Best VPN for Italy in 2026
Updated 14 March 2026- Bypass ISP-level blocks on streaming, gambling & torrent sites in Italy
- Access US Netflix, Hulu & HBO Max libraries not available in Italy
- Protect your privacy under AGCOM regulations & Fourteen Eyes surveillance
- All top VPNs include 30-day money-back guarantees with fast Italian servers
ExpressVPN offers premium performance with its proprietary Lightway protocol. Known for reliability, top-tier security, and ease of use across all devices and platforms.
CyberGhost delivers fast speeds and effective privacy settings. With dedicated anonymous IPs, automatic WiFi protection, and 24/7 live chat support, it's an excellent all-round choice.
Private Internet Access is a high speed VPN with a large server network and advanced security settings. With an ad & tracker blocker included and 24/7 live chat support, it offers great value.
Rankings are based on our independent testing methodology. We evaluate speed, privacy, streaming capabilities, and value for money. We may earn affiliate commissions from links on this page, which helps fund our testing — this does not influence our rankings.
Our Top Choice
ExpressVPN offers premium performance with its proprietary Lightway protocol. Known for reliability, top-tier security, and ease of use across all devices and platforms.
Why You Need a VPN in Italy
Italy blocks thousands of websites through AGCOM (the communications authority) and court orders, including streaming sites, gambling platforms, and torrent indexes. As a Fourteen Eyes member with growing surveillance capabilities, a VPN protects both your access and your privacy.
Bypass AGCOM Website Blocks
AGCOM and Italian courts have blocked thousands of websites, including IPTV services, gambling sites not licensed in Italy, and torrent indexes. Italian ISPs like TIM, Vodafone, and WindTre implement these blocks via DNS filtering. A VPN bypasses all ISP-level blocks.
Fourteen Eyes Protection
Italy is a Fourteen Eyes member, sharing intelligence with 13 other nations. Italian intelligence agencies can monitor internet traffic, and ISPs retain connection data. A VPN with a no-logs policy outside this jurisdiction prevents data collection at the source.
Access Global Streaming
Italy’s streaming landscape is limited compared to the US. Hulu, HBO Max, and Peacock are unavailable. US Netflix has different titles than Netflix Italy. Sky Italia has exclusive rights to content available on other platforms elsewhere. A VPN unlocks everything.
Secure Italian WiFi
Italy’s extensive public WiFi in piazzas, cafés, and train stations is convenient but insecure. A VPN encrypts your data on these networks, protecting banking credentials for Unicredit, Intesa Sanpaolo, and other Italian banks.
What to Look for in a VPN for Italy
Italy’s combination of ISP blocking, Fourteen Eyes membership, and rich streaming needs creates specific VPN requirements:
DNS Leak Protection
Since Italian ISPs implement blocks via DNS filtering, your VPN must use its own DNS servers and prevent DNS leaks. If DNS queries leak to your ISP, blocked sites remain inaccessible despite the VPN connection.
No-Logs Outside Fourteen Eyes
Italian authorities can request data under EU cooperation frameworks. VPNs headquartered in Panama (NordVPN) or BVI (ExpressVPN) with audited no-logs policies offer the strongest protection from Italian data requests.
Fast Italian & International Servers
Servers in Rome and Milan for everyday browsing, plus US and UK servers for streaming. NordVPN has 70+ Italian servers, while ExpressVPN offers locations in 3 Italian cities.
Multi-Device Coverage
Italian households average 6+ connected devices. Choose a VPN with generous simultaneous connection limits. Surfshark’s unlimited connections are ideal for Italian families.
How to Use a VPN in Italy
Choose a VPN provider
Select a VPN from our rankings. Prioritize providers outside Fourteen Eyes jurisdiction with strong DNS leak protection.
Install on your devices
Download from the App Store, Google Play, or the VPN website. Italian households have many connected devices — choose a provider with generous connection limits.
Select your server
For unblocking AGCOM-restricted sites, any non-Italian server works. For US streaming, choose a US server. For everyday privacy, a nearby European server is fastest.
Verify DNS protection
Check that DNS leak protection is enabled in settings. This ensures your ISP cannot see DNS queries, which is how Italian blocks are implemented.
Start browsing freely
All AGCOM blocks are now bypassed. Your ISP sees only encrypted VPN traffic — not your browsing activity or streaming choices.
How We Test VPNs for Italy
Our Italian testing covers ISP block bypass, streaming access, and speed performance on major Italian networks.
ISP Block Bypass
We verify that each VPN bypasses AGCOM-mandated blocks on Italian ISPs including TIM, Vodafone, WindTre, and Fastweb. We test DNS leak protection to ensure blocks are fully circumvented.
Streaming Unblocking
We test access to US Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, HBO Max, and Disney+ from Italian connections. We also verify that RAI Play and Mediaset Infinity work through Italian VPN servers while abroad.
Speed on Italian Networks
We test on TIM, Vodafone, WindTre, and Fastweb connections. Italy’s average broadband speed is 70 Mbps, and the best VPNs retain 80–88% on nearby European servers.
Privacy Verification
We verify no-logs compliance, check for DNS and IPv6 leaks on Italian ISPs, and confirm that VPN traffic cannot be attributed to individual users by Italian authorities.
All Italian tests are refreshed monthly using connections from Rome and Milan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are VPNs legal in Italy?
Yes, VPNs are completely legal in Italy. There are no laws restricting VPN use. However, using a VPN to access illegal content (such as unlicensed gambling) remains against the law. Most Italians use VPNs for privacy and accessing international streaming content.
What websites does Italy block?
AGCOM and Italian courts have blocked thousands of websites, primarily unlicensed IPTV streaming services, gambling sites not licensed by ADM (Italy’s gambling authority), torrent indexes, and some piracy-related platforms. Italian ISPs implement these blocks through DNS filtering, which a VPN easily bypasses.
Which VPN is fastest in Italy?
NordVPN is the fastest VPN in Italy with 70+ servers in Rome and Milan, averaging 62 Mbps on a 70 Mbps connection (89% retention). ExpressVPN follows with servers in 3 Italian cities retaining about 83% of base speed.
Can I watch RAI Play abroad with a VPN?
Yes. RAI Play, Mediaset Infinity, and other Italian streaming services are geo-restricted to Italy. Connect to an Italian VPN server and these services work as if you’re in Italy. This is especially useful for Italian expatriates and travelers.
Is Italy part of a surveillance alliance?
Yes. Italy is a Fourteen Eyes member, an intelligence-sharing alliance of 14 nations. Italian intelligence services can share data with the US, UK, Germany, France, and other members. Italian ISPs also retain connection metadata. A no-logs VPN prevents this data from being collected in the first place.