Perplexity’s revenue in India increased by roughly 60% after its free access offer, provided through Airtel, was closed to new users. According to the report, the shift came even as the company’s app downloads declined.
The free offer had previously helped Perplexity gain millions of additional users in India.
Why it matters
The figures illustrate a trade-off between user acquisition through free access and paid revenue growth. Ending the free offer for new users coincided with lower downloads but higher revenue in the market.
Who should care
AI companies and observers tracking growth strategies in India, as well as those weighing free-access promotions against monetization, may find this development relevant.