Airtel has partnered with Perplexity AI to offer free access to Perplexity Pro for its subscribers — one of the most significant AI deals to land in India. Perplexity Pro normally costs around $20/month, so this is a genuine freebie worth paying attention to.
Here's everything you need to know: what Perplexity is, what the Airtel deal includes, and how to activate it.
What is Perplexity AI?
Perplexity is an AI-powered search engine that gives you direct answers instead of a list of links. Ask it a question — "what are the best free AI image tools in 2025?" — and it returns a clear, sourced answer with citations you can verify. It's faster for research than traditional Google searches and more trustworthy than ChatGPT because every claim is linked to a source.
The Pro tier adds access to more powerful models (including GPT-4 and Claude), image generation, and higher usage limits.
What the Airtel deal includes
- Free Perplexity Pro subscription for eligible Airtel prepaid and postpaid users
- Access to advanced AI models including GPT-4 Omni and Claude
- Unlimited standard searches
- Up to 5 Pro searches per day (for deeper, more resource-intensive queries)
- Image generation via DALL-E and Stable Diffusion
Who is eligible?
Eligibility varies by plan. Generally, postpaid plans above ₹799/month and select prepaid recharge packs qualify. Airtel frequently updates the eligible plan list, so check the Airtel Thanks app for your specific account.
How to activate it
- Open the Airtel Thanks app on your phone
- Go to My Benefits or look for Perplexity in the offers section
- Tap Activate — you'll be redirected to Perplexity's site
- Sign in or create a Perplexity account using the same mobile number or email linked to your Airtel account
- The Pro features will be unlocked automatically
Is it worth using?
Absolutely. For research, fact-checking, and staying up-to-date on fast-moving topics like AI, Perplexity is one of the most useful tools available. The fact that it cites sources makes it far more reliable for anything you'd write, publish, or act on.
Getting Perplexity Pro free through an existing Airtel plan is one of the best no-cost AI upgrades available to Indian users right now. Activate it even if you're not sure you'll use it — you will.
Watch the walkthrough on the YouTube channel for a live demo of Perplexity's features.