Key Takeaways: Watch Italian TV in USA

• You can find Italian TV content, including live TV programming and on-demand content, on various free Italian TV sites online, including RaiPlay and Mediaset Infinity. 
• If you’re outside Italy, you will need a VPN with Italian servers to access most Italian TV sites, as many are geoblocked so that only those in Italy can use them.    
• ExpressVPN is our top recommendation for streaming Italian TV content from outside Italy, but NordVPN and Surfshark are alternatives you might want to consider. 

Traveling abroad and living as an expat comes with its fair share of challenges, and can often leave us longing for a piece of home. Online streaming platforms full of TV content are at our fingertips, but services from our home countries often aren’t available once we head overseas. Luckily, there’s a fix. In this guide, we’ll explain how to watch Italian TV in USA states and abroad.

In the modern world, watching a livestream from a TV channel — even without a TV subscription — is as easy as heading over to that channel’s website. However, if you’re abroad, you may find that the service you want to use is geoblocked, which means regional restrictions are in place to prevent viewers from outside the country from accessing its content.

To circumvent this issue, you can use a reputable VPN provider like ExpressVPN to change your IP address and watch Italian TV content online from wherever you are. Keep reading to learn how this works.  

How to Watch Italian TV in U.S. States: Where Can I Find Italian Content Online?

Various major streaming services have libraries in Italy, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney Plus. The content available on these platforms differs by country due to distribution agreements, and some, like Netflix, switch to the local library when you travel abroad. For example, if you head to the U.S. from Italy, your library will switch to the American one.

You can use a VPN to access the Italian libraries on popular streaming services from wherever you are in the world — check below to find out how to do this. Alternatively, if you have an account with your favorite Italian streaming service or premium account, you can use a VPN to unblock the service in the U.S. and abroad.

How Can I Watch Italian TV in the USA for Free?

There are many sites on which you can watch free livestreams of Italian TV programming and, in some cases, on-demand content. For most, you need to connect to an Italian server on a VPN to gain access due to geoblocking restrictions, but we’ll show you how to do that in our tutorial below.

You can also get a 30-day free trial with Amazon Prime Video and use a VPN to access content in the Italian library. For now, here is a selection of free Italian channels you can watch online with ads.

You can use a 30-day money-back guarantee with a VPN provider to access these free sites without the worry of wasting your money if you change your mind.

How Does a VPN Help You Unblock Italian Content Online?

In brief, a virtual private network (VPN) keeps you anonymous online by rerouting your data through an encrypted tunnel, so nobody can see it and changing your IP address to one in another location. In addition to being an important piece of security software, a major perk of using a VPN is that changing your IP address allows you to access geoblocked content in other countries.

To give you an example, if you want to watch a livestream from your favorite Italian TV channel that’s geoblocked in other countries, you can connect to an Italian server on a VPN to get an Italian IP address, making it look like you’re in Italy rather than the country you’re actually in. 

If you want to explore streaming sites in other countries, all you need to do is change your server to one in that country. Just be aware that some streaming services have payment restrictions in place, meaning you can only use a local payment method to sign up. However, this won’t be a problem if you already have an account or want to access a free service like those mentioned above.

How to Watch Italian Shows & Movies on Netflix

If you want to watch Italian TV shows and movies on Netflix, you’re sure to get a much better selection on Netflix Italy than Netflix U.S. However, as mentioned earlier, Netflix libraries change based on your location, so you’ll need to subscribe to a VPN service and connect to an Italian server to access the Italian content selection.

Once you’ve connected to an Italian VPN server, simply open Netflix and search for what you want to watch, as usual. If you experience any problems, try refreshing the page or connecting to a different Italian server.

How to Watch Italian Channels Online With a VPN

In this tutorial, we’ll explain how to watch Italian Rai TV in USA states and abroad via streaming site RaiPlay. You can also go through the same steps to stream Italian TV sites like Mediaset Infinity, Cielo TV and Italia 1 as well as subscription services like Amazon Prime Video, and Netflix.

The Rai TV app, RaiPlay, is available to download on Google Play and the app store if you’re planning on streaming Rai TV content on your mobile device.

1. Get a VPN

   Decide which VPN provider you want to subscribe to, head over to its website and sign up for a plan. We recommend ExpressVPN, which has a 30-day money-back guarantee.

   

2. Download the VPN App

   Find the “download” tab on the provider’s website and go through the installation steps. Make sure you select the correct app for your device.

   

3. Connect to an Italian Server

   Go to the VPN’s server list and connect to an Italian server.

   

4. Watch Rai TV Content via RaiPlay

   Open RaiPlay, search for the content you want to watch and click “riproduci” (play) to start watching Rai TV. You may have to sign up for a free account to watch some content.

   

The 3 Best VPNs for Watching Italian TV

The world of VPN services is huge, so filtering out the worthy from the unworthy can be time-consuming if you’re new to it. To save you some time, here are our top three recommendations for watching Italian TV abroad. 

You’ll need to make sure you select a VPN with servers in Italy. 

1. ExpressVPN

Whether you want to unblock Rai TV content or access another Italian platform, we consider ExpressVPN to be the best for the job. An unfailingly secure, smooth and consistent VPN that’s been around for years, ExpressVPN has perfected its streaming game with excellent speeds and an easy-to-use interface for all devices. 

On the other hand, if you’re looking for a budget-friendly option, you might want to keep scrolling, as ExpressVPN doesn’t come cheap. Nevertheless, if you don’t mind splashing out a bit extra for quality, this could be the service for you. If you’re still uncertain, ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, and our ExpressVPN review shares all the finer details.

ExpressVPN Plans

• Unlimited GB
• 8
• Yes

30-days money-back guarantee

1-month plan, 6-months plan

1-month plan

$12.95/month

6-months plan

$9.99/month

$59.94 billed every 6 month

Save 22%

15-months plan

$6.66/month

$99.95 billed first 15 months and 12 months thereafter

Save 48%

2. NordVPN

With the best average speeds and affordability, NordVPN comes in a very close second to ExpressVPN for streaming. Speed is one of the most important factors when it comes to using a VPN for streaming, and NordVPN is stellar in this area. Moreover, it offers a selection of two-year plans with excellent pricing.

That said, though NordVPN offers a smooth user experience on the desktop app, its mobile app is more challenging because it’s easy to get lost if you’re not good with geography. Try out NordVPN with its 30-day money-back guarantee, and head over to our NordVPN review for the full lowdown.

30-days money-back guarantee

Basic

• *The prices are charged in the first billing cycle only. Renewal prices vary.
• Unlimited GB
• 6
• Yes

1-month plan, 1-year plan

1-month plan

$12.99/month

1-year plan

$5.74/month

$68.85 billed every year

Save 55%

2-year plan

$3.48/month

$83.43 billed every 2 years

Save 73%

Plus

• *The prices are charged in the first billing cycle only. Renewal prices vary.
• Unlimited GB
• 6
• Yes

1-month plan, 1-year plan

1-month plan

$13.99/month

1-year plan

$6.86/month

$82.35 billed every year

Save 50%

2-year plan + 3 months

$3.99/month

$107.73 billed every 2 years

Save 71%

Complete

• *The prices are charged in the first billing cycle only. Renewal prices vary.
• Unlimited GB
• 6
• Yes

1-month plan, 1-year plan

1-month plan

$15.99/month

1-year plan

$9.36/month

$112.35 billed every year

Save 41%

2-year plan + 3 months

$5.99/month

$161.73 billed every 2 years

Save 62%

3. Surfshark

Surfshark is one of the cheapest paid VPNs you could use for just a few dollars when subscribed to one of their long-term plans . We really admire Surfshark’s commitment to providing a premium service for a low price. It also has good speeds overall and offers unlimited simultaneous connections, which is great if you plan to share your VPN with others. 

Nevertheless, Surfshark sits in third position behind NordVPN and ExpressVPN in our fastest VPNs roundup because of its latency, which is higher than that of its competitors in the U.S. and Singapore. This shouldn’t put you off using it for streaming, though — just take note of this if you plan to game on U.S. or Singaporean servers. 

Surfshark also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee and, of course, we have a full review of Surfshark to help you make your mind up. 

30-days money-back guarantee

Surfshark Starter

• Unlimited GB bandwidth, Unlimited devices, Secure VPN, Ad blocker, Cookie pop-up blocker. Plans renew: $185.40 for one year, $370.80 for two years
• Unlimited GB
• Unlimited
• Yes

1-month plan, 1-year plan + 2 months

1-month plan

$15.45/month

1-year plan + 2 months

$3.22/month

$41.86 billed every year

Save 79%

2-year plan + 2 months

$2.29/month

$59.54 billed every 2 years

Save 85%

Surfshark One

• Everything in Starter, plus Antivirus protection, Identity protection, Email Breach and Credit Card Alerts, Online Alias Plans renew: $191.40 for one year, $380.80 for two years.
• Unlimited GB
• Unlimited

1-month plan, 1-year plan

1-month plan

$15.95/month

1-year plan

$4.09/month

$49.08 billed every year

Save 74%

2-year plan

$3.19/month

$76.56 billed every 2 years

Save 80%

Surfshark One+

• Everything in One, plus Data removal Plans renew: $215.40 for one year, $430.80 for two years
• Unlimited GB
• Unlimited

1-month plan, 1-year plan

1-month plan

$17.95/month

1-year plan

$6.49/month

$77.88 billed every year

Save 63%

2-year plan

$4.97/month

$119.28 billed every 2 years

Save 72%

Can I Use a Free VPN to Watch Italian TV Online?

Unfortunately, our top free VPN recommendations — Proton VPN and Windscribe — don’t have free Italian servers. Tunnelbear, another free VPN, has a free Italian server, but its monthly data allowance is just 2GB, so you won’t get very far with that streaming-wise. Check out our Tunnelbear review if you’re interested in learning more about it. 

Alternatives include going for a budget-friendly VPN like Surfshark and building a plan with Windscribe, as this allows you to pick and pay for only the servers you want. When choosing a free VPN, be careful and avoid insecure ones — our free VPN recommendations article linked above can point you in the right direction. 

Final Thoughts

Though it can be frustrating when your favorite content or streaming platform is geoblocked, you can easily get around those blocks with the right VPN. In addition to allowing you to access Italian content, a VPN keeps you secure online and lets you explore a multitude of streaming services that would otherwise be unavailable to you. 

What are your favorite Italian TV shows? Is there a specific channel you miss from home that you can now access? Let us know your experience using a VPN in the comments below. Thanks for reading. 

FAQ: Italian TV From the U.S. & Abroad

• Is There an App to Watch Italian TV?

  Some platforms, like RaiPlay and Mediaset Infinity, have apps that you can download in the app store or Google Play store.

• Does Roku Have Any Italian Channels?

  Yes, Italian Roku channels include Italy TV, TVL and Ciao Italy TV.

• Is Rai TV Free?

  If you want to watch Rai TV online, you can do so via RaiPlay. This is a free service.

• How Do I Get Italian TV?

  If you’re outside Italy, you can connect to an Italian server on a VPN to unblock Italian TV sites like RaiPlay, Cielo TV, DMAX Italia and Mediaset Infinity, which hosts content from various Italian TV channels.