Gjurgjica Panova
Updated on: October 23, 2024
Fact-checked by Hazel Shaw
Short on time? Here’s the best VPN for RaiPlay in 2024:
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🥇 ExpressVPN
: It has servers in Italy that can always access RaiPlay’s website and app. Plus, it maintains the fastest speeds on the market and offers intuitive apps. All plans are covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
The best VPNs for RaiPlay can access the platform 100% of the time. All the VPNs on my list have servers in Italy that consistently work with RaiPlay and maintain fast speeds for streaming channels like Rai 1 and Rai Movies in HD without any interruptions.
My favorite for streaming RaiPlay content is ExpressVPN. The VPN offers the best value out there because it ticks all the boxes — it consistently works with RaiPlay, has 3 server locations in Italy (allowing you to find the fastest server), and provides the fastest speeds on the market. Editors’ Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group.
Quick Summary of the Best VPNs for RaiPlay
Editors’ Note: Intego, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost and ExpressVPN are owned by Kape Technologies, our parent company
🥇1. ExpressVPN — Best Overall VPN for RaiPlay
Approved by our experts
ExpressVPN is my favorite VPN for RaiPlay. It has 3 server locations in Italy (Milan, Cosenza, and Naples), all of which access the streaming service 100% of the time. Having this many server location options means you can easily find the fastest nearby server for securely streaming popular shows like Don Matteo and Mare fuori.
In terms of speed, the VPN is an excellent pick. It uses its own proprietary protocol, Lightway, which provides very fast speeds. In my tests, both HD and 4K videos played without buffering. I like how Lightway resists network changes, too, so the VPN connection won’t drop if you switch from Wi-Fi to mobile data while streaming.
ExpressVPN offers a dedicated IP address in Italy for a small price. This IP address is unique to you (as opposed to the shared VPN IP address you get when you connect to a regular server), so it’s less likely that RaiPlay will block your access. Plus, it’s very easy to configure your dedicated IP addresses on all of your devices — you’ll just need to create an access code, which is the password for the dedicated IP.
I like that ExpressVPN offers a split-tunneling feature that lets you choose which apps go through the VPN tunnel and which don’t. This lets you route your RaiPlay traffic via the VPN and free up more bandwidth for getting optimal speeds for streaming.
ExpressVPN comes with a good password manager, ExpressVPN Keys. It allows you to secure your login info connected to your RaiPlay account in a safe digital vault and auto-fills your login credentials for quick access to the site. There’s also a data breach checker that informs you if the email associated with your RaiPlay account has leaked.
ExpressVPN’s plans start at £4.20 / month. Each plan has a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
ExpressVPN is the best VPN for RaiPlay. It has 3 server locations in Italy that always access RaiPlay, and it maintains the fastest speeds on the market. The VPN offers some useful extras for streaming like dedicated IP addresses, split-tunneling, and a password manager. All plans have a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full ExpressVPN review
🥈2. Private Internet Access — Good for Streaming RaiPlay On the Go + Highly Customizable
Private Internet Access (PIA) is great for streaming RaiPlay on the go. It has user-friendly mobile apps that allow you to switch from 256-bit AES encryption to slightly faster 128-bit AES encryption, which is useful for streaming RaiPlay content on unstable Wi-Fi at a café. You can also set rules for the VPN to connect automatically when it detects unsafe Wi-Fi to safely stream RaiPlay at a hotel or airport.
The VPN has a streaming-optimized server in Italy that accesses RaiPlay without an issue. However, if you need more location options in Italy, I recommend ExpressVPN, which has 3 server locations in the country.
I’m a big fan of PIA’s split-tunneling feature that lets you choose which apps use or don’t use the VPN, and which IP addresses bypass the VPN. For instance, you can route the RaiPlay traffic via the VPN and exclude the IP address sites you don’t need the VPN connection for, like your bank site (most banks block VPNs).
This provider also comes with an Identity Guard feature — it informs you if your email address and password connected to your RaiPlay account have been leaked. This allows you to take immediate action to protect your personal information and prevent unauthorized access to your RaiPlay account.
Private Internet Access has plans starting at £1.57 / month. All plans have a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
Private Internet Access offers customization options that can improve your speeds when streaming RaiPlay on the go. Its streaming optimized server in Italy reliably works with RaiPlay, and the VPN comes with useful extras like split-tunneling and Identity Guard features. Its plans are backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full Private Internet Access review
Editors’ Note: Private Internet Access and this site are in the same ownership group.
🥉3. CyberGhost VPN — Dedicated Servers for Streaming RaiPlay Content
CyberGhost VPN offers a dedicated server location in Italy for streaming RaiPlay. The VPN regularly updates and tests these servers to ensure they can access the site and the app 100% of the time. I particularly like how it keeps the dedicated streaming servers in a separate tab, and you can simply search RaiPlay and connect to the location in 1 click.
Its Smart Rules feature, which lets you customize your connection preferences, makes it even easier to stream RaiPlay content. For example, you can set it to automatically connect to its dedicated RaiPlay streaming server in Italy when the VPN launches and then open the RaiPlay app once connected.
This provider has great extras for convenience and privacy when streaming on RaiPlay. Like PIA, it offers an Identity Guard feature that notifies you if your RaiPlay login info has been leaked.
CyberGhost VPN’s plans start at £1.78 / month. Long-term plans have a 45-day money-back guarantee and the monthly plan has a 14-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
CyberGhost VPN has dedicated servers for streaming RaiPlay that work really well with the platform, as well as a Smart Rules feature that lets you automate your connections to the site and app for extra convenience. It offers a money-back guarantee of up to 45 days.
Read the full CyberGhost VPN review
Editors’ Note: CyberGhost and this site are in the same ownership group.
4. NordVPN — Great Privacy for Watching RaiPlay Anonymously
NordVPN is great for privately watching RaiPlay content. The VPN has an app-based kill switch that you can configure to only shut down specific apps, like the RaiPlay app, when the VPN disconnects. If you use the RaiPlay website, you can configure NordVPN to apply the same rule for your browser. This prevents your IP address from being exposed while watching your favorite movies and shows.
NordVPN offers servers in 3 locations in Italy — Milan, Palermo, and Rome, so you get some options for connecting to a server location that’s closer to you.
I like how all of NordVPN’s Italian server locations reliably work with RaiPlay and its channels, Rai 1, Rai 2, and Rai 3. You can get a dedicated IP address from Italy (Milan) for a small extra cost.
NordVPN’s plans start at £2.59 / month. All plans offer a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
NordVPN protects your RaiPlay app traffic and privacy thanks to a convenient app-based kill switch that blocks RaiPlay from seeing your IP address if the VPN connection drops. It has servers in 3 Italian cities that work with the platform and offers dedicated IP addresses in Italy. Its plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
5. Surfshark — Beginner-Friendly VPN With Great Identity-Protection Features
Surfshark is an intuitive VPN that works with RaiPlay. Even if you’ve never used a VPN before, you can easily set up 1-click connections (like to the nearest Italian server) in the Surfshark app, so it’s ready whenever you need it.
This provider has 2 server locations in Italy — in Rome and Milan. That said, ExpressVPN also has server locations in the southern part of Italy (Naples and Cosenza), so you’ll have more server options to choose from.
Surfshark includes an Alternative ID feature, too, that lets you create a fake email address to conceal your personal information for your RaiPlay account. On top of that, it offers dedicated IP addresses in Italy.
Surfshark’s affordable plans start at £1.52 / month. Each plan is covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
Surfshark is a beginner-friendly VPN that can access RaiPlay with servers in Milan and Rome. It offers lots of 1-click connections to its Italian servers, making it super easy to use. The VPN also offers an Alternative ID feature for creating a fake email and has plans with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full Surfshark review
Quick Comparison Table
Editors’ Note: Intego, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost and ExpressVPN are owned by Kape Technologies, our parent company
Testing Methodology: Comparison & Ranking Criteria
When choosing and ranking the best VPNs for RaiPlay, I followed our proven testing methodology. I tested each VPN in different scenarios for speeds, ease of use, and more. Here’s a more detailed look at the criteria I used:
- I checked the VPNs’ ability to access RaiPlay. The VPNs that I recommend have servers in at least 1 server location in Italy that works with RaiPlay.
- I tested speeds. All VPNs slow down your speeds due to the encryption process. However, the VPNs I recommend minimize the slowdowns and maintain fast speeds for streaming RaiPlay on nearby and distant servers.
- I looked into ease of use. Every VPN on this list has an easy-to-use interface, so even if you’re new to VPNs, you’ll be easily able to locate and select an Italian server location without any problem.
- I considered security features. The VPNs I recommend here use a 256-bit AES encryption, which hides your RaiPlay activities from your (ISP). Plus, they have a strict no-logs policy to ensure that no information regarding your RaiPlay streaming activities is stored, along with a kill switch feature that prevents IP leaks during streaming.
- I made sure each VPN provided a good value. Each VPN I recommend has affordable plans with money-back guarantees. Plus, they allow multiple simultaneous connections.
Top Brands That Didn’t Make the Cut
- PrivateVPN. PrivateVPN is a fast VPN with servers in Milan that work with RaiPlay. However, its iOS app doesn’t come with a kill switch. So, if the VPN accidentally drops, your IP address while streaming RaiPlay might get leaked. Plus, it doesn’t offer split-tunneling like the VPNs on my list.
- Mullvad VPN. Mullvad has servers in Milan and Palermo, but they don’t reliably work with RaiPlay. On top of that, it doesn’t maintain fast speeds for streaming as the VPNs that I recommend.
- Hotspot Shield. Hotspot Shield has very fast speeds for streaming RaiPlay. That said, it’s not the most intuitive VPN when it comes to connecting to servers — the quick connect button only connects you to US servers. So, you’ll manually have to connect to a server in Italy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is RaiPlay available in the US?
No, RaiPlay is only available in Italy due to licensing agreements. A VPN with servers in Italy can access RaiPlay and its channels. The VPNs on my list have servers in Italy that reliably work with the streaming platform.
Which VPNs work with RaiPlay?
All the VPNs that I recommend have servers in Italy that work with RaiPlay 100% of the time. Plus, they maintain fast speeds on nearby and distant servers for streaming without any interruptions.
How can I get RaiPlay?
To access RaiPlay, you can visit the RaiPlay website or download the RaiPlay app from your device’s app store. However, note that most of RaiPlay’s content is only available in Italy. To safely watch content on the app or site, I recommend using a VPN.
My top VPN pick for RaiPlay is ExpressVPN. It has servers in 3 Italian locations that can access the platform without any issues from anywhere. Plus, it has the fastest speeds for buffer-free streaming.
Can I watch RaiPlay for free with a VPN?
RaiPlay is a free streaming platform, but it’s only available in Italy. So if you’re outside of the country, you won’t be able to access it. The VPNs on my list have servers in Italy that reliably work with the platform and maintain fast speeds for streaming.
