Perplexity's India revenue rose 60% after Airtel offer ended
Perplexity’s India revenue rose about 60% from February through mid-August 2026, compared with the period when its free 12-month Pro offer via Airtel was still available to new users, per Sensor Tower data cited by TechCrunch. The July 2025–January 2026 promotion drove 56 million downloads and a peak of 22 million monthly active users; usage has since settled near 14 million MAU, still about 5x pre-deal levels, even as new downloads fell 90% after redemptions closed.
Why it matters: A promotional distribution deal can leave an AI answer engine with a durable, revenue-generating user base long after the free offer ends — a data point for tracking how engines outside the U.S. build audience.
The record: Perplexity
Via TechCrunch AI ↗
Posted to the wire August 18, 2026.