AirVPN vs Proton VPN
We give AirVPN a 1.8 GPA and Proton VPN a 2.8, out of 4.0. Proton VPN grades higher on the free plan, features and ease of use. They get the same grade on value for money 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
Proton VPN
Open-source Swiss VPN with a free plan that has no data cap
How we grade them
| 1.8GPAAirVPNWeak | 2.8GPAProton VPNGood | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | CVPN Plus bills $83.76 for the first 24 months, about $3.49 a month over two years, just above the cheaper quarter of VPNs, which tops out at $3.33. It then renews at $83.88 a year, above the middle. Monthly is $9.99, and Proton Unlimited adds Mail, Drive and Pass for $119.88 a year. |
| 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. | BFree for good with no card, no ads and no data limit, which is rare. One person could really live on it. The limits are one device, medium speed, and servers in 10 countries picked for you. |
| 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 well covered. But the listing has nothing on its servers, device limit or ad blocking. | BSecure Core routing through Switzerland, Iceland or Sweden, the Stealth protocol, NetShield blocking, port forwarding, a kill switch and open-source apps with published audits, on 10 devices with Plus. It covers the whole job. |
| 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. | B4.65 from about 120,000 App Store ratings, just under the 4.7 an A needs. On the free plan there's no card and nothing to set up. |
| 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. | BMac, Windows, Linux, iPhone, Android and a browser extension. There's no integration list or API on record, so it stops at B. |
| Best for | getting past networks that block VPNs | a free VPN with no data cap |
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 Proton VPN. How we grade
Where they differ
- Proton VPN has a free plan. AirVPN does not.
- Only Proton VPN lists an iOS app.
- Only Proton VPN lists a browser extension.
- Proton VPN also covers ad and tracker blocking.
At a glance
| AirVPN | Proton VPN | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Paid | Free plan |
| Starts at | Not published | $83.88 per year at renewal (VPN Plus), after a first year for $53.88 |
| Free plan | None | Proton Free: 1 device, servers in 10 countries chosen at random, medium speed and no data limit. No credit card needed. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Browser extension | ||
| Made by | AirVPN | Proton AG |
| Price read from | Not confirmed | protonvpn.com |
| Checked | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 17, 2026 |
Who each one suits
AirVPN
- Technical users who want full control over OpenVPN and WireGuard settings
- People on networks that block VPNs who need SSH, SSL or Tor tunnels
- Linux and Android TV users who want an official client
Proton VPN
- Trying a VPN for free without a data cap
- People who want open-source VPN apps
- Proton Mail users who want the VPN on the same bill
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.
Proton VPN
- The free plan covers one device and picks the server country for you from 10 countries.
- The headline $3.49 a month is the first 24 months of VPN Plus; it then renews at $83.88 a year, and the 1-year plan's $53.88 also covers only the first year.
- Ad and malware blocking, streaming and P2P are paid features; VPN Plus covers 10 devices.
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.
Proton VPN
- Free plan without a data cap
- Proton Free has no data or artificial speed limits, but connects one device to servers in 10 countries that you cannot choose.
- Secure Core
- Routes traffic through Proton's own servers in hardened data centers in Switzerland, Iceland or Sweden before it leaves the network.
- Stealth protocol
- An obfuscation protocol based on WireGuard tunneled over TLS, meant to get past firewalls and VPN blocking.
- NetShield
- DNS filtering on paid plans that blocks ads, trackers and domains known for malware.
- Open-source, audited apps
- All apps are open source, and Proton publishes the results of the independent audits it commissions.
- Port forwarding and kill switch
- Port forwarding for P2P, plus a kill switch and always-on VPN in every app.
Plans
AirVPN
Pricing could not be confirmed. See airvpn.org.
Proton VPN
Proton Free$0
One device, servers in 10 randomly selected countries, medium speed, no data limit and no ads.
VPN Plus, 1 month$9.99
per month
10 devices, 20,000+ servers in 140+ countries, streaming, P2P and the NetShield blocker, billed monthly.
VPN Plus, 1 year$83.88
per year at renewal, after a first year for $53.88
The same features as monthly. The first year costs $53.88 ($4.49 a month), then it renews at $83.88 a year.
VPN Plus, 2 years$83.88
per year at renewal, after a first term of 24 months
The first 24 months cost $83.76 ($3.49 a month), shown against $9.99 a month, then it renews every 12 months at $83.88.
Proton Unlimited, 1 year$119.88
per year
VPN Plus plus premium Proton Mail, Calendar, Drive (500 GB) and Pass. Also sold monthly at $12.99.
Proton Unlimited, 2 years$119.88
per year at renewal, after a first term of 24 months
The first 24 months cost $191.76 ($7.99 a month), then it renews every 12 months at $119.88.
Ways to pay less
AirVPN
No public discounts listed.
Proton VPN
- Other savings
VPN Plus 2-year plan: first 24 months for $83.76
The 2-year VPN Plus plan bills $83.76 for the first 24 months ($3.49 a month), then renews at $83.88 every 12 months.
- Other savings
VPN Plus 1-year plan: first year for $53.88
The 1-year VPN Plus plan bills $53.88 for the first year ($4.49 a month) before renewing at $83.88.
- Other savings
Proton Unlimited 2-year plan: first 24 months for $191.76
The 2-year Proton Unlimited plan bills $191.76 for the first 24 months ($7.99 a month), then renews at $119.88 every 12 months.
