Perplexity vs Google: AI Giants Battle for Dominance in India's Growing Tech Landscape

India’s booming artificial intelligence (AI) market has become the latest battleground for global tech titans. In a strategic move to capture the attention of Indian users, both Perplexity and Google have rolled out free access to their premium AI subscriptions—each targeting a massive potential user base and future monetization opportunities.

🎓 Free AI Subscriptions to Attract Millions

Google is offering a free annual AI Pro plan to university students in India, while Perplexity has partnered with Bharti Airtel to offer its Pro subscription for free to the telco’s 360 million customers across mobile, broadband, and DTH platforms.

Both plans typically cost around ₹19,500–₹19,900 annually. While they are not the top-tier offerings, they unlock robust AI features and tools. These moves reflect a calculated bet: hook users now and drive long-term loyalty and paid conversions later.

“With Perplexity Pro, users get a smarter, easier way to find information, learn, and get more done,” said Aravind Srinivas, Co-founder & CEO of Perplexity.

📈 India’s AI Market: A Golden Opportunity

According to a BCG white paper, India’s AI market is projected to triple to $17 billion by 2027, making it one of the fastest-growing AI economies in the world. With such growth, early user acquisition is critical for companies looking to establish dominance.

Perplexity’s Airtel deal could translate into substantial infrastructure costs. If every Airtel customer asks just one question per day, the cost could soar to $985 million annually. But if only 1% convert to paid subscribers after the free year, Perplexity could earn over ₹71.6 billion (~$862 million) annually.

💡 Google’s Student Strategy

Google's offer is available to students over 18 with valid IDs from recognized institutions. The timing allows the free access to stretch beyond final exams in 2026, providing long-term engagement.

The plan gives users access to tools like Gemini 2.5 Pro, Deep Research, Gemini Live (with screen sharing and camera input), Flow (Veo 3 model), NotebookLM, and 2TB Google Drive storage.

Google also recently introduced AI Mode in Search India, with Gemini 2.5 Pro and Deep Search designed to answer complex queries—now live for AI Pro/Ultra subscribers.

🧠 AI Models & Flexibility

Perplexity offers flexibility, allowing users to choose between:

• Anthropic Claude 4.0 (Sonnet and Opus),
• OpenAI’s GPT-4.1 and o3-pro,
• xAI’s Grok 4, and
• Google’s Gemini 2.5.

An intelligent auto-select option chooses the most suitable model per query. Perplexity also recently launched Comet, touted as the world’s first AI browser, available to Max subscribers.

While Google’s AI Ultra (₹24,500/month) and Perplexity’s Max plan (~₹17,000/month) offer top-tier access with broader limits, the current Pro plans remain powerful enough for most users.

🏁 The Endgame: Data, Dominance & Future Models

This fierce rivalry is more than just about subscriptions. For Google and Perplexity, India offers an unmatched user base and valuable localized data—vital for improving AI model accuracy, understanding cultural nuances, and training future iterations.

They’re also not alone. Rivals like Meta, OpenAI, Anthropic, and Apple are eyeing the same market. But with aggressive, India-first strategies now in motion, Perplexity and Google are clearly leading the charge.

“This collaboration brings powerful and real-time AI tools to millions at no extra cost,” said Gopal Vittal, Vice Chairman & MD, Bharti Airtel.

📊 Final Thoughts

India’s AI future is unfolding rapidly, and the strategies unveiled by Perplexity and Google today could define the market’s trajectory for years. Whether users choose Gemini or Comet, GPT-4 or Claude, one thing is clear—AI in India is no longer a niche; it’s a national revolution.