Perplexity App Tops Charts After Massive Airtel Subscriber Push

Perplexity has vaulted past ChatGPT and Google Gemini to top India’s App Store, capturing the number one spot after a massive boost from telecom leader Airtel.

Just days after Airtel announced a free one-year Perplexity Pro subscription for its 360 million mobile, broadband, and DTH users, download numbers soared, placing Perplexity as India’s most popular app.

The partnership gave Perplexity instant visibility across one of the world’s biggest internet markets. The free bundled offer, normally valued at Rs 17,000 per year, was rolled out on July 17 and prompted an unprecedented surge that dethroned even long-standing leaders like ChatGPT.

Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas confirmed the milestone, noting that India is now a top-three growth region for the company.

Airtel’s Push Sparks AI App Race

Airtel customers can activate their one-year Perplexity Pro subscription through the Airtel Thanks app in just a few taps. The initiative uses Airtel’s huge reach to deliver advanced AI capabilities to millions.

Indian users responded enthusiastically, propelling Perplexity into the number one spot in Apple’s Top Free Apps category, ahead of ChatGPT and Google Gemini.

With this deal, users gain access to premium features, including newer AI models like GPT‑4.1, Claude, and Grok 4, as well as unlimited queries, deeper research, and file upload capabilities.

Perplexity sees this move as a major expansion drive, aiming to reach students, professionals, and households across the country with its source-citing answer engine.

Did you know?
Perplexity’s sudden surge is one of the fastest ever for an AI app in India, making the country one of its top three global markets almost overnight.

Pro Features for Everyone

Perplexity Pro enables file uploads and supports image generation, alongside seamless research and summary tools. More advanced users will appreciate its Labs feature, which offers building blocks for spreadsheets, web apps, and complex tasks.

For everyday users, the platform promises faster response times and unlimited usage without a paywall for the first year.

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Dethroning the Competition

Before this surge, people had long recognized Perplexity as a promising AI-powered search tool, but it hadn't outperformed established rivals like ChatGPT.

The Airtel tie-up immediately changed the competitive landscape, granting Indian users both early adopter advantages and tangible savings.

The offer, valid until January 17, 2026, can be claimed in the Rewards section of the Airtel Thanks app.

App Store rankings show Perplexity at number one, with ChatGPT and Google Gemini close behind, demonstrating the huge impact of strategic partnerships in India’s active digital marketplace.

The availability of Perplexity via browsers and iOS apps, paired with a large-scale distribution channel, has turbocharged both awareness and engagement in a matter of days.

A New Phase for AI Apps in India

This record-setting rise reflects growing public enthusiasm for AI-driven tools that provide real-time, cited answers to complex queries and support the country’s tech-savvy population.

As competition among AI platforms heats up, the Perplexity-Airtel collaboration stands out as a blueprint for rapid mainstream adoption, making advanced AI more accessible than ever in India.