Perplexity sees 60% revenue jump in India after Airtel free offer ends

AI search startup Perplexity experienced a significant revenue surge in India, with earnings climbing approximately 60% following the conclusion of its free access partnership with telecom giant Airtel. The promotional deal had offered Airtel subscribers free access to Perplexity's AI platform, attracting a large wave of new users across the country. Although app downloads dropped once the free offer was no longer available to new users, the remaining user base proved more commercially valuable. The transition suggests that the Airtel campaign successfully converted a meaningful segment of Indian users into paying customers. This outcome highlights India as a strategically important growth market for Perplexity despite the post-promotion decline in new sign-ups.