AirVPN Review

VPNs (virtual and private networks) operate on top of communication channels. They provide privacy and security to user data and defend against intrusion and prying. Hence, this technology is an irreplaceable part of a netizen’s daily life. But like every other product in the economy, there are sometimes a few bad apples that ruin the good name. Thus, it is upon us to provide our readers with an optimal and unbiased explanation of the various providers one can come across. Hence, we review numerous active VPNs in the market, and AirVPN is our target this time.

It is a notable service we came across during our research, and what we read warranted an exclusive examination to whet the appetite of our regular readers. The article aims to process our findings and deliver a detailed feature purview and relevant pros and cons associated with the vendor. User discretion is advised, and we pray that readers heed the article before plying AirVPN.

Introduction to AirVPN

AirVPN is a VPN vendor that has been around for a decade or so. More precisely, it was founded in 2010, hails from Italy, and has remained active in the industry. Moreover, it is run by a small group of activists and hackers that are pro-privacy. But the best thing is, since its inception and to date, it has never been a center of a scandal or bought out by a giant corporation. Thus, it is a VPN service that is relatively small yet true to its roots and pursues the essence of privacy.

Paolo Brini owns AirVPN, but the company is yet run exclusively by activist and security issues-aware persons. Although the VPN is within reach of the EU data retention laws, the vendor maintains a strict no-logs policy to deter suspicions. Combined with its track record and dishonor-free reign of over a decade, it is a VPN that can earn the trust of the privacy-centric crowd. That too for a cheap monthly installment of $3.7! Thus, AirVPN is a fantastic choice for those who prioritize torrenting and internet privacy but has its fair share of struggles.

The VPN fails to stream nearly everything as it lacks SmartDNS and can’t bypass geo-blocks. Also, the apps are a bit complicated, and customer support is lacking. Since profit-making isn’t the primary objective, the VPN lacks appeal. It has zero advanced features and operates a minuscule network of servers. The service is more niche than most of its counterparts, which is the obvious cause for its underdevelopment.

AirVPN specifications sheet

Features	AirVPN
Bandwidth cap	Unlimited
Connection speed	71 Mbps
Logging policy	No logs VPN
IP, DNS, WebRTC data leaks	None
Jurisdiction	Italy
Number of servers	200+
IP addresses available	200+
Server locations	22
Streaming	Yes but poor
Torrenting	Favored
Number of simultaneous connections	5
Obfuscation	Yes
Customer Care	24/7 online forum, email
Cheapest price	$3.69/month (2-year plan)
Free trial	3-day free trial (No payment info required)
Money-back guarantee	30-day money return warranty
Official website	AirVPN.org

Noteworthy AirVPN features

With brief data in tow, let’s explore the various perks the AirVPN product brings:

Privacy and security

Due to its ownership and goals, the VPN is privacy-centric and focuses on security. The vendor employs a strict no-logging policy to ensure user privacy. It doesn’t log any PII (Personally Identifiable Information) and the service has been clean since its inception. There is no record of security breaches or any consequent scandals. To ensure security, the VPN employs the following features:

• VPN protocols — OpenVPN (TCP/UDP)
• VPN encryption — AES-256-bit
• Security features — DNS leak VPN blocking, First-party DNS, IPv6 leak prevention, Support for TCP port 443, VPN Kill Switch, WebRTC leaking block
• Advanced features — Split tunneling, Tor over VPN

Servers and performance

With a small network of 200 servers, the VPN can’t leave a mark on the global market. However, the speed observed for local and international connections left users satisfied enough. Sadly, the VPN fails to bypass geo-blocks. Although it is good for torrenting with features like port forwarding and kill switch, the service isn’t suitable for streaming. On the anti-censorship front, the obfuscation technique is advanced but requires a manual setup. The vendor offers OpenVPN over SSL that can effectively bypass DPI (Deep Packet Inspection). But it sacrifices speed, and it is hard to configure on mobile devices.

Customer Care

Instead of a dedicated 24/7 live chat, the company with innovation has preferred an online forum. There, the support staff and the user community can interact and provide guidance. The forum can also raise issues to help the users. It is active, and the provider heeds suggestions. The service itself gets highly influenced by activism and pro-privacy consultation which reflects in Customer Support. Other than the forum, they provide traditional email help and a host of online resources.

Platforms AirVPN supports

The service works on every critical platform, like Windows, iOS, macOS, Android, Linux, routers, and IoT (Internet of Things) devices. Although, the custom apps apply only to macOS, Windows, Android, and Linux. If you want to experience the service on other devices, you’d have to rely on manual installation. However, the desktop client is severely outclassed, cluttered, and at times confusing. Nicknamed Eddie, it is an iteration that the current tech-savvy users won’t find helpful. Although the few advanced features can attract the crowd, the flawed app user interface disappoints.

AirVPN pricing tiers

The VPN offers the largest array of supported payment methods we have seen. It does so to promote the use of VPNs. Furthermore, it allows users to experience a 3-day free trial with no limits and no information asked. But it doesn’t stop there, the service continues to attract users with a 30-day money-back guarantee. The payment plans for AirVPN are moderate and affordable to most users:

• Monthly — $9~$8.5 per month
• 6-months — $5.75 per month
• Yearly — $4.8 monthly
• Biannually — $3.9~$4 per month

Verdict

We bring our AirVPN review to an end by saying it isn’t for everyone. Only sufficiently tech-savvy can utilize the full benefits of this service. Beginners will be intimidated by the rigid interface and the advanced features needing manual implementations. Sadly, we won’t recommend this VPN to our advanced readers either, as there are enough alternatives available that work without this much hassle. However, interested parties can still go ahead and give it a go. After all, the vendor offers a free trial and a no-questions-asked money-back policy.