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AirVPN vs Surfshark

Comparing
two VPNs
Decided by
Independent no-logs audits
Last reviewed
2026-08-26
AirVPNTakes bitcoin

Activist-run since 2010, taking bitcoin straight to its own wallet, with a three-day plan for two euros and no audit to its name.

SurfsharkTakes bitcoin

Unlimited devices and Deloitte-verified no-logs, from a company that merged into the same group as NordVPN in 2022.

Verdict: Surfshark

Surfshark carries more independent audits of its no-logs claim: 2 against 0 for AirVPN. We publish no rating for VPNs, so the audit count is the one criterion that decides.

Criterion
Independent no-logs audits
AirVPN
0
Surfshark
2

AirVPN and Surfshark, fact by fact

Every row is from the two reviews as of their review dates, with sources on each. A check marks the side a decidable criterion favours; rows without one are information, not a score.

AirVPN and Surfshark compared fact by fact from their reviews; a check marks the side a decidable criterion favours.
FactAirVPNSurfshark
Independent auditsNone2, latest 2025 (favoured on this row)
Real-world tests00
Incidents on record00
Market exits00
OwnerAirVPN di Paolo BriniNord Security
JurisdictionItalyNetherlands
Eyes allianceFourteen EyesNine Eyes
PriceEUR 2 for 3 days, EUR 99/3yrFrom $2.49/mo on the 2yr plan
Money-back30 days30 days
Crypto acceptedbitcoin, monerobitcoin, litecoin, ethereum, bitcoin cash, dogecoin
Anonymous signupYesNo
Free tierNoneNone
ServersVendor runs a modest network of owned and rented servers across roughly twenty countriesVendor states more than 4,500 servers across 100 countries, all upgraded to 10Gbps ports
Last reviewed2026-08-262026-08-26

No-logs evidence, side by side

Dated audits and real-world tests from each review. An empty column is a finding: the claim has not been independently checked.

AirVPN

No independent audit or real-world test on record.

Surfshark

  • 2025Audit by Deloitte: independent assurance that the service does not monitor or log user activity, announced June 2025
  • 2023Audit by Deloitte: first Deloitte no-logs assurance engagement on the server configurations

Frequently asked questions

Is AirVPN or Surfshark better for privacy?

Surfshark carries more independent audits of its no-logs claim: 2 against 0 for AirVPN. We publish no rating for VPNs, so the audit count is the one criterion that decides. Audits, court and seizure records and incidents are dated on each review with their sources.

Can I pay AirVPN or Surfshark with bitcoin?

AirVPN takes bitcoin and monero (processor: In-house). Surfshark takes bitcoin, litecoin, ethereum, bitcoin cash and dogecoin (processor: CoinGate). Each review quotes the vendor's own refund sentence for crypto purchases verbatim.

Which is cheaper, AirVPN or Surfshark?

AirVPN: EUR 2 for 3 days, EUR 99/3yr. Surfshark: From $2.49/mo on the 2yr plan. Money-back: AirVPN 30 days, Surfshark 30 days. Prices are from each vendor's own page as of the review date.

Where are AirVPN and Surfshark based?

AirVPN: Italy (fourteen eyes member). Surfshark: Netherlands (nine eyes member). A jurisdiction matters less than a court record showing what the provider could hand over; the reviews carry those where they exist.

The full reviews: AirVPN and Surfshark, each with its sources, and every VPN we review.

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