How to Live Stream RTE Outside Ireland — Watch Abroad 2023

Some Irish friends recently visited me in the UK. They realized that although you can live stream some RTE channels, some content on the RTE player isn’t available abroad. Even their bookmarks for Happy Valley, Why Didn’t They Ask Evans? and Big Bang Theory didn’t work.

The good news is, they happened to be visiting someone whose job is to test dozens of VPNs for these types of purposes. A VPN can change your IP address and redirect your online activity to a different location (like Ireland). You can then access all content on the Player.

My top recommendation for RTE, ExpressVPN. It’s the fastest VPN I’ve ever tested, offering HD-friendly speeds and a reliable server location in Ireland. You can even try ExpressVPN out risk-free since it has a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you’re not happy, getting a refund is easy.

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Why You Need a VPN to Watch RTE

RTE can’t broadcast all of its content outside of Ireland due to licensing agreements and regional restrictions. The Player detects your location by checking your IP addresses when you attempt to stream content. If you’re not in a licensed location, you'll see this message:

This is where a VPN becomes key to unlocking the full potential of RTE's Player. VPNs route your traffic through a private server in a different location. So when you connect to a server in Ireland, you're virtually accessing RTE Player from within the country, allowing you to overcome the geoblocks.

But very few VPNs can unblock RTE since it made improvements to its VPN blocks. It’s now one of the toughest platforms I’ve ever attempted to access. To save you from hours of searching, I’ve compiled a list of the VPNs that reliably work with it.

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Best VPNs to Watch RTE From Anywhere in 2023

1. ExpressVPN — The No.1 Choice for RTE With the Best Unblocking Abilities and Fastest Speeds

My tests reveal that ExpressVPN is the best VPN for watching RTE because it can easily unblock all its content. This let me choose from a vast library of box sets, including Irish originals and classics like Killing Eve and Frasier. Alternatively, you can privately stream all 4 of RTE’s live channels to keep up with GAA Football and Raw.

ExpressVPN gave me effortless access to RTE’s excellent Katie Taylor documentary

As well as bypassing geo-restrictions, ExpressVPN has the fastest speeds of any VPN I tested. I streamed The Late Show on my smart TV and Peaky Blinders on my laptop. I got a mere 5% reduction on my base speed of 121.55 Mbps and could play RTE on both devices in bufferless HD.

I really appreciate its shortcuts feature to keep streaming RTE hassle-free. With this, you can configure a shortcut to RTE (or any other app or URL) and assign it to an Irish server. These appear on the app’s home screen, giving you 1-click access to RTE, iPlayer, and more.

All of its plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try ExpressVPN with RTE risk-free. I checked out this claim by contacting live chat to request a refund. After answering a few quick questions, they agreed with no quibbles. I got a full refund within 3 days.

Useful Features

• Proprietary Lightway protocol. ExpressVPN has removed all the lines of code that aren’t necessary for a commercial VPN. The result is a lightweight, fast, but highly secure self-made protocol that’s ideal for streaming RTE. It’s also great for conserving battery life on mobile devices.
• Split tunneling. Nominate certain apps and URLs to bypass the VPN, freeing up more bandwidth for watching RTE.
• Simultaneous connections. Watch RTE on up to 8 simultaneous devices — no more arguments about what to watch on the RTE Player.

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2. CyberGhost — Specialty Server Optimized for Watching RTE

CyberGhost has streaming-optimized servers, including one specifically designed for RTE. It’s continuously maintained to improve performance and ensure RTE doesn’t block it. In my tests, it connected in 8 seconds and gave me instant access to the RTE player to watch A Spy Among Friends.

You can click the star icon to favorite CyberGhost’s RTE server

Plus, it has 88+ servers in Dublin, ensuring your speeds remain fast. They were just as good for accessing RTE as the specialty server, although they were a touch slower. Still, they were bang on for streaming in HD.

It’s super easy to navigate the apps. Servers are neatly organized and there’s a search bar to find them quickly. Even if you choose to customize your connection (for instance, with split tunneling), the app provides clear explanations of CyberGhost’s features to make it pain-free.

My colleagues in the US reported a significant speed loss while connected to some of CyberGhost’s Irish servers. So it’s something to consider if you’re streaming RTE from far away. Luckily, CyberGhost offers plenty of alternative Irish connections — they reported better speeds after reconnecting to a different Irish server.

CyberGhost also offers a generous 45-day money-back guarantee with its long-term plans, so you can try it risk-free. Each plan comes with 7 device connections.

Useful Features

• Block Content. This feature can help block the trackers used by RTE.
• Smart rules. You can set CyberGhost to open any app when you connect, so I chose Brave as it’s the browser I use for RTE. Plus, you can get it to auto-connect to the specialty RTE server.
• Split tunneling. Unlike ExpressVPN, CyberGhost’s split tunneling works on apps and not URLs. I’m in the UK, where BBC iPlayer is exclusively available, so I set it to bypass the VPN.

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3. PrivateVPN — An Easy-to-Use App That Makes Accessing RTE Easy

The process of configuring PrivateVPN is exceptionally straightforward. The primary application features a single connect button and a dropdown menu for server selection. To get started, all you need to do is choose Dublin from the list of servers and click the prominent on/off button. Once done, you're all set to enjoy the craic. Moreover, if your intention is solely to watch RTE, there's no need to make any additional adjustments because PrivateVPN conveniently recalls your previous connection.

The last server you used shows up in the app’s main screen

PrivateVPN has a smaller server network, but despite this I consistently unblocked RTE. It maintained a stable connection throughout, and the speed only dropped by 13%. That meant I could stream all of RTE’s content buffer-free.

In fact, PrivateVPN makes a virtue of having few servers by ensuring a High Quality Network (HQN). It purchases internet capacity directly from the IP transit provider instead of a third party. That means there are no “middleman” slowdowns. Plus, with just 1 server in Ireland and only 200 worldwide, it’s far easier to maintain and ensure no servers are blocked.

It offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it risk-free. I tested this out myself, and it was just as easy as ExpressVPN.

Useful Features

• Stealth VPN. Scrambles your data further to avoid detection. I couldn’t play any video content on RTE without Stealth enabled.
• Remote setup and support. If you’re new to using a VPN or have tech issues with RTE, PrivateVPN has your back. Its support team can take control of your device remotely to resolve any problems.
• Responsive and quick live chat. PrivateVPN’s regular live chat is responsive and friendly. It even refers to its customers as “family” — that’s the kind of hospitality most Irish folk can get on with!

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4. Proton VPN — Create a Profile for 1-click Setup for RTE

You can configure 1-click settings for RTE with Proton VPN’s Profiles feature. This lets you pick a server type, country, and protocol for your favorite online activities. I created one named “RTE Streaming”, selected the fastest Dublin server (for me), and even color-coded it red to match RTE’s logo.

All of Proton VPN’s Dublin servers are displayed separately. This way, I could easily find the fastest RTE server based on its user load percentage — low user load is usually best for maintaing fast speeds.

Its NetShield feature blocks ads, trackers, and malware. It didn’t block the in-video ads on RTE, and the platform doesn’t contain malware. But it’s reassuring to know that it can block trackers while you stream (plus malware on other sites, as a bonus).

Proton VPN’s app was tricky to get the hang of at first. For instance, I didn’t know which servers were optimized for streaming until I hovered over a play icon, and a bubble that said “Streaming” appeared. Once you get the hang of it, though, it’s easier to use.

You can test Proton VPN’s advanced security features completely risk-free with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Unlike the other VPNs on my list, you don’t get a full refund. You get a partial refund for the unused period of your contract.

Useful Features

• Streaming-optimized servers. Unlike CyberGhosts streaming servers, these aren’t specifically optimized for RTE, but they work well with the platform regardless. They’re also only available on Windows.
• VPN Accelerator. Boost your speeds for streaming RTE with Proton VPN’s Accelerator. With this enabled, I only lost 6% of my speeds while connected to Ireland.
• Dynamic server map. Connect to Ireland using an animated app (there’s also a server list if you prefer).

Watch RTE With Proton VPN >>

Quick Comparison Table: VPN Features for RTE

Tips on How to Choose the Best VPN for RTE

When it comes to choosing the best VPN for accessing RTE and enjoying seamless streaming, I understand the importance of thorough testing. We have carefully assessed and compared the most popular VPNs for RTE, taking into consideration specific criteria necessary for optimal performance.

By employing these standards, we've singled out the leading VPNs that provide dependable access to RTE content, guaranteeing a seamless streaming experience. Here are the primary factors to take into account:

• Reliable access to RTE. The VPN should have a track record of consistently accessing the RTE Player. RTE has made improvements to its VPN blocks, so very few services can do this now (which is why my list is so short!).
• Speed and performance. VPNs that offer consistently fast speeds and minimal buffering are essential for reliable streaming of RTE shows and live broadcasts.
• Strong security and encryption. Robust encryption protocols and advanced security features protect your online privacy and ensure that your streaming activities on RTE remain confidential and secure. All the VPNs on my list offer 256-bit encryption, the same level that banks and the military use.
• Complimentary user interface. Pick a VPN that suits your tech preferences. Do you want a ton of adjustable settings, or an intuitive plug-and-play service so you can get straight to watching RTE?
• Customer support. Responsive customer support that can address any RTE-specific issues promptly and effectively is grand for a hassle-free streaming experience.
• Compatibility with multiple devices. The VPN should be compatible with a wide range of devices, including desktops, laptops, smartphones, and streaming devices, allowing you to access RTE Player on your preferred platform. The VPNs on my list have apps for every major OS.

Watch RTE With ExpressVPN >>

FAQs on Watching RTE With a VPN

What’s the best VPN for watching RTE from abroad?

ExpressVPN is my top choice for watching RTE from abroad. Its HD-friendly speeds and exceptional unblocking abilities gave me a seamless streaming experience for RTE content in my tests. This is partially due to the speeds and reliability of its proprietary Lightway protocol — it’s also lightweight and conserves battery life on mobile devices.

While testing, I found out quickly that RTE has made considerable improvements to its tech in recent years. Very few VPNs have what it takes to get unlimited access to its library. So whichever VPN you choose, be sure that it’s been tried and tested to work with the platform.

On which devices can I watch RTÉ?

You can watch RTE on any of these devices:

• Desktop computers. Windows, macOS, Linux.
• Mobile devices and tablets. Android, iOS.
• Streaming devices. Chromecast, Roku, Apple TV, smart TV, Fire devices.

Not every device works with a VPN, including smart TVs and Roku. But every VPN in my list offers router compatibility so you can unblock RTE on any WiFi enabled device in your home network.

Is it possible to watch RTE in the UK, the US, or Australia?

Yes, you can watch from anywhere in the world with a VPN. VPNs can give you an IP address from another country (such as Ireland). This way, you can effectively browse in Ireland and have the capability to bypass geo-restrictions.

Much of the content on RTE is only available in Ireland due to licensing regulations. Because the streaming site reads your IP address to see whether or not you’re in Ireland, you need an Irish IP address to access the site.

What can I do if RTE blocks my VPN?

Luckily, all the VPNs on my list unblock RTE reliably, but If your VPN is acting the maggot, follow this simple guide:

• Restart your VPN. Simply quitting and restarting your VPN can fix bugs and restore your access to the RTE Player.
• Clear your cookies and cache. Browsers can store cookies that can reveal your actual location. Clear your browsing history, and you’ll lose the troublesome tell-tale data.
• Open a Private or Incognito window. Private windows store no browsing data and can offer easier access to RTE and other platforms.
• Connect to a different server in Ireland. If your VPN has multiple servers in Ireland, try using a different one.
• Speak to your VPN’s customer support. It may be able to provide a solution and may already be working on a fix.

Can I live stream RTE with a free VPN?

I tested multiple free VPNs, and couldn’t find on that unblocks RTE. They don’t come with the technology, speed, or servers in Ireland you need to unblock RTE and many other streaming platforms. Instead, I recommend using a low-cost premium VPN with a money-back guarantee. They're always faster, reliably unblock RTE, and have fully maintained locations in Ireland.

While testing free VPNs with other platforms, I lost up to 90% of my speed. I couldn’t load basic web pages, much less stream videos. Much worse — many free VPNs freely admit to monitoring all user data and selling it to third parties. They’ve even been caught infecting users’ devices with malware. In my opinion, it’s not worth the trouble.

Watch RTE Outside Ireland With a VPN

RTE has seriously tooled up the tech on its Player, and many of our favorite VPNs can no longer access the site. Even some VPNs that bypass notoriously tough blocks (like on Disney+) fall short when it comes to RTE. After weeks of testing, my team and I found a few VPNs that work reliably.

My no.1 pick for RTE is ExpressVPN. Its impressive unblocking gives effortless access to the RTE Player, and its exclusive Lightway protocol offers Ultra HD-friendly speeds. It also comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee — so if it doesn’t do the job, it’s easy to claim a refund.

To summarize, these are the best VPNs for RTE...