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NordVPN vs AirVPN 2022

After comparing these VPNs, we have a winner!

Rated: 9.9/10
%s User Reviews
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Rated: 8.0/10
%s User Reviews
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Which VPN is better?

Author Image Nicky Hosek
Nicky Hosek

Cybersecurity Researcher

Even when the fastest way of sending a secret message from one side of the world to another was by Morse code, it was all about encryption and it is this that NordVPN does better than any of its rivals. In fact, when you start browsing the specifications of NordVPN, you realise why it is one of the giants of the VPN world. Air VPN, by comparison, is a bit of a small fish in a big pond, but that doesn’t stop it from snapping at the shark’s fins. Air VPN offers a decent service although its servers and locations are limited when compared to NordVPN’s. Similarly, while AirVPN has a nice enough interface, it looks like a spreadsheet, while NordVPN’s gives you a feeling of flying over the world, selecting servers as you go.

Rating

Features 9.9/10
Pricing 9.6/10
Ease of Use 10.0/10
Reliability & Support 10.0/10
Features 8.0/10
Pricing 8.7/10
Ease of Use 7.8/10
Reliability & Support 7.8/10

Reviews

Review by our expert
Author Image Kristina Perunicic
Kristina Perunicic

Managing Editor

10.0/10

It’s not often that a VPN has cheap prices coupled with an excellent set of features. Yet, when my team and I looked at what NordVPN has to offer, this is exactly what we found. It offers a huge global network of servers, unblocks hundreds of streaming platforms, and has iron-clad security and privacy features — and you can get it all for just $3.29/month. I had to wonder what the catch was. ...

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Latest positive user review
J
John Hoy
10.0/10
Best documentation was easy to understand

I came from Surfshark which never worked correctly. I had to run from the browser extension with supp... ort telling me it was my network that was causing the problem. That was rubbish. I set Nord up and had it running in a short time from the documentation. I only had to ask support about accessing more servers than just the one I saw. Great product.More

Latest negative user review
D
Dax
6.0/10
Average service, some nice features, rubbish support

Basic features work really well. Basically. I liked the feature that when Nord crashes (as it seems to...  do monthly) it will shut other apps so they aren't exposed. My subscription is based in Australia. Found downloads peak at about 1-1.5Mb/s, which is ok as long as you aren't playing online games. Don't go for the frills (though hard not to when they gamify them). I canceled my subscription because I added the Kill switch and then MFA. Nek Minnit I can't even log in. No way to remove the Kill switch without logging in. Uninstalled, reinstalled no joy. Went to the help page, and it redirected me to up my subscription as the only solution. No chatbot where I am. and I don't have an email app so couldn't email help. After a couple of hours of mucking around. Gave up and went to a competitor. Note: if I hadn't played with the security settings, I would still be with Nord. But if I can't log in, it's a dead service to me.More

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Review by our expert
Author Image Benjamin Lee
Benjamin Lee

Junior Editor

7.4/10

Founded in 2010, AirVPN started as a passion project for a group of individuals dedicated to internet privacy and net neutrality. It offers a large selection of 7 subscription plans, which makes it seem like it would be a good value for money. So, I was curious to test it out and see how it works with some of the popular streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Disney+, and oth...

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Latest positive user review
A
Anonymously
10.0/10
Reliable and secure global VPN

Just signed up for 2 more years with AirVPN. Yes, there are other higher-rated services, but AirVPN al... ways works perfectly and is reasonably priced. I run it on Windows, Linux, and OSX, which does limit the contenders. The main usage is secure browsing when traveling and file transfer. I like that it uses OpenVPN and also that it is NOT at the top of the list. OpenVPN is very secure and with a lower rating is unlikely to be a hacking / DOS/government target. I could go on about great AirVPN is, but really, it would be like telling you how much I like my water or electricity utility. It just works and I don't think about it more than once every two years when I need to renew my subscription.More

Latest negative user review
J
Jhon
2.0/10
Very bad performance

AirVPN is by far the slowest VPN I have ever used. Whichever protocol and/or server I have used, it di... dn't make any difference. My internet speed decreased by over 90%, download speed as well as upload speed. When you take a look at the AirVPN forum, you will notice loads of users are experiencing the same issue, for which AirVPN obviously has no solutions.More

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Pricing

Starting price $3.29/month
Money Back Guarantee (Days) 30 Days
Number of devices per license 6 devices
See Plans
Starting price $2.87/month
Money Back Guarantee (Days) 30 Days
Number of devices per license 5 devices
See Plans

Best VPNs by category

Best VPNs Overall

AirVPN is a reliable VPN that gets the job done when it comes to securing your connection and ensuring your privacy, especially if you are a tech savvy user. The provider uses advanced encryption and has a decent network of servers. However, compared to a big name like NordVPN, AirVPN offers a small and limited VPN service. NordVPN not only secures its network with military-grade encryption, but also adds an additional encryption layer (Double VPN). NordVPN also operates one of the largest server networks in the VPN industry and offers countless features in apps for all major platforms.

Best VPNs for Torrents

AirVPN supports torrenting on all its servers. Meanwhile, NordVPN only supports torrenting on specific servers, but these servers are optimized exclusively for P2P file sharing. This means that when you use a NordVPN P2P server, you’ll get a secure, private, and fast connection for a smooth torrenting experience. And remember, NordVPN has far more servers than AirVPN overall.

Best VPNs for Windows

Both NordVPN and AirVPN have dedicated apps for Windows, but NordVPN has a far more user-friendly interface than AirVPN. In addition, NordVPN’s Windows app comes packed with far more features than AirVPN, including the unique SmartPlay feature. With SmartPlay, you can choose the specific purpose you want to use the VPN for (e.g. unblock Netflix), and the app automatically configures itself to fit your purpose.

Best VPNs for Android

NordVPN and AirVPN both offer Android apps, but the AirVPN Android app is limited in features and capabilities compared to that of NordVPN. NordVPN’s Android app has a more user-friendly interface that includes the option to select the server you want to use from a map display. With AirVPN’s Android app, the process of connecting to server is similar to manual configuration using a third party OpenVPN app. Therefore, AirVPN is not ideal for inexperienced VPN users.

Best VPNs for Mac

While NordVPN’s MacOS app is well suited for both beginners and advanced VPN users, AirVPN’s Mac app requires some technical background to navigate. The NordVPN Mac client puts most, if not all, of NordVPN’s unique features and capabilities within easy reach. AirVPN’s MacOS client is quite limited by comparison.

Best VPNs for iOS

Currently, AirVPN doesn’t have a client for iOS devices, so you need to install the VPN manually using an OpenVPN app. This makes AirVPN a very limited service for iOS, with few advanced features. On the other hand, NordVPN has a very easy-to-install native app for iOS devices. The app's many advanced features include a kill switch to ensure that your privacy is protected even if your VPN server connection drops.

Best VPNs for USA

There’s really no comparison between AirVPN and NordVPN when it comes to US server network size and the ability to bypass geoblocks on American content. NordVPN operates 1,900+ servers in the US, while AirVPN operates only 37 US servers. In addition, NordVPN’s faster connection speeds and SmarPlay feature ensure quick access and smooth streaming when you use services like US Netflix, Hulu, and HBO Go from anywhere in the world.

The Bottom Line

Author Image Nicky Hosek
Nicky Hosek

Cybersecurity Researcher

AirVPN certainly takes its customers’ privacy seriously, offering a “breath of fresh air” to those stagnating under adverts and virus threats. Run by activists committed to creating a neutral virtual space, AirVPN has always maintained a no-log policy but, due to being in Italy, it is subject to stricter laws than rival NordVPN. AirVPN has also had some problems negotiating the Great Firewall of china, while NordVPN leaps it like a high jumper snatching the Olympic gold. The result of this duel is self-evident.

Time to decide which one is best for you

Go with NordVPN
Go with AirVPN
Or click here to check best VPNs, rated by {{review_count}} users

FAQ

Is NordVPN better than AirVPN?

Yes, NordVPN is better overall than AirVPN. It has 5507 servers in 60 countries, fast speeds, and impressive security features.

Best of all, you can take advantage of its latest discount and get it for only $3.29 a month.

What should I keep in mind when choosing between NordVPN and AirVPN?

When choosing a VPN, you want to pay close attention to its number of servers, overall speed score, pricing, and the number of simultaneous device connections it offers. While some VPNs provide a flawless online experience, others will really slow you down.

If you’re ready to commit, then NordVPN may be perfect for you due to its performance during the tests .

Is NordVPN faster than AirVPN?

Yes, NordVPN is faster than AirVPN. Since your VPN is your computer’s main connection to the internet, you need to use a service that won’t slow you down by more than 20%.

If speeds are important to you, then I recommend you take a look at ExpressVPN. It’s the fastest service out there, provides unlimited bandwidth, and you won’t experience any slowdowns even when you connect to the other side of the planet. You can try it out risk-free. It’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can get a full refund if you don’t like it.

Do NordVPN or AirVPN offer any deals?

Both NordVPN and AirVPN offer deals on occasion. You can check out the current coupons and discounts here. However, ExpressVPN has the best deals. Right now, you can get a 49% discount and up to 3 months for free with a new subscription.