AirVPN vs Proton VPN

Vergelijk AirVPN en Proton VPN op mogelijkheden, rechtsgebied, waarborgen en geschiktheid voor Europese kopers.

Beide vermeld als alternatief voor: ExpressVPN, Private Internet Access

Logo: AirVPN

AirVPN

Italy· VPN Services

Needs review

Strong European option when you need remote port forwarding, Dynamic DNS, and open-source clients. Skip for enterprise fleet VPN or ISO/SOC-led vendor risk — consider WireGuard mesh (e.g. Tailscale/NetBird) or audited privacy VPNs such as Mullvad.

EU-operatedOpen-source client (GPLv3)Remote port forwardingWireGuard + OpenVPNPrepaid access
AirVPN vs Proton VPN: Overzicht
KenmerkLogo: AirVPNAirVPNLogo: Proton VPNProton VPN
Land van herkomstItalySwitzerland
CategorieVPN ServicesVPN Services
Open sourceJaJa
Self-hostedNeeNee
HoofdkantoorItalyNiet vermeld
Juridische entiteitAirVPN di Paolo Brini (also Air di Paolo Brini), PerugiaNiet vermeld
Toepasselijk rechtItalian courts / EU private international law framing (per ToS)Niet vermeld
VS-moeder / zeggenschapGeen bekende VS-moederNiet vermeld
CLOUD Act-blootstelling (indicatief)LaagNiet vermeld
Hosting / residentieMulti-region servers (EU and outside EU). Confirm exit-node policy if you need EU-only traffic.Niet vermeld
Samenvatting

Italian OpenVPN/WireGuard VPN with remote port forwarding, Dynamic DNS, and open-source Eddie clients—strong for technical privacy use, not enterprise fleet VPN.

Swiss Proton AG VPN with open-source clients, Securitum-audited no-logs infrastructure, Secure Core/Stealth, free unlimited-data tier, and Business SSO/SCIM packaging.

Tags
In één oogopslag: AirVPN vs Proton VPN
In één oogopslagLogo: AirVPNAirVPNLogo: Proton VPNProton VPN
HQ / entityPerugia, Italy — AirVPN di Paolo Brini (sole proprietorship)Niet vermeld
ProtocolsOpenVPN, WireGuard; OpenVPN over SSH/SSL/TorNiet vermeld
ClientsEddie GPLv3 (desktop + Android); configs without GUINiet vermeld
Inbound portsUp to 5 reserved remote ports + optional *.airdns.org DDNSNiet vermeld
SessionsFive simultaneous connections per accountNiet vermeld
Commercial modelPrepaid access (see vendor site for current plans)Niet vermeld
Independent auditNo public no-logs audit foundNiet vermeld
B2B packagingSelf-serve ToS; no productized enterprise pack foundNiet vermeld
Key capabilities: AirVPN vs Proton VPN
Key capabilitiesLogo: AirVPNAirVPNLogo: Proton VPNProton VPN
EU-operatedJaNiet vermeld
Open-source client (GPLv3)JaNiet vermeld
Remote port forwardingJaNiet vermeld
WireGuard + OpenVPNJaNiet vermeld
Prepaid accessJaNiet vermeld

AirVPN

  • Remote port forwarding and airdns.org DDNS

    Reserve up to five inbound remote ports (TCP/UDP) while a plan is active, optionally map to different local ports, and attach optional *.airdns.org names that follow the VPN exit IP—useful for P2P, seedboxes, and self-hosted services.

  • Open-source Eddie client with Network Lock

    Official GPLv3 client for major desktops and Android with firewall-based Network Lock (blocks traffic outside the tunnel), CLI, multi-provider mode, and hostile-network layering (SSH/SSL/Tor with AirVPN).

  • OpenVPN, WireGuard, and layered entry

    Choose WireGuard or OpenVPN; OpenVPN is available on multiple ports and can run over SSH, SSL, or Tor when middleboxes block or throttle plain VPN handshakes. Dual-stack IPv4/IPv6 and internal VPN DNS with optional block lists.

  • Minimal identity requirements

    Signup does not require real identity fields; email is optional for support. Payment processors handle their own data when used.

  • Transparent capacity and multi-session use

    Five simultaneous connections, free server switches, public live server load, and a stated minimum allocated bandwidth per session. Commercial access is prepaid—see the vendor site for current plans.

Proton VPN

  • Secure Core and Stealth Protocols

    Double-hop via Swiss/Iceland/Sweden servers; Stealth disguises VPN traffic. Benefits: Elite privacy against surveillance/censorship—essential for journalists/activists.

  • NetShield and VPN Accelerator

    Ad/malware/tracker block; tech boosts speeds 400%. Cleaner, faster browsing without slowdowns—great for streaming/gaming.

  • Open-Source Apps and Free Tier

    Auditable code; unlimited free data (limited servers). Transparency builds trust; accessible entry for all users.

Assurance & compliance: AirVPN vs Proton VPN
Assurance & complianceLogo: AirVPNAirVPNLogo: Proton VPNProton VPN
Independent no-logs / security audit
Not found

Privacy notice describes no mass-storage activity/IP logs; architecture claims are first-party only.

Niet vermeld
ISO 27001
Not found
Niet vermeld
SOC 2 / SOC 3
Not found
Niet vermeld
GDPR / EU data protection
Vendor claimed

EU (Italian) operator; privacy notice cites GDPR and related EU directives.

Niet vermeld
US CLOUD Act exposure (indicative)
Vendor claimed

No known US parent from public research — indicative exposure low vs US-owned brands; multi-region exits still matter.

Niet vermeld
Data processing agreement (B2B)
Not found

No productized enterprise DPA flow found; consumer ToS/privacy notice only.

Niet vermeld
EU AI Act
Not applicable

VPN connectivity product; not an AI system under typical procurement framing.

Niet vermeld
Considerations & known limitations: AirVPN vs Proton VPN
Considerations & known limitationsLogo: AirVPNAirVPNLogo: Proton VPNProton VPN
Italian resident restriction
High

ToS and footer ban residents of Italy. Orgs with Italian-based staff cannot use AirVPN as a universal approved VPN; exclude that population or choose another vendor.

Niet vermeld
No public independent no-logs audit
Medium

If vendor risk requires ISO/SOC or a no-logs audit letter, treat this as a gap until evidence is obtained offline.

Niet vermeld
Multi-region exit nodes
Medium

Traffic can exit outside the EU depending on server choice. Strict residency policies need operational controls, not just EU HQ.

Niet vermeld
Small operator / sole proprietorship
Medium

Long-running activist project with a small operating structure; set continuity and support expectations accordingly.

Niet vermeld
US CLOUD Act (indicative)
Low

No known US parent from public research. Not a guarantee against other LE cooperation or non-EU exits.

Niet vermeld

Geschiktheid

AirVPN

Best fit when

  • You need remote port forwarding and Dynamic DNS through a European-operated VPN
  • Open-source (GPLv3) clients and inspectable tunnel configs are a hard requirement
  • Users face ISP or state-level OpenVPN blocking and need SSH/SSL/Tor layering
  • Small technical teams or individuals comfortable with prepaid self-serve onboarding

Poor fit when

  • Italian-resident staff or contractors must use the service (contractually prohibited)
  • Security policy requires independent no-logs audit, ISO 27001, or SOC 2 from the VPN vendor
  • You need enterprise fleet controls (SSO/SAML, MDM-managed client, org-wide admin console)
  • Primary goal is streaming polish and maximum server footprint rather than inbound reachability

Consider instead when

  • When: You need enterprise fleet / zero-trust mesh connectivity

    Consider: Tailscale, NetBird, or self-hosted WireGuard

    Different product class: org network access vs consumer privacy VPN with inbound ports.

  • When: You prioritise audited no-logs / accountless anonymity over inbound ports

    Consider: Mullvad

    Mullvad is stronger on the public no-logs narrative; weaker on multi-port forwarding / airdns.org-style DDNS.

  • When: You want a free tier and a broader consumer privacy suite

    Consider: Proton VPN

Proton VPN

Best fit when

Niet vermeld

Poor fit when

Niet vermeld

Open questions for due diligence

AirVPN

  • Can exit nodes be constrained to EU-only for all org devices, and how is that enforced?
  • Will the operator sign a DPA and provide a subprocessors list for a company account?
  • Is any independent security or no-logs assessment available under NDA?
  • Which payment processors receive identity data, and can crypto-only reduce that footprint for your policy?

Proton VPN

Niet vermeld