AirVPN vs HMA (HideMyAss)

Side-by-side comparison based on Reddit & Twitter discussions

Community Pick

AirVPN

Based on community sentiment and discussions

AirVPN Winner
Approval Rate
85%
28 recommend · 5 warn
Data Quality
High
Reviews
38
Reviewers
28
Best for:
Torrenters who specifically need port forwarding Privacy-focused people who want minimal tracking and anonymous payment options Linux users and home-lab folks using Docker, Gluetun, Sonarr, or similar tools People who like tweaking settings and having more control
AirVPN has a strong reputation online as a privacy-first VPN that gives you a lot of control. People especially like it for torrenting because it still offers port forwarding, which can help you conne...
Approval Rate
80%
4 recommend · 1 warn
Data Quality
Medium
Reviews
13
Reviewers
12
Promotional Content
38% may be promotional
Best for:
People who want a familiar VPN for everyday browsing Users who mainly need a different IP for general apps and websites Anyone who wants something mainstream rather than niche
HMA (HideMyAss) gets talked about as a familiar, easy-to-grab VPN option when people just want to “disappear” online and browse with a different IP. It comes up in the same breath as other mainstream...

Performance by Use Case

Use Case AirVPN Winner HMA (HideMyAss)
Streaming 0% (2) - -- (1)
Torrenting 90% (12) -
Privacy 100% (12) 67% (3)
Censorship - 100% (2)
Travel - - 100% (1)
Work - - -- (1)
Price - - -- (1)

AirVPN

Strengths

  • Port forwarding for torrenting
  • Privacy-focused and no trackers
  • Anonymous payment options
  • Lots of control and advanced settings
  • Linux-friendly for tinkerers

Weaknesses

  • Can be complicated to set up
  • Speeds can feel inconsistent
  • Not a simple app experience
  • Split tunneling (like excluding Plex) can be a headache

HMA (HideMyAss)

Strengths

  • Well-known brand
  • Good for basic location changing
  • Fits everyday browsing needs

Weaknesses

  • Mixed trust when it comes to privacy
  • Not a magic fix for TikTok/Instagram account creation
  • Can get tricky with router or hotspot sharing setups