Best VPNs for Italy (and some to avoid)

If you’re planning an Italian vacation, it’s a good idea to install a Virtual Private Network (VPN). These services encrypt your internet traffic, allowing you to browse safely on public wifi while stopping your ISP from seeing what you get up to online. You’ll also be able to spoof your location and access content from back home during your stay (or stream RaiTV once your trip is over).

However, plenty of VPNs just aren’t worth your time. That’s why I performed hours of hands-on testing, trying out each service for myself to see if it’s really as good as it claims. Below, I’ll reveal the top VPNs for Italy and talk a little about what makes them so special, with more detailed reviews of each service further down the page.

Best VPNs for Italy:

1. NordVPN The best VPN for Italy. Known for its high speeds and powerful privacy tools (plus its proven no-logs policy). Can beat almost any online restriction and includes a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.
   TIP In our testing we found that the cheapest NordVPN plan (Standard) works perfectly for Italy.
2. Surfshark The best budget VPN for Italy. A zero-logs service with no connection limit and exceptional unblocking ability. Quick and easy to use, with an expansive set of security features.
3. TotalVPN A great way for novice users to protect themselves. Good streaming capabilities, robust security, and a high degree of versatility. Very affordable.
4. Proton VPN Makes it easy to get an Italian IP address abroad. Large network of speedy servers and a strong privacy focus. Refuses to keep any logs.
5. ExpressVPN This intuitive VPN can sidestep nearly any digital limitation, even working in China. It’s fast, reliable, and secure, with a spotless record.
6. IPVanish An audited service that can do it all, from streaming to torrenting. Secure all of your devices simultaneously. Impressive security toolkit.
7. CyberGhost A versatile VPN with servers designed for watching Italian TV abroad. Boasts a strong privacy focus and a generous guarantee period.
8. Private Internet Access Lots of Italian servers and customizable privacy options. Has an expansive network, no connection limit and 24/7 support.
9. PrivateVPN This VPN puts your privacy above all else, though it’s great for beating online restrictions too. Easy to use, with reliable servers in Italy.

How to use a VPN for Italy

It’s easier than you might think to secure your connection, bypass censorship, or unblock geo-restricted services using a VPN. Just follow these steps:

Here’s how to use a VPN for Italy:

1. Subscribe to a VPN from this guide (I recommend NordVPN).
2. Download and install the VPN app.
3. Login using the credentials created during registration.
4. Choose a VPN server location. This is situation-dependent: you’d use
5. a server in Italy to access Italian content from abroad, a server in the US to access Netflix US, or the UK to access BBC iPlayer.
6. That’s it! As soon as the VPN connects, your data will be encrypted, which will prevent local network administrators, ISPs, government agencies, and cyber criminals from monitoring your traffic.

Note: This article looks at the best VPNs for Italy overall, but Comparitech also has articles that specifically look at the best VPNs for Netflix Italy and Rai TV (RaiPlay).

How I chose the top Italy VPNs

• Network suitability: First, I looked for VPNs with lots of servers in Italy, and a large global presence. Then, I tested them against several Italian and international streaming platforms to see which was the most reliable.
• Speed: If you want to securely stream, game or torrent while in Italy, you’ll need a VPN that’s fast enough to do so. I tested each provider’s speeds multiple times while connected to their servers in Italy.
• Value for money: VPNs were evaluated on their lowest monthly price, the presence of student discounts, and versatility, among many other factors.
• Security and privacy: I only recommend VPNs with strong security. This meant looking at over a dozen criteria including encryption strength, logging policies, audit histories, and obfuscation capabilities.
• Ease of use: I intentionally looked for novice-friendly services and those that go out of their way to be easy to use. In total, I rated providers on 10 criteria including whether they offer 24/7 live chat and a reasonable connection limit.

Interested in learning more? Check out the methodology section at the bottom of this post.

A comparison of my top recommended VPNs for Italy

I’ve compared the most important features of the top VPNs here. Prefer to read the in-depth reviews? Start with NordVPN – the #1 choice for Italy.

The best VPNs for Italy

The following reviews are based on my first-hand experiences using and testing each provider in the real world.

Here’s my list of the best VPNs for Italy:

1. NordVPN

Mar 2026

NordVPN is my top choice VPN for Italy. It has more than 60 servers split between Rome, Milan, and Palermo, with 9,000 servers across 130 countries in total. I’ve had great results streaming with this VPN, even on tricky platforms like Netflix Italia, Max, and Now TV. The apps themselves are very straightforward, with quick connection times and beginner-friendly descriptions of what each feature does. There’s also a generous 10 simultaneous connection limit and 24/7 support over live chat.

To make sure NordVPN’s performance was up to scratch, I tested its Italian servers three times while connected to a typical 40 Mbps connection. This resulted in an average speed of 35.89 Mbps, with less than 0.5 Mbps of difference between its best and worst speeds. In other words, NordVPN was ones of the fastest and most consistent VPN I tested. See for yourself:

NordVPN represents the pinnacle of digital security, backing up unbreakable encryption with a kill switch, leak protection, and a repeatedly-verified zero-logs policy. There are plenty of advanced tools as well, such as its dedicated IP, double VPN, and Tor over VPN servers, automatic ad and tracker-blocking, or censorship-beating NordWhisper protocol designed to keep you safe in places where the internet is heavily-restricted. Finally, users can take advantage of split tunneling to let certain apps or websites bypass encryption entirely. NordVPN accepts gift cards and cryptocurrency too, making it easy to sign up without providing any personal info.

Apps are available for Linux, Windows, MacOS, iOS, and Android. It also offers manual setup guides for a huge range of different router firmware.

BEST VPN FOR ITALY:NordVPN is my #1 VPN for Italy. Boasts a large network with lots of Italian servers, plus an exemplary set of security features. Works with RaiPay, Netflix, and Disney+ to name but a few platforms. Every plan comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can try it completely risk-free.

Read our full NordVPN review here or watch our video review below.

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2. Surfshark

Surfshark is the best value VPN for Italy. This affordable provider has 4,500 servers spread across 100 countries with around 70 throughout Milan and Rome. Perhaps more surprising, it works with stubborn streaming sites like La7, RaiPlay, and Mediaset, and is one of the only low-cost VPNs with no connection limits. There’s around the clock support via live chat just in case anything doesn’t work as expected, though in my experience, issues have been few and far between.

Surfshark consistently outperforms many of its more expensive competitors, so I was excited to see just what it was capable of. Following a full day of tests, Surfshark had an average speed of 36.55 Mbps, higher than any other service in this list. That makes it a perfect choice for data-intensive tasks like live streaming, playing online games, or downloading large files. Here are my full test results:

It’s no slouch where privacy is concerned either. Surfshark uses uncrackable ChaCha20 encryption, DNS and IPv6 leak protection, and a kill switch to ensure your activities are properly-shielded at all times. It has been audited several times to prove it’s telling the truth about its no-logs policy. Surfshark’s more advanced tools include ad and tracker-blocking, a stealth mode for beating country-wide restrictions, and the option to swap your IP address periodically for extra anonymity.

Surfshark apps are available for Android, Windows, Linux, macOS, and iOS. Its website provides manual setup guides for various routers.

BEST BUDGET VPN:Surfshark is the best favorite low-cost VPN. It has the speed needed to stream Italian TV from anywhere, provides a high degree of security, and doesn’t limit the number of simultaneous connections. Includes a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read the full Surfshark review.

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3. Total VPN

Total VPN is another reliable service that’s well worth considering. It has roughly 1,800 servers spread across 80 countries and works flawlessly with Italian streaming services like RaiPlay, La7, Amazon Prime Video, and Now TV. It does have a five-connection limit, which is a little lower than most of its rivals, but should be plenty for most families. Customer support is available, day or night, over live chat, and there’s a ticket system for more complex problems.

I tested Total VPN’s Italian servers three times (once in the morning, at noon, and in the afternoon), resulting in an average speed of 35.63 Mbps. Not only that, it was highly consistent, with less than 1 Mbps of fluctuation. For context, that’s faster than is required for streaming, torrenting, or playing fast-paced online games, so you shouldn’t notice any performance problems unless you have a very slow connection.

This provider does a great job of protecting of your privacy. By default, it uses 256-bit AES encryption, DNS and IPv6 leak protection, and a kill switch designed to stop sending data if your connection is interrupted unexpectedly. Users can also choose to allow certain websites (but not apps) through the VPN’s encryption, or switch to the Hydra protocol to get around some forms of VPN-blocking (though it won’t work in countries with repressive censorship like China).

One of the most appealing things about Total VPN is the price of its subscriptions. A one-year plan costs the equivalent of $1.59 a month and comes with free antivirus and ad-blocking software. Apps are available for Windows, Android, macOS, iOS, and tvOS, though there’s no support for Linux or routers just yet.

FREE ANTIVIRUS:Total VPN subscriptions include Total AdBlock and TotalAV software. The provider has speedy servers in 80+ countries and easy-to-use apps that come with built-in leak protection. Plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full Total VPN review.

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4. ProtonVPN

ProtonVPN boasts a larger than average network, with roughly 15,000 servers in 120 countries around the world. There are two Italian locations: Palermo and Milan, and I was able to access major platforms like RaiPlay and Netflix IT, as well as services like Hulu, Now TV, and BBC iPlayer. ProtonVPN lets users protect up to 10 of their devices at the same time and offers 24/7 support over live chat.

I measured the speed of ProtonVPN’s servers in Italy at three times of day, keeping a close eye on its consistency. It achieved an average speed of 34.94 Mbps, making it one of the faster providers in this list and certainly capable of handling day to day tasks like torrenting, watching TV, or gaming. Further, there was only 0.7 Mbps between its best and worst results, so it’s extremely reliable. Take a look:

This VPN enshrines user privacy in everything it does, as you’d expect from the company that created Proton Mail. Its encryption is considered uncrackable by experts, there’s a kill switch built-in, and it prevents DNS and IPv6 leaks as well as blocking ads and trackers automaticall. ProtonVPN has a no-logs policy and an extensive audit history, plus it’s one of the only services that supports port forwarding as standard. Finally, there are multi-hop servers and a stealth protocol just in case you’d like to increase your anonymity even further.

ProtonVPN has its own apps for Linux, MacOS, Windows, Android, and iOS devices. It can also be manually configured to work with most routers — just check the website for details.

ROBUST SECURITY:ProtonVPN has a great set of privacy features. It’s also very fast, capable of beating most online restrictions, and works with a ton of Italian streaming platforms. Paid subscriptions include a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full ProtonVPN review.

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4. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is a well-respected provider that’s known for its ability to beat even the toughest online restrictions. Not only does it work perfectly in places like China, this VPN can even help you watch Netflix Italia, Disney+, or Amazon Prime Video while traveling. There are servers in 105 countries, including Italy, all of which allow P2P activity. Additionally, there’s 24/7 customer support via live chat. Basic subscriptions have a 10 connection limit, with higher-tier plans securing up to 14 devices at once.

How fast is ExpressVPN, really? To find out, I performed speed tests in the morning, at midday, and in the afternoon using its Italian servers. Its average speed was a respectable 30.65 Mbps and there was barely any fluctuation during peak times. Suffice to say, you should be able to watch your favorite shows, play online games, or take part in video calls without any noticeable interruptions.

ExpressVPN has quite a strong security offering but manages to remain accessible to novice users by having most of its privacy features active at all times. These include its kill switch, powerful encryption, and leak protection. What’s more, this VPN will obfuscate your traffic automatically if you’re in a country with extreme censorship. Users can choose to block adult content, ads, and trackers too. With an audited no-logs policy and several ways to pay anonymously, ExpressVPN would be an excellent choice for anyone looking to boost their digital privacy.

ExpressVPN now uses a tiered-pricing model, with Basic plans starting at $3.49 monthly, Advanced plans starting at $4.49 monthly, and Pro plans starting at $7.49 monthly. This gives you the flexibility to choose the plan that fits your budget and security requirements.

Apps are available for Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, Linux, Fire TV, and certain wifi routers.

FAST AND VERSATILE:ExpressVPN is speedy, reliable, and keeps no logs, meaning it’s great for international travelers. Unblocks a ton of Italian streaming sites and delivers a strong set of security features. Plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full ExpressVPN review.

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5. IPVanish

IPVanish is another great option for anyone traveling to Italy. It has roughly 3,200 servers in 100+ countries, and these are all self-owned rather than rented, meaning IPVanish has full control over its infrastructure. It’s great for streaming too, working flawlessly with BBC iPlayer, RaiPlay, and Max, to name but a few supported services. Best of all, this VPN can protect every device you own and offers around the clock support via live chat. You can even chat with staff over the phone if you’d prefer.

I tested IPVanish’s Italian servers multiple times using a 40 Mbps connection. This service delivered an average speed of 31.03 Mbps, which is enough to handle tasks like streaming and torrenting with no problems. Its results did vary by quite a bit though, so there’s still room for improvement. Here are the full test results:

IPVanish has significantly upgraded its security toolkit in recent years. It keeps you safe using unbreakable encryption, a zero-logs policy which has been verified by external auditors, a kill switch, and protection against DNS and IPv6 leaks. Newer tools include a link safety checker, multi-hop servers, and the ability to block ads and trackers automatically. There is an obfuscation feature but it only works on the OpenVPN protocol and isn’t strong enough to beat region-wide censorship.

Users can choose between an Essential plan (which just includes the VPN), or spend about a dollar more each month to get an Advanced subscription which bundles the VPN with 1 TB of cloud storage and a privacy-focused, remotely-accessible browser.

Apps are available for Windows, MacOS, iOS, and Android. Alternatively, you can follow manual setup guides to install IPVanish on routers and Linux systems.

NO DEVICE LIMITS:IPVanish has no connection limits, making it perfect for families. It’s also highly-secure, customizable, and able to access most major streaming sites with no issues. Offers high speeds and a 30-day money-back guarantee on annual plans.

Read our full IPVanish review.

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6. CyberGhost

CyberGhost has everything that someone new to VPNs could ever need. A large network? Check: there are servers in over countries including Italy. Exceptional streaming ability? Check, and this VPN will even tell you which server to use for platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and Prime Video. Better still, torrenting is allowed on any server, up to seven devices can be connected simultaneously, and staff are ready to help at any time over live chat.

CyberGhost’s speed test results showed me that while this service can deliver competitive performance, it still has a way to go on consistency. Its average speed was 28 Mbps but would have been much higher if the morning test hadn’t been quite a bit slower than the others. Still, even at its slowest, CyberGhost is suitable for data-intensive tasks such as downloading large files, live streaming, or gaming.

Accountability clearly matters to CyberGhost, since it publishes regular transparency reports and has been audited to prove that it doesn’t log any data that could identify you. Its apps offer 256-bit encryption, DNS and IPv6 leak protection, and a kill switch, as well as automatic tracker and ad-blocking. More experienced users will appreciate how easy it is to automate connection is specific situations, split tunneling support, and the ability to beat some VPN-blocking systems using random port connection.

Apps are available for Windows, Linux, MacOS, iOS, and Android. CyberGhost’s website has manual setup instructions for routers.

BEGINNERS' CHOICE:CyberGhost has a simple set up, meaning it’s ideal for anyone new to VPNs. Reliably unblocks major Italian streaming sites. Includes a 45-day money-back guarantee on long-term plans (or a 14-day guarantee for monthly customers).

Read our full CyberGhost review.

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7. Private Internet Access

Private Internet Access offers access to servers in 90+ countries, with a strong presence in Europe. I’ve had great results using it to stream various regional Netflix and Disney Plus catalogs, as well as tuning into live broadcasts on RAI 1 and Canale 5. As if that wasn’t enough, Private Internet Access lets you connect as many devices as you like and provides around the clock assistance over live chat. Just be aware that this VPN won’t work in places where the internet is heavily-restricted.

Next, I ran a series of speed tests to see what kind of performance this VPN’s Italian servers could provide. With an average speed of 31.85 Mbps, streaming won’t be an issue, and if your connection is faster than mine (40 Mbps), you’ll probably get even higher results. The table below breaks down PIA’s speeds at various times of day.

This is a more advanced VPN with a ton of changeable settings, so it’s better for experienced users than newcomers. For instance, you can change packet sizes, encryption level, and the port used, or switch between several industry-approved protocols including WireGuard. PIA’s toolkit includes a kill switch, tracker-blocker, and a stealth mode, plus an independently-audited no-logging policy. Finally, there’s port forwarding and split tunneling support, as well as multi-hop connections, just in case you have a more complicated setup that requires a tad more customization.

Private Internet Access supports iOS, MacOS, Windows, Linux, and Android, plus its website contains manual setup guides for most home routers.

DESIGNED FOR EXPERTS:Private Internet Access offers fine-grained control over your security setup. Competitive speeds, a large network, and the ability to access virtually any Italian TV channel abroad. Protect any number of devices. Each plan comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full Private Internet Access review.

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8. PrivateVPN

PrivateVPN doesn’t have the largest network around but its 200 servers are entirely self-owned and managed in-house for maximum privacy, plus they’re spread across 60+ countries. There are very few streaming platforms this VPN can’t unblock, so you’ll be able to watch Italian TV channels, ITVX, or YouTube TV from anywhere in the world. Up to 10 devices can be protected at the same time and if you have any issues, staff can be contacted using the 24/7 live chat service.

To find out how fast PrivateVPN was, I carried out three speed tests over the course of a day. The provider was the slowest I tested, with an overall average download speed of 19.91 Mbps. If you have a relatively modest internet connection (mine was 40.07 Mbps), this means you’ll be limited to streaming in HD.

Privacy is one area where this VPN really excels. To begin with, it refuses to keep any logs that could identify you. Traffic is secured with uncrackable encryption, and users are able to switch between 128-bit and 256-bit AES for faster speeds or stronger security as needed. There’s also a kill switch, DNS leak protection, and split tunneling support in case you need to encrypt traffic from some sites but not others. PrivateVPN’s stealth mode can beat the world’s toughest online censorship — just make sure you’re in the Advanced view or this option won’t be visible.

PrivateVPN has its own Android, MacOS, iOS, and Windows apps, but it can also be manually configured to work on popular Linux distros and most routers.

SECURE CONNECTIONS:PrivateVPN is a good family choice, provided you have reasonably fast internet. Strong on security, with anti-censorship features and a no-logs policy. Perfect for streaming Italian TV abroad. Plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full PrivateVPN review.

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Using a free VPN for Italy instead

Free VPNs can seem like the best of both worlds, enhanced online security at no cost whatsoever. The reality, however, is very different. Free VPN providers tend to have very small networks that struggle to provide reasonable speeds to their huge user bases. That means you can expect a strict monthly data cap and potentially waiting in queues before being able to use the VPN at all.

Unfortunately, it gets worse. Free VPN services still have to make a profit somehow, so they’ll often deliver a subpar experience in the hopes that you’ll get frustrated and pay up to remove various limitations. Some even double-dip, injecting tracking cookies or ads into the sites you visit in order to maximize profits. Your VPN is supposed to keep your online activities hidden and any service that tampers with the data in this way cannot realistically claim to offer any real degree of privacy.

VPNs to avoid in Italy

It would be impossible to vet all of the hundreds of VPN providers out there, but here are a couple that should definitely be avoided in Italy.

AirVPN

AirVPN has earned a stellar reputation in the VPN community thanks to its strict zero-logs policy and superb security standards. Unfortunately, the company is incorporated in Italy, firmly within the jurisdiction of Italian authorities. In any other country, AirVPN would be a solid recommendation, but for people in Italy, it’s just a bit too close to home.

HolaVPN

Israel-based Hola once had a user base of almost 50 million. Unfortunately, it deployed the machines it was installed on as pawns in a massive botnet army.

A part of Hola users’ individual bandwidth was used to engage in things like Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks, promoting pirated content, and distributing pornography, all without any consent from the people whose connections were used for illegal purposes.

Italy’s data retention and mass surveillance laws

In 2006, the European Union adopted the Data Retention Directive, which requires internet service providers to collect certain information about subscribers. That information includes metadata such as source IP address, destination IP address, time, duration, device, and user location.

In 2017, the Italian government passed a law requiring all ISPs to store electronic communications data for six years, a massive increase from the previous retention limit of twelve months. This law also allowed the government to use deep-packet inspection systems to see what citizens are doing online, without any kind of judicial review, approval, or judge’s sign off. This was opposed by the Civil Liberties Union for Europe and privacy campaigners but remains in effect nearly a decade later.

These are just some of the reasons why it’s a good idea to use a VPN in Italy.

Using a VPN for Italy: FAQs