RaiPlay is Italy’s most demanding free online video streaming platform. It streams Live and Recorded content and popular Italian shows on RaiPlay after free sign-up, such as Don Matteo, Ballaro, Inspector Rex, and Che Tempo Che Fa.
The streaming service is available through its websites and official apps. However, these shows are only allowed to stream in Italy due to their licensing agreements.
The only way to watch RaiPlay in Ireland is by using a trusted VPN and connecting to Italy’s server.
If you try to stream RaiPlay from outside of Italy, an error message will appear on your screen:
“We are sorry, Rai holds the rights to stream the content exclusively for connections from Italy.”
I was able to unblock RaiPlay in Ireland with the help of ExpressVPN (our recommended choice) and the other best VPNs that I have mentioned in this guide.
Our Recommended VPN – ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is our recommended choice for streaming any geo-restricted services that are unavailable in Ireland OR it is used to stay anonymous over the internet for watching anything for free as it hides your streaming activity from the ISPs.
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How to Watch RaiPlay in Ireland
Even though RaiPlay is free to stream, it does require you to create a free account either with Gmail or an Apple account to view its content.
Follow these steps to watch RaiPlay in Ireland:
Step 1: Subscribe to a safe VPN service (ExpressVPN is our #1 choice)
Step 2: Download and Install the VPN on your device
Step 3: Connect to the Italian server
Step 4: Open the Rai Play website
Step 5: You can look up movies and shows from the drop-down at the top
Step 6: Click to view the show or movie you like
Step 7: In order to proceed, you need to log in or create an account with an existing Gmail account or apple account
Step 8: Now sit back and enjoy!
What are the Best VPNs to Unblock RaiPlay in Ireland?
We tested about 35+ VPNs to see whether they were able to unblock RaiPlay in Ireland. We chose the 3 best VPNs that we found to be working best to overcome geo-restrictions in a single attempt.
The best three VPNs to watch RaiPlay outside of Italy are:
1. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is our most recommended choice to unblock RaiPlay in Ireland. It offers blazing fast speed and has 3,000+ servers in more than 90 countries. Additionally, its two servers are located in Italy at Milan and Cosenza, which helps you to stream your favorite show outside of Italy.
If you connect to ExpressVPN beforehand it provides you an advert, tracker, and virus-free experience. With its high-speed connection (i.e. 89 Mbps out of 100 Mbps), you can stream RaiPlay content without any buffering issues. It also provides its users high-security encryption, DNS leak protection, and military-grade encryption.
All of these features can be accessed by paying €6.42/month. Moreover, you also enjoy 3 Months Free with ExpressVPN and a 30-days money-back guarantee. You can access five devices at the same time using one ExpressVPN account.
2. Surfshark
Surfshark ranks second on our best VPNs list. To stream RaiPlay in Ireland, you can subscribe to Surfshark at an affordable price of $2.49/month.
It has more than 3000 servers in 65 countries. With its servers in Rome and Milan, you can access RaiPlay in Ireland with complete privacy.
Surfshark allows an unlimited number of devices to connect with a single account. Due to 256-bit strong encryption, a kill switch, DNS for data security, and IPv6 leak protection, Surfshark is ranked among the top three VPNs.
3. NordVPN
NordVPN is another chosen VPN to unblock RaiPlay in Ireland. It has 60+ servers in Italy out of a total of 5,300+ servers. It offers a high speed of 81 Mbps out of a total of 100 Mbps.
NordVPN is among our top three VPNs because of the extra layer of security it provides to its users. It has advanced security features such as 256-bit AES encryption, IPv6, DNS, no-log policy, customized kill switch, and WebRTC leak protection.
NordVPN costs $3.49/month and supports the connection of 6 devices at a time. It also offers a 30-days money-back guarantee for a risk-free experience.
Why do you Need a VPN to Watch RaiPlay Outside of Italy?
RaiPlay allows you to access 14 Rai television channels in live simulcast, and other on-demand content. However, all of the content is accessible to stream only in Italy due to licensing agreements and content ownership.
If you wish to stream RaiPlay in Ireland, you will need the help of a trusted VPN that can unblock geo-restrictions. A VPN or Virtual Privacy Network changes your Irish IP address to Italian IP when you connect to the Italian server of a VPN.
By masking your IP address, you can watch RaiPlay content in Ireland through its app or website on any device.
In addition to changing your virtual location, a VPN also secures your device against potential malware and virus threats, keeps your IP address anonymous to your ISP, and also protects your privacy.
Is RaiPlay Free to Use?
RaiPlay is a free online streaming platform where you can watch live Rai TV channels and programs.
There are no monthly or annual subscription charges for RaiPlay. However, it requires free registration in order to access available programs.
By registering on RaiPlay you can create your account and keep track of your viewed content on all of your streaming devices, such as iOS, Android, PC, Smartphone, SmartTV, Tablet, etc.
What Channels Does Rai TV Offer?
RaiPlay is an online streaming platform where you can easily watch up to 14 different Rai Channels along with Rai Radio. All of these channels can be viewed live from within the Italian region except the RaiNews24 channel which you can also watch abroad.
The available to live stream Rai channels are:
- Rai1g
- Rai2
- Rai3
- Rai4
- Rai5
- Rai News 24
- Rai Sport
- Rai Sport + HD
- Rai Movie
- Rai Premium
- Rai Yoyo
- Rai Gulp
- Rai Storia
- Rai Scuola
- Rai Radio2
RaiPlay provides various previously aired programs of Rai channels in chronological order that you can re-play for free.
What can I watch on RaiPlay?
RaiPlay has a wealth of free content, from daily news to Original RaiPlay content, your options are endless. RaiPlay has categorized its content, such as fiction, movie, original, TV series, Documentaries, Children, Teen, Learning, Programs, Sports, Rai showcases, Music, and Theater.
If you want to watch RaiPlay in Ireland but are stuck on what to watch, then you can stream the following popular shows:
- Noi
- Vostro Onore
- Doc Nelle Tue Mani
- The Wife
- Naviganti
- IPuffi
- Beforeigners
- Play Digital
- Spotlight
- The Story of Film
What Devices can I Watch RaiPlay on?
If you want to stream Rai channels on RaiPlay in locations other than Italy, you first need to download our recommended VPN i.e. ExpressVPN. ExpressVPN app is available to download on Android, IOS, MAC, Windows, Linux, Chromebook, and Kindle Fire.
After downloading ExpressVPN on your preferred device, you are free to play RaiPlay in Ireland on the following compatible devices.
- Android mobile apps (version 5 and above)
- iOS mobile apps (version 11 and above)
- Windows 10
- Android Tv starting from version 7.0
- Apple TV from tvOS version 12.1
- Samsung Tizen from version 2.4 (televisions produced from 2016 onwards)
- LG TVs that support the WebOS operating system from version 3.0 onwards
- Amazon Fire Tv Stick from the Basic Edition
- Hisense Vidaa 3.0 ( SmartTv series 2019/21)
- HbbTV on all TVs that support HbbTV 2.1 and above (TVs manufactured from 2018)
- Smartphone and Tablet with Android operating system from version 5 onwards
FAQs – RaiPlay
How long are the titles available on RaiPlay?
The available duration of the titles depends on its internet exploitation rights. Titles present in the “catalog” category remain available for a longer time than in the “replay” category, in which the maximum available duration is 7-14 days. Live streamings can only be viewed at the time of broadcast.
Can I download my favorite show on RaiPlay?
The download option allows you to download a limited number of titles from RaiPlay to your devices such as fiction, programs, documentaries, and series, so you can watch them even when you’re not connected to the internet.
The downloaded content can be found in the “Download” area, which can be accessed via the “More”> “Download” menu option in the bottom right corner or the “Other”> “My list” section.
Can I watch the news on RaiPlay?
The news content is only available on RaiPlay for 7 days after it initially airs on television. RaiPlay is the only place where you can watch live news reports from the RaiNews24 channel.
Conclusion
RaiPlay is Rai’s free video streaming platform, which you may access from any internet-connected computer, tablet, smartphone, or smart TV by registering for free. However, due to geo-restrictions, it is only available to stream in Italy.
If you want to watch RaiPlay in Ireland you will need to unblock it by using a reliable VPN. ExpressVPN and other suggested VPNs work best to mask your IP address, so you can stream freely.
