Perplexity’s India revenue rises 60% after Airtel offer ends

Perplexity just proved something counterintuitive in one of the world’s most price-sensitive tech markets. After its free promotional deal with Bharti Airtel expired on January 16, 2026, the AI search company saw its India revenue climb roughly 60% among new users, even as app downloads declined. The Airtel deal, by the numbers Perplexity and Bharti Airtel announced their partnership on July 17, 2025. The terms were generous to the point of seeming reckless: all 360 million Airtel subscribers across mobile, broadband, and DTH services received a complimentary 12-month Perplexity Pro subscription, valued at roughly ₹17,000 (about $200) per user. India downloads surged 600% year-on-year, reaching 2.8 million by Q2 2025. Perplexity Pro subscribers get access to advanced models including GPT-4.1 and Claude, plus deep research capabilities, image generation, file analysis, and higher search limits. India’s AI monetization paradox India is a fascinating and frustrating market for subscription-based tech companies. It has the world’s largest population, rapidly growing smartphone penetration, and a massive appetite for AI tools. It also has among the lowest willingness to pay for software...