which ChatGPT plan it needs, and its docs note that availability can depend on rollout and workspace settings.
The listing was updated October 23, 2026, and shows 8,000,000 users with a 2.3 out of 5 rating from about 1,100 ratings. That's a lot of installs and a fairly grumpy crowd, so expect a few rough edges.
Which one should you pick?
| If you want to… | Our pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Try an AI browser and pay nothing | ChatGPT built-in browser | It's on the Free plan, with limited Work in the desktop app |
| Keep using Chrome, Edge or Brave | ChatGPT browser extension | Free, and no new browser to learn |
| Switch to a browser with AI everywhere | Comet | A full browser with ad blocking and your Chrome extensions |
| Let an agent do web tasks on your phone | Comet with Pro, or ChatGPT Plus | Comet runs on iPhone and Android; Plus gets Work on mobile |
| Spend the least on agent tasks | ChatGPT Go (US$8/month) | Cheapest paid plan, though Work stays limited and desktop-only |
| Already pay for Perplexity Pro | Comet | Comet Assistant comes with it |
Say you run a small online shop and spend your mornings copying order details between tabs. If you already pay for ChatGPT Plus, the extension in your current browser is the low-effort move. If you're a Perplexity Pro user who does a lot of research for product listings, Comet puts that AI in every tab.
Our verdict
For most people, start with what you already pay for. ChatGPT users get a browser for free and can bolt the extension onto Chrome in a minute. Perplexity Pro users should try Comet, since the agent is already in their plan. Comet is the better pick if you want a fresh browser built around AI, and it's the only one of the three you can use as a browser on your phone. Just know the free version gives you basic AI features, and the agent part costs US$20/month. — Artificially Nerdy
What to do next
- Already on ChatGPT? Install the new desktop app and open the browser from a Work chat to see if it fits.
- Want to keep Chrome? Add the free ChatGPT extension from the Chrome Web Store.
- Curious about Comet? Download it free and use it for a week before paying for Pro.
- Compare the wider field of AI search tools on our Perplexity and ChatGPT picks.
FAQ
Can I use Comet without paying?
Yes. Comet is free, and basic AI features work even without a Perplexity account. The Comet Assistant agent isn't on the free plan; it starts with Pro at US$20/month or US$200/year.
Do I need the ChatGPT desktop app to use the Chrome extension?
No. OpenAI says the extension works with ChatGPT on the web, so you don't have to install the desktop app.
What happened to ChatGPT Atlas?
OpenAI retired its Atlas browser, and it stopped working on August 9, 2026. It no longer gets updates. OpenAI now points people to the desktop app's built-in browser and the ChatGPT extension.
Sources
- Perplexity Help Center: Which Perplexity subscription plan is right for you?: Comet Assistant by plan, free plan limits, Education Pro price.
- Perplexity Help Center: Using the connector for Slack: Pro at US$20/month or US$200/year, Max at US$200/month or US$2,000/year.
- Perplexity Help Center: Perplexity Max: Max Assistant and Max limits.
- Perplexity Help Center: Do I need a Perplexity account to use Comet?: basic AI features without an account.
- Perplexity Help Center: Comet operating system requirements: Windows and macOS requirements, no Linux or ChromeOS.
- Perplexity Comet page (archived Oct 21, 2026): Mac, Windows, iOS and Android.
- Perplexity Help Center: How credits work on Perplexity: Pro new-subscriber credit bonus.
- OpenAI Help: Using the built-in browser in the ChatGPT desktop app: platforms, features, shortcut, extension without the desktop app.
- ChatGPT pricing: built-in browser and ChatGPT Work by plan.
- OpenAI Help: Using cloud browser in ChatGPT: cloud browser excludes Free and Go.
- OpenAI Help: Moving to the new ChatGPT desktop app: ChatGPT Classic and new agent features.
- OpenAI: Introducing ChatGPT Go, What is ChatGPT Plus? and About ChatGPT Pro tiers: Go, Plus and Pro prices, monthly billing only.
- ChatGPT extension, Chrome Web Store and ChatGPT extension docs: price, update date, users, rating, supported browsers.
- OpenAI Help: ChatGPT Atlas retirement: Atlas retired.
