RTÉ is Ireland's most popular TV broadcaster, but a lot of its content is only available in Ireland. If you want to stream the rest of the content available on the RTÉ player from anywhere else in the world, you are going to need a VPN.
Streaming RTÉ Player is easy (and free) as long as you appear to be in Ireland. This can be done by using a VPN. The problem, however, is that VPN providers have very few servers in the Republic of Ireland – which makes it very easy for RTÉ to identify and block Irish VPN servers. As a result, you have to be extremely picky when choosing a VPN if access to RTÉ is a priority.
Best VPNs for RTÉ
We will keep this article updated, and if another VPN manages to regain access to RTÉ – we will add it right away.
- ExpressVPN - The best VPN for RTÉ. It has plenty of servers in Ireland (and elsewhere), and works with a long list of streaming services.
- PrivateVPN - The best value VPN for RTÉ. It’s one of the few VPNs we've found that reliably unblocks RTÉ's full Irish catalog.
- VPNArea - The best secure VPN for RTÉ. A secure, no-logs provider that offers an Irish server capable of consistently unblocking RTÉ Player.
As well as making sure that the services listed on this page can unblock RTÉ, we also made sure that the services have the following:
- Fast servers
- Strong security features
- Great apps for all major platforms
- Must unblock other popular streaming services=
Best RTÉ VPN: In-depth analysis
Below, you can look at in-depth summaries about each of the VPNs so that you can pick the service that best suits your needs and budget.
ExpressVPN is the best VPN for RTÉ. It’s packed with features, has coverage in Ireland, and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. ExpressVPN Demo ExpressVPN is our top-rated VPN service for 2022, and not just for RTÉ. It's a no-logs VPN service with fantastic privacy and security features that can unblock Disney+, Hulu, and more and, unlike most of its competitors, ExpressVPN has an Irish server that can still unblock RTÉ Player. I was able to watch both Frasier and Community, which are usually unavailable on RTÉ to anyone outside of Ireland. ExpressVPN has an enormous server network, spanning over 94 countries! There are no restrictions or data caps to worry about, and with servers near you no matter where you are, you'll get a quick, stable connection. Nobody wants their movies interrupted by the dreaded "buffering" message. While Express may be an expensive choice for most, it's one of the best providers money can buy, and it's constantly updating its server network, meaning you can be confident it'll unblock RTÉ seamlessly. If you're wondering why it's not higher on the list, the answer is simply because Express only recently started dedicating itself to unblocking RTÉ. ExpressVPN' servers are also super secure. They're "RAM-only", which means they get completely wiped whenever they get switched off. On top of this, all their connections are secured with 256-bit AES encryption and they even have their own custom protocol called "Lightway". It also promises no logging of any kind, a claim that was verified when ExpressVPN invited auditors from PwC to check them out and ensure they were standing by their word. As a result of all this, ExpressVPN is another service that we can strongly recommend to any internet user who might need to unblock RTÉ. While it doesn't offer a free trial, you can still check that it works for you risk-free, thanks to a 30-day money-back guarantee. ExpressVPN is one of our top picks not only for streaming, but for torrenting, and keeping yourself secure online. Tested by Shaun Dewhirst PrivateVPN is the best value VPN for RTÉ. With top notch speeds and servers in Ireland, and seamless access to RTÉ (and other services)! PrivateVPN Demo PrivateVPN is the best budget-friendly provider we've found that unblocks the entire RTÉ catalog. That RTÉ player is available when connecting through PrivateVPN is excellent news for any Irish ex-pat or anyone who might be curious as to exactly what you can find on Ireland's national broadcaster, because until recently it was almost impossible to access all of its content from abroad. PrivateVPN provides lightning-fast speeds for streaming, meaning you'll be able to get your fix of RTÉ shows without any annoying buffering. In addition, you can use the VPN on 6 devices simultaneously and take advantage of a tried and tested selection of encryption options, including OpenVPN; though sadly, it doesn't support WireGuard yet. You'll also be able to install PrivateVPN on just about any device you can think of – There are clients available for MacOS, Windows, iOS, Android, and Linux, as well as routers. I love that PrivateVPN has a simple one-click connect function, so you can connect to the VPN quickly and easily. It's great for beginners and even gives users a simple or advanced view to choose from. Giving more technical users greater control and customization over the VPN. PrivateVPN can unblock RTÉ in just a few clicks, but it doesn't stop there. PrivateVPN also works to unblock other well known streaming services like the BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime, and Hulu. PrivateVPN is also a great choice for anyone who wants to view other Netflix libraries, thanks to dynamic, dedicated IP addresses that help keep you clear of any geo-blocking. Add to that SmartDNS integration with every VPN server, and PrivateVPN makes accessing geo-restricted content. PrivateVPN also has a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can test the service out for yourself and make sure it's right for you as well as a great customer service team ready to help you out if you run into any problems. Not that we think you should have any issues with RTÉ, because we have tested it ourselves and can confirm that it works. However, it is always nice to know that you can get a no-questions-asked refund if you want to. Tested by Andreas Theodorou VPNArea is the best secure VPN for RTÉ. Users get Irish servers and robust encryption, as well as 24/7 customer support. VPNArea Demo VPNArea is a highly trusted VPN provider from Bulgaria. It is a no-logs service with fantastic privacy and security features. This makes it a great all rounder for gaining privacy and freedom online. Unlike many of its competitors, this VPN has a server that unblocks RTÉ Player. We tested it ourselves to unblock Frasier (which is only available in Ireland) and we found it worked wonderfully. VPNArea is no slouch when it comes to unblocking streaming content for the entire family. You can run their app on Windows, MacOS, Android, iOS, Linux, and even on an Amazon Fire Stick! We've also confirmed that, as well as RTE, you can use VPNArea with Netflix, Amazon, and BBC iPlayer. You can take advantage of over 100 locations in 55 countries, and an excellent 8 simultaneous connections – so you can access geo-restricted content from around the world on any device you own. There's a lot to love about VPNArea's security toolbelt. 256-bit AES encryption and malware protection mean you're getting military-grade encryption, and a security suite that goes above and beyond to keep you protected online. With stealth VPN functionality, you get the ability to bypass even the most severe government censorship, by disguising your VPN traffic as regular HTML. You can check it works well for you thanks to its 30-day money-back guarantee, backed up by 24/7 live chat and an email ticketing system to engage customer support if the worst comes to the worst. A secure and reliable VPN that will give you privacy and the ability to unblock loads of international services. Tested by Danka Delić
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How to Unblock RTE with a VPN
While RTÉ does offer some free content, much of what it has on offer is restricted through the use of geo-blocking, which stops people watching content from countries that don't have access, or which are blocked for licensing and copyright reasons. Using a VPN allows you to get around these blocks by hiding your IP address and making it appear to come from another country. Follow the steps below to get started with unblocking RTÉ:
- Subscribe to a VPN service that best fits your needs – we've curated a list of services that are all tested and proven to unblock RTÉ.
- Download and install the VPN software on your device – most VPN services these days will run on just about any device you can think of and will allow multiple connections at once.
- Log in and connect to a VPN server in the country of your choice (in this case, Ireland).
- Go to RTÉ (remembering to create an account if necessary) and enjoy!
Why do I need a VPN to watch RTÉ?
There's a few reasons why you would need a VPN, as well as just unblocking RTÉ's content. The VPNs on this list will work regardless of where in the world you are, so if you happen to be traveling or on holiday in another country, you'll still be able to access the content as if you were in Ireland. You'll also be able to unblock content from other streaming services that would normally not be available in your country, such as Hulu, Netflix and more.
As well as access to streaming, using a VPN is a good way to protect your online identity, making sure that your real IP address is never revealed online when you're at home and protecting you when you're out and about using public Wi-Fi. You can also take advantage of the extra features like ad-blocking and malware protection that are offered by providers like VPNArea.
Compare the VPNs listed on this page
What can I watch on RTÉ?
RTÉ is a hugely popular service that has tons of content available to stream free of charge. It also has some exclusive American content that no other British broadcaster has the rights to. In addition, it has a lot of Irish shows, like the soap opera Fair City and the Tommy Tiernan chat show.
If you are an ex-pat living outside of Ireland, or just a TV-lover who wants to access some of the exclusives that RTÉ broadcasts, you can access its online player to watch shows by using a VPN. Some shows on the RTÉ player are available without a VPN. However, much of the content is restricted, so if you want to watch everything you will need to connect to a server in Ireland.
Unblock Gaelic Games, Sports & More
Sports fans won't want to miss GAA's Gaelic Games, and with the VPNs on the list, you'll never have to! Whether it's cycling, hurling, horse racing, boxing, or other sports competitions that pique your interest, RTÉ has you covered. As well as this, RTE has access to some content that's difficult to find anywhere else, such as Frasier, and The Terror.
Can I use a free VPN to watch RTÉ?
Free VPNs will always come with drawbacks, whether that be in terms of the speed they offer, server locations or encryption and that's assuming that they're above board and not a malicious actor trying to infect your machine with malware or steal your data. They also tend to be feature-limited, trying to entice you into spending money to upgrade.
With most of the big names in paid VPN services blocked, it's virtually guaranteed that any free VPN service will be blocked as well. The other thing to keep in mind when using a free VPN, or really any sort of free service, is that a lot of them remain free by selling your personal data to third parties.
How does ProPrivacy review VPNs?
Searching for a VPN might seem like a straightforward task... until you realize just how many providers there are on the market! These hundreds of consumer-facing services all claim to be the best of the best, too. So how can you tell which VPNs are actually worth your time (and which are best avoided)? These are the questions the ProPrivacy team has been answering since 2013 – we're constantly putting services to the test, checking out their encryption, speeds, and unblocking power, so you can make an easy and informed choice about which VPN suits you best.
Of course, before any VPN service makes it into my top 3 VPNs for RTÉ, they have to meet some specific criteria:
- Servers in the right places - In order to stream RTÉ content, you'll need a VPN with a selection of servers in Ireland. This one's non-negotiable!
- Consistent speeds - Nobody wants to deal with low-quality streams that are constantly buffering. So, I only recommend speedy VPNs that can handle HD streaming.
- Security features - The best VPNs always have your digital privacy and security in mind, and prove it with well-implemented encryption and a raft of handy features (like a kill-switch!).
- Cross-platform compatibility - Nowadays, we stream content via all of our devices, and not just our PCs, so it's important to pick a provider that's compatible with just about every platform.
- Value for money - Whether you're committing for a month or a year, a VPN subscription shouldn't break the bank. I also look out for a money-back guarantee and round-the-clock support.
Interested in learning more?
ProPrivacy has developed a thorough review process over the years – and we're constantly using it to put VPNs through their paces. If you want to know exactly how we evaluate services, head on over to our review process page for all the details.
Final thoughts
RTÉ Player is limited for anyone outside of Ireland; with very few shows available to stream, and as of November 2022, there are only three VPN providers we can confirm to work with RTÉ. With one of the VPN's listed here, you can completely bypass those restrictions to watch the complete Irish version of the player.
RTÉ is free, and it shows huge quantities of content, including well known American TV series. Thus, with an RTÉ VPN, you can actually see a lot of content that you would usually need to pay for on other streaming services.
- ExpressVPN - The best VPN for RTÉ. It has plenty of servers in Ireland (and elsewhere), and works with a long list of streaming services.
- PrivateVPN - The best value VPN for RTÉ. It’s one of the few VPNs we've found that reliably unblocks RTÉ's full Irish catalog.
- VPNArea - The best secure VPN for RTÉ. A secure, no-logs provider that offers an Irish server capable of consistently unblocking RTÉ Player.