Whether you are an Italian abroad missing RaiPlay, a traveler who wants an Italian IP for banking, or someone on an Italian network who wants real privacy, the right VPN solves all three. We tested the major providers against Italian streaming services, speed on local servers, and the privacy features that matter most.
Why use a VPN in Italy
Three reasons cover almost everyone. First, streaming: RaiPlay, Mediaset Infinity and DAZN Italia are geo-locked to Italy, so the moment you cross the border they stop working. A VPN with Italian servers puts you back inside. Second, an Italian IP address keeps banking apps, government portals and local services from treating you as a suspicious foreign login. Third, privacy: Italy sits inside EU data rules but is not part of the core surveillance alliances, and on public or hotel WiFi a VPN is simply good hygiene.
There is also a specific Italian wrinkle worth knowing. Italy operates the “Piracy Shield” system, an aggressive anti-piracy blocklist that has repeatedly over-blocked legitimate sites, including Google Drive and Cloudflare addresses, by accident. A VPN routing your traffic outside the Italian filtering layer sidesteps that collateral damage when it happens.
Best VPNs for Italy in 2026
1. NordVPN
NordVPN is the most complete choice for Italy. It runs a large fleet of Italian servers, so getting a fast Milan or Rome IP is instant, and it unblocks RaiPlay, Mediaset Infinity and DAZN without fuss. Speed is 5/5 and streaming is 5/5 in our tests, which matters for live football on DAZN Italia where buffering is unforgivable. Based in Panama with an audited no-logs record (5/5), it is also the strongest on privacy.
At $59.88 a year with a 60-day money-back guarantee, it is not the cheapest, but it is the one that does everything.
2. Surfshark
Surfshark is the value champion. At $38.28 a year with unlimited simultaneous devices, it covers a whole family of expats on one subscription. It carries Italian servers, unblocks RaiPlay and Mediaset reliably, and scores 5/5 for speed with a 4.5/5 streaming score. For most people whose main goal is Italian TV abroad without overpaying, this is the smart pick.
3. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN matches NordVPN for raw streaming performance (5/5 speed, 5/5 streaming) and has a deserved reputation for unblocking stubborn services. The catch is price, the same $59.88 a year as NordVPN but with weaker extras and a smaller audited-logs score (3/5). Choose it if you already trust the brand or want its consistency across many services.
4. ProtonVPN
ProtonVPN is the privacy-first option. Based in Switzerland with a 5/5 audited no-logs record, it is the one to pick if Italian streaming is secondary and protecting your traffic comes first. Streaming is a more modest 3/5, so RaiPlay works but it is less of a sure thing than Nord or Surfshark. Its free tier is genuinely usable, which is rare.
Italian streaming, unblocked
| VPN | RaiPlay | Mediaset | DAZN Italia | Speed | Price/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NordVPN | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | 5/5 | $59.88 |
| Surfshark | Very good | Very good | Very good | 5/5 | $38.28 |
| ExpressVPN | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | 5/5 | $59.88 |
| ProtonVPN | Good | Variable | Variable | 5/5 | $47.88 |
The pattern is clear. For live sport on DAZN Italia, where speed and consistency decide whether you see the goal or a spinning wheel, NordVPN and ExpressVPN lead. For everything else at a better price, Surfshark holds up.
How to watch Italian TV abroad
- Subscribe to a VPN (NordVPN or Surfshark recommended)
- Install the app and sign in
- Connect to a server in Italy (Milan or Rome)
- Open RaiPlay, Mediaset Infinity or DAZN
- If a stream refuses to load, switch to a different Italian server and clear the app cache
RaiPlay is free but requires an Italian account and an Italian IP. Mediaset Infinity works the same way. DAZN Italia needs a paid subscription on top of the VPN.
Want to compare all VPNs side by side? Check our full VPN comparison table with scores across 18 criteria.
Privacy on Italian networks
Italy is not part of the Five or Nine Eyes core, but it is an EU member with data-retention rules and an active anti-piracy apparatus. For day-to-day browsing on home broadband, the risk is low. The real value of a VPN here is on the move: airport WiFi in Fiumicino, a café in Florence, a hotel in Venice. Those open networks are where traffic interception actually happens, and an always-on VPN with a kill switch closes that gap. All four providers above include a kill switch and strong leak protection.
Our verdict: For Italy, NordVPN is the all-rounder: fast Italian servers, reliable RaiPlay and DAZN, and the best privacy credentials. If you want the same core capability for less, Surfshark at $38.28 a year with unlimited devices is the value call. Pick ProtonVPN only if privacy outranks streaming for you.
FAQ
Is it legal to use a VPN in Italy? Yes. VPNs are fully legal in Italy. Using one to access a paid service you subscribe to from abroad is a terms-of-service matter, not a legal one.
Will RaiPlay detect my VPN? RaiPlay is far less aggressive than Netflix or BBC iPlayer. A quality VPN with Italian servers unblocks it reliably. If a stream stalls, change servers.
Can I get an Italian IP address for free? Free VPNs rarely offer Italian servers and are easily detected. ProtonVPN’s free tier does not include Italy. For a dependable Italian IP, a paid provider is the realistic route.
Keep reading: Best VPN for travel in 2026 and Best VPN for Spain in 2026.