How to Watch Italian TV Channels From Anywhere in 2023

Due to broadcasting restrictions, Italian TV channels like Rai 1, Canale 5, and La5 geoblock their content, so you can't access them outside Italy. Streaming platforms and TV channels look at your device’s IP address to determine your location and grant or block your access. I find this practice extremely frustrating because you can't keep up with your favorite content when you travel abroad.

Luckily, there’s an easy solution. All you need to do is mask your IP. A VPN can help you change your actual IP address with an Italian one. This way, you can keep up with Italian TV from anywhere in the world.

However, not all VPNs can access Italian TV successfully. Some might not even have servers in Italy, and others can’t bypass the sophisticated VPN blockers these sites use. After testing 30+ VPNs, I found that the best VPN for accessing Italian TV 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.

Watch Italian TV With ExpressVPN

Why You Need a VPN to Watch Italian TV

You can't access Italian streaming platforms and TV channels from abroad because of licensing and broadcasting rights. To honor those agreements, Italian TV sites employ complex geoblocking technology to prevent people outside Italy from viewing their content.

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

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 accessing an Italian TV platform such as RaiPlay from abroad, you get an error message like this:

Fortunately, a virtual private network (VPN) can help you overcome this problem. A VPN is a simple app that can mask your IP address and change it to an Italian one. This allows you to access live streams of popular Italian TV channels and platforms. However, not all VPNs can do this. You need a VPN that has fast speeds for lag-free streaming and reliable servers in Italy that allow you to access platforms with ease. All the VPNs on this list gave me access to Italian TV sites like RaiPlay, La7, La5, and Canale 5.

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Best VPNs to Watch Italian TV From Anywhere in 2023

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

ExpressVPN has impressive connection speeds, so you can watch Italian TV in HD or even UHD. My starting speed without the VPN was 194 Mbps. I tested ExpressVPN’s speeds while connected to its Milan server, and the result was around 183 Mbps, meaning the loss was less than 6%. 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.

I could easily stream content in HD quality using ExpressVPN’s server in Milan

Its servers use obfuscation technology, which hides the fact that you are using a VPN. That way, you can access the platforms easily because these servers make the VPN traffic appear as regular traffic. This is important because some platforms have developed ways of recognizing VPNs. Thanks to its obfuscated servers, you can easily avoid even the most stubborn VPN-blocking used by Italian TV sites. I never had issues unblocking Rai or any other Italian streaming platforms.

I caught up with season 2 of L’amica geniale on RaiPlay thanks to ExpressVPN’s Cosenza server

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.

Watch Italian TV With ExpressVPN

2. CyberGhost — Dedicated Servers to Easily Access Italian TV

CyberGhost has 140+ servers in Italy, including the ones optimized for RaiPlay, Netflix IT, and Amazon Prime IT. Streaming-optimized servers are usually faster than regular ones. Plus, they are routinely tested to ensure that you can always access these streaming services. I enjoyed streaming one of my favorite scientific shows on RaiPlay, Superquark più. I also streamed Perfetti Sconosciuti, an Italian movie exclusive to the Netflix IT catalog.

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

Its speeds are ultra-fast as well. 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 $2.19/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.

Watch Italian TV With CyberGhost

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

PIA has one of the most extensive server networks, offering 2 reliable options for you to stream Italian TV channels. 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, 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 abroad.

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.

Watch Italian TV With PIA

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

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 to the VPN (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. I used its server in Milan to keep abreast of the newest football updates on Sportitalia, and each instance, I was able to smoothly and uninterrupted access the content.

The only drawback is that IPVanish doesn’t work with that many streaming platforms compared to ExpressVPN and CyberGhost. For example, I couldn’t access Amazon Prime Video IT. But I could stream RaiPlay, Sky Italia, and La7 with no issues whatsoever.

IPVanish gave me access to all Italian TV sites and platforms I tried, aside from Amazon Prime Video IT

IPVanish offers several subscription plans, starting at $2.49/month. You can even save up to 77% 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.

Watch Italian TV With IPVanish

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

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. Once you type in the country you want to connect to, you need to double-click on it. 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. 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.

Regrettably, PrivateVPN has a less extensive server network, featuring only one server location in Milan. This implies that the likelihood of servers getting congested or barred by Italian platforms is elevated. Nonetheless, I didn't encounter such complications. I was able to effortlessly stream numerous Italian TV stations, such as TV8, Rai 1, and La7, without 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.

Watch Italian TV With PrivateVPN

Where Can I Watch Italian TV Online?

RaiPlay stands out as the prime destination for accessing 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 access on RaiPlay:

Other popular Italian TV channels that are not part of the Rai network include:

Besides Rai’s online platform, you can access 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. You can also access Rai Italia from the US on fuboTV.

However, all these platforms are blocked if you try to access them from abroad. The only way to stream Italian TV outside the country is with a VPN. It is a simple app that masks your location and makes it seem like you’re accessing the website from Italy.

I recommend using ExpressVPN because it can reliably go around Italian geoblocks and has superfast speeds for a bufferless streaming experience.

Watch Italian TV With ExpressVPN

FAQs on Watching Italian TV With a VPN

Which Italian TV shows can I watch online?

You can watch various Italian TV shows on sites such as RaiPlay, Netflix IT, Amazon Prime Video IT, and Sky Italia. 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.

Most of these TV platforms are unavailable for viewing outside Italy. You need a VPN with Italian servers if you want to enjoy the Italian content. I recommend using ExpressVPN because it can reliably access all of these services, so you stream your favorite Italian TV shows uninterruptedly.

Can I watch Italian TV while in the UK?

You can, but you need a VPN to do so. This is because most Italian TV and streaming platforms are geoblocked, so you can’t access them outside Italy.

You need to find a VPN that has servers in Italy that can give you access to streaming sites and fast speeds for streaming. All 5 VPNs on my list fit these criteria, so you can use either one to access RaiPlay, La7, Sportitalia, and many more.

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 have fuboTV added to your Roku, you can also stream Rai Italia. Some Italian content might not be available while you're outside Italy, so you are going to need a VPN to access it.

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 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 can give you access to RaiPlay or any other Italian streaming platform. Free VPNs are usually bad for streaming and can't bypass geoblocking. I tried a few free VPN providers, and none of them worked to access Italian content. 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 can reliably access Italian TV sites. And you can even try it with zero risk because it is backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Watch Italian TV With ExpressVPN

Start Watching Italian TV Now

If you want to watch Italian TV from abroad, you can do so with a VPN that has servers in Italy. It can make you appear as if you are in Italy, so you can keep up with all your favorite Italian TV shows even while traveling.

I recommend using ExpressVPN because it has reliable servers in Italy that can access RaiPlay and other platforms and blazing-fast speeds for streaming.

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…