How to Watch RTE With a VPN (Tested 2024)
Reading time: 12 min
Updated on December 17, 2023
RTÉ hosts a variety of content, both Irish and not — including the likes of Home and Away and Cloch le Carn. Outside of Ireland, it’s not possible to stream RTÉ due to license and broadcasting agreements. The channel is only available for residents of Ireland.
Technically, it’s possible to watch RTÉ outside of Ireland with a VPN, but my team and I don’t condone this. Using a VPN in this way breaks RTÉ’s terms of use and could be a copyright violation.
Since RTE works hard to protect its licensing agreements, many VPNs don’t work with it since it actively blocks them. If you just want to protect your privacy while streaming, our team of testers in Ireland found several working VPNs. ExpressVPN is the best for RTÉ, with high-speed connections and no buffering. You can try ExpressVPN risk-free — if you’re not satisfied, you can get a full refund within 30 days. Editor’s Note: Transparency is one of our core values at WizCase, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as ExpressVPN. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.
Watch RTE with ExpressVPN today
Quick Guide: 3 Steps to Watch RTE in 2024
- Get a VPN. ExpressVPN’s super-fast servers ensure you can always watch all your favorite RTE shows in HD without buffering. Plus there’s no risk to try ExpressVPN to watch RTE since it’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Connect to a server in Ireland. With automatic server selection, a good VPN will automatically pick the best server in Ireland for you to watch RTE.
- Start watching RTE! A VPN allows you to stream RTE on multiple devices simultaneously without interruptions or lags.
Important! The VPNs recommended below won’t log or store your online activity, so it’s your responsibility to use your VPN legally and to follow all rules while connected. My team and I don’t condone copyright infringement, so please abide by all applicable rules and regulations.
Best VPNs to Watch RTE Player in 2024
1. ExpressVPN — Lightning-Fast Irish Servers to Watch RTE
Key Features:
- 3,000+ servers in over 105 countries
- Stream RTE Player in top-quality from anywhere
- Connect up to 8 devices at a time
- 24/7 live support via email or chat to troubleshoot streaming RTE
- 30-day money-back guarantee lets you see it for yourself risk-free
ExpressVPN is an excellent choice if you are looking for lightning speed with thousands of servers. This gives you a high-quality streaming experience with unlimited bandwidth. Our VPN tests in Ireland only saw a minor drop in speed between 3Mbps to 5Mbps. So, the quality of RTÉ shows remained high.
With ExpressVPN, you won’t have to sift through servers to find the best connection. You get the server you need just by clicking on the one in Ireland. ExpressVPN also provides IP tunneling which helps you watch RTÉ securely. Your data won’t be leaked, so you can watch high-quality content continuously.
Lastly, if you’re worried about purchasing ExpressVPN without trying out its streaming benefits, I got you covered. I tested the refund policy to see if that checked out. It did. The refund process was very easy. Express VPN is the only VPN I’ve tested that offers refunds no questions asked. Support staff did not try to persuade me to stay with ExpressVPN or ask me any long winded questions. I got all my money back in 3 days with ease. Try ExpressVPN to watch RTE risk-free with its 30-day money-back guarantee — you can ask for a refund if you don’t enjoy it.
Editor’s Note: Transparency is one of our core values at WizCase, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as ExpressVPN. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.
ExpressVPN works with: RTE, CTV, DAZN, Sling TV, Hulu, Netflix, HBO GO, Showtime, BBC iPlayer, YouTube TV, and more.
ExpressVPN is compatible with: All major platforms. Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, Blackberry, Chromebook, Xbox, PlayStation4, Firefox, Chrome, and more.
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2. CyberGhost — Dedicated Streaming Servers to Watch RTÉ
Key Features:
- 11,670+ servers in over 100 countries
- Specialized servers let you watch RTE shows with zero buffering
- Connect up to 7 devices at a time
- 24/7 live chat support to troubleshoot any issues
- 45-day money-back guarantee lets you test CyberGhost risk-free
CyberGhost has an intuitive and simple setup that takes only a few minutes to get started. Our team’s experience watching RTÉ was seamless and had no awkward buffering or lagging situations — we were able to stream RTÉ in UHD with ease.
When connected to the Irish server through CyberGhost to test the speed, our team only saw an 8Mbps drop in speed. For extra speed and performance, you can connect to streaming optimized servers and watch RTÉ shows.
You can select the Irish server that you want to connect to based on the Ping, Distance, and Load. Ping refers to the time it takes for your device to talk to the server, and load refers to how full a server is with other users. The lower the ping and load, the better your streaming experience will be — it’s useful to have these metrics displayed within the menu.
Alternatively, you can simply choose “Best Server Location” and CyberGhost will automatically connect you to the best server. I recommend this option because it’s easier and you don’t have to sift through all the Dublin servers. If you experience performance issues, you can connect to dedicated streaming servers for RTÉ.
I tested CyberGhost’s security by running a few DNS leak tests. These would show if private data leaked out while I was connected. The test showed that I was really anonymous on its encrypted servers. This means that you can watch shows like Would You Believe securely.
Don’t just take my word. With CyberGhost’s 45-day money-back guarantee, you can easily try CyberGhost for yourself risk-free. When I requested my refund over live chat, the whole process took less than 5 minutes. The money was back in my account in just 4 days!
Editor’s Note: Transparency is one of our core values at WizCase, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as CyberGhost VPN. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.
CyberGhost works with: RTE Player, Netflix, BBC iPlayer, GAAGO, Amazon Prime, All 4, Sling TV, and more.
CyberGhost is compatible with: All major platforms. Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, Bing, Firefox, Chrome, and other browsers.
3. Private Internet Access (PIA) — Stream Content From Unlnimited Devices at an Affordable Price
Key Features:
- 35,000+ servers in over 91 countries
- Secures servers to stream quality RTE content
- Connect up to unlimited devices simultaneously
- Get all your questions answered by 24/7 live support via online chat
- 30-day money-back guarantee lets you test it for yourself risk-free
When our team in Ireland tried to watch RTÉ using PIA, they were only successful in doing so 12 out of 20 times. In our experience, ExpressVPN and CyberGhost are more reliable to watch RTÉ. However, you may have better luck as VPN providers keep tweaking features and enhancing capabilities frequently.
Our tests from Ireland gave us an average speed of about 30Mbps, and there were no buffers or lags once the content started streaming. This is a loss of about 8Mbps from base speed when connected to the Irish server, but this did not impact the video quality.
PIA has upwards of 35k servers worldwide, and over 100 in Ireland. With such a huge network, This means that you can always get the best quality when watching RTE because there is a lower probability of user overload (which interferes with streams). Unlike CyberGhost, you won’t be able to pick a server based on ping, distance, and load — but PIA will automatically pick the best server for you.
Security is one of my top concerns when connecting to a VPN. So, I validated PIA’s commitment to security by testing if there were any DNS leaks while I was connected. My testing system only detected PIA’s secure server, showing that my online activities and other data were really anonymous while I watched RTE.
If you’re not happy with PIA’s features, you can get a full refund risk free. When I requested a refund after using PIA for about 2 weeks, I got all of my money back in about 3 days. Try Private Internet Access risk-free with its 30-day money-back guarantee for yourself and enjoy secure streaming.
Editor’s Note: Transparency is one of our core values at WizCase, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as Private Internet Access. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.
Private Internet Access works with: Hulu, Netflix US, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime, and Disney+.
Private Internet Access is compatible with: All major platforms like Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, Opera, Firefox, Chrome, and more.
Watch RTE with Private Internet Access (PIA)
FAQs on Watching RTE With a VPN in 2024
Will the RTE player block my VPN?
The RTÉ Player may block your VPN, even if you’re located in Ireland and using an Irish IP address. That’s because it blocks VPN IPs to protect its licensing and distribution agreements. However, our team in Ireland found these top VPN providers work reliably with RTÉ, so you can use them to protect your privacy without being blocked out of RTE Player. During tests only Private Internet Access had some problems, but even then our team could watch RTÉ after trying some alternative servers in Ireland. Most VPNs don’t even work, but our testers never saw the proxy error at all with ExpressVPN.
How can I watch RTE for free?
You can watch the RTE Player for free, but RTE generates revenue by showing ads during streams. VPNs like ExpressVPN work well on Windows, making AdBlock very easy to use to block ads on the RTE Player. You can unblock ads on RTE Player by using the AdBlock from Google Chrome Extensions. Add the extension to your toolbar, and click on the red hand at the top when you are on the RTE Player page. Click “Always” to block the ads always on that page, and you are done. You may be asked one more time to exclude, and click “Exclude” if you see that prompt.
Combined with an ad blocker, ExpressVPN helps block background trackers that can cause extra lag during RTE broadcasts. In addition to protecting your privacy, this also gives you reliable smooth video on its streaming-optimized servers. If you want to see for yourself if it gives you smooth RTE streams, try ExpressVPN risk free for 30 days. Every subscription comes with the insurance of a money-back guarantee.
Can I use the RTE player on my smart TV, Firestick, and other devices?
RTE Player is supported on a number of devices and operating systems, including Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. ExpressVPN is also compatible with many operating systems. RTE Player is also supported by a number of mobile devices, including Apple and Android products. Casting for RTE is supported by Chromecast and Airplay, and RTE is available on many LG and Samsung Smart TV models.
RTE Player is not supported by Chromebook and gaming consoles including Playstation, Nintendo and Xbox. It is also not supported on Amazon products including Amazon Fire HD, Amazon Fire TV Stick, and on Windows-based phones.
What other things can I do with a VPN?
There are a lot of other things you can do with a high-quality VPN, like shopping, overseas banking, or surfing the Internet in a secure way. VPNs also offer the added advantage of a secure Internet experience.
A top-tier VPN will ensure any Internet activity is completely private. This is especially important when you are using public Wifi connections at hotels, airports, and coffee shops. You want a VPN with encryption technology that protects your data and your IP address at the same time. This prevents hackers and DNS leaks that will expose the websites that you are surfing when online.
What shows are available on the RTE Player?
There are a number of shows you can stream with the RTÉ Player, including movies, news, sporting events, and popular shows like Seinfeld and The Good Wife. All of this can be streamed on the RTÉ Player privately with a VPN. You can watch channels such as RTÉ One, RTÉ News, Ireland Weather, documentary movies like Lance, Fertility Shock, and Letters from Lockdown.
Editor’s Note: Transparency is one of our core values at WizCase, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as ExpressVPN. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.
Start Watching RTE Player With a VPN Today!
RTÉ Player is an exciting streaming service offering great Irish programs. All you need to watch RTÉ Player securely is a good VPN that’s proven to work with it.
We’ve tested 31 VPNs and only foud a handful that work. They are affordable, feature-abundant, and work with RTÉ players reliably. All three provide superior quality for successful streaming on multiple platforms, but ExpressVPN was the most reliable for watching RTÉ Player with zero lag.
I recommend that you try ExpressVPN first, because it is the easiest to use. It’s also supported by a 30-day money back guarantee that lets you try ExpressVPN with zero risk. Then you can see for yourself how it performs with RTÉ Player, and get your money back if you don’t like it.
Summary — These Are the Best VPNs to Watch RTE Player in 2024
Editor's Note: We value our relationship with our readers, and we strive to earn your trust through transparency and integrity. We are in the same ownership group as some of the industry-leading products reviewed on this site: ExpressVPN, Cyberghost, Private Internet Access, and Intego. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.
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