How to watch Rai 3 live online
Rai 3 streams live for free on RaiPlay, Rai's website and app; the live channels need no account. From abroad, RaiPlay opens only part of its content: the Rai News 24 live channel and programmes Rai holds online rights for.
RaiPlay carries Rai 3 and Rai's other channels live without an account; a free Rai account is needed only for the full on-demand catalogue.
- Country
- Italy
- Run by
- Rai, Italy's public broadcaster
- Type
- General
- Language
- Italian
- Live, in Italian
- Rai 3 in diretta
- Watch live
- RaiPlay
- Cost at home
- Free, no account for live
- Abroad
- Partly: Rai News 24 and some shows
- Checked
- 3 November 2026
Can you watch Rai 3 abroad?
Rai's own app description says that from abroad you can reach only part of RaiPlay: the Rai News 24 live channel and the programmes Rai holds online rights for. Altroconsumo agrees that Rai's live channels play only from Italy.
Rai Italia is Rai's channel for Italians abroad, with a selection of Rai programmes, carried by TV providers in many countries.
Rai Italia
Rai's channel for Italians abroad, with programmes from Rai 3 and the other Rai channels.
Rai News 24 on RaiPlay
The news channel live on RaiPlay, also from abroad.
Watch Rai 3 in the USA, the UK, Canada and more
Rai 3 in the USA, the UK, Canada and Australia
Partly. Rai Italia (through TV providers abroad). Rai's channel for Italians abroad, with programmes from Rai 3 and the other Rai channels. Rai News 24 on RaiPlay (worldwide, free). The news channel live on RaiPlay, also from abroad.
Rai 3 in Germany and Spain
Partly. Rai Italia (through TV providers abroad). Rai's channel for Italians abroad, with programmes from Rai 3 and the other Rai channels. Rai News 24 on RaiPlay (worldwide, free). The news channel live on RaiPlay, also from abroad. On a short trip from Italy, paid streaming plans keep working under the EU portability rule; free apps do not have to.
Italian TV in the USA: what works, channel by channel
Apps for Rai 3: TV, phone and laptop
What is Rai 3?
Rai 3 is Rai's third channel, launched on 15 December 1979. Its programmes centre on culture and the regions, with the TG3 news and regional news.
Rai 3: common questions
Is Rai 3 free online?
Yes, on RaiPlay in Italy; the live channels need no account.
Can I watch Rai 3 abroad?
Not live on RaiPlay. From abroad RaiPlay opens Rai News 24 and some programmes; Rai Italia is the channel for Italians abroad.
What is Rai Italia?
Rai's channel for Italians abroad, carried by TV providers in many countries.
Which app do I need to watch Rai 3 live?
RaiPlay (Italy; part of it abroad): web, phones, tablets, smart TVs, streaming sticks.
Can I watch Rai 3 on a smart TV?
Yes. RaiPlay has an app for smart TVs and streaming sticks (Italy; part of it abroad).
Can I watch Rai 3 in the USA?
Partly. Rai Italia (through TV providers abroad). Rai's channel for Italians abroad, with programmes from Rai 3 and the other Rai channels. Rai News 24 on RaiPlay (worldwide, free). The news channel live on RaiPlay, also from abroad.
Where the facts come from
We check every fact on the broadcaster's own pages, or on two independent sources that agree.
- App Store (Italy): RaiPlay (live without an account; abroad note)
- Altroconsumo: Rai live streams only from Italy
- Wikipedia: Rai 3
Last checked: 3 November 2026. Prices and rules change: the official pages always win.
