Tech Beetle briefing IN AI

Airtel Perplexity Pro subscription paused? Here is how to continue it and avoid automatic renewal charges

Essential brief

Airtel offered eligible users a free one-year Perplexity Pro subscription through a partnership with the AI-powered answer engine Perplexity. As the promotional period ended on January 16, 2026, so

Key topics

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Key facts

Airtel's free Perplexity Pro subscription ended on January 16, 2026.

Users must add a valid payment method to continue Perplexity Pro after the free period.

Subscription status may show as Paused if payment details are missing or invalid.

Users can cancel their subscription via the Perplexity website to avoid automatic renewal charges.

Highlights

Airtel partnered with Perplexity in 2025 to offer a free one-year Pro subscription.

Promotional offer ended on January 16, 2026, as per Airtel's updated terms.

Users received emails prompting them to add payment methods to continue service.

Subscription status changes to Paused if no valid payment method is linked.

Cancellation prevents renewal but allows access until the subscription expiry date.

Why it matters

The conclusion of Airtel's free Perplexity Pro subscription highlights the importance of managing AI service subscriptions to avoid unexpected charges. As AI tools become more integrated into daily use, understanding subscription terms and renewal processes is crucial for users to maintain control over their expenses and access to advanced features.

In 2025, Airtel partnered with Perplexity, an AI-powered answer engine, to provide eligible users with a free one-year Perplexity Pro subscription. This offer allowed Airtel customers to access advanced AI features at no additional cost. However, the promotional period officially ended on January 16, 2026, as confirmed by Airtel's updated terms and conditions.

Following the end of the free subscription, many users received emails from Perplexity requesting them to add valid payment methods to continue their Pro membership. Users who have not linked a valid payment method or whose previously added card details have expired are seeing their subscription status marked as "Paused." This status prevents automatic renewal and charges but also restricts access to Pro features.

Users can check their subscription status by signing into their Perplexity account and navigating to the Subscription section. Those who wish to continue using Perplexity Pro need to update or add a valid payment method. Conversely, users who do not want to incur charges should avoid adding payment details or cancel their subscription.

To cancel the Perplexity Pro subscription, users should log into the Perplexity website, access Settings via the profile icon, open the Subscription section, select Manage Subscription, and then choose Cancel Subscription. Cancellation will prevent automatic renewal, but users can still access Pro benefits until the subscription expiry date.

The Airtel-Perplexity partnership aimed to provide users with a powerful AI tool to enhance knowledge and productivity. While the free subscription period has ended, users now have control over continuing or discontinuing their Pro access based on their preferences.

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