Perplexity
Computer, Personal Computer and Comet are not the same thing
Perplexity ships three separate products with names so similar that most coverage merges them into one. One is a browser. One is a cloud agent. One is a desktop app with access to your files. They launched at different times, cost different amounts, and do genuinely different jobs.
Reviewed 17 August 2026. Prices are US list, ex-tax, and change often — verify on official pages.
The distinction
Three products, plainly separated
Checked 17 August 2026.
| Comet | Computer | Personal Computer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | A full Chromium-based web browser with an AI assistant in a side panel | A cloud-hosted agent that decomposes a goal into tasks and routes them across 19–20+ models | The desktop app: Computer, plus access to your local machine |
| Launched | Desktop July 2025; Android November 2025; iOS March 2026 | Announced 25 February 2026, shipped 27 February | Mac 16 April 2026; all Pro and Max users 7 May; Windows 28 July 2026 |
| Where it runs | On your machine, as your browser | Entirely in Perplexity's cloud — no local access at all | On your machine, with local file and application access |
| Touches your files | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS | Web, iOS app, Slack, Microsoft Teams | Mac and Windows 10/11 |
| Price | Free since October 2025. Heavier use needs Pro or Max | Pro $20/mo or Max $200/mo, plus credits | Pro $20/mo or Max $200/mo, plus credits |
✓ yes~ partial / depends✗ no
Credits
The part that decides whether this is affordable
This is the single most important thing to understand before subscribing, and it is not on the marketing pages.
100 credits = $1, and Pro gets no monthly allocation
Your subscription buys access. The work itself draws on credits. Max includes 10,000 credits per month — worth $100 — on top of the $200 subscription. Pro includes no monthly credit allocation at all; you get a one-time 4,000-credit bonus that expires after 30 days, and after that you buy credits as you go. A single large project has been reported to consume thousands of credits.
Spend caps exist — use them
Max applies a $200/month spend cap by default, adjustable up to $5,000. Set this deliberately before you start, not after your first invoice.
What flat-rate looks like instead
Claude Cowork at $20/month is flat — no credits, no metering. If your usage is heavy and steady, that is a materially different proposition from Perplexity Pro at $20 plus consumption.
Enterprise tiers get allocations
Enterprise Pro includes 500 credits per month and Enterprise Max 15,000, which changes the arithmetic for organisations but not for individuals.
Myth-busting
Two claims you will see repeated that are wrong
"Perplexity Computer requires a Mac mini"
It does not. This originates in a Perplexity changelog entry from March 2026 suggesting a dedicated Mac mini as a convenient machine to leave running for always-on agent work. That is a recommendation for a use case, not a requirement. Personal Computer runs on any Mac, and has run on Windows 10 and 11 since 28 July 2026. Press reporting puts the macOS floor at version 14 Sonoma, though Perplexity's own pages do not state a minimum — nor do they publish RAM or CPU requirements.
"Perplexity Computer can edit my local files"
Only if you mean Personal Computer. Computer itself is cloud-only and never touches your machine. The two are separate products with separate launch dates, and nearly every secondary article we found merges them. If a page tells you Computer launched in April on Mac, it has confused the two.
The honest part
What to weigh before subscribing
| Issue | Detail |
|---|---|
| Cost unpredictability | The defining characteristic. It is the most capable agent in this comparison and the hardest to budget for. For an individual on Pro, the real cost is $20 plus however much work you do. |
| Blast radius | Personal Computer has write access to your local filesystem and, through connectors, to your email. Perplexity's safety model includes sandboxed file creation, alerts before sensitive actions such as sending mail or deleting files, auditable and reversible actions, and a kill switch — but the surface area is the widest here. |
| Comet's security history | The browser that acts as Personal Computer's hands has a documented prompt-injection issue: the "CometJacking" disclosure in late 2025 showed a crafted URL could induce the assistant to leak connected-account data. Perplexity initially disputed the finding. |
| Data and advertising | Perplexity monetises browsing and search history for ad profiling. Whether that is acceptable is your call, but it is a different posture from the others in this comparison and worth knowing. |
| Undocumented requirements | No published RAM, CPU or Apple Silicon minimums for Personal Computer. Windows 10/11 is officially stated; the macOS floor is not. |
FAQ
Perplexity FAQ
What is the difference between Perplexity Computer and Personal Computer?
Computer is a cloud agent that runs entirely on Perplexity's servers with no access to your machine. Personal Computer is the desktop application that adds local file access and control of native apps. Different products, different launch dates — Computer in February 2026, Personal Computer on Mac in April and Windows in July.
Do I need a Mac mini?
No. That claim traces to a Perplexity changelog suggesting a dedicated Mac mini as a convenient always-on machine. Personal Computer runs on any Mac, and on Windows 10 or 11 since 28 July 2026.
Is Comet free?
Yes, the browser has been free to download and use worldwide since October 2025. It originally required the $200/month Max plan at its July 2025 launch. Heavier assistant usage and background tasks still need Pro or Max. Comet Plus, a separate $5/month publisher-content subscription, is included free with both.
How much does Perplexity Computer really cost?
Pro is $20/month or Max $200/month, but the subscription is only access — the work draws on credits at 100 credits to the dollar. Max includes 10,000 credits monthly; Pro includes none, just a one-time 4,000-credit bonus that expires in 30 days. Budget for consumption on top of the subscription.
Can it run with my computer switched off?
Computer can, since it is cloud-hosted. Personal Computer needs your machine running — which is exactly why Perplexity suggested a cheap dedicated Mac for always-on use.
Is it safe to give it access to my files?
Perplexity's safety model includes sandboxed file creation, alerts before sensitive actions, auditable and reversible actions, and a kill switch. But it has write access to your files and, via connectors, your email, and the browser it uses has a documented prompt-injection history. Start with non-critical work.
Perplexity or Claude Cowork?
Reach versus predictability. Perplexity does more — native apps, the browser, more connectors — and bills by consumption. Claude Cowork is sandboxed to folders you grant and costs a flat $20/month. If you cannot tolerate a variable bill, that answers it.
Sources
Where these facts came from
Every price and capability on this page traces to an official page or named press report. Checked 17 August 2026.