Quick answer: AirVPN is one of the few VPNs built for people who read the configuration files. It offers port forwarding, publishes real-time load and bandwidth statistics for every server, ships an open-source client, and costs under €3 a month on long plans. It is a poor choice for beginners and for streaming.
AirVPN at a glance
| Overall score | 8.1/10 |
|---|---|
| Price | From about €2.75/mo (3-year plan) |
| Servers | 250+ |
| Countries | 23 |
| Average speed loss | 9-13% |
| Simultaneous connections | 5 |
| Logging policy | No-logs, transparent infrastructure, no formal third-party audit |
| Jurisdiction | Italy |
| Money-back guarantee | 30 days |
| Best for | Technical users and torrenting |
| Last tested | 2026-10-05 |
Key takeaways
- Port forwarding supported, with multiple ports per account
- Public real-time statistics for every server in the network
- Open-source Eddie client; manual WireGuard and OpenVPN configs provided
- Around 250 servers in 23 countries – small but well documented
- Run by an activist collective, with no affiliate programme
Pros and cons
Pros
- Port forwarding with multiple ports per account
- Live, public server statistics for every machine
- Open-source Eddie client plus full WireGuard and OpenVPN config support
- Run by privacy activists with no affiliate marketing
- Accepts cryptocurrency including Monero
- Very cheap on long-term plans
Cons
- Only around 250 servers in 23 countries
- No formal independent audit published
- Italy is inside the 14 Eyes extended alliance
- Interface and website are dated and technical
- Streaming support is inconsistent
Speed and performance
WireGuard speeds held 87-91% of baseline on European servers, which is competitive with much larger providers. The small network means server choice matters: AirVPN's public statistics page shows live load and bandwidth for every machine, so you can pick an uncongested one deliberately rather than guessing. That transparency partly compensates for the limited footprint, though users far from Europe and North America will find fewer good options.
Privacy and security
AirVPN is operated by a group of privacy activists and has maintained a consistent no-logs position for well over a decade, with detailed public documentation of how its infrastructure works. It accepts cryptocurrency including Monero, and its Eddie client is open source. The gap is formal verification: there is no third-party audit of the kind Cure53 or Securitum provide for rivals. Italy is also inside the 14 Eyes extended arrangement, which privacy purists will weigh. For many AirVPN users, the operational transparency substitutes for an audit; whether that satisfies you is a judgement call.
Streaming
Streaming is not AirVPN's focus and it shows. Netflix worked intermittently on some servers, and BBC iPlayer and Disney+ generally failed. The provider makes no claims about unblocking platforms and does not maintain dedicated streaming servers. If streaming is part of why you want a VPN, buy something else or budget for a second subscription.
Torrenting and P2P
This is where AirVPN is genuinely strong. Port forwarding is supported, with multiple ports configurable per account through the member dashboard, which is more flexible than any mainstream provider offers. P2P is permitted across the entire network rather than on designated servers, there are no bandwidth caps, and the live statistics let you pick a server with headroom. Combined with pricing under €3 a month, it is one of the best torrenting setups available.
Apps and usability
The Eddie client is open source and available for Windows, macOS, Linux and Android, with an iOS app and full support for third-party WireGuard and OpenVPN clients using downloadable configuration files. Eddie exposes a great deal of detail – routing, network lock, protocol and port selection – and the design is functional rather than attractive. Linux support is among the best in the category.
Server network
Around 250 servers across 23 countries, almost all in Europe and North America. This is a deliberately small network, and AirVPN publishes complete specifications for each server including its bandwidth capacity and current load. Users in Asia, Africa and South America will find the coverage thin.
Pricing and value
Long-term plans fall under €3 a month, which for a service including port forwarding and unlimited P2P is excellent. Shorter terms are reasonably priced too, and three-day and one-month trials are available for users who want to test without committing. There is no aggressive renewal markup of the kind the big brands apply.
Customer support
Support runs through a ticket system and an active user forum where staff participate directly. Responses are knowledgeable and technical rather than scripted, which suits the audience. There is no 24/7 live chat, so if you want instant hand-holding this is not the provider for you.
AirVPN's live server statistics
Most providers tell you a server is 'busy' with a vague percentage. AirVPN publishes a public page showing, for every server in the network, its total bandwidth capacity, current throughput, number of connected users and uptime. You can see exactly how loaded a machine is before connecting to it. For a technical user this is more useful than a server count ten times larger, and it is the clearest single example of the company's approach: more data, less marketing.
Setting up port forwarding on AirVPN
Port forwarding is configured through the member area rather than the app. You request a port, choose whether to map it to a local port, and apply it to your account. Multiple ports can be active simultaneously, which is useful if you run more than one service. In a torrent client, enter the forwarded port in connection settings and bind the client to the VPN network interface so it cannot send traffic outside the tunnel. AirVPN's forum has detailed walkthroughs for qBittorrent, Deluge and Transmission.
Protocols, ciphers and the Eddie client
AirVPN supports both WireGuard and OpenVPN, with unusually granular control over each. You can select protocol, port, cipher and whether to tunnel over TCP or UDP, which matters on networks that filter specific traffic. The Eddie client adds a network lock that blocks traffic outside the tunnel at firewall level, DNS handling that routes queries inside the tunnel, and detailed connection logging you can inspect yourself. Configuration files can be generated for any combination of server, protocol and device, which makes router and NAS setups straightforward in a way most consumer providers do not support properly.
Who should buy AirVPN
Torrenters who need flexible port forwarding, Linux users, and technically confident people who value transparency over polish.
Who should avoid AirVPN
Beginners, streaming-focused users, and anyone who needs servers outside Europe and North America.
Alternatives to AirVPN
- Private Internet Access (port forwarding, bigger network)
- Proton VPN (audited, port forwarding, Swiss)
- Mullvad (stronger anonymity, no port forwarding)
How we tested
Tested the Eddie client and manual WireGuard configs across 8 European and North American servers, verified multi-port forwarding in qBittorrent, and cross-checked observed throughput against AirVPN's published live server statistics.
Verdict
AirVPN is excellent value for technically confident users, particularly torrenters who need port forwarding. Its transparency is unusual and genuine. What it lacks is a formal audit, a large network, and any pretence of being easy. Judge it on those terms and it is one of the better-kept secrets in the category.
Frequently asked questions
Is AirVPN worth it in 2026?
AirVPN is one of the few VPNs built for people who read the configuration files. It offers port forwarding, publishes real-time load and bandwidth statistics for every server, ships an open-source client, and costs under €3 a month on long plans. It is a poor choice for beginners and for streaming.
Does AirVPN keep logs?
AirVPN advertises a no-logs policy. Its stated position is: No-logs, transparent infrastructure, no formal third-party audit, operating under Italy jurisdiction. AirVPN is operated by a group of privacy activists and has maintained a consistent no-logs position for well over a decade, with detailed public documentation of how its infrastructure works. It accepts cryptocurrency including Monero, and its Eddie client is open source. The gap is formal verification: there is no third-party audit of the kind Cure53 or Securitum provide for rivals. Italy is also inside the 14 Eyes extended arrangement, which privacy purists will weigh. For many AirVPN users, the operational transparency substitutes for an audit; whether that satisfies you is a judgement call.
Does AirVPN work with Netflix and other streaming services?
Streaming is not AirVPN's focus and it shows. Netflix worked intermittently on some servers, and BBC iPlayer and Disney+ generally failed. The provider makes no claims about unblocking platforms and does not maintain dedicated streaming servers. If streaming is part of why you want a VPN, buy something else or budget for a second subscription.
Is AirVPN good for torrenting?
This is where AirVPN is genuinely strong. Port forwarding is supported, with multiple ports configurable per account through the member dashboard, which is more flexible than any mainstream provider offers. P2P is permitted across the entire network rather than on designated servers, there are no bandwidth caps, and the live statistics let you pick a server with headroom. Combined with pricing under €3 a month, it is one of the best torrenting setups available.
How much does AirVPN cost, and can I get a refund?
Pricing: From about €2.75/mo (3-year plan). Refund policy: 30 days. Long-term plans fall under €3 a month, which for a service including port forwarding and unlimited P2P is excellent. Shorter terms are reasonably priced too, and three-day and one-month trials are available for users who want to test without committing. There is no aggressive renewal markup of the kind the big brands apply.
Why does AirVPN not run an affiliate programme?
AirVPN has long argued that affiliate commissions distort VPN reviews, since review sites earn more by recommending whoever pays best. It declines to participate, which is why it rarely appears in commercial 'best VPN' rankings despite strong technical credentials. IVPN takes the same position for the same reason.