AirVPN vs NymVPN (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 12, 2026, NymVPN grades higher than AirVPN: 2.2 against 1.8 out of 4.0.
Checked Oct 17, 2026 and Nov 12, 2026 · graded Oct 17, 2026 and Nov 12, 2026 by ToolGPA
NymVPN grades higher on the free plan and ease of use. They get the same grade on value for money, features and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
AirVPN
VPN service with Eddie, its open-source client for desktop and Android
Paid
NymVPN
Swiss VPN with a decentralized WireGuard mode and a mixnet mode
Free trial · from $4.00/mo
Which one is for you
Pick AirVPN if
- Fits if you're on a network that blocks VPNs and need SSH, SSL or Tor tunnels
- Works for people who want an official Linux client and like adjusting OpenVPN and WireGuard settings
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you use an iPhone, as there's no iOS edition of Eddie
- Not for you if you want one big connect button, as Eddie's settings are aimed at experienced users
- Tight if you need to know the price before you look further, as we couldn't read AirVPN's plans
- Watch out: no free plan or trial is on record; the Eddie app is free, but the service behind it is paid
- Watch out: the listing has nothing on server count, device limits or ad blocking
Pick NymVPN if
- Fits if you want to pay with Bitcoin, Monero or cash rather than a card
- Works for people who want a mixnet option and can live with a slower connection in that mode
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want a free plan, because there isn't one
- Tight if you want the trial: it's card-only, needs a payment method and ends after 7 days
- Not for you if you use Android TV, as the vendor says it isn't supported
- Watch out: all plans auto-renew and refunds are pro-rata, and only the 1-year price could be read
- Watch out: the currency you see depends on your location and payment method
How we grade them
| 1.8GPAAirVPNWeak | 2.2GPANymVPNFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | CNo price on record: airvpn.org answered our reader with a JavaScript check, so the plans couldn't be read. With nothing published to compare, it sits at C, the grade for no stated price. | C$4.00 a month on the 1-year plan ($48 up front), just over the cheaper quarter's $3.99. The page crosses out $96 and shows no end date for the 50% off, and the other terms weren't readable. |
| Free plan and trial | FNothing free on record. The Eddie app is free and open source, but it's only the client: the AirVPN service behind it is paid, and no free plan or trial is listed. | DA 7-day trial, but only on select plans with a card, it needs a payment method, and it can't be started with crypto. No free plan. |
| Features | CWireGuard, Amnezia WireGuard and OpenVPN, a network lock, SSH, SSL and Tor tunnels, and per-app routing on Android, so getting past blocks is covered. But the listing has nothing on its servers, device limit or ad blocking. | CWireGuard mode, a mixnet mode, an ad blocker on every plan, bridges for blocked networks and 10 devices. The listing names a gap: it isn't supported on Android TV. |
| Ease of use | CNo App Store rating on record, and Eddie's custom OpenVPN directives and routing rules suit experienced users more than beginners, so expect a learning curve. | BNo store rating on record. It's an app you install and connect, though the mixnet mode is slower and you pick between two modes. |
| Platforms and integrations | BWindows, Mac, Linux, Android and Android TV, and it works with Tor. But there's no iPhone edition of Eddie and no API on record, so it stops at B. | BWindows, Mac, Linux, iOS and Android. No API or integrations on record, and no Android TV app. |
| Best for | getting past networks that block VPNs | a VPN you can pay for in crypto or cash |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: AirVPN and NymVPN. How we grade
Where they differ
- NymVPN also covers ad and tracker blocking.
In commonmacOSWindowsLinuxAndroidOpen sourceVPN
At a glance
| AirVPN | NymVPN | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Paid | Free trial |
| Starts at | Not published | $4.00 per month on the 1-year plan, $48 billed yearly |
| Free plan | None | None |
| Free trial | None listed | 7-day free trial on select plans when paying by card; not available with cryptocurrency, and a payment method is required. |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | AirVPN | Nym Technologies SA |
| Price read from | Not confirmed | nym.com |
| Checked | Oct 17, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
AirVPN
- Prices could not be confirmed: airvpn.org answered every automated reader with a JavaScript check when this was written.
- Eddie's download page lists Windows, macOS, Linux and Android; there is no iOS edition of Eddie.
- Tunneling over SSH or SSL needs the AirVPN service; other Eddie features work with any OpenVPN or WireGuard provider.
- Eddie gives advanced controls such as custom OpenVPN directives and routes, which suit experienced users more than beginners.
NymVPN
- There is no free plan; the 7-day trial is limited to certain payment types and needs a payment method.
- The pricing page also lists 1-month (full price) and 6-month (25% off) options; only the 1-year price could be read here, so check the page for the others.
- All plans auto-renew unless cancelled, and refunds are described as pro-rata.
- The vendor says NymVPN is not supported on Android TV, and the pricing page notes that currency (EUR, USD, GBP, CHF) depends on location and payment method.
Key features
AirVPN
- Eddie client
- AirVPN's own open-source app for Windows, macOS, Linux (several distributions and Raspberry Pi) and Android, with a command-line edition.
- WireGuard, Amnezia WireGuard and OpenVPN
- The Android app supports all three, with 34 ready-made Amnezia WireGuard presets for networks that block VPN traffic.
- Censorship workarounds
- Eddie can run the tunnel over SSH or SSL and integrate with Tor, and retries with other protocols and servers when OpenVPN is blocked.
- Network lock
- Blocks traffic outside the tunnel to prevent leaks, with advanced settings for DNS, routing and actions triggered by events.
- Per-app routing on Android
- Allow and block lists decide which apps use the tunnel. The Android app also works on Android TV with a remote's D-pad.
- Works with other providers
- Eddie can import WireGuard or OpenVPN profiles from other VPN services, or drop AirVPN altogether.
NymVPN
- Two connection modes
- A faster decentralized VPN mode built on WireGuard, and a mixnet mode that adds noise to traffic for stronger anonymity.
- Anonymous payments and access
- Accepts cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Bitcoin, Monero, Zcash, Taler and cash, and says its zk-nym credentials keep payment data from being linked to activity.
- Ad blocker
- Every plan includes an ad blocker the vendor says is powered by Brave.
- Censorship resistance
- The vendor lists censorship resistance in what every plan includes, and its app notes mention bridge modes for networks that block the connection.
- Open source and audits
- The site's home page says the software is open source and independently audited.
Plans
AirVPN
Pricing could not be confirmed. See airvpn.org.
NymVPN
1 year$4.00
per month, billed yearly ($48 total)
All features on all plans, up to 10 devices and servers in 70+ locations. The page shows $96 crossed out and 50% off, with no end date given.
Ways to pay less
AirVPN
No public discounts listed.
NymVPN
- Other savings
Up to 75% off when paying with the $NYM token
The pricing page offers up to 75% off if you pay with the $NYM token.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, AirVPN or NymVPN?
As of Nov 12, 2026, AirVPN has no price we could confirm, and NymVPN starts at $4.00 per month on the 1-year plan, $48 billed yearly.
Which has a free plan, AirVPN or NymVPN?
As of Nov 12, 2026, neither AirVPN nor NymVPN has a free plan. NymVPN has a free trial.
Which platforms do AirVPN and NymVPN run on?
As of Nov 12, 2026, only NymVPN lists an iOS app. Both list macOS, Windows, Linux and Android apps. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.