How to Watch Italian TV Channels Online With a VPN in 2024

Due to broadcasting restrictions, Italian TV channels like Rai 1, Canale 5, and La5 don’t allow viewers outside Italy to watch their content. Streaming platforms and TV channels look at your device’s IP address to determine your location.

Hypothetically, you could use a VPN to change your actual IP to an Italian one. While this would allow you to watch Italian TV Channels from anywhere, this constitutes copyright infringement and is against most platform’s Terms of Use. That being said, you can use a VPN to secure your online activity and watch Italian TV without delays from within the country.

After testing 30+ VPNs, I found that the best VPN for watching Italian TV from Italy is ExpressVPN. It has server locations in Italy that work reliably for Italian TV platforms and superfast speeds for uninterrupted streaming. It also comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it risk-free.

Stream Italian TV in HD >>

Best VPNs to Watch Italian TV Online in 2024

1. ExpressVPN — Blazing-Fast Speeds to Watch Italian TV Without Buffering

Editor’s Choice Editor’s Choice Try Risk-Free for 30 Days
Tested April 2024

Works With:

Netflix Disney+ APV HBO Max

Hulu BBC iPlayer Sky More

Try ExpressVPN >

www.ExpressVPN.com

ExpressVPN has impressive connection speeds, so you can watch Italian TV in HD or even UHD from Italy. My starting speed without a VPN while in Italy was 194 Mbps, and I clocked an average download speed of around 183 Mbps while testing ExpressVPN’s Milan server — just a 6% speed loss. The average speed loss with a VPN enabled is about 20%. You need at least 5 Mbps for HD and 25 Mbps for UHD streaming, so if your starting speeds allow it, you can watch with no buffering with ExpressVPN. I had no issues binge-watching My Brilliant Friend (L’amica Geniale) on RaiPlay.

Its servers use obfuscation technology, which hides the fact that you are using a VPN. Some Italian streaming services block VPN traffic (even if you’re in Italy and using an IP address from the country) because other people use them to violate copyright laws. Some ISPs or WiFi networks also block VPNs. However, with ExpressVPN, I never had any trouble using Italian streaming sites from Italy, even in public libraries and hotel WiFi networks.

I found ExpressVPN’s apps super easy to set up. It has native apps for many popular devices, and the installation process takes less than 2 minutes. If you want to install it on your router, it takes a bit more time. However, it’s worth it because if you install ExpressVPN on your router, you can use it on all the devices on your home WiFi. That way, the number of devices is no longer limited to 8. If you are not too tech-savvy, I suggest getting a router through FlashRouters with ExpressVPN already pre-configured.

The only downside to ExpressVPN is its price. It’s on the more expensive side, starting at $6.67/month. However, it often has active deals for its long-term plans, so you can save up on subscription costs. One such deal helped me lower my costs by 49%.

ExpressVPN also offers a reliable money-back guarantee, so you can try it risk-free. If you are not 100% satisfied with it within the first 30 days of signing up, you can claim a full refund, no questions asked. I tested its claims myself by reaching out to its support agent on live chat (available 24/7 on its website) and asking for a refund. The process was painless, and I received my money back after only 2 days.

2. CyberGhost — Dedicated Servers to Reliably Stream Italian TV

Works With:

Netflix Disney+ APV HBO Max

Hulu BBC iPlayer Sky More

Try CyberGhost VPN >

www.cyberghostvpn.com

CyberGhost makes streaming Italian TV from Italy a breeze, with servers optimized for RaiPlay, Netflix IT, Amazon Prime, and more. Streaming-optimized servers are usually faster than regular ones. Plus, they are routinely tested to ensure that they work with these streaming services. I enjoyed streaming one of my favorite scientific shows on RaiPlay, Superquark più. I also streamed Perfetti Sconosciuti, on Netflix IT while in Italy.

CyberGhost let me watch L’allieva (The Pupil) on RaiPlay using its streaming-optimized server for Rai

Its speeds are ultra-fast as well. While in Italy, I tested one of CyberGhost’s Rome servers, and it was around 163 Mbps, resulting in only about 16% speed loss from my baseline of 195 Mbps. There were no interruptions while streaming and the picture quality was crystal clear. This means you’ll have no issues keeping up with your favorite Italian movies and TV shows in full HD and with zero buffering.

I was really impressed with how sleek and simple CyberGhost’s interface is. You can easily find your way around it, even if you’ve never used a VPN before. For example, to find the streaming-optimized servers, go to a category neatly labeled “For streaming,” where you can find the server you need (e.g., RaiPlay or RaiPlay Diretta). After choosing the server, you only need to click the big round on/off button to connect. Then you can start watching Italian TV.

CyberGhost’s monthly price is a bit on the higher end of the spectrum, and it comes with a shorter money-back guarantee. However, its long-term plan is not expensive, starting from $2.03/month, and offers a generous money-back guarantee.

With its long-term plans, you can try it out for 45 days, longer than the industry standard. Its refund process works as promised. I received my money back within 3 days of contacting its customer support via chat.

3. Private Internet Access — Reliable Server Locations in Italy to Stream Italian TV

Works With:

Netflix Disney+ APV HBO Max

Hulu BBC iPlayer Sky More

Try Private Internet Access >

www.PrivateInternetAccess.com

PIA has one of the most extensive server networks, offering 2 reliable options for you to stream Italian TV channels. During a recent trip to Italy, I was happy that it even provides an Italian streaming-optimized server. My first test was on this one, and I was able to access and stream all Rai channels I tried, La7, and La5 from within Italy, without any annoying interruptions. Even though it doesn't have as many options as CyberGhost, both server locations worked for me whenever I tried streaming Sportitalia or RaiPlay. Its regular server worked just as well, and I used it to watch La7.

Aside from PIA’s IT streaming-optimized server, you can also use other Italian servers

PIA offers Unlimited simultaneous device connections, which is more than enough for one person. I installed it on my phone, laptop, tablet, and smart TV, and I was still left with a couple of device connections available. So this is ideal if you have a large family, so all of you can enjoy Italian TV from Italy without fear of hackers and snoops.

One thing I would change about PIA is its app design. Its interface is not intuitive enough, and if you are a VPN beginner, you might find it challenging to navigate through it. However, it comes preconfigured, so you don’t have to change anything to have a great streaming experience.

PIA’s subscription costs are reasonable. The prices start at $2.03/month, and they can even go down by 83% if you choose one of its long-term plans.

It also comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it without any risks. I contacted its support team via email to ask for a refund. They responded within 20 minutes and asked me a couple of questions. After that, I received my full refund to my PayPal account within 4 days.

4. IPVanish — Unlimited Connections to Enjoy Italian TV With Your Entire Family

Works With:

Netflix Disney+ HBO Max Hulu

BBC iPlayer More

Try IPVanish VPN >

www.IPVanishVPN.com

The great thing about IPVanish is that it offers unmetered device connections. This means that you can connect all your devices to it simultaneously, and it should still perform well. To confirm these claims, I decided to do a couple of tests. I tested it by connecting 10+ devices in Italy to the VPN’s Milan server (both my own and my family’s), and I succeeded in streaming Italian TV from all of them. Luckily, there were no connection drops or speed slowdowns.

The VPN offers more than 25 servers located in Italy, ensuring a commendable network size to avoid server congestion or slow speeds. While in Italy, I used its server in Milan to keep abreast of the newest football updates on Sportitalia, and each instance, I was able to smoothly watch its content with a secure connection.

The single disadvantage is that IPVanish is not compatible with as many streaming platforms as ExpressVPN and CyberGhost. For instance, I was unable to watch Amazon Prime Video IT. However, I experienced no problems when streaming RaiPlay, Sky Italia, and La7 from Italy.

IPVanish offers several subscription plans, starting at $2.99/month. You can even save up to 78% on subscription costs with its longer plan if you come across one of its regular discounts.

It’s also backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can test it for yourself. I found its refund process super simple. All you need to do is click on the “I wish to cancel my subscription” option on its website (under the My Account section). I did just that, and the money was back in my account after 5 days.

5. PrivateVPN — User-Friendly App to Stream Italian TV in 2 Clicks

Works With:

Netflix Disney+ APV HBO Max

Hulu BBC iPlayer Sky More

Try PrivateVPN >

www.privatevpn.com

PrivateVPN’s apps are extremely well-designed and user-friendly. What I liked the most is that you can easily connect to a different server by clicking “Change” next to the current server location. For example, you can type in “Italy” and double-click it, and PrivateVPN will connect to the fastest Italian server near you. What’s more, you can choose between Simple and Advanced View. You can use the latter if you want to customize your settings further.

Its speed proved to be consistent as well. I started off with a baseline speed of 150 Mbps using an Italian cafe's WiFi. When I connected to one of PrivateVPN’s servers in Milan, my tests showed a speed of 112 Mbps (about 25% speed loss). These speed results mean that you can easily enjoy Italian TV in full HD quality and with zero buffering, provided your starting speed allows it.

Unfortunately, PrivateVPN offers a more limited server network, with just a single server location in Milan. This raises the potential for servers to become congested or restricted by Italian services. However, I personally did not experience any such problems while streaming from Italy. While in Rome, I could seamlessly stream multiple Italian TV channels like TV8, Rai 1, and La7 without encountering any connectivity issues.

I watched TV8 and other channels using PrivateVPN on many occasions, and it always worked

PrivateVPN offers several different subscription plans differing only in length, with prices starting from $2/month. When I signed up for it, I took advantage of an active discount which decreased my subscription cost significantly. You can also reduce your costs by 85%.

It comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it without risk. I reached out to PrivateVPN’s support via live chat to request a refund. Its customer support rep got back to me in under 2 minutes, and the whole exchange was very pleasant. It took 5 days for my refund to be processed, which is exactly what the agent told me.

Where Can I Watch Italian TV Online?

RaiPlay stands out as the prime destination for watching a diverse selection of Italian TV shows and movies, encompassing live streams from multiple channels. As Italy's national broadcaster, Rai owns this online multimedia platform.

It has an extensive library of content, with access to 13 Rai channels that you can stream live. And the best thing of all, it’s completely free. To watch its programming, all you need to do is create an account and log in.

I could stream Rai 1 and Rai News 24 on RaiPlay

Here’s a comprehensive list of all Rai channels you can watch on RaiPlay:

Additional well-known Italian television channels not affiliated with the Rai network consist of:

If you’re in Italy, besides Rai’s online platform, you can watch Italian content on Netflix IT and Amazon Prime Video IT. And if you want to watch Serie A soccer, you can do that on Sky Italia. If you happen to be in the US, you can also watch the Rai Italia channel on the US streaming service, fuboTV.

Please note that you can’t watch Italian streaming platforms and TV channels from abroad because of licensing and broadcasting rights. To honor those agreements, Italian TV sites employ complex technology to prevent people outside Italy from viewing their content.

These websites know where you are because of your IP address, a unique number that identifies your device's location on the internet. So when you try to watch an Italian TV platform such as RaiPlay from abroad, you get an error message like this:

I couldn’t access Rai without a VPN while traveling outside Italy

FAQs on Watching Italian TV With a VPN

Which Italian TV shows can I watch online?

If you’re in Italy, you can watch various Italian TV shows on sites such as RaiPlay, Netflix IT, Amazon Prime Video IT, and Sky Italia. However, most of these platforms are restricted to Italy. RaiPlay has the biggest catalog of Italian TV shows. You can find many popular movies and series there, and these are just some of them:

You can even stream many popular international shows in Italian dub on this platform as well. What’s great is that you can watch them on RaiPlay for free; all you need to do is register your account.

Netflix also has a growing catalog of Italian TV shows. Some are available internationally, but some are Netflix IT exclusives. Here are some of the best-known ones:

• Guida astrologica per cuori infranti (An Astrological Guide for Broken Hearts)
• Fedeltà (Devotion, a Story of Love and Desire)
• Incastrati (Framed! A Sicilian Murder Mystery)
• Generazione 56K (Generation 56K)
• Suburra (Suburra: Blood on Rome)
• Baby
• La luna nera (The Black Moon)
• Blanca

On Amazon Prime, and Sky Italia you can also find many popular series and movies such as Detective Montalbano and Il giovane Montalbano (Young Montalbano), Romulus, Anna, Petra, Grande fratello (The Big Brother), and Boris.

Can I watch Italian TV while in the UK?

No, most Italian TV channels and streaming platforms are exclusively available in Italy. Some international streaming platforms, like Netflix and Amazon Prime, do offer some of their Italian productions around the globe. However, most Italian streaming services reserve their content for viewers in Italy due to their broadcasting licenses.

Can I watch Italian TV on Roku?

Yes. But unfortunately, RaiPlay is not available on Roku, but you can still find Italy TV and Ciao Italy TV in its channel store. These channels stream some of the popular local TV content from Italy.

However, if you’re in the US and you have fuboTV added to your Roku, you can also stream Rai Italia. Just keep in mind that not all Italian content will be available to you if you’re outside Italy.

Even though Roku doesn’t natively support VPNs, you can use any of the listed VPNs to establish a router connection. That way, you can use the VPN to stream Italian TV from Italy on all of your WiFi-connected devices, including Roku.

Can I use a free VPN to watch Italian TV?

It is very unlikely a free VPN will give you a good experience watching RaiPlay or any other Italian streaming platform. Few free VPNs even have servers in Italy to begin with, so you won’t be able to connect to a nearby server while in Italy. Even if some have servers in Italy, they simply don't have enough to handle the users, so they are overcrowded and slow.

Besides that, free VPNs cap the amount of data you can use, sometimes at as low as 500MB per month. Unfortunately, this isn’t enough data to support streaming a single episode, let alone a live stream of an Italian TV channel.

What’s more, free VPN apps often contain malware and trackers embedded in them, which means they can sell your data to third parties for profit.

Instead of endangering your online safety with a free VPN, I recommend using a premium VPN like ExpressVPN. It has fast servers in Italy and reliably works with Italian TV sites. And you can even try it with zero risk because it is backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Start Watching Italian TV Now

To securely watch Italian TV, from Italy, without sacrificing speed, you need a VPN with many servers throughout the country.

I recommend using ExpressVPN because it has reliable servers in Italy that can stream RailPlay uninterrupted from Italy, while protecting your data.

It also comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it completely risk-free. If you are not totally satisfied, you can get a refund.

To summarize, the best VPNs for watching Italian TV are…

Rank

Provider

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1

9.9 /10

9.9 Our Score

Save 49%!

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2

9.7 /10

9.7 Our Score

Save 84%!

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3

9.5 /10

9.5 Our Score

Save 83%!

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4

9.2 /10

9.2 Our Score

Save 78%!

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5

9.2 /10

9.2 Our Score

Save 85%!

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