Bharti Airtel has officially discontinued its free Perplexity Pro subscription worth ₹17,000, a benefit introduced in 2025 as part of a limited-time partnership with Perplexity AI. The offer ended on January 16, 2026, surprising many users. Airtel has now shifted focus to offering Adobe Express Premium via the Airtel Thanks app.
Bharti Airtel has announced the removal of its free Perplexity Pro subscription, a digital benefit that had been available to millions of customers since 2025. The subscription, valued at ₹17,000 annually, was part of Airtel’s collaboration with Perplexity AI to enhance customer experience with advanced AI-powered tools.
The telecom giant clarified that the offer was always intended as a temporary promotion, aligning with its original terms and conditions. Despite catching many users off guard, Airtel emphasized that the benefit’s conclusion was pre-announced when the scheme was launched.
To ensure continuity of digital perks, Airtel has introduced Adobe Express Premium as a replacement, accessible through the Airtel Thanks app, offering creative tools for design and content creation.
Major Takeaways
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Offer discontinued: Free Perplexity Pro subscription ended on January 16, 2026.
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Value impact: Subscription worth ₹17,000 annually no longer free for Airtel users.
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Customer surprise: Many users expressed disappointment, though Airtel cited pre-announced terms.
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New benefit: Adobe Express Premium now available via Airtel Thanks app.
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Strategic shift: Airtel continues to expand digital partnerships to enhance customer engagement.
This move highlights Airtel’s strategy of rotating premium digital benefits, ensuring customers continue to access value-added services while adapting to evolving partnerships.
Sources: India TV, Economic Times, AI News