Hark vs Perplexity Comet: which one should you use?
Comet is a full AI browser from Perplexity. Hark is an AI agent you add to Chrome. Both can read pages and act on them — the real question is whether you want to change browsers.
Choose Comet if you are ready to switch to a new browser and you love Perplexity’s cited search answers. Choose Hark if you want agent actions, email help and a tracker inside your existing Chrome, with a visible approval before each final step and no account.
At a glance
Hark and Perplexity Comet, side by side.
| Hark | Perplexity Comet | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Chrome extension — an AI agent in the side panel | A separate AI web browser with a built-in assistant |
| Where it runs | Google Chrome on Windows, macOS, Linux and ChromeOS | Its own browser for Mac, Windows, iOS and Android |
| Acts on websites | Yes — clicks, types and fills forms in your current tab | Yes — the Comet Assistant runs multi-step tasks |
| Approval before final steps | Always, before send, submit, book, pay or delete | Confirms some sensitive actions |
| Email help | Summaries, reply drafts and deadlines in Gmail & Outlook on the web | Can work with web mail through the assistant |
| Tracker for orders & deadlines | Built-in Tracker for orders, bookings, bills and deadlines | No dedicated tracker |
| Account needed | No account — install and use | Perplexity account |
| Free plan | 1 AI request per day, all modes | Free browser with usage limits (free since October 2025) |
| Paid plans | $5.99/week (2-day trial), $14.99/month or $39.99/year | Optional Comet Plus $5/month; Perplexity Pro about $20/month, Max about $200/month |
| AI models | OpenAI models, in Fast and Smart modes | Perplexity’s own stack plus several third-party models |
Choose Hark if…
- You do not want to move bookmarks, extensions and logins to a new browser
- You want every final step — book, pay, send — to wait for your approval
- Your tasks start in Gmail or Outlook
- You want a running list of orders, bookings and deadlines
Choose Perplexity Comet if…
- You want a browser where AI search with sources is the default
- You want the same assistant on your phone
- You do a lot of open-ended research across many tabs
Extension vs browser: the switching cost
Comet’s strength is depth of integration: the assistant sees your tabs, your history and your search. The price is that it only works if you browse in Comet. Hark makes the opposite trade. It cannot rebuild your new-tab page or your search box, but it also asks nothing of you: it installs in seconds and leaves Chrome exactly as it was.
Different centres of gravity
Comet grew out of an answer engine, so it is strongest when the task is “find out and compare”. Hark grew out of the inbox and the to-do list, so it is strongest when the task is “deal with this email”, “fill this in” or “remember this date”. Comet being free is a real advantage; Hark’s free plan is deliberately small and Pro is how the product is funded.
FAQ
Hark vs Perplexity Comet: common questions
Is Perplexity Comet free?
Yes. Perplexity made the Comet browser free worldwide in October 2025, with usage limits; higher limits come with paid Perplexity plans. Check Perplexity’s site for current details.
Can I use Hark inside Comet?
Hark is built and tested for Google Chrome. Comet is Chromium-based, but we do not officially support it.
Which is safer for agent tasks?
Both vendors take agent safety seriously. Hark’s approach is conservative by design: it acts only in the tab where you start a task and asks for approval before any step that sends, submits, books, pays or deletes.
More comparisons
Hand your next task to Hark.
Add it to Chrome, open the side panel and say what you need. It takes about ten seconds.
Free plan included · No account needed · Works in Chrome on Windows, Mac, Linux and ChromeOS