9 Best VPN for Rai TV so you can watch RaiPlay abroad in 2024

Rai TV is geo-locked to Italy, meaning you’ll need an Italian IP address to unblock RaiPlay from outside the country. The easiest way to get this is by using a VPN. Find out which VPNs came out top in our tests and how to use them to watch RaiPlay from the US or anywhere else.

Short for ‘Virtual Private Network,’ a VPN encrypts a device’s internet traffic and routes it through an intermediary server in a location of the user’s choosing. If you want to access RaiPlay, you’ll need to connect to a VPN server in Italy, which will assign you an Italian IP address and mask your actual IP address.

If you’re in a rush and want the results of our tests, here are the top-performing VPNs for viewing RaiPlay outside of Italy.

Best VPN for watching RaiPlay Abroad:

1. NordVPN: Our #1 choice to watch Rai TV in the US and beyond. Streams RaiPlay in the US and elsewhere with no issues. It even has an Italian section on its website. Fast and secure. 30-day money-back guarantee.
   TIP In our testing we found that the cheapest NordVPN plan (Standard) works perfectly for Rai TV.
2. Surfshark: Best budget VPN for Rai TV. Unlimited connections, 24/7 live chat, and works reliably with services like RaiPlay and Netflix.
3. IPVanish: Plenty of Italian servers, including 10 in Milan. Excellent speeds for streaming RaiPlay. Strong security and no limits on device connections. Lowest cost month-by-month subscription.
4. ExpressVPN: Fast servers in Cosenza and Milan are great for RaiPlay and most Italian streaming content. Strong privacy and security features.
5. CyberGhost: Another great-value option with speedy servers and solid security. Thousands of server locations. Works great with RaiPlay in the USA and hundreds of other countries.
6. PrivateVPN: Strong security and decent speed. Works with RaiPlay in the US and plenty of other streaming content like Netflix.
7. PureVPN: Fast speeds, affordable plans, and all the tools you’ll need to stream safely. Ideal for watching Rai TV and other Italian channels during a trip abroad.
8. ProtonVPN: Versatile VPN that offers impressive performance and plenty of Italian servers. Great record on privacy. Protect up to 10 devices at a time.
9. Private Internet Access: Servers in 90+ countries, including Italy. No bandwidth throttling means lag-free streaming of RaiPlay. Allows unlimited device connections.

How to watch Rai TV in the USA (or anywhere) outside of Italy

For novices, below is a quick guide on how to set up a VPN and use it with Rai TV online. The process below can be used to install a VPN and watch RaiPlay on your mobile phone, tablet or computer.

From our research, here’s how to watch RaiPlay abroad (outside Italy) with a VPN:

1. Sign up for one of the recommended VPN services listed below, we particularly recommend NordVPN.
2. Download and install your provider’s VPN app onto your device.
3. Open the app and find the server selection page
4. Filter the servers by country if they aren’t already, and choose a server in Italy. This will give you an Italian IP address so you can watch RaiPlay in the US or elsewhere.
5. Hit Connect and wait for the connection to establish.
6. The app will give some indication that you are now connected to the VPN server. Open up RaiPlay in your browser and start watching! Note that you may also need to clear your browser cookies and cache to remove old location identifiers.

Criteria for the best VPNs for watching Rai TV outside of Italy

Hundreds of VPN services are out there, but only a handful are suitable for streaming RaiPlay safely and securely. We found out which those were by performing in-depth evaluations using the following criteria:

• Speed in Italy: Given that RaiPlay is only available in Italy, it makes sense to test the download speeds of each VPN’s Italian servers. Tests are carried out on a home broadband connection to give users an accurate idea of what speeds they can realistically expect.
• Streaming performance: The first thing we check is that providers can access RaiPlay. Once confirmed, we look at whether they work with other popular streaming services that users are likely to want access to. We also score them according to whether they have streaming-optimized servers and whether they offer a smart DNS service. Finally, we ask one of our resident experts to score each provider based on their own experience.
• Value for money: Getting a good deal is about more than just comparing subscription fees. We also take into account things like the existence of a money-back guarantee and the number of allowed connections. In all we use eight different criteria for calculating a value for money score.
• Security & Privacy: The extent to which VPN providers are willing (and able) to provide robust security and privacy is a key consideration. We look at a total of 15 different criteria when scoring VPNs. These include the level of encryption they use and which VPN protocols they support.
• Ease of use: If you’re reading this, it’s because you want to stream RaiPlay not learn how to use a VPN. With this in mind, we look at how easy VPN apps are to use as well as whether they have servers optimized for various tasks. We consider 10 differed criteria in all when creating an ease of use score.

A full exploration of our test results is available later in the article.

Best VPNs for RaiPlay streaming – a snapshot of features

Best VPNs for Rai TV

Here’s a more detailed look at each of the best VPNs for Rai TV:

1. NordVPN

Dec 2024 Unblocks Rai TVTested Dec 2024

NordVPN has a dedicated site written in Italian, negating the need for sometimes questionable automatic translation services. Moreover, it has plenty of choices for Italian servers, with a presence in Palermo, Milan, and Rome, so it’s really simple to get a local Italian IP address.

These servers—like the others in its network—are RAM-only, meaning their memories are wiped clean when rebooted. This is great for privacy, as is the company’s commitment to demonstrating—via regular third-party audit—that it keeps no user activity logs.

Other privacy and security features include one-click access to the Tor network and obfuscated servers that can help user traffic bypass VPN blocks—even in highly restrictive countries like China. NordVPN also has multi-hop servers that route users’ traffic through servers in two different countries.

But what about streaming? NordVPN worked great with RaiPlay and all the streaming services we tried it with, including Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, and Max.

We didn’t experience any buffering while streaming, but we carried out speed tests all the same. These involved connecting to one of NordVPN’s Italian servers and comparing our download speed with our base connection speed over the course of a day.

NordVPN’s tested download speeds while connected to a server in Italy

Speeds were excellent throughout the day, and only between 0.9 and 1.4 Mbps slower than our speeds without a VPN. Overall, NordVPN was the fastest VPN provider that we tested. If you have a decent base connection speed, you can use NordVPN to stream 4K RaiPlay content without issue.

NordVPN is notably easy to use, with an intuitive interface and apps available for all major operating systems. Even its command-line-only Linux app is easy to use.

Those who want to customize their connection can access the Settings menu (represented by the cog icon). This contains options for setting up public wi-fi protection and specifying apps that should be prevented from connecting with a VPN.

Users can choose between protocols — one of which is NordVPN’s in-house NordLynx protocol — and choose any apps that they’d like to use outside of the VPN tunnel.

Other features include a dark web monitor that scans the dark web and alerts users if their details are publicly exposed online. More unusually, NordVPN also has a feature that provides users with an easy way to create their own private networks for file sharing or remote device access. This tool—called Meshnet—is available without a subscription, so you can try it right now if you’re suitably intrigued.

NordVPN is a Panama-based company with a strict zero-logs policy, meaning it retains no information about your connection or activity. DNS leak protection comes standard. We confirmed that the provider didn’t suffer from any leaks that might prevent RaiPlay from working.

NordVPN subscriptions allow up to 10 simultaneous device connections. If this isn’t enough, the software can be configured with a range of home routers. Setting up a VPN on your router means you can stream RaiPlay using VPN-incompatible devices like game consoles and smart TVs.

BEST VPN FOR RAI TV:NordVPN is our first choice. Works well with Rai TV and has servers in Italy. Connects up to 6 devices simultaneously. Great privacy and security credentials. Offers a risk-free 30-day money back guarantee.

Read our full NordVPN review.

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2. Surfshark

unblocks rai tvTested Dec 2024

Surfshark is a reliable Italy VPN that operates server clusters in Rome and Milan. You can use it to get an Italian IP address to watch Rai TV. You can establish a connection simply by scrolling through the Locations list on the app’s dashboard and clicking on the Italian flag. Alternatively, use the drop-down menu in the Italian entry to see servers within the country.

Once connected, we had no problems streaming RaiPlay. Accessing Netflix Italy, Sky Go Italia, and Mediaset Infinity was similarly trouble-free. Surfshark has an excellent reputation for streaming, and it’s easy to see why.

Speeds are consistently quick, which we found out by testing them over the course of a day on a home broadband connection.

Surfshark’s tested download speeds while connected to a server in Italy

While connected, our speeds dropped by no more than 1.8 Mbps from our base connection speed. This is unnoticeable in practice and means that Surfshark suits users to stream in their resolution of choice.

In addition to its regular servers, Surfshark is one of the few VPN providers that offer servers with a static IP address. These enable subscribers to use the same IP address between sessions and are available in Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Singapore, the UK, and the US.

Multi-hop servers are available with a range of pre-existing setups. Alternatively, users can specify their own entry and exit points. Another option for those with security concerns is to use Surfshark’s Rotating IP feature. This automatically changes your IP address without breaking your connection.

If you’re trying to access RaiPlay from a country that restricts VPN use, then Surfshark’s NoBorders mode can help. This obfuscates user-generated traffic and successfully navigates blocks in countries like China.

The split-tunneling feature allows users to stream RaiPlay while using other apps or domains with a regular internet connection. A toggle switch controls this, so it’s easy to turn on or off. It’s similarly easy to enable (or disable) the kill switch and ad, tracker, and malware blocker.

So far, one feature unique to Surfshark is the Alternative ID tool. This tool allows users to generate an alternative persona with a name, date of birth, and address in one of six countries. Italy isn’t included, but it’s still a useful tool if you need to create an account to access streaming services in other countries.

Surfshark doesn’t keep logs of user activity, and this claim has been confirmed via multiple independent audits of its software and infrastructure. It offers built-in leak protection that stops your true location from being revealed to third-parties like RaiPlay or to those with malicious intent. We confirmed no leaks by conducting a series of IP, DNS, and WebRTC leak tests.

Surfshark subscriptions are competitively priced and allow users to simultaneously connect as many devices as they want, making them a great option for a family, a group of housemates, or somebody looking for a budget VPN.

BEST BUDGET OPTION:Connect all your devices to Surfshark and unblock Rai TV without breaking the bank. Comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full Surfshark review.

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3. IPVanish

Unblocks Rai TVTested Dec 2024

IPVanish is fast and has no device connection limit, so RaiPlay viewers abroad should have no problem streaming video whenever and on whatever device they want. It operates over two dozen servers in Milan. The company owns these rather than renting them, ensuring maximum privacy and top-quality connections.

Unlike many VPNs, IPVanish allows users to pick a specific server to connect to. Thanks to the ping times and load listed next to each server, it’s easy to find the best option. Choose the one with the lowest values.

Once connected, IPVanish works seamlessly with RaiPlay. The provider is also a good call for popular international streaming platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, and Paramount+.

IPVanish is particularly popular in the Kodi community thanks to its remote control-friendly app and ability to work with any Kodi add-on.

The apps are generally easy to work with and have plenty going on to keep things interesting. There’s a graph showing the amount of data being uploaded and downloaded while connected and a map showing the current connection location (and alternative options). The dashboard also displays the user’s current IP address and the protocol being used.

To determine what speeds users can expect with IPVanish, we carried out a series of tests using the desktop version of Ookla.

IPVanish’s tested download speeds while connected to a server in Italy

As you can see from the chart above, the provider performed well throughout the day. On average, download speeds were a mere 1.5 Mbps slower than our download speeds without a VPN. If you have a decent broadband connection, you’ll be able to stream 4K RaiPlay content without buffering.

IPVanish features include a kill switch, automatic public Wi-Fi protection, and an ad, tracker, and malware blocker. Split tunneling is available, and users can specify apps and domains that they want to exclude from the VPN tunnel.

The provider supports three different connection protocols: WireGuard, IKEv2, and OpenVPN. Users can choose between them or opt for automatic protocol selection. Opting for OpenVPN allows users to access the Scramble feature. This obfuscates traffic and can help user-generated traffic bypass some VPN blocks (though it won’t work against sophisticated apparatus, such as that found in China).

IPVanish adheres to a strict no-logs policy, meaning it doesn’t record any information about what you do while connected. This has been independently audited, so you know it’s not just empty marketing babble.

The software hides users’ locations, which is important when trying to access geo-restricted streaming services like RaiPlay.

Apps are available for Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, and Amazon Fire TV. If you want to stream RaiPlay on devices without native VPN support, you can configure a connection on a router. IPVanish provides a list of compatible routers and configuration instructions on its website.

LARGE SERVER NETWORK:IPVanish is great for families. It works well with Rai TV and is well-represented with Italian servers. Privacy and security are solid. Speeds handle multiple simultaneous connected devices. 30-day money-back guarantee on annual plans.

Read our full IPVanish review.

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4. ExpressVPN

Unblocks Rai TVTested Dec 2024

ExpressVPN operates a huge network of over 3,000 servers in 94+ countries, including two locations in Italy, Cosenza and Naples, and several others in Europe. If your first language is Italian., you’ll appreciate that ExpressVPN has an Italian-language version of its website available.

Once installed, the app’s dashboard is simple and easy to use. Clicking the three horizontal dots beside the location bar brings up the available server locations. Once you’ve selected a location, pressing the power button will establish a connection. This happens very quickly — far quicker than most in our experience.

While connected to a server in Italy, we had no issues accessing RaiPlay. We also tried ExpressVPN with Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Paramount+, and BBC iPlayer. It worked perfectly with each of them.

ExpressVPN certainly feels fast, but we double-checked by measuring its speeds at three points during the day using the desktop version of Ookla.

ExpressVPN’s tested download speeds while connected to a server in Italy

Speeds were notably consistent, which makes for a great streaming experience. Connecting to a server in Italy only caused our speed to drop by an average of 1.4 Mbps — which will be unnoticeable to most users.

If you want to do more than connect and disconnect to servers, ExpressVPN has a variety of settings to play with. There’s a kill switch, app-based split tunneling, and options to block ads, trackers, malicious sites, and adult sites.

Protocol options include ExpressVPN’s in-house Lightway protocol, which the company says is “optimized for speed, security, and reliability.” OpenVPN is also available—or you can just let ExpressVPN choose for you. If you’re having speed issues while streaming RaiPlay, it’s worth changing the protocol to see if you can establish a faster connection. Changing the server is also an option for a speed boost.

ExpressVPN uses strong encryption and keeps no logs of your activity or real IP address. Multiple third-party audits of its software and infrastructure have backed up its privacy and security claims. The company only uses RAM-only servers in its network and reinstalls the operating systems of every one of them weekly to ensure consistency.

Leak protection is built-in. We verified that this works by conducting a series of IP, DNS, and WebRTC leaks.

Apps are available for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. Linux is command-line only but still very easy to use. Uniquely among providers, ExpressVPN has an app for routers. This app replaces your router’s existing firmware (an easily reversible process) and enables you to quickly protect every device on your home network.

ExpressVPN isn’t the cheapest option on our list, but it has a solid reputation and an excellent track record with accessing streaming platforms.

GREAT FOR STREAMING:ExpressVPN is fast and reliable. Great for Rai TV and most major streaming services. Italian servers are optimized for speed. Hard to beat on security and privacy features and keeps no logs. Good choice of user-friendly apps. Try it risk-free with the 30-day money back guarantee.

Read our full ExpressVPN review.

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5. CyberGhost

Unblocks Rai TVTested Dec 2024

CyberGhost allows subscribers to connect to a whopping 90 servers in Italy alone. You can even translate the website into Italian if you prefer. Its apps are straightforward to use, and it’s tailor-made for streaming.

Users can use the company’s regular servers or opt for servers optimized for streaming, gaming, or torrenting. CyberGhost has Italian servers optimized for a range of platforms — including RaiPlay.

It was easy to access RaiPlay using the RaiPlay-optimized server — as the video below demonstrates.

However, this wasn’t strictly necessary as we had no problem accessing the platform using CyberGhost’s other Italian streaming servers.

The optimized servers appeared to be more critical for stricter platforms. We needed to use the relevant servers to change Netflix regions.

Those who use a particular streaming platform and have found a server that works well with it can marry the two in CyberGhost’s Smart Rules section. Users can specify which apps should automatically connect to a VPN server when opened. If you have the RaiPlay app, you can set it up so that when you open it, it will automatically connect to your chosen Italian server- without needing to interact with CyberGhost. It’s an excellent feature for streamers — though it can be used for gamers and torrenters.

Other features include automatic public Wi-Fi protection, a kill switch, an ad tracker, and a malware blocker. Users can choose between the WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2 protocols—or let CyberGhost do the choosing for them.

Speed-wise, CyberGhost was just as fast as ExpressVPN. If anything, it was a little more consistent, with download speeds only varying by 0.2 Mbps throughout the day. This makes CyberGhost a great option for gaming, torrenting, and streaming.

CyberGhost’s tested download speeds while connected to a server in Italy

Users who do find themselves with a slow connection (it happens to the best of VPNs) can change the MTU size via the CyberGhost Settings menu. The company suggests trying “small” or “auto” to improve VPN performance.

All CyberGhost connections use 256-bit encryption, and the company claims to keep zero logs. This has been verified through independent audits. CyberGhost issues quarterly transparency reports detailing any requests from third parties for user data.

CyberGhost offers users access to what it calls NoSpy servers for additional security. These are housed in a CyberGhost-owned data center in Romania, providing greater bandwidth, still faster speeds, and a dedicated uplink. The downside is that they’re only available as a paid add-on. Dedicated IP addresses are also available as an optional extra, should you need sole access to an IP address.

CyberGhost apps are available for Windows, Android, MacOS, and iOS. You can configure a connection with routers that support OpenVPN, thus protecting every device at home. This is useful to know, as CyberGhost only allows a modest seven simultaneous device connections. While seven is low compared to most other providers, it’s excusable given that subscriptions are at the cheaper end of the spectrum.

VALUE AND PERFORMANCE:CyberGhost is easy to use. A budget choice that is good on privacy and security. Streams HD video reliably. Good for Rai TV and Netflix and many other streaming sites. 45-day money back guarantee.

Read our full CyberGhost review.

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6. PrivateVPN

Unblocks Rai TVTested Dec 2024

PrivateVPN may only have one server in Italy (and around 200 overall), but don’t let that dissuade you—it scores well in our speed tests and works with almost every streaming service we’ve tested, including Italian TV.

To connect to a server in Italy, select Change from the dashboard to bring up PrivateVPN’s server list. Choose Italy and press the big connect button. It’s easy enough to do — even if you’ve never used a VPN before.

Overall, PrivateVPN has servers in 63+ countries. Some of these have servers in more than one location within the country. The easiest way to choose between them is to use the ping time helpfully displayed next to each location. The lowest value will give the fastest connection.

To find out what speed the average user was likely to get from PrivateVPN, we connected to its server in Italy and tested the resulting download speeds three times over the course of a day.

PrivateVPN’s tested download speeds while connected to a server in Italy

PrivateVPN performed well, with fast speeds for streaming RaiPlay content in 4K without buffering. Overall, the average speed was 1.9 Mbps slower than our download speed without a VPN. This is a slight drop and nothing to lose sleep over.

Users who do find that they need a speed boost—for example when connecting to a distant server—can opt to reduce the level of encryption used for their traffic. Reducing it from AES-256 to AES-128 improves performance while providing adequate protection for the average user.

On the day of testing, we could access RaiPlay without issue and, as expected, watched our chosen content without experiencing any buffering.

PrivateVPN works great with the big-name streaming platforms, too. Previously, we used it to access Netflix, LA7, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+,  Max, and Paramount+. Admittedly, we occasionally needed to enable Stealth Mode, but that’s easy enough to do.

It’s worth noting that Stealth VPN is a powerful tool that can also help users trying to connect from restrictive countries like China or the UAE. Another potentially helpful feature — particularly for torrenters — is port forwarding. This makes uploads and downloads more efficient, though few VPNs allow it.

PrivateVPN is based in privacy-friendly Sweden and has a strict no-logs policy—though this has yet to be independently audited. Its apps—which are available for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS—are leak-free, which means your true location won’t be revealed while streaming RaiPlay from abroad. We confirmed this by conducting IP, DNS, and WebRTC leak tests.

PrivateVPN is a great value provider, with subscriptions to its three-year contract costing just $2 a month. This and its streaming abilities make it an excellent option for anyone craving RaiPlay content.

GREAT SPEED:PrivateVPN is consistently reliable. Unblocks Rai TV and allows up to 10 devices on the same account. Solid security and privacy credentials. Only one server in Italy but achieves fast connections. 30-day money back guarantee.

Read our full PrivateVPN review.

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7. PureVPN

Unblocks Rai TVTested Dec 2024

PureVPN has a network of more than 6,500 servers across 65 countries, including an undisclosed number in Milan, Italy. Its apps have a clean interface, are straightforward, and are perfect for beginners – if a little unexciting.

Users can either click the Connect button to connect immediately to the fastest available server or open the Location menu on the left to access a server in Italy.

Opening up the Settings menu gives users access to various customization options, such as a tracker blocker and auto-connect. Split tunneling is available, which means you can use the RaiPlay app with a connection to Italy and everything else with a regular internet connection.

The PureVPN kill switch isn’t enabled by default, so you’ll need to toggle it on for it to work. There’s an option to customize the kill switch settings, but this didn’t appear functional when we tested it. Available protocols include WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2.

PureVPN obfuscates traffic by default, making it a great option for subscribers connecting from countries that try to block VPN use. Furthermore, PureVPN’s obfuscation works — even when faced with advanced traffic analysis of the type the Chinese state performs.

More pertinently, it’s also good at avoiding detection by streaming services. RaiPlay was easily accessible when we tried it, as were a host of other platforms, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, Paramount+, and Max.

PureVPN has a reputation for being fast. To see whether this reputation extended to its servers in Italy, we carried out three speed tests while connected.

PureVPN’s tested download speeds while connected to a server in Italy

The provider was a little slower in the morning than in the afternoon and evening, but still fast. It’s average download speed was 1.7 Mbps slower than our connection without a VPN. This is to be expected, given the additional routing required. The important thing is that you can watch RaiPlay in the highest resolution available with PureVPN (provided your base connection is up to it).

Multiple independent audits confirm the company’s strict zero-logs policy. PureVPN says it has an “always-on” audit policy, which means it is willing to be audited at any time. The provider’s headquarters are in the British Virgin Islands, which aren’t part of any known intelligence-gathering alliances.

Notably, the software doesn’t reveal users’ true locations while connected. We confirmed this by carrying our IP, DNS, and WebRTC leaks via the browserleaks.com site.

PureVPN differs from most providers in offering five-year subscriptions (most don’t go beyond two years). These work out at the equivalent of $2.16 a month, which is excellent value, provided you’re happy to stick with the same provider for that long.

SIMPLE AND SECURE:PureVPN is a beginner-friendly service that works perfectly well with most Italian streaming platforms. Boasts affordable pricing, a high connection limit, and the ability to browse safely anywhere. All plans come with a 31-day money-back guarantee.

Still have questions? Learn more with our full PureVPN review.

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8. ProtonVPN

Unblocks Rai TVTested Dec 2024

ProtonVPN operates approximately 47 servers in Milan, all suitable for streaming and torrenting. Users can choose between them rather than having to take what they’re given — which is the case with most providers.

All of the Italian servers we tried worked with RaiPlay. ProtonVPN is also compatible with mainstream streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+. Note that we occasionally had to try a few servers before finding one that works with these stricter streaming services. If you’re low on patience, get in touch with ProtonVPN via live chat, and the customer support team should be able to suggest the best servers for particular streaming platforms.

Although ProtonVPN has a more technical appearance than most VPNs, it’s still easy enough to use. A Quick Connect button allows newbies to secure their traffic without having to do anything else. Those looking for a specific server can scroll through the list of countries or choose one from the map.

Once connected, ProtonVPN displays a real-time graph of the data uploaded and downloaded, as well as information on the location IP address and protocol in use.

To find out what speeds regular users might expect from a ProtonVPN connection, we tested our speeds while connected to a server in Italy.

ProtonVPN’s tested download speeds while connected to a server in Italy

ProtonVPN wasn’t the fastest provider on this list, but it’s no slouch. Its average download speed was just 2.4 Mbps below our average speed without a VPN connection. That’s a great result and means users with a decent internet connection can enjoy RaiPlay without any noticeable buffering.

ProtonVPN has an outstanding privacy record. A recent audit found that it keeps no logs and that the company’s infrastructure follows best practices. The provider also runs Secure Core servers, which are stored in high-security data centers to prevent unauthorized access or tampering. This is great for overall cybersecurity in Italy.

ProtonVPN is one of the few providers that allows port forwarding and has a Stealth mode to obfuscate user-generated traffic. Unfortunately, this doesn’t work in China.

Other features include an ad, tracker, and malware blocker, a kill switch, and app- and domain-based split tunneling. Leak protection is enabled by default. We performed IP, DNS, and WebRTC leak tests to confirm its effectiveness.

Apps are available for Android, iOS, Windows, Linux, MacOS, and Amazon Fire Stick apps. The support section of its website also has detailed setup guides for users looking to configure a connection on their router.

FLAWLESS STREAMING:ProtonVPN is a great choice for watching Rai TV outside of Italy. It prioritizes your security, blocks ads automatically, and delivers some of the highest speeds around. Not only that, but there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee for new customers.

More info is available in our complete ProtonVPN review.

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9. Private Internet Access

Unblocks Rai TVTested Dec 2024

Private Internet Access (PIA) has RAM-only servers in 90+ countries, including Italy. In addition to regular servers in Milan, it has servers dedicated to streaming Italian content.

We tried the streaming servers out with RaiPlay, and they worked great. We also successfully used them with Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Paramount+. If you want to access content libraries from other countries, PIA has streaming-optimized servers in the UK, the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Australia, Japan, Canada, and the US.

To find out what kind of streaming quality users might expect, we tested our speeds while connected to a server in Italy.

PIA’s tested download speeds while connected to a server in Italy

The provider performed well, with the fastest speeds at noon. Overall, the average downloaded speed while connected to a PIA server was 2 Mbps slower than our download speed when not connected. This isn’t much of a difference in the grand scheme of things, and it means that PIA is fast enough to stream 4K RaiPlay without buffering.

PIA is unusual among VPN providers in that its apps are all open-source. This means anyone can inspect their code and—importantly—alert the developers to any issues. The apps have a functional and appealing design that won’t overwhelm new users with data.

The server list is easily accessible (via the ‘right’ arrow), as is detailed connection information (via the ‘down’ arrow).

Those with previous VPN experience will appreciate the customization options available with PIA. These include the ability to select the level of encryption used — reducing it can help speed up a sluggish connection.

Port forwarding, a kill switch, and an ad, tracker, and malware blocker are available. Users travelling abroad can set up automatic Wi-Fi protection via the Automation Rules section. They can also obfuscate their traffic by enabling Multi-hop and Obfuscation. This routes VPN traffic through either a Shadowsocks or SOCKS5 proxy server.

You can use the Split Tunnel tab to stream RaiPlay while using other apps or domains with a regular internet connection.

One downside to the service is that it’s based in the US, which isn’t the best location for a VPN privacy-wise. This shouldn’t worry the majority of users, however, particularly as Deloitte has audited the company’s no-logs policy.

Leak protection is built into PIA’s apps, ensuring that your true location isn’t exposed to RaiPlay and other third parties while using the VPN. We confirmed that this functioned as it should by conducting a series of IP, DNS, and WebRTC leak tests.

PIA is a pleasure to use, with a great feature set and unlimited device connections.

UNLIMITED DEVICE CONNECTIONS:Private Internet Access is ideal for families thanks to having no connection limits. There’s no bandwidth throttling, servers in 90+ countries, and it works with RaiPlay. Built-in ad blocker. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full Private Internet Access review.

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RaiPlay VPN testing methodology

Not all VPNs work with RaiPlay, and some that do provide a sub-optimal experience. Having sifted through the various options that do work with RaiPlay, we’ve examined each provider on several fronts and scored them accordingly.

Speed

RaiPlay is restricted to Italy, so we’re only interested in the speed of each VPN’s Italian servers rather than global averages. Although we have existing lab-tested speed scores for Europe, we conducted another round of testing just for servers in Italy.

We tested each VPN provider three times using the desktop version of the Ookla speed testing app on a home broadband connection with an average speed of 53.20 Mbps. The data we gathered is shown in the chart below.

Download speed test result by provider (Mbps)

Surfshark was the fastest in the morning, while NordVPN was the fastest at midday and in the afternoon.

To make it easier to compare providers, we took an average of the results and converted them to a score out of ten. This gives the following visualization:

As you can see, NordVPN, Surfshark and CyberGhost were the fastest providers overall.

Streaming performance

Once we knew that a particular VPN worked with RaiPlay, we tried with a range of other platforms — and scored them accordingly. After all, nobody restricts their viewing to a single streaming service.

We also scored providers for the availability of other streaming features such as a smart DNS and streaming-optimized servers. Finally, one of our resident experts weighed in with their own provider score.

We weighted, and then combined, these scores to create an overall streaming performance score. The weightings reflect how important each metric is from a user’s perspective. The overall scores makes it easy to compare each VPN’s respective streaming abilities.

Value for money

Getting value for money is more than comparing subscription prices. We also consider things like introductory offers and the number of permitted connections. You can see how we fully evaluate this property in the table below.

Scores for each metric are combined to produce a total score out of ten, which we can use to easily compare providers.

Several of our recommended providers offer great value for money. However, Surfshark is the pick of the lot, closely followed by IPVanish and NordVPN.

Security & Privacy

It’s important to remember that a VPN is primarily designed to keep your internet activity private and secure. A surprising number fail at this, which is why we take them time to properly examine providers before recommending them. In all, we evaluate VPNs using 15 different security and privacy criteria. You can see them all below.

We assign a score to each of the criteria to create an overall score out of ten. This makes it easier to compare providers.

You’ll notice that all of the providers score highly. We wouldn’t recommend a VPN that didn’t provide adequate protection. However, there are some marginal differences. If you want the very best security and privacy, then NordVPN and Surfshark should be your first choices.

Ease of use

Your overall experience of using VPN software depends on more than just the app. We consider a total of ten criteria when deciding how easy to use a particular VPN service is. You can see which factors we look at in the table below.

We score each criteria and then combine the results to create an overall score out of ten. This makes it easier to visually compare providers.

If you want to stream RaiPlay with the minimum of fuss, then NordVPN and Private Internet Access are your best options.

Watching RaiPlay abroad FAQs