Invites to Perplexity’s new AI-powered web browser, Comet, are one of the web’s hottest commodities these days. The new product was made available first to the AI firm’s $200-per-month Max subscribers and a small group of invitees. But now there’s a new way to jump ahead on the waitlist. On Wednesday, PayPal announced it’s giving its customers, including PayPal and Venmo users, early access to Comet as well as a free year’s subscription to Perplexity’s premium service, Perplexity Pro, normally $200 per year.
The browser, launched in July, offers an integrated AI assistant, AI-generated summaries of search results, product comparisons, and other features.
While typically a co-marketing relationship isn’t news, it’s worth paying attention to this deal because of PayPal’s ability to position Comet in front of millions of U.S. customers, and later, even more globally.
The arrangement is part of a new partnership between PayPal and the AI provider, which benefits both companies in different ways.
For PayPal, it has the potential to draw users to its apps with the promise of the Comet invite and free subscription, while also calling attention to its newer subscriptions hub feature, which provides a single destination where users can view and manage their recurring subscriptions. (Alongside this, PayPal is running a promotion that pays out $50 to customers who link and pay for at least three subscriptions through its service.)
Meanwhile, Perplexity gains increased exposure at a time when AI agents are battling for attention, and AI-powered browsers are aiming to disrupt a market currently dominated by Chrome. It could also help Perplexity gain more paid subscribers, as users may either forget to cancel or actively decide to stay subscribed when the free year of Perplexity Pro is up.
To receive the free 12-month subscription and Comet invite, PayPal and Venmo users will be able to access the offer directly in their respective apps. Users only get one invite per PayPal account, and they can’t already be Perplexity Pro customers.
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“Our partnership with Perplexity gives PayPal and Venmo customers early access to one of the most anticipated AI browsers and dynamic subscriptions,” said Diego Scotti, general manager of the Consumer Group at PayPal, in a prepared statement. “It’s exciting to deliver offers and tools that our customers request most, meeting their needs and helping them navigate their financial lives with greater simplicity, added convenience, and even more rewards.”
The offer is valid through the end of 2025 and is only available to U.S. customers at launch, PayPal notes. It will roll out to international markets later in the month.