Overview

Comet combines everyday 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, draft emails, schedule meetings, and make purchases. That breadth is useful for people who move from research to online tasks, though website actions deserve supervision: Comet says users can stop the agent and should review its actions before confirming them.

Perplexity is the default search engine. Built-in ad blocking and cross-device sync add practical browser features, while the Chromium foundation supports most Chrome extensions. Switching from Chrome still takes some setup: extensions and their data do not transfer, so each extension must be installed and configured again.

Key features

Assistance with open pages

Comet Assistant can use open-tab context to answer questions and compare information across pages. This is a strong fit for research that spans several tabs, and its ability to interact with websites extends the assistant beyond explanations into tasks such as scheduling or purchases. It is less appropriate for unattended actions, since Comet advises reviewing actions before confirmation.

Connected services and privacy

Email and schedule tasks may require opting in to Perplexity Connector access to third-party services; users can later change or revoke those permissions in Perplexity settings. Browsing data—including URLs, searches, cookies, open tabs, and site permissions—is stored locally on the device. Website credentials such as passwords and credit cards are kept in the device’s secure vault, not on Perplexity’s servers, and users can delete history, cookies, and cached data in Comet’s privacy settings.

Those controls do not mean all page content stays on the device. Comet may process page context, including text or email, on Perplexity’s servers when needed to answer a query. That matters to anyone handling sensitive material: Comet’s page-aware help may be useful, but readers who require page context to remain entirely local should choose another browser.

Pricing

Comet is free to download, with a Comet plan at no cost. That makes it easy to consider without a subscription commitment. No paid Comet tier is part of the offering described here, so readers seeking a different paid level of Comet service should look elsewhere.

Platforms

Comet is available on Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows. Its combination of mobile and desktop support, plus cross-device sync, suits people who want to move between devices. Enterprise deployments support MDM on macOS and Windows and configuration of more than 500 Chromium-based policies, making the browser relevant to organizations managing those desktop environments.

Who it's for

Comet is a sensible choice for curious everyday users, researchers, and people who want an assistant to work with the pages already open rather than in a separate chat. It is also free to download and supports common Chrome extensions. It is a weaker fit for users who do not want to reinstall and configure extensions, or for those who cannot accept server processing of page context when a query needs it.

Pros and cons

Pros: Open-tab questions, cross-tab comparisons, and website actions bring research and routine tasks into one browser workflow.
Pros: Free download, ad blocking, cross-device sync, and support for most Chrome extensions cover useful everyday needs.
Pros: Local browsing-data storage, device-vault credentials, and controls for deleting history, cookies, and cached data give users meaningful privacy management.
Cons: Page context, including text or email, may be processed on Perplexity’s servers, which may rule it out for sensitive browsing.
Cons: Chrome extensions must be reinstalled and configured because their data does not transfer.
Cons: Website actions call for review before confirmation; the assistant is not a reason to leave consequential tasks unattended.

Alternatives

For a different assistant option with a free plan, Claude in Chrome is available across Android, extension, iOS, and web, with web search, file creation and code execution, memory, and app and tool connections. Choose it if those stated capabilities and platforms suit your needs better than Comet’s browser-centered page assistance.

Gemini is another free-plan option across web, desktop, and mobile platforms, with image generation and editing, Deep Research, Gemini Live, Canvas, and Gems. It may suit readers looking for that wider set of named app capabilities rather than Comet’s focus on open tabs and website actions.

Genspark AI Browser offers an on-device free plan with 169 open-weight models and no internet requirement. It is worth considering if on-device operation and offline use are priorities.

Muse has a free plan with usage that refreshes periodically, as well as paid Power and Maximum plans. It is an alternative for readers comparing a periodically refreshed free option with Comet’s free browser.

Skyvern offers API, self-hosted, and web platforms, with a free plan described in credits and concurrent runs. It is a more relevant alternative for readers seeking those deployment formats.

Bardeen is available as an extension and web product, with paid Basic and Premium plans measured in monthly credits and an Enterprise plan. Consider it if those formats and credit-based plans better suit the work.

Fellou is a macOS alternative with a free plan and a paid Plus plan. It may fit readers specifically looking for a macOS option.

Strawberry Browser supports macOS and Windows and offers paid plans with monthly credits. It is an alternative for readers comparing desktop browser options with credit-based plans.

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

Verdict

Choose Comet if you want a free Chromium browser whose assistant can use open tabs for research and help carry out routine website tasks. Its main advantage is assistance in browsing context; its clearest reasons to look elsewhere are server processing of page context and the need to rebuild a Chrome extension setup.

	Comet	Nordstjernen
Free plan	Yes
Paid from	Free
Open source	No
Platforms	Android, iOS, macOS, Windows	Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Supported platforms	both	both
Browser engine	chromium	other
Built-in ad blocking	Yes
Extension support	chrome_store	none
Cross-device sync	Yes
Open source	No	No

Comet vs Nordstjernen

Comet

Nordstjernen