Perplexity, the company behind the answer-engine platform and the AI-powered Comet Browser, is reportedly preparing to launch a new free agentic shopping tool next week. This upcoming release marks a major expansion of Perplexity’s role in AI-driven commerce, especially as OpenAI and Google have already introduced similar integrated shopping capabilities within ChatGPT and Gemini.
The new feature is expected to bring Perplexity’s agentic shopping tools to a much wider audience, as its earlier Buy with Pro option was exclusive to paid subscribers. The move reflects Perplexity’s ambition to streamline online shopping using conversational AI, reducing friction from search to checkout.
Quick Overview
| Feature | Details |
| Product Type | Free AI agentic shopping tool |
| Launch Timeline | Expected next week (US market) |
| Existing Tool | Buy with Pro (paid) |
| Platform Support | Perplexity app + Comet Browser |
| Competitors | OpenAI Instant Checkout, Google Gemini shopping tools |
| Partnership | PayPal shopping & payment integration goes live next week |
What Is Perplexity’s Agentic Shopping?
Perplexity’s shopping tools use autonomous AI “agents” to:
- analyse products
- compare prices
- provide recommendations
- assist with purchases
- automate checkout steps
The upcoming free version will allow users to research, compare and initiate purchases directly from Perplexity — similar to the Buy with Pro model but without a subscription.
Dmitry Shevelenko, Perplexity’s Chief Business Officer, said the new product focuses on “seamless purchase right from the answer,” reflecting user demand for simplified research and transaction flows.
How It Compares to Other AI Shopping Tools
The new tool arrives shortly after major AI commerce launches:
- OpenAI Instant Checkout (September):
Enables buying items inside ChatGPT. - Google Gemini Shopping Tools (November):
Integrated into Gemini + AI Mode.
Perplexity may be later to mass rollout, but shopping has been a core part of its platform strategy since the beginning, with agentic capabilities already present in:
- Buy with Pro
- Comet Browser for automated browsing and checkout
The new tool is expected to mirror the paid version’s functionality but for free users.
PayPal Partnership Goes Live Next Week
Alongside the free shopping agent, Perplexity is also launching a major partnership with PayPal, announced by PayPal CEO Alex Chriss.
The integration will allow users to:
- search for products
- compare options
- shop
- and pay directly through PayPal within Perplexity’s app and website
This partnership goes live next week and may or may not be tied to the new shopping tool; Perplexity has not confirmed the relationship between the two.
What to Expect from the New Free Shopping Tool
Although full details are not confirmed, based on Buy with Pro and Comet Browser’s capabilities, the tool is expected to offer:
- in-chat product recommendations
- agentic research and price comparison
- step-by-step purchase automation
- ecommerce website integration
- direct checkout or guided checkout options
- AI-generated summaries of top choices
At launch, the tool is expected to be available for US users only.
FAQs
| When is Perplexity launching the free agentic shopping tool? |
| Next week, as reported by CNBC. |
| Will it replace Buy with Pro? |
| No, Buy with Pro remains for paid users; this is an additional free-tier tool. |
| What does “agentic shopping” mean? |
| AI agents help users research products and make purchases seamlessly. |
| Where will the tool be available first? |
| It is expected to launch initially in the United States. |
| Is this connected to the PayPal partnership? |
| Unclear; both launch next week, but Perplexity hasn’t confirmed a direct link. |
| Will Perplexity earn commissions from purchases? |
| No official details yet. |
| Can free users use it on both app and web? |
| Yes, it is expected to work across Perplexity’s app and website. |
| Does Comet Browser support agentic shopping? |
| Yes, Comet already has integrated agentic capabilities for online shopping. |
Perplexity’s new free agentic shopping tool signals a major shift in the AI-assisted shopping industry, bringing automated research and streamlined purchasing to a wider user base. With competition intensifying from OpenAI and Google, Perplexity aims to maintain its lead in AI commerce through accessibility, seamless integration, and its partnership with PayPal. Users in the US should be able to try the new tool as early as next week.
