Rai TV or RaiPlay is free to stream service but is only available in Italy. You can watch RaiPlay in Canada with the help of a VPN.
But before you can stream anything, you need to sign up for a free account and then connect to a VPN.
If you try to access RaiPlay in Canada without a VPN, you will be greeted with a message that says:
“The streaming of this content is available in Italy only.”
I was able to stream RaiPlay content in Canada by using ExpressVPN and the other best VPNs that I have discussed in this guide.
Our Recommended VPN – ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is our recommended choice when it comes to unblocking RaiPlay in Canada as it easily bypasses its geo-restrictions and keeps your online identity safe while streaming.
Get yourself ExpressVPN today and enjoy 3 extra months for free. You also get a 30-day money-back guarantee so use all of its features risk-free for 30-days.
How to Unblock Rai TV in Canada Using a VPN
Before you start streaming with Rai TV. You need to do two things. First, you need to subscribe to a VPN and connect to an Italian server, and then you need to create a free account with RaiPlay.
I have discussed the entire process below:
Step 1: Subscribe to your VPN of choice (ExpressVPN is our recommended choice)
Step 2: Download the ExpressVPN app and Install it on your device
Step 3: Open the app and connect to an Italian server (e.g. Rome)
Step 4: Open the RaiPlay website and click login on the top-right corner
Step 5: Click on Sign In and then select Create a Rai Account
Step 6: Enter your personal detail
Step 7: Once your registration is complete, select “Go Back to the Homepage”
Step 8: Select any content to watch (e.g. Una Giusta Causa)
Step 9: Click Play
Step 10: Enjoy streaming!
What are the Best VPNs to Watch Rai TV in Canada?
We tested about 35+ VPNs to see whether they are able to unblock RaiPlay in Canada. We found that only the 3 best VPNs were able to access RaiPlay outside Italy on the first attempt. Among those 3 VPNs, I found ExpressVPNthe performing VPN.
1. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN offers a more pricey 2-year subscription plan which is currently worth $6.67/month i.e. 12 Months + 3 Months Free. However, despite this higher price, it still manages to be quite popular.
The reason why that is so is simple: ExpressVPN offers a very reliable service with great protection and features. It’s also one of the fastest VPNs on the market.
But we have to talk about the most relevant feature: its in-built speed test. With it, you can check which servers are currently the fastest for streaming Rai TV in Canada.
You can even watch a lot of other countries’ content in Canada by connecting to ExpressVPN, for instance, Roku Channel, ITV Hub, Hayu, etc.
ExpressVPN also has one of the widest global servers spread in the entire market, with over 3000 servers across 94 countries. What’s also great is that it offers 2 Italian locations.
Still not convinced that ExpressVPN is the service for you? Take a look at some of the other VPNs we recommend.
2. Surfshark
Surfshark is the cheapest VPN for just $2.49/month, you can subscribe to their 2-year subscription plan and get a ton of features, and the best streaming experience of Rai TV in Canada.
With that single subscription you and your family will be able to access the service over an unlimited number of devices simultaneously, and, hence, Rai TV.
You can watch other foreign streaming services and channels in Canada along with RaiPlay, for example, C8, Yle, SVT Play, etc.
What makes this deal even better are its No Borders mode, unblocking the service where it is otherwise restricted, and its Camouflage mode, which prevents your ISP from spying on you.
Surfshark will give you access to over 3200 servers that are located in 65 countries worldwide, and a few of these happen to be located in 2 Italian locations.
3. NordVPN
NordVPN has a slightly more expensive deal than Surfshark, with their 2-year subscription being offered for $3.29/month. However, it still manages to compete with it.
How can it compete with Surfshark? Well, for one, it has over 60 Italian servers, out of a total of 5445 servers around the world, which is much greater than Surfshark’s count.
Having a large number of servers in Italy means you’ll never have a problem unblocking Rai TV in Canada whenever you want to watch your favorite Italian show.
What else makes it worthwhile are its features. Double-protection can disguise your IP address twice, and CyberSec mode automatically prevents you from accessing harmful content.
If you’re still wondering if VPNs are for you, don’t worry. NordVPN, as do most other VPNs on the market, provides a 30-day money-back guarantee so that you can test it out first.
Why is RaiPlay blocked in Canada?
Since Rai is the national broadcasting company of Italy, it doesn’t face that many barriers in terms of streaming its content online to Italy.
However, when it comes to broadcasting its content abroad, the company would need to go through a lot of trouble to get the legal rights to do so.
There is also no incentive for the company to stream for free in areas other than Italy.
Even if Rai wanted to expand to Canada, they would have to attain specific legal rights to do so, which is quite difficult.
That is why the service is simply restricted outside of Italy. So, if you want to watch Rai in Canada, you’ll need a VPN.
How Do I Need a VPN to Watch RaiPlay in Canada?
VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) are created using physical private servers, this allows a user to disguise their IP address (your IP address is your online ID).
When you connect to a platform like Rai, the service will recognize your IP address as a Canadian one and will restrict your access.
However, if you connect to an Italian server using a VPN, your IP address will be disguised.
Then, when you connect to RaiPlay, it will think you’re accessing it from Italy, despite actually being in Canada, and will give you access to Rai TV without a hitch.
Should you consider a free VPN with RaiPlay?
The very idea of a free VPN is dubious, so we suggest that you avoid such offers unless they are provided by known names in the industry, like Hotspot Shield.
Why is that? Well, there’s a simple reason. The private servers that are required to set up and run the VPN cost a lot to maintain and that maintenance cost must be met by some source.
If there is no apparent source of revenue that goes into that maintenance, that’s usually a sign that the product is just a front for some other potentially dangerous software or content.
That normally takes the form of malware or adware, putting you, your data, and your device at risk.
That’s why we suggest you avoid products like that and stick to premium VPNs like the ones we’ve recommended.
We’ve tested them, and we’ve found that they work great with Rai TV in Canada.
Watch RaiPlay on your Smartphone
Step 1: Connect to a US server over ExpressVPN
Step 2: Install RaiPlay app from the Play Store
Step 3: Open the app and click on the 3 horizontal lines from the bottom right corner
Step 4: Click on “Accedi”
Step 5: Enter your credentials
Step 6: From the homepage, click on “Catalogo”
Step 7: Choose a genre of shows, e.g. Fiction
Step 8: Select a show, e.g. Mina Settembre
Step 9: Choose an episode
Step 10: Enjoy Streaming
Which Rai Channels are on RaiPlay?
You will be able to live-stream these channels on RaiPlay:
- Rai 1-5
- Rai Movie
- Rai Premium
- Rai Gulp
- Rai Yoyo
- Rai Storia
- Rai Scuola
- Rain News 24
- Rai Sport PIU HD
- Rai Sport
- RaiPlay 1-3
- Rai Radio 2
What to Watch on RaiPlay in Canada?
With 18 Rai channels, you’ll never run out of things to watch on RaiPlay. But you might not know where to start. That’s where this list of recommendations comes in.
For those of you that just feel like watching some Hollywood films, Rai has a great selection waiting for you.
- Blue Line
- Belle & Sebastien
- We Die Young
- The Way Back
- Dolceroma
- Nudes
- Doc Martin
- Cars Toon
- Alexa & Co.
- Beforeigners
- Dream Hotel
- Camper
- Stalk
- Mental
- Into The Dark
- Aria
- Blanca
- Departure
- Professor T
- Bull
- Mumfie
Where Else Can You Watch Rai TV?
If you’re wondering if there are other ways to watch Rai TV in Canada, there are. Rai TV content is offered by a lot of TV cable providers such as Rogers, Bell, and Shaw.
You will, of course, need the relevant TV cable subscription, in order to access it.
You can also watch Rai TV on Kodi for free if you don’t want to use RaiPlay. All you have to do is download the official Rai TV add-on for the Kodi media player, and use a VPN to disguise your IP address to an Italian address.
Other Free Streaming Services to Watch in Canada
Have a look at some of the streaming services that are free to watch and can be watched in Canada with the help of a VPN:
- Watch Pluto TV in Canada
- Watch Mitele in Canada
- Watch TVNZ On-Demand in Canada
- Watch Channel 5 in Canada
FAQs – Rai TV
What Does RAI Stand For?
Though RAI is often stylized as Rai, as it is in this guide, it is actually an acronym that stood for Radio Audizioni Italiane.
Does Sling Have Rai Italia?
With Sling’s ‘Panorama Italiano’ add-on package, you can get a whole host of Italian programming, including Rai Italia.
Wrapping it Up!
Just because of geo-restriction and legal issues, Rai TV is restricted to Italy, but now, with the power of a VPN, you can watch Rai TV in Canada without a problem.
However, if you think that’s the end of what a VPN can do for you, you’ll be surprised. VPNs give you greater security and privacy as you browse the internet.
With a VPN, you’ll be able to explore the web the way you want to, without having to worry about people spying on you, or trying to sneak in and steal your data.
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