How to stream RTE Player abroad (outside Ireland) with a VPN

Picture the scene: you’re traveling outside of Ireland and sit down to watch your favorite RTE Player shows. But when you hit play, you’re met with the following error: “This program cannot be streamed due to rights restrictions.” Luckily, there’s an easy way to continue streaming Irish TV abroad, you just have to use a Virtual Private Network (VPN).

VPNs work by encrypting your internet traffic, shielding your activities from ISPs, wifi hotspot owners, or anyone else who might be monitoring the network. They also send your data through servers in different countries, making it seem as though you’re somewhere else entirely. In short, by using an Irish VPN server, you can make it seem like you never left Ireland and unblock RTE Player anywhere.

If you’re in a rush, here’s our snapshot of the best VPNs to livestream RTE Player abroad. In-depth reviews of each are provided further down this article, along with a step-by-step guide for how to access RTE Player anywhere with a VPN.

Best VPNs for watching RTE Player outside of Ireland:

1. NordVPN: Our top choice for RTE Player. With 50+ servers in Ireland, NordVPN gives you plenty of options to acquire an Irish IP address. It also has a no-logs policy and excellent security. All plans come with a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.
   TIP In our testing we found that the cheapest NordVPN plan (Standard) works perfectly for RTE.
2. Surfshark: Best budget VPN for RTE Player. Strong on security, with no connection limit and generally high speeds. Perfect for unblocking stubborn streaming platforms abroad.
3. Total VPN: This speedy and secure provider works well with RTE Player and most other streaming services. Very easy to use, with 24/7 support.
4. ExpressVPN:  A good choice thanks to its impressive speeds, top-notch unblocking ability, and strong privacy features. Great for watching Irish TV during a trip abroad.
5. IPVanish: This provider has a strong reputation for privacy and security, and has several Irish servers to choose from. Strong streaming ability and a total lack of connection limits.
6. CyberGhost: CyberGhost has dozens of servers in Ireland. It also ships with user-friendly apps, pre-configured security options, and extremely fast connections. It’s able to unblock lots of streaming sites, including RTE Player.
7. PrivateVPN: PrivateVPN has superior unblocking capabilities and comes with servers equipped for HD video streaming, allowing you to stream RTE Player from anywhere.

How to use a VPN with RTE Player

To stream RTE Player outside Ireland, such as in Spain or France, follow these simple but proven steps below.

Here’s how to watch RTE Player abroad:

1. Decide on a suitable VPN service – our top recommendation is NordVPN.
2. Once the payment has been successfully authenticated, proceed to download and install the relevant apps for your device. Use either the provider’s website or official app marketplaces.
3. Connect to a server in Ireland.
4. Try to access RTE Player. It should work straight away, but if it doesn’t, try clearing your browser’s cache and cookies.
5. Still having problems? In that case, we’d recommend getting in touch with your VPN’s customer support team; most major providers offer 24/7 assistance over live chat, which makes it quick and easy to get help.

How we selected the top RTE Player VPNS

While there are plenty of VPNs available, picking the right VPN for RTE Player can be tricky. Not all VPNs are optimized for RTE Player, and to ensure that you sign up to a reliable service, we’ve based our recommendations on the following criteria:

• Speed: We tested each VPN’s Irish servers over a day to measure not only speed, but consistency, especially during peak times. We then compile this data to create a ranking of the fastest VPNs for RTE player.
• Streaming ability: For the streaming ability score, we evaluate how well each VPN bypasses blocks, the availability of streaming servers, and other relevant factors.
• Security and privacy: Our team considers more than a dozen factors including how strong each VPN’s encryption is, which protocols they support, and whether they keep any logs of your online activities.
• Ease of use: We’re big fans of any service that goes out of its way to improve the day to day usage experience. They may offer 24/7 live chat, unlimited connections, servers designed for streaming, or just beginner-friendly apps.
• Value for money: Value for money goes beyond just subscription cost. We examine the money-back guarantee, available discounts, number of devices supported, and more.

You can read more about our testing process and see the results of those tests in the methodology section below. First, let’s take a closer look at the VPNs that make the grade.

Best VPNs for RTE Player outside Ireland compared

We’ve compared the most important features of the top VPNs here. Prefer to read the in-depth reviews? Start with NordVPN – our #1 choice for RTE Player.

Best VPNs for watching RTE Player

From our research, here’s our list of the best VPNs to watch RTE Player from anywhere in the world

1. NordVPN

Nov 2025 unblocks RTE playerTested Nov 2025

NordVPN is our number one choice VPN for accessing RTE Player anywhere. Of course, given that this VPN has around 8,000 servers in 120 different countries, it also works with a wide range of international platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, and Virgin One. There’s 24/7 customer support via live chat, as well as an expansive knowledge base. Users can connect 10 devices with a single account, making this service perfect for sharing with family.

This provider regularly places very high on our industry-wide speed tests, but we specifically wanted to see how fast and reliable its Irish servers were. To do this, we ran three tests at different times of day on a 250 Mbps connection. Let’s see how well it performed:

Overall, NordVPN delivered an average speed of 207.13 Mbps. That’s exceptionally quick and more than you’ll need for any day-to-day task. In fact, you could queue up over a dozen 4K videos and not even notice the slightest impact.

Security is another area where NordVPN excels. It uses 256-bit AES encryption on OpenVPN or ChaCha20 on the WireGuard protocol, blocks DNS and IPv6 leaks automatically, and follows an independently-verified zero-logs policy. Additional privacy tools include a customizable kill switch, combined ad and tracker-blocker, and split tunneling functionality. If you’re visiting a country with strict online censorship, just activate the obfuscated servers or switch to the NordWhisper protocol; these will even help you browse safely in places like China.

NordVPN has its own Android, iOS, MacOS, Windows, and Linux apps. Its website provides step by step instructions for getting this VPN installed on your router.

BEST VPN FOR RTE PLAYER:NordVPN is our top VPN pick for accessing RTE Player from outside Ireland. It has strong security and privacy protocols, super fast speeds, and comes with a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full NordVPN review.

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2. Surfshark

unblocks RTE playerTested Nov 2025

Surfshark is the best budget VPN for watching RTE. It provides access to more than 4,500 servers in 100+ countries (Ireland included) and has no issues accessing geo-blocked platforms like RTE, Virgin One, Netflix, or Amazon Prime Video from abroad. Better still, this is one of the only services on the market that lets you secure every device you own at the same time. While the apps are very newcomer-friendly, there is 247 customer support over live chat (though ideally, you’ll never need this).

This is a promising start, but we still had to make sure that Surfshark was actually quick enough for streaming. We tested its Irish servers in the morning, at noon, and in the evening using a typical 250 Mbps connections. Let’s see how fast this VPN was at different times of day:

Surfshark’s average speed was an impressive 198.47 Mbps. This means that it’s the second-fastest VPN we tested and just slightly below NordVPN. In other words, even if multiple people are using the internet at the same time, you’ll still be able to watch RTE Player without any stuttering, buffering, or lag.

Security-wise, Surfshark is an excellent choice. It includes 256-bit encryption, protection against DNS and IPv6 leaks, and a kill switch, plus a NoBorders mode capable of bypassing even the strictest digital censorship. This is only the beginning, though: there’s also automatic ad and tracker-blocking, split tunneling functionality, and a feature which rotates your IP address periodically while keeping your location the same. This no-logs service accepts multiple cryptocurrencies too, making it easy to sign up anonymously.

Surfshark provides apps for iOS, Android, MacOS, Windows, and Linux. Manual configuration is required for supported routers.

BEST BUDGET VPN:Surfshark is our favorite low-cost VPN It boasts solid speeds, fantastic unblocking ability, and impressive security features. Protect all of your devices at once. Comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Check out our full Surfshark review.

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3. Total VPN

unblocks RTE playerTested Nov 2025

Total VPN is another excellent option for anyone hoping to watch RTE Player while traveling outside of Ireland. Its network covers more than 80 countries, and its servers in Dublin are some of the fastest we’ve seen. As if that wasn’t enough, this VPN works with all manner of streaming platforms, from Netflix to Amazon Prime Video and everything inbetween. You can connect up to five devices at the same tiem and in the unlikely event that anything goes wrong, customer support is available around the clock.

Streaming is a fairly bandwidth-heavy task, especially if you’re interested in watching live broadcasts or 4K video. To make sure Total VPN was up to the task, our team tested its Irish servers at three times of day (morning, noon, and afternoon), using a standard 250 Mbps connection. This way, we could see not only the VPN’s top speeds but also its consistency, since the busier a network is, the slower your speeds will be. You’ll find our results in the following chart:

With an average speed of 192.8 Mbps, Total VPN was one of the fastest providers we tested, coming in just a hair slower than Surfshark. In practical terms, it’s more than 10 times as fast as you’d need to watch 4K content, so there shouldn’t be any noticeable stuttering, buffering, or lag, even if you’re doing other things (downloading large files or video-calling, for instance) in the background.

Total VPN has a strong set of privacy features built-in. To begin with, it uses unbreakable 256-bit AES encryption backed up by a kill switch and protection against DNS and IPv6 leaks. Further, this service refuses to keep any logs of your activities. It supports several industry-approved protocols but also has one of its own (Hydra) that obfuscates your connection, hiding the fact that you’re using a VPN in the first place. Finally, users can use its split tunneling feature to let traffic from specific websites pass through the VPN unencrypted.

Total VPN has its own novice-friendly apps for Windows, Android, iOS, and MacOS systems.

SEAMLESS STREAMING:Total VPN has the speed consistency, and security needed to help you stream RTE Player safely abroad. Beginner-friendly apps anda strict no-logs policy. Sign up for a year to get a 30-day money-back guarantee, or get a 14 day guarantee on shorter plans.

Check out our complete Total VPN review.

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4. ExpressVPN

unblocks RTE playerTested Nov 2025

ExpressVPN is a beginner-friendly service that has servers in 100+ countries, including Ireland. This service works anywhere in the world (even China) and has no problems accessing tricky streaming platforms like RTE, BBC iPlayer, or ITVX from abroad. This provider recently changed its pricing structure and as an added benefit, increased its connection limit from eight to 10 (with higher limits included in its more expensive tiers). 24/7 live chat is available in case you ever need help.

This VPN is known for its impeccable performance and high degree of consistency. However, providers are constantly making adjustments to their network, so it’s vital to retest regularly. Our experts ran multiple speed tests on ExpressVPN’s Irish servers and recorded the results in the chart below:

ExpressVPN achieved an average speed of 159.96 Mbps. That’s not the highest we’ve seen, but it is more than you’ll need for everyday browsing, even if you do data-intensive things like streaming or torrenting. There was minimal speed difference at busy times of day too, which is a huge plus.

This provider has impeccable security credentials. To begin with, it has had its servers, infrastructure, apps, and privacy policy audited so when ExpressVPN says it doesn’t keep logs, you can believe it. Additional features include 256-bit AES encryption, a kill switch, protection against DNS and IPv6 leaks, and automatic ad, tracker, and malware-blocking. Best of all, ExpressVPN obfuscates your traffic as needed, allowing you to stream RTE safely, even in countries like China.

Apps are available for Windows, Android, MacOS, iOS, and Linux. The provider also offers new and improved firmware, which can be installed on certain routers.

QUICK AND VERSATILE:ExpressVPN is a solid choice. It’s a versatile provider that has a wide variety of streaming and unblocking capabilities. Strong on security and offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full ExpressVPN Review.

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5. IPVanish

unblocks RTE playerTested Nov 2025

IPVanish is a fantastic option for international travelers hoping to live stream RTE abroad. Thanks to a recent expansion, it now offers 3,200+ self-owned servers in more than 100 countries, giving you plenty of options for streaming. On that note, this VPN works with major platforms such as Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Hulu. This provider’s support team can be reached, day or night, over live chat. Here’s the best part: IPVanish can protect every device you own at the same time.

We’ve seen IPVanish deliver impressive results before, partially thanks to its WireGuard support and partially due to its 50 Gbps servers. To make sure its Irish servers were up to the task of watching RTE abroad, we performed multiple tests throughout the day. Let’s see how it did:

IPVanish provided an average speed of 182.77 Mbps. That’s impressive on its own, but when you consider that there was less than 2 Mbps of variance across three tests, it’s truly exceptional. That’s a level of consistency most other VPNs can only dream of and ensures that you’ll get top-tier performance even during peak times.

Now, this VPN is based in the United States but you don’t have to worry since it refuses to log any personally identifiable information. IPVanish uses unbreakable AES-256 encryption by default, with several protocols to choose from, a kill switch, and built-in protection against DNS and IPv6 leaks. Recently, it added support for multi-hop servers, a link safety checking tool, and a feature that blocks ads and trackers, so it’s clear that IPVanish has a commitment to your privacy.

IPVanish recently switched to a tiered pricing system, rolling out an Advanced plan that includes the VPN, 1 TB of cloud storage, and a secure browser. This is a great choice for any privacy-minded users looking for ways to supplement their VPN.

Apps are available for Android, iOS, Windows, and MacOS. Alternatively, you can follow manual setup instructions to get it running on Linux systems and routers.

VERSATILE VPN:IPVanish does its job very well as it comes with superior cloaking ability and extremely fast speeds. Its annual plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full IPVanish review.

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6. CyberGhost

unblocks RTE playerTested Nov 2025

CyberGhost boasts a newcomer-friendly design that’s sure to appeal to those who just want to start streaming as quickly as possible. The server list on the left is broken up into several categories, one of which specifically tells you which server is best for watching RTE abroad. With a network spanning 100+ countries, though, you’ll never be short of things to watch. Users can connect a maximum of seven devices simultaneously and contact support via CyberGhost’s 24/7 live chat service.

We’ve been testing consumer VPNs for years, so if a service has wildly varying speeds, it’s an immediate red flag. To check CyberGhost’s consistency, we performed several speed tests throughout the day. Let’s see how it did:

CyberGhost delivered an average speed of 145.59 Mbps, which is a solid result. For context, watching 4K video only requires about 25 Mbps, so you’ll have plenty of overhead. There was around 10 Mbps of difference between its highest and lowest results too, meaning it’s one of the more consistent VPNs on the market.

So far, so good but can CyberGhost really keep your online activities private? Absolutely: this VPN comes with 256-bit AES encryption, a kill switch, and protection against IPv6 and DNS leaks, as well as an audited no-logging policy. You can even tell it to connect automatically whenever you use an unsecured network (or create Smart Rules to get even more specific). This VPN does offer obfuscation but while it’s enough to bypass some forms of VPN-detection, it won’t help you browse safely in countries like China.

A single account allows seven connections at the same time. Apps are available for Windows, MacOS, iOS, and Android. Customer support is available 24/7.

IDEAL FOR NEWCOMERS:CyberGhost is a secure yet easy to use option for those who want minimal fuss and aren’t looking for lots of customizability. It ships with a 45-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full CyberGhost VPN review.

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7. PrivateVPN

unblocks RTE playerTested Nov 2025

PrivateVPN isn’t trying to compete on a numbers game – it only offers about 200 servers in 63 countries, including Ireland, but the service has superior speed and streaming ability. It’s able to help you securely access major streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and RTE Player. A single account allows for 10 connections at any given time. There’s live chat-based customer support too, but only during European business hours.

PrivateVPN has never been the fastest service on the market but it does provide fairly decent speeds and reliable performance. All the same, we wanted to see what its Irish servers were capable of and, more importantly, whether they were suitable for streaming RTE Player abroad. Here’s what we found after three tests:

Overall, this VPN delivered an average speed of 46.18 Mbps. There was a bit of variance in its results depending on the time of day, but even at its slowest, PrivateVPN was fast enough for 4K streaming. That said, if you’re working with a pretty slow base connection, you may want to consider a different service.

Security comes in the form of 256-bit encryption, an internet kill switch for Windows, and protection against IPv6, DNS, and WebRTC leaks. This provider doesn’t store any user data logs and gives the option for anonymous signups by paying with Bitcoin. Further, unlike most of its competitors, PrivateVPN offers split tunneling and port forwarding functionality as standard and includes a Stealth mode that can beat the world’s toughest online censorship.

Apps are available for Windows, MacOS, iOS, and Android. Linux systems and some routers are supported, too, but must be configured manually.

STREAMING VPN:PrivateVPN is a small but mighty provider that’s primed for accessing and streaming HD video. Try it with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full Private VPN review.

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Using a free VPN to watch RTE

You might be tempted to use a free VPN to stream RTE abroad. After all, why pay for a service when you take advantage of an app that does the same thing for free?

The truth is that most free VPNs provide a far worse experience. They almost always have tiny networks and low monthly bandwidth caps, meaning that in the unlikely event you find a free VPN capable of unblocking RTE, you won’t be able to watch as much as you like. They’re trying to make money as well, which means you may be subjected to lots of invasive advertisements. Some free VPNs track user activity and sell the information to advertisers.

There have been instances of free VPNs selling user bandwidth to build botnet armies while others have knowingly injected tracking cookies to mine and harvest user data. At the end of the day, using a reputable VPN that puts customer interests first is your best option.

Why isn’t my VPN working with RTE Player?

If you can’t watch anything on RTE Player while connected to a VPN, there are several possible causes. Below, we’ll explain how to troubleshoot and resolve these issues so you can get back to streaming your favorite Irish TV shows abroad.

1. First of all, make sure your VPN is actually connected to an Irish server. It sounds simple but you’d be surprised how often people forget to check. If you’re seeing an error reading “This program cannot be streamed due to rights restrictions.“, this is almost certainly the reason why.
2. Next, try clearing your cookies and cache. This deletes any old location data and forces RTE Player to check where you are in the world one more time.
3. Still can’t watch anything? We’d suggest disabling GPS or location services and activating your VPN’s stealth mode (assuming one is available).
4. If you’re still seeing “proxy detected” or “Error 100” messages at this point, it’s likely that your VPN just can’t unblock RTE Player abroad. You might have some luck if you switch connection protocols or ask your VPN’s support team which servers to use, though; these things only take a few seconds so they’re worth a try. Failing that, we’d suggest trying one of the VPNs listed above.

Streaming RTE abroad: FAQs