For most UK buyers weighing Airlift against the Airo nasal strip, Airlift is the better buy: five sizes and prep pads in the box, UK delivery with no import charges, and a refund within 90 days with nothing to send back. Airo costs less to start (£29.98 against £38, both delivered), but its guarantee covers only damaged or defective items.
In short
- For most UK buyers, Airlift is the better buy. All five clip sizes and prep pads come in every box, it's delivered in the UK with no import charges, and you can claim a full refund, including delivery, within 90 days of receiving your order with nothing to send back (once per customer).
- Airo costs less to start (£29.98 for 30 nights, £1.00 a night, with free tracked delivery) and less on single refills and subscription, and it puts four band sizes and an applicator in the box.
- Bought one-time, Airlift's first year costs £220 for 390 nights (£0.56 a night, prep pads for the first 30 nights only) against Airo's £227.96 (£0.58). Airo's figure doubles if its "30 Days" packs hold 30 single tabs, which it doesn't say.
- There's no published, independent study of either, and no comparable comfort, airflow or hold test, so those rounds have no winner.
Airo nasal strip vs Airlift: what each one is
Both are external magnetic dilators. A reusable band or clip sits across the front of the nose and attaches by magnets to two single-use adhesive tabs or stickers, one on each side. Nothing goes inside the nose.
- Airo is a reusable curved band that snaps onto two single-use adhesive tabs. Airo doesn't say whether its tabs hold a magnet or a steel disc; BBC Science Focus describes magnets at both ends of the band and smaller magnets in the tabs. It's sold from buyairo.com in pounds, and its policies give a contact address in Barcelona.
- Airlift is a rigid clip with magnets in it, which attaches to two single-use stickers. Each sticker holds a thin steel disc, and the sticker covers the disc on the skin side. It's sold from airliftbreathing.co.uk by Bonsai Brands Ltd, a UK company based in London.
In both, the magnets only hold the parts together. If you're wondering whether that counts as magnet therapy, do magnetic nasal strips work? explains why it doesn't.
How we compared
We judged both on the same eight criteria we use in every comparison: fit and sizing, what's in the box, ongoing cost per night, adhesion support, guarantee and returns, UK availability and delivery, subscription flexibility, and published evidence. It's the same method as our Airlift vs Intake Breathing comparison.
Prices come from each brand's own pages, checked on 27 October 2026. For Airo, we used the amounts its basket actually charged. Costs are for one person, one pair of tabs or stickers a night, using each brand's own night counts.
We didn't test airflow, comfort or how well either one stays on, so nothing wins on those. We also didn't buy an Airo kit, so where only a purchase would tell us something, such as how many tabs are in a pack, we say it isn't published.
Prices, sizes and policies side by side
| Airo | Airlift Complete | |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Reusable band on two single-use adhesive tabs | Rigid clip on two single-use stickers with steel discs |
| Sizes included | 4, named S2, M1, M2 and L1 in one product image and S, M, L and XL in another. No measurements published | 5 (XS to XL), all in the box. Clips measure 26.7 mm to 35.9 mm across the inside of the wing tips |
| Starter contents | 4 bands, an applicator and tabs for "30 Days" | Clip in 5 sizes, applicator, 30 nights of stickers, 30 prep pads |
| Prep pads | None. Its how-to says wash and dry your nose | 30 with every 30 nights |
| Starter cost | £29.98 for 30 nights: £1.00 a night, free delivery | £33 for 30 nights: £1.10 a night, or £1.27 with £5 delivery |
| Refills, one-time | 30 nights £19.98 (£0.67). 180 nights £98.99 (£0.55) | Complete Refills, 30 nights £32 (£1.07). Stickers only, 360 nights £182 (£0.51, for clip owners, no pads) |
| Subscription | 30-night refill monthly, £17.98 (£0.60). Monthly plan selected by default. Skip and pause terms not published | Monthly £30 (£1.00); 6-Month £150 (£0.83); Annual £240 (£0.67), with clip, pads and delivery. Skip, pause or cancel any time, no minimum term |
| Guarantee and returns | 30-Day Clear Breathing Guarantee: a replacement for items that arrive damaged or defective. Personal preference excluded, no refunds on used or opened products, and you pay return postage on non-damaged returns | 90-Night Airlift Test: claim within 90 days of receiving your order for a full refund, delivery included. Nothing sent back, you keep the clip, once per customer |
| UK delivery | Free and tracked. 48 to 72 hours' processing, then 3 to 11 business days. The buyer is the importer of record. Ship-from location not published | Every subscription order ships free by next-day delivery, with no minimum spend. One-time orders £5 under £50, free from £50. Express £7. Same-day dispatch before 3:30pm on weekdays, then an estimated 1 to 2 working days. Ship-from location not published |
| Where to buy in the UK | buyairo.com only | airliftbreathing.co.uk only |
| Adhesive and magnets | Tabs described by Airo as medical-grade and hypoallergenic. No latex statement or magnet grade published | Latex-free adhesive. N52 magnets (a grade, not a measure of hold) |
| Safety warnings | None found on its homepage, product pages or FAQs | Keep away from children under 14 and pets, 15 cm from pacemakers and implants, remove for an MRI, not on broken skin |
| Published evidence | A customer survey with no method published | None. No published, independent study of either |
What's in the box, and what about sizes?
Airo's Welcome Kit has four bands, an applicator and tabs for what Airo calls "30 Days". Its two product images name the bands differently (S2, M1, M2 and L1 in one; S, M, L and XL in the other), and it publishes no measurements. There are no prep pads and no case.
Airlift's Complete starter has the clip in all five sizes, an applicator, 30 nights of stickers and 30 prep pads. The clips measure 26.7 mm (XS), 28.7 mm (S), 31.0 mm (M), 33.6 mm (L) and 35.9 mm (XL) across the inside of the wing tips. Neither brand's starter includes a case: Airlift's comes free on orders of £60 or more, or costs £16.
Noses vary, and both kits let you try sizes at home, so we don't claim either one fits better.
Where Airo wins
- A lower starter price: the Welcome Kit is £29.98 for 30 nights (£1.00 a night) with free delivery, against Airlift's £33 (£1.10, or £1.27 with £5 delivery).
- Free tracked UK delivery on any order, with no minimum spend. Airlift's delivery is free on subscriptions and on one-time orders of £50 or more, and £5 under that.
- Cheaper single refills and subscription: Airo's 30-night refill is £19.98 one-time (£0.67 a night) or £17.98 a month on subscription (£0.60), and its 180-night refill is £0.55 a night. Airlift's Complete Refills are £32 for 30 (£1.07), and its Annual plan is £0.67. These figures use Airo's own night counts.
- Four band sizes and an applicator in the box, so you don't have to pick a size before trying.
- Independent press coverage: BBC Science Focus tested it first-hand, with one person over two nights. He found it comfortable enough to sleep in on the first night, it made no difference on the second, and the adhesive slipped when he sweated on a run.
Where Airlift wins
- Every box has all five clip sizes, against Airo's four, and Airlift gives the clip widths, which Airo doesn't. Complete also includes 30 prep pads with every 30 nights, and Airo includes none. We make no claim that pads make the stickers hold better.
- Under the 90-Night Airlift Test, you email within 90 days of receiving your order and get a full refund of what you paid, including delivery. You send nothing back, you keep the clip, and it's once per customer. Airo's 30-Day Clear Breathing Guarantee covers items that arrive damaged or defective, excludes dissatisfaction from personal preference, and leaves return postage on non-damaged returns to you.
- Airlift is a UK company, delivering in pounds with no import charges. Weekday orders before 3:30pm are dispatched the same day. Every subscription order ships free by next-day delivery (Royal Mail Tracked 24), and standard delivery on one-time orders takes an estimated 1 to 2 working days. Airo's shipping policy makes you the importer of record, responsible for any VAT, duties and customs fees, and doesn't say where orders ship from. Its processing takes 48 to 72 hours, then 3 to 11 business days.
- It costs less over a first year bought one-time. The Complete starter (£33), £5 delivery and Airlift's 360-night stickers pack (£182) come to £220 for 390 nights, against Airo's £227.96, with prep pads for the first 30 nights only. Once you own a clip, stickers alone are £0.51 a night on that pack, against £0.55 on Airo's 180-night refill. Neither includes prep pads.
- It publishes its adhesive and safety details. The adhesive is latex-free, and the warnings cover children under 14 and pets, pacemakers and other implants (keep it 15 cm away) and MRI scans. Airo publishes no latex statement, and we found no magnet warnings on its homepage, product pages or FAQs. Airlift also publishes a magnet grade, N52, which is a specification, not a measure of hold.
- Its subscription terms are published: skip, pause, change or cancel any time, with no minimum term. Airo's plans are labelled "Cancel Anytime", but skip and pause terms aren't published, and the monthly plan is selected by default on both product pages. On the starter, the subscription costs the same as buying once (£29.98).
Separately from the 90-night test, the clip has a lifetime warranty against failure in normal use. It's automatic on Ultimate, and on other orders it applies when you register your Airlift within 30 days of delivery.
Round by round
Airlift wins five rounds and two are split. Published evidence, and airflow, comfort and staying in place, have no winner.
| Winner | Why | |
|---|---|---|
| Fit and sizing | Airlift | Five sizes against four, and clip widths given |
| What's in the box | Airlift | Prep pads included; both include an applicator |
| Ongoing cost per night | Split | Airo on the starter, single refills and subscription; Airlift over a first year bought one-time and on bulk stickers |
| Adhesion support | Airlift | Prep pads supplied; Airo says wash and dry |
| Guarantee and returns | Airlift | Full refund within 90 days with nothing sent back. Airo's guarantee covers only damaged or defective items |
| UK availability and delivery | Split | Airo delivers free on any order; Airlift is a UK company with no import charges and faster stated dispatch |
| Subscription flexibility | Airlift | Published skip, pause and cancel terms |
| Published evidence | No winner | No published, independent study of either |
| Airflow, comfort and staying in place | No winner | No comparable test data |
Fit and sizing: Airlift
Airlift sends five clip sizes and gives their widths. Airo sends four bands with no measurements. Both let you try sizes at home.
What's in the box: Airlift
Both include an applicator, and neither puts a case in the starter. Airlift adds 30 prep pads.
Ongoing cost per night: split
Airo is cheaper on the starter, single refills and subscription. Airlift is cheaper over a first year bought one-time, and on bulk stickers once you own a clip. Airo's figures rest on its own night counts.
Adhesion support: Airlift
Airlift supplies prep pads; Airo's how-to says to wash and dry your nose. We've scored what's supplied, not how well either holds.
Guarantee and returns: Airlift
Airlift refunds in full within 90 days of receiving your order, with nothing sent back. Airo's guarantee covers damaged or defective items only.
UK availability and delivery: split
Airo delivers free on any order. Airlift is a UK company with no import charges, a faster stated dispatch and an express option. Both sell only from their own websites.
Subscription flexibility: Airlift
Airlift publishes its skip, pause and cancel terms. Airo doesn't, and it doesn't publish how often its multi-pack plans renew.
Published evidence: no winner
Neither brand has a published, independent study, and Airo's survey figures have no method behind them.
Airflow, comfort and staying in place: no winner
There's no comparable test data for either product, so nobody wins this round.
Real cost over 6 and 12 months
Airo is cheaper over six months whichever way you buy it. Over a year it depends on the route: bought one-time, Airlift is £7.96 cheaper, while Airlift's Annual plan costs £12.04 more than Airo bought one-time. These are our own sums on published prices, one pair of tabs or stickers a night, with Airo on its own night counts.
| 6 months (180 nights) | 12 months | |
|---|---|---|
| Airo, one-time: Welcome Kit, then refills | Kit £29.98 + 90-night refill £49.99 + 60-night refill £34.99 = £114.96 (£0.64 a night) | Kit + two 180-night refills = £227.96 for 390 nights (£0.58) |
| Airo: Welcome Kit, then a 30-night refill monthly on subscription | £29.98 + 5 × £17.98 = £119.88 (£0.67) | £29.98 + 11 × £17.98 = £227.76 for 360 nights (£0.63) |
| Airlift Complete, 6-Month or Annual plan (clip, stickers, pads, delivery) | £150 (£0.83) | £240 (£0.67, or £0.62 counting the 30 bonus pairs) |
| Airlift Complete, one-time 180 or 360 nights | £170 (£0.94) | £260 (£0.72) |
| Airlift, cheapest one-time route: starter and £5 delivery, then stickers only | Starter + 180-night stickers (£117) = £155 for 210 nights (£0.74) | Starter + 360-night stickers (£182) = £220 for 390 nights (£0.56). Prep pads for the first 30 nights only |
If Airo's "30 Days" packs hold 30 single tabs rather than 30 pairs, its rows double per night: its 390-night year would be £1.17 a night. Airlift's plans include prep pads and delivery, and Airo has no pads. We've left out Airo's multi-pack subscription prices, because Airo doesn't publish how often multi-pack subscriptions renew. If you'd rather have prep pads in every delivery, the Annual plan (£240) includes them.
What the evidence says
We could find no published, independent study of any magnetic nasal dilator, including Airlift's. A 2026 review by UK surgeons reached the same conclusion.[1] That covers Airo too.
Airo's headline figures come from what it calls a "12-week controlled customer survey". It publishes no sample size, method or publisher, so we quote none of them. BBC Science Focus's test was one person over two nights.
Airo's pages make snoring claims, so it's worth knowing what reviews of nasal dilators found. A 2016 review of 14 studies found strips made no significant difference to snoring measured in sleep labs.[2] A 2026 review of 17 studies (496 people) found nasal dilators made no significant difference to snoring measured in sleep labs.[3] Neither tested a magnetic dilator. For more, see our science page.
Who should choose which
Choose Airlift if
- you want all five sizes and prep pads in the box
- you want a refund with nothing to send back
- you want a UK company with no import charges and published safety warnings
Choose Airo if
- you want the lowest price to start
- you want free delivery on any order
- you're happy with four sizes and no prep pads
- you're comfortable being the importer of record, with a guarantee that covers damage or defects only
With no test data for either, the sensible way to try is one where you can get your money back without sending anything back. That's the 90-Night Airlift Test: claim within 90 days of receiving your order for a full refund, delivery included. For the wider field, see our guide to the best magnetic nasal strips in the UK.
Airo vs Intake Breathing
Intake Breathing is also a magnetic band on single-use adhesive tabs. It makes six band sizes and puts four in its starter. From its UK store, the starter is £54.99 for 15 nights (£3.67 a night) or £64.99 for 30 in black (£2.17), shipped from the US. Refills are £31 for 30 there, or £29.99 at Healf (£1.00 a night) and £26.99 on Healf's subscription (£0.90).
Intake's Better Breathing Guarantee runs 90 days from delivery and refunds you if you're not breathing better, but the band and kit have to go back, and international shipping and duties aren't refunded. Intake lists nine US patents and started in 2019.
Airo is far cheaper to start. Intake's guarantee covers not breathing better, while Airo's covers damaged or defective items only. Airlift sits between them on starter price, with a refund that needs nothing sent back. More in Airlift vs Intake Breathing and our Intake Breathing UK review.
Is Airo legit? What the reviews say
What we found on 27 October 2026:
- Airo's own site shows 4.9 out of 5 from 20,823 reviews on its review widget. We can't tell how many were collected through this store.
- Trustpilot showed 1.5 out of 5 from 62 reviews, 82% of them one-star, with no replies to negative reviews. The themes that recur in the visible reviews are unanswered support, slow or missing deliveries, unexpected subscription charges and tabs coming unstuck, and a minority say it helped. These are reviewers' own accounts, not verified by us.
- Airo publishes no company name or registration number. Its contact address is in Barcelona, its terms are under Spanish law, and its support hours are 9 to 11am GMT.
- BBC Science Focus priced it at £60 in September 2026. On 27 October the 30-night kit was £29.98, and £59.96 bought two. We couldn't establish what the £60 covered.
- Airo says its own store is its only authorised seller and warns of imitations elsewhere, including on Amazon. We found no Airo-branded listing on Amazon UK.
For balance: Airlift has no Trustpilot reviews yet, and its company was incorporated in November 2024.
Sources checked
All checked on 27 October 2026.
- Airo Welcome Kit and Airo refills: contents, sizes, prices, subscription, how-to and claims.
- Airo's refund policy, terms of service, shipping policy, privacy policy and contact information: guarantee, delivery, importer of record, address and support hours.
- Airo on Trustpilot: rating, count and review themes.
- BBC Science Focus's first-person test: the tester's experience and the £60 price.
- Amazon UK search for Airo: no Airo-branded listing found.
- Intake starter kit, UK store, Intake refill packs, Better Breathing Guarantee, patents and Healf's Intake collection.
- Airlift's shop, refills, refunds, shipping, terms and help pages, and Airlift on Trustpilot.
Questions people ask
References
- Ahmed A, Gakpetor C, Yang D, Oremule B, Ranganathan B, Jaiswal A, Bhalla RK (2026). The effectiveness of nonsurgical nasal devices in relieving nasal obstruction. Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, 108(6), 476-483. doi.org/10.1308/rcsann.2025.0103
- Camacho M, Malu OO, Kram YA, Nigam G, Riaz M, Song SA, Tolisano AM, Kushida CA (2016). Nasal dilators (Breathe Right strips and NoZovent) for snoring and OSA: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Pulmonary Medicine, 2016, 4841310. doi.org/10.1155/2016/4841310
- Alotaibi S, Bin Saddiq BW, Alfarhoud RS, Alghamdi MTN, Alsaffar AJ, Alnabhan AM, Alkhateeb MA, Albahrani KH, Alowibidy SA, Almahdi ZI, Almaghrabi HA, Alnabulsi M (2026). Clinical effectiveness of nasal dilators in sleep-disordered breathing: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Cureus, 18(1), e100663. doi.org/10.7759/cureus.100663
Written by Nicholas Green
I've found it hard to breathe through my nose for as long as I can remember, and years of products and even surgery didn't fix it, so I built Airlift. I write about what I've learned along the way, as someone who lives with it rather than as a clinician.
How we research and check articles: our editorial standards.
