Last tested: March 2026 · Tested from Brisbane, QLD on 100Mbps NBN
Speed Test Results — Australian Servers
All speed tests were conducted on a 100Mbps NBN FTTP connection in Brisbane using WireGuard protocol. Tests ran between 7–9 PM AEST on weeknights during peak congestion hours.
| Server Location | Download (Mbps) | Upload (Mbps) | Ping (ms) | Speed Retention |
|---|
| Sydney, AU | 84.7 | 34.2 | 19 | 85% |
| Melbourne, AU | 81.3 | 32.6 | 26 | 81% |
| Brisbane, AU | 87.2 | 35.8 | 10 | 87% |
| Singapore | 70.6 | 26.9 | 97 | 71% |
| US West (Los Angeles) | 53.4 | 19.7 | 164 | 53% |
| UK London | 47.8 | 16.8 | 277 | 48% |
| Netherlands | 49.2 | 17.4 | 269 | 49% |
Key takeaway: AirVPN's speeds on Australian servers are competitive for a provider this size — 85-87% retention on domestic servers is genuinely good. The smaller server network means less geographic coverage (no Perth server, for instance), so we tested Netherlands as an alternative European option. International speeds are adequate for browsing and standard-definition streaming but fall behind larger providers for HD/4K content. AirVPN's real-time server load monitoring lets you pick the least congested server, which helps optimise performance.
Streaming: What Works in Australia
We tested all major Australian and international streaming platforms over two weeks in March 2026:
- Netflix AU ❌ — Blocked on all tested servers
- Stan ✅ — Works on Sydney server
- Kayo Sports ✅ — Works on AU servers
- Binge ❌ — Blocked intermittently
- Disney+ ❌ — Blocked on all tested servers
- Paramount+ ✅ — Works on AU servers
- 7plus ✅ — Works from overseas via AU servers
- 9Now ✅ — Works from overseas via AU servers
- ABC iView ✅ — Works from overseas via AU servers
Let's be upfront: AirVPN is not a streaming VPN. The service makes no effort to bypass VPN detection on major streaming platforms, and it shows. Netflix, Disney+, and Binge all blocked AirVPN's servers during our testing. The free-to-air catch-up services (7plus, 9Now, ABC iView) worked fine since they use simpler geo-checks, and Stan and Kayo were accessible — but this is clearly not AirVPN's strength.
Honest note: AirVPN's community forums openly acknowledge that streaming unblocking is not a priority. If streaming is important to you, look at NordVPN, ExpressVPN, or Surfshark instead. AirVPN exists for privacy, not entertainment.
Privacy & Security Deep Dive
Jurisdiction: Italy. Italy is part of the Fourteen Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance, which is a theoretical concern. However, AirVPN operates under Italian privacy law (which includes GDPR protections) and has never been compelled to hand over user data. The company has publicly stated it would cease operations before compromising user privacy — and given their activist origins, this is credible.
Logging policy: Absolute zero logs. AirVPN does not store any connection data, traffic data, timestamps, IP addresses, DNS queries, or bandwidth usage. They don't even require an email address to create an account — you can sign up with just a username and password. This is the most minimal data collection we've seen from any VPN provider.
Audit history: AirVPN has not undergone a formal third-party audit. Their position is that their fully open-source codebase serves as a continuous, public audit — anyone can inspect the code at any time. While this argument has merit (and many security researchers have examined Eddie's source code), it's not equivalent to a structured audit by a firm like KPMG or Deloitte.
Encryption: AES-256-GCM-SHA384 on OpenVPN with RSA-4096 handshake and HMAC SHA-384 for packet authentication. WireGuard uses ChaCha20/Poly1305. These are among the strongest encryption configurations we've seen — AirVPN uses larger key sizes and more robust hash algorithms than most competitors. Perfect forward secrecy is enabled with 4096-bit Diffie-Hellman keys.
Kill switch: Called "Network Lock" in the Eddie client. It implements firewall-level rules that block all non-VPN traffic — not just application-level blocking. We tested it and traffic was blocked instantly (under 1 second) because the firewall rules are applied at connection time, not reactively when the VPN drops. This is technically superior to most competitors' implementations.
DNS leak tests: Zero leaks. AirVPN runs its own DNS servers with DNS-over-HTTPS and supports custom DNS configuration. You can also route DNS queries through the VPN tunnel to your own DNS resolver. The level of DNS control is unmatched.
Additional features:
- Port forwarding: Up to 20 forwarded ports included free — essential for torrenting, hosting services, and applications that need incoming connections
- Double-hop VPN: Route traffic through multiple AirVPN servers for extra privacy layers
- VPN over Tor: Connect to AirVPN through the Tor network for maximum anonymity
- Custom DNS: Full control over DNS resolution, including DNS-over-HTTPS and DNS-over-TLS options
- Real-time server monitoring: Every server's bandwidth usage, user count, and status is publicly displayed in real-time
App Experience
AirVPN's official client is called "Eddie" and it's... functional. The interface is clearly designed by developers rather than UX designers. The main window displays detailed connection information, server status, logs, and network routes. For power users, this information density is useful. For everyone else, it's overwhelming.
Clicks to connect: Two to three. Select a server from the list (which shows real-time load, bandwidth, and user count for each server), click connect. There's no one-click "quick connect" — you're expected to choose your server deliberately. The server list is sortable by load, latency, and location.
Server selection: Every server is individually named (after stars and constellations — e.g., "Vega", "Sirius") and shows real-time statistics. You can filter by country, sort by various metrics, and whitelist/blacklist specific servers. This level of server transparency is unique in the VPN industry.
Settings: Extensive. Protocol selection (OpenVPN UDP/TCP/SSH/SSL, WireGuard), encryption parameters, network lock modes, route configuration, DNS settings, proxy support, event scripting, and much more. Eddie also supports command-line operation for automation. The configuration depth is comparable to TorGuard but presented differently.
Mobile vs desktop: AirVPN historically lacked native mobile apps, relying on third-party OpenVPN and WireGuard clients. They've since released native Android and iOS apps, but these are simpler than Eddie and lack some advanced features. The Android app is decent; the iOS app is basic. For the full AirVPN experience, desktop is where it's at.
Pricing Breakdown
All prices in AUD, current as of March 2026:
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Total Cost | Savings |
|---|
| 3 Days | — | $2.99 | — |
| Monthly | $7.99/mo | $7.99 | — |
| 1-Year | $4.08/mo | $48.99 | 49% off |
| 3-Year | $3.23/mo | $116.28 | 60% off |
Money-back guarantee: 3-day trial for $2.99 — no traditional money-back guarantee on paid plans. This is unusual and may put off users who want a risk-free trial period. Refunds are handled case-by-case.
Payment methods: Credit/debit cards, PayPal, Bitcoin, Litecoin, Monero, Ethereum, and other cryptocurrencies. AirVPN is one of the few VPNs that accepts Monero — the most privacy-focused cryptocurrency — which aligns with their ethos.
Value assessment: AirVPN is moderately priced — not budget, not premium. The 3-year plan at $3.23/month is reasonable, and the inclusion of 20 forwarded ports, VPN-over-Tor, and fully open-source software adds genuine value that isn't reflected in the raw price comparison.
Who Should Use This VPN
Best for:
- Privacy purists: If transparency and open-source principles matter more to you than flashy features, AirVPN is the gold standard
- Linux users: Eddie has excellent Linux support with native packages for most distributions — a rarity in the VPN world
- Self-hosters and power users: 20 forwarded ports, custom DNS, VPN-over-Tor, and command-line operation make AirVPN a power user's dream
- Torrenters: Generous port forwarding and a genuine commitment to P2P traffic without throttling
Not ideal for:
- Streaming users: AirVPN doesn't prioritise streaming unblocking — major platforms like Netflix and Disney+ are blocked
- VPN beginners: The interface is technical, documentation assumes knowledge, and there's no 24/7 live chat support
- Mobile-first users: The mobile apps are basic compared to the desktop client and mainstream competitors
- Large households: 5 simultaneous connections is the lowest limit we've reviewed
How It Compares
AirVPN's closest competitor is TorGuard — both target power users, though TorGuard has a broader feature set and better streaming (with add-ons). Against ProtonVPN, another privacy-focused option, ProtonVPN offers a more polished experience and better streaming, while AirVPN wins on transparency and port forwarding. Compared to mainstream options like NordVPN or Surfshark, AirVPN trades convenience and streaming for genuine open-source transparency and advanced features.
AirVPN is the VPN for people who read the source code. If that's you, nothing else comes close. If it's not, check our best VPN for Australia guide for more accessible options.
