AI Browser Market Intelligence Report

Toronto's Kensington Market meets Kilauea's eruption—a double exposure mirroring this week's seismic market shift as Perplexity removes pricing barriers in agentic browsing.

10/07/2025

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This page updates every Tuesday with the latest market intelligence. Archives of previous weekly reports are available at the bottom of each update.

Why We're Tracking This

When we said we were going all in on the retrieval layer, we meant it. Our work in Answer Engine Optimization (AEO), Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), and modern SEO services already has us tracking AI referral traffic from chat interfaces—helping businesses figure out where their mystery clicks are coming from.

Now we’re taking it further. We’re documenting the emergence of agentic browsers from the very beginning. Will this become the next big shift in how people browse the web?

VIEW REPORT

Summary

METHODOLOGY NOTE: This week's report captures a transformational market event requiring updated analytical frameworks. Key updates include:

Verified Pricing Changes: Perplexity Comet free launch (October 2), Opera Neon subscription model confirmed ($19.99/month, September 30)
User Base Recalculation: Perplexity 3.75-3.93M NA users derived from 16.22% US share of 22M global MAU (verified geographic distribution)
Revised Market Sizing: Current market 4-5M users (up from 400K-800K) reflecting Perplexity's pricing shift and improved data sources
Developer Ecosystem Tracking: Added GitHub metrics (Fellou Eko: 4,600 stars), enterprise adoption rates (75%), API cost trends (76% reduction)
Confidence Level Rigor: Maintained strict 🟢🟡🟠🔴 framework while acknowledging actual download/conversion data not yet disclosed

These improvements provide more accurate baseline estimates while maintaining transparency about data limitations in this rapidly evolving market.

The North American agentic browser market experienced a seismic shift this week with Perplexity's decision to make Comet browser completely free on October 2, removing the previous $200/month barrier. This pricing change, combined with Opera Neon's subscription launch and ongoing Chrome Gemini rollout, signals a market now characterized by stark pricing divergence between free mass-market models and premium specialized tiers.

Current market size is estimated at 4-5 million users, with moderate 12-month projections reaching 10-20 million users. Chrome's free Gemini integration continues rolling out to 190-200 million North American users (53.8% market share), though agentic features are still coming in "months" with minimal current adoption. Perplexity leads with 3.75-3.93M NA monthly active users following its free launch, with waitlist reportedly containing "millions" before the pricing change.

This week's key developments demonstrate accelerating competitive dynamics. Perplexity's pricing shift removes the primary adoption barrier, positioning it for rapid market share capture. Opera Neon launched September 30 with a $19.99/month subscription targeting power users through specialized features (Neon Do task automation, Cards reusable prompts, Tasks workspaces). The invitation-based rollout currently has fewer than 100,000 users.

Atlassian's integration of Dia Browser continues following the $610 million acquisition, with general availability "coming very soon." Dia maintains enterprise focus, targeting knowledge workers through deep integration with Atlassian's suite (Jira, Confluence, Loom). Pricing remains unannounced, with beta phase estimated at fewer than 50,000 users.

The competitive landscape now features three distinct tiers. Free models (Perplexity, Chrome) drive mass adoption, establishing new market baseline. Premium subscriptions (Opera $19.99/month) target power users requiring specialized capabilities. Enterprise solutions (Dia) command higher prices through workflow integration, security, and compliance features.

Developer ecosystem signals remain positive. Fellou's Eko framework demonstrates strong adoption (4,600 GitHub stars, 408 forks, active development). Enterprise AI agent deployment reached 75% of companies (up from 51% in April 2025). OpenRouter API input costs dropped 76%, making AI integration more economical. Agentic traffic increased 1,300%+ in the first eight months of 2025, indicating early exponential growth phase.

Platform availability varies significantly. Perplexity Comet supports Windows and macOS. Chrome reaches all major platforms immediately. Opera Neon targets Windows and macOS. Dia remains Mac-only in beta, limiting addressable market. Cross-platform expansion timing will be critical for market share growth among platform-constrained players.

Market trajectory indicators suggest potential for accelerated expansion following Perplexity's pricing change. The combination of free models removing adoption barriers and premium tiers demonstrating sustainable business models may drive faster growth than previously projected. Whether the market reaches conservative projections (8-12M users), moderate scenarios (10-20M users), or aggressive estimates (25-50M users) over the next 12 months will depend on Perplexity's conversion from waitlist to active users, Chrome's agentic feature deployment timeline, and premium players' ability to demonstrate clear value differentiation.

The significant market developments this week—particularly Perplexity's constraint removal event—represent a potential inflection point in market evolution, transitioning from experimental technology to mainstream tool category with viable business models across free, premium, and enterprise segments.

Week Ending October 6, 2025 | Published Oct 7 | Next Report: October 14

AI Browser News

📊 MARKET STATUS

Perplexity Comet Goes Free - Pricing Strategies Diverge Across Market

Week Ending October 6, 2025: Perplexity's decision to make Comet browser completely free (down from $200/month) represents a potential 10x-100x market expansion event. Combined with Opera Neon's subscription launch and ongoing Chrome Gemini rollout, pricing strategies now diverge dramatically across the competitive landscape.

🔴 Perplexity Comet: NOW FREE (Oct 2) - Removed $200/month barrier, waitlist had "millions" of users, 3.75-3.93M NA MAU estimated
🟢 Google Chrome + Gemini: Rolling out FREE - Reaching 190-200M NA Chrome users, agentic features coming in "months"
🟠 Opera Neon: $19.99/month subscription (Sept 30 launch) - Invitation-based rollout, <100K users estimated
🟡 Atlassian Dia Browser: Beta phase - GA "coming very soon", enterprise focus, $610M acquisition completed
🔵 Fellou CE: Freemium model - 250K-350K NA users estimated, spatial Z-axis interface

📊 Key Developments

• Perplexity removes $200/month price barrier (Oct 2)

• Opera launches $19.99/month subscription tier (Sept 30)

• Agentic traffic up 1,300%+ in first 8 months of 2025

📈 Current Market Snapshot

• Total NA agentic browser users: 4-5 million (moderate confidence)

• Free tier driving mass adoption (Perplexity + Google)

• Premium/enterprise tiers targeting power users and knowledge workers

🎯 12-Month Growth Projections

• Conservative: 8-12M users (moderate Chrome adoption, Comet scaling)

• Moderate: 10-20M users (strong Chrome + Comet growth)

• Aggressive: 25-50M users (mass adoption across free tiers)

📊 Market evolving - Free and premium tiers emerging

Executive Summary

📊 Executive Summary

North American Market Size: 4-5M current users → 10-20M users (moderate 12-month projection) driven by Perplexity's free Comet browser (3.75-3.93M MAU) and Google Chrome + Gemini integration rolling out to 190-200M Chrome user base

Market Expansion Drivers: Perplexity removes $200/month barrier (Oct 2) + Chrome AI rollout continuing + Opera Neon subscription launch ($19.99/month) + Atlassian Dia enterprise focus ($610M acquisition) + Fellou freemium model (250K-350K NA users)

Strategic Landscape: Pricing strategies now diverge dramatically - free models (Perplexity, Google) driving mass adoption while premium tiers (Opera $19.99/month, enterprise solutions) target power users and knowledge workers. Agentic traffic increased 1,300%+ in first 8 months of 2025

Competitive Dynamics: Google scales via Chrome dominance (53.8% NA market share); Perplexity gains momentum with free model after "millions" on waitlist; Atlassian targets enterprise with Dia browser; Opera pursues premium subscription model; developer ecosystem shows strong health (Fellou Eko: 4,600 GitHub stars)

AI Browser Developments

🟢 Verified Developments (September 30 - October 6)

PERPLEXITY COMET FREE - Perplexity removes $200/month price barrier on October 2, making Comet browser completely free globally. Waitlist had "millions" of users, current NA MAU estimated at 3.75-3.93M
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OPERA NEON LAUNCHED - Opera Neon officially launched September 30 with $19.99/month subscription model, invitation-based rollout ongoing, estimated <100K users currently
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CHROME AI ROLLOUT - Chrome + Gemini integration continues rolling out to 190-200M North American users, agentic features coming in "months", minimal current adoption
DIA BETA CONTINUES - Dia Browser remains in beta, GA "coming very soon", enterprise focus following $610M Atlassian acquisition completed in September, estimated <50K users
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MARKET GROWTH - Current North American user base estimated at 4-5M, with 12-month moderate projection of 10-20M users. Agentic traffic increased 1,300%+ in first 8 months of 2025
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DEVELOPER ECOSYSTEM - Fellou Eko framework shows strong adoption (4,600 GitHub stars), enterprise AI agent deployment at 75% of companies (up from 51% in April 2025)

AI Browser User Estimates

📊 North American User Estimates

Current Market Status: Estimated 4-5M users (moderate confidence) with 12-month projection of 10-20M users driven by Perplexity's free Comet browser and Chrome AI rollout to 190-200M North American Chrome users

Perplexity Comet

FREE (Oct 2) - Removed $200/month barrier, waitlist had "millions" of users

3.75-3.93M

🟡 Supported estimate - 16.22% of 22M global MAU

Google Chrome + Gemini

Rolling out FREE - 190-200M addressable market, agentic features coming

<1M

🟠 Informed speculation - early rollout phase

Fellou CE

Freemium model, spatial Z-axis interface, 1M+ global users claimed

250K-350K

🟠 Informed speculation - 25-35% NA distribution

Opera Neon

$19.99/month subscription, invitation-based (launched Sept 30)

<100K

🔴 Acknowledged uncertainty - early invitation phase

Atlassian Dia Browser

Beta phase, GA "coming very soon", enterprise focus ($610M acquisition)

<50K

🔴 Acknowledged uncertainty - closed beta

Market Dynamics

Pricing strategies diverge dramatically: free models (Perplexity, Google) driving mass adoption while premium tiers target power users ($19.99/month Opera) and enterprise (Dia). Agentic traffic increased 1,300%+ in first 8 months of 2025.

12-Month Projection Scenarios:

Conservative: 8-12M users (moderate Chrome adoption, Comet scaling) | Moderate: 10-20M users (strong Chrome + Comet growth) | Aggressive: 25-50M users (mass adoption across free tiers)

What We Cannot Measure

🔍 Acknowledged Data Constraints

Critical Intelligence Gaps

Perplexity Comet Post-Free Launch Metrics:

Actual download and activation numbers after October 2 free launch not disclosed
Conversion rates from "millions" on waitlist to active users unknown
User retention and engagement patterns post-pricing change unmeasured
Geographic distribution accuracy beyond 16.22% US estimate unverified

Google Chrome + Gemini Rollout Metrics:

Actual adoption rates among 190-200M North American Chrome users during rollout phase unknown
Agentic feature deployment timeline ("coming months") not specified
Feature activation and discovery patterns within existing Chrome interface unmeasured
User retention rates after initial trial and sustained usage behavior unclear

Private Company User Data:

Opera Neon invitation-only user counts and conversion rates unknown
Dia Browser beta user counts and enterprise pilot metrics unavailable
Fellou CE specific user numbers vs. legacy Fellou platform unclear (1M+ global claim unverified)
Subscription tier distribution and revenue metrics across all players not disclosed

Competitive Response Dynamics:

Premium player ($19.99/month Opera) churn rates facing free alternatives unmeasured
Price elasticity and willingness to pay for specialized features unclear
Impact of Perplexity's pricing shift on competitive positioning strategies unknown
Market share shifts between free and premium tiers undefined

Enterprise Market Penetration:

Atlassian-Dia integration success metrics and enterprise adoption rates post-acquisition unknown
Dia browser GA launch date and pricing structure not yet announced
Security, compliance, and governance requirements affecting enterprise rollout unmeasured
ROI measurement frameworks and productivity impact assessments undefined

Developer Ecosystem and Technology Evolution:

OpenRouter API usage data by specific agentic browsers not publicly available
Third-party integration momentum beyond Fellou Eko framework (4,600 stars) unmeasured
Long-term sustainability of open-source projects (VibeSurf, Browser-Use) unclear
Market consolidation patterns and sustainable competitive advantages unpredictable

Confidence Framework

Confidence Level Framework

🟢 Verified Facts:

Perplexity Comet free launch (Oct 2), Opera Neon launch ($19.99/month, Sept 30), Chrome + Gemini integration rolling out, Atlassian acquired Dia Browser for $610M (Sept 2025), 190-200M North American Chrome users (53.8% market share), Perplexity 22M global MAU (16.22% US), Fellou Eko framework (4,600 GitHub stars), 1,300%+ agentic traffic increase in 2025

🟡 Supported Estimates:

Perplexity Comet NA users (3.75-3.93M from 16.22% of 22M global MAU), Current market size (4-5M users), 12-month moderate projection (10-20M users), Dia beta users (<50K based on beta phase), Fellou CE NA distribution (250K-350K applying 25-35% filter)

🟠 Informed Speculation:

Chrome AI early adopter numbers (<1M during rollout), Opera Neon user base (<100K in invitation phase), Conversion rates from Perplexity waitlist ("millions") to active users, Competitive pricing responses to free models, 12-month aggressive projection (25-50M users)

🔴 Acknowledged Uncertainty:

Actual Comet download numbers post-free launch, Chrome agentic feature deployment timeline ("coming months"), Dia GA launch date and pricing, Fellou CE specific vs. legacy platform users (1M+ global claim), OpenRouter API usage by specific browsers, Long-term retention across platforms, Enterprise adoption trajectories, Market consolidation patterns

Methodology Note:

This week's report reflects significant market shift with Perplexity's pricing change removing primary adoption barrier. Wide confidence intervals acknowledge data limitations in private markets where actual download numbers and conversion rates are not disclosed. Framework enables clear distinction between verified facts (launches, acquisitions, partnerships) and projections (adoption rates, market sizing), maintaining analytical rigor as pricing strategies diverge between free mass-market models and premium subscription tiers.

Market Signals

📊 Market Signals & Trends

Key Market Developments This Week

Perplexity Removes Price Barrier

Perplexity made Comet browser completely free on October 2, removing $200/month barrier. Waitlist had "millions" of users before free launch. Current NA MAU estimated at 3.75-3.93M (16.22% of 22M global). Users asking 6-18x more questions after downloading Comet.

Opera Neon Launches with Subscription Model

Opera Neon officially launched September 30 with $19.99/month subscription for AI features. Invitation-based rollout targeting power users. Features include Neon Do (task automation), Cards (reusable prompts), and Tasks (workspaces). Estimated <100K current users.

Chrome AI Rollout Continues

Chrome + Gemini integration rolling out FREE to 190-200M North American users. Agentic features coming in "months." Minimal current adoption (<1M estimated) as core capabilities still deploying. Free model establishes new market baseline.

Enterprise Integration Progressing

Atlassian-Dia integration advancing post-$610M acquisition (September 2025). Beta continues with GA "coming very soon." Enterprise segment differentiating through Atlassian suite integration (Jira, Confluence) while consumer market adopts free models.

Developer Ecosystem Shows Health

Fellou Eko framework demonstrates strong adoption (4,600 GitHub stars, 408 forks, active development). Enterprise AI agent deployment at 75% of companies (up from 51% in April 2025). OpenRouter API costs down 76% (input pricing), making AI integration more economical.

Market Trajectory: Pricing Divergence Phase

Current market estimated at 4-5M North American users, with moderate 12-month projection of 10-20M. Agentic traffic increased 1,300%+ in first 8 months of 2025. Market now characterized by stark pricing divergence: free models (Perplexity, Google) driving mass adoption while premium tiers ($19.99/month Opera, enterprise Dia) target specialized segments.

Market Outlook

Looking Ahead

Immediate Watch Items (Next 2-4 Weeks):

Perplexity Comet adoption - Conversion rates from "millions" on waitlist to active users post-free launch
Opera Neon expansion - User growth from invitation-only phase, subscription conversion rates at $19.99/month
Chrome agentic features - Deployment timeline for multi-step task capabilities ("coming months")
Dia GA launch - General availability timing and pricing announcement from Atlassian

Competitive Dynamics (Q4 2025):

Free vs. Premium positioning - How Opera ($19.99/month) and other premium players differentiate against free Perplexity and Chrome
Market share battles - Competition between Perplexity (3.75-3.93M users) and Chrome (190-200M addressable) for mass market
Feature differentiation - Specialized capabilities (Opera's Cards/Neon Do, Fellou's Z-axis interface) justifying premium tiers
Enterprise segment carve-out - Dia's Atlassian integration vs. Chrome enterprise features

Market Structure Evolution:

Consumer segment: Free models (Perplexity, Chrome) establishing baseline, specialized players focusing on unique workflows and interfaces
Enterprise segment: Atlassian-Dia integration (Jira, Confluence) vs. Chrome enterprise features, security/compliance differentiation
Developer ecosystem: Growth of frameworks like Fellou Eko (4,600 stars), third-party integrations, API cost reductions (76% drop)
Technology maturation: Agentic traffic up 1,300%+ signals early exponential growth phase, basic capabilities becoming commoditized

Key Metrics to Monitor:

Adoption tracking: Perplexity download numbers, Chrome AI activation rates, Opera subscription conversions
Market sizing: Progression from 4-5M current users toward 10-20M moderate projection
Pricing sustainability: Premium player retention rates, churn analysis facing free alternatives
Enterprise traction: Dia customer deployments, Chrome enterprise feature adoption, 75% AI agent deployment rate progression

Methodology

Methodology & Sources

Research Framework & Data Sources

Primary Sources (Week Ending October 6, 2025):

Official Company Sources & Verified Announcements:

The Verge: Perplexity Comet free launch (Oct 2, 2025)
TechCrunch, Reuters: Opera Neon launch and subscription details (Sept 30, 2025)
Google Blog: Chrome + Gemini integration announcement (Sept 18, 2025)
Computerworld: Atlassian $610M acquisition of The Browser Company (Sept 2025)
Content + Technology: Fellou CE launch and features (Sept 2, 2025)
GitHub: Fellou Eko framework repository (4,600 stars, 408 forks)

Market Data & Analysis Sources:

Backlinko: Browser market share data (September 2025) - Chrome 53.8% NA
AffMaven: Perplexity AI statistics - 22M global MAU, 16.22% US distribution
Human Security: Agentic traffic growth data (1,300%+ increase in 2025)
Kanerika: Enterprise AI agent adoption (75% deployment rate)
BotFlo: OpenRouter LLM pricing trends (76% input cost reduction)

Estimation Methodology & Limitations:

North American distribution: 25-35% ratio applied to global metrics where regional data unavailable
Perplexity Comet: 3.75-3.93M NA users from 16.22% US share of 22M global MAU
Wide confidence intervals acknowledge private market data limitations (actual download numbers not disclosed)
User estimates cross-validated against market share, pricing models, and platform constraints

Confidence Level Framework:

🟢 Verified Facts: Direct official sources (product launches, acquisitions, pricing, market share data)

🟡 Supported Estimates: Reasonable extrapolations from verified data (geographic distribution, market sizing from global MAU)

🟠 Informed Speculation: Educated estimates with acknowledged uncertainty (early-stage adoption, invitation-only phases)

🔴 Acknowledged Uncertainty: High uncertainty with wide ranges (beta products, unverified claims, future deployment timelines)

Methodology Notes:

This week's report synthesizes data from official company announcements, industry publications, developer community metrics, and API usage trends. All claims are cited with direct sources. Perplexity's pricing change represents a significant market event, but actual post-free launch conversion rates are not yet disclosed. North American estimates derived from verified global data (22M MAU) using geographic distribution (16.22% US). OpenRouter API usage data by specific browsers not publicly available. Framework maintains distinction between verified facts (launches, acquisitions, pricing changes) and projections (adoption rates, market sizing), providing transparency on data limitations in this nascent market.

Corrections and Contact

Report Information & Contact

Report Classification:

Report Type: Market Intelligence - Weekly Analysis

Author:Plate Lunch Collective

Methodology: Conservative Estimation Framework

Contact Information:

Questions or Feedback: aloha@platelunchcollective.com

Data Corrections: aloha@platelunchcollective.com

Methodology Inquiries: aloha@platelunchcollective.com

Report Schedule:

Current Report: September 30, 2025

Next Report Due: October 14, 2025

Analysis Period: September 30 - Ocotber 06, 2025

Geographic Scope: United States & Canada

Distribution: Authorized Recipients Only

Disclaimer

Disclaimer: This report focuses on publicly available information and explicitly acknowledges severe data limitations in this nascent market. All estimates are clearly labeled with confidence intervals, and we prioritize transparency over false precision. The agentic browser market remains too small and new for traditional market analysis methodologies.

Transparency Note

Transparency Commitment: This report prioritizes accuracy over completeness. The agentic browser market remains too small and new for traditional market analysis methodologies. We explicitly acknowledge severe data limitations rather than creating false precision.

This intelligence report was compiled by Plate Lunch Collective, a boutique marketing agency and consultancy based in Hawaii that specializes in retrieval layer optimization — including Answer Engine Optimization (AEO), Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), and Large Model Optimization (LMO).

Questions, feedback, or have a data source we should know about? Drop us a line — aloha@platelunchcollective.com