Archive · 5 Aug 2025
Airtel's Perplexity Pro Claimed Inferior: Reddit Users React
Imagine you have a fancy AI assistant, Perplexity Pro, that's supposed to help you with research.
Airtel, a phone company, said they'd give this to their customers for free.
But, a smart person tested it and found that the free version from Airtel wasn't as good as the real, paid Perplexity Pro.
It was slower, didn't show important pictures, and gave weaker answers.
People on the internet are upset because they feel tricked.
They believe that Airtel and Perplexity aren't being clear about what you get for free, making people think they're getting something special when they're not.
A developer on Reddit claims Airtel's 'free' Perplexity Pro is inferior to the paid version.
The developer's tests showed the Airtel version performed worse than even the free Perplexity plan.
The Airtel version reportedly has slower responses, lacks visual elements, and offers shallow insights.
Users allege a lack of transparency from Airtel and Perplexity regarding feature limitations.
Other developers on Reddit expressed similar concerns about the quality of Airtel's Perplexity Pro.
- Who
- Airtel subscribers, a Reddit developer, and other Reddit users.
- What
- A developer and other users claim that Airtel's 'free' Perplexity Pro is not the full-featured version.
- When
- The issue was highlighted in a recent Reddit post.
- Where
- The issue is primarily discussed on Reddit.
- Why
- Users feel misled by the perceived inferior quality of the 'free' Perplexity Pro compared to the paid version.
Developer Concerns
Airtel's Current Stance
Feature Quality
Developer Concerns
Airtel is providing a stripped-down version of Perplexity Pro.
Airtel's Current Stance
Airtel has not officially stated the exact features of its Perplexity Pro offer.
- Alleged Issue
- Airtel's 'free' Perplexity Pro is a 'Pro-Lite' version.
- Testing Method
- Comparative tests conducted by a developer.
- Test Results
- Airtel version performed worse than paid and free plans.
- Reported Deficiencies
- Slower responses, lack of visual elements, and shallow insights.
- Advertising Claim
- Airtel advertises Perplexity Pro as a free benefit, which typically costs Rs 17,000 annually.