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BBC iPlayer is an excellent free streaming service that offers TV shows and movies, reality TV, documentaries, game shows, news, and much more. Unfortunately, while BBC iPlayer used to be available in Ireland, that’s no longer the case. At the moment, iPlayer is only offered in the UK due to licensing restrictions.
Even if you have an account already, you won't be able to watch it if you travel to Ireland or any other unsupported country. Still, all hope is not lost. You can access BBC iPlayer from Ireland for free by unblocking it using a VPN. This will bypass geo-restrictions by changing your IP address to one from the UK. That way, you'll be able to use iPlayer on pretty much any device.
In this article, we'll cover how to watch BBC iPlayer in Ireland, why you need a VPN to do so, and which providers are best for the job. We'll also share some guides for downloading iPlayer on various devices and content recommendations if you can't decide what to watch. If you run into any issues using iPlayer with a VPN, you'll find troubleshooting steps, too. Finally, we'll wrap up with answers to FAQs.
To watch BBC iPlayer in Ireland, you need to connect to a VPN server in the UK. That way, you'll get a UK IP address and full access to iPlayer. Use the following steps:
You need a VPN to watch BBC iPlayer in Ireland as that's the only reliable method to bypass Internet geo-blocks, including iPlayer's location-based restrictions. BBC iPlayer is currently only offered in the UK.
If you try to watch BBC iPlayer from abroad for free, you'll encounter an error that says: “BBC iPlayer only works in the UK. Sorry, it’s due to rights issues.”
That error means that the website has scanned your IP address, which revealed that you’re not in the UK. To access BBC iPlayer without any restrictions, you must use a VPN and connect to a VPN server in the UK. Doing so will replace your IP address with another one based in the United Kingdom. You will also need a VPN if you want to download BBC iPlayer's app outside the UK.
That said, not just any VPN can unblock BBC iPlayer. You'll need the best VPN for BBC iPlayer because the service detects and blocks most VPNs. Our top choice is NordVPN because it will help you access iPlayer from Ireland (and anywhere else) on practically any device. Plus, it's super fast, reliable, and secure.
The ideal VPN will be able to easily unblock BBC iPlayer in Ireland, as well as other streaming services. To do this, it will need a sizeable server network in the UK and worldwide. Obfuscation is an important feature to look for because it will allow you to bypass geo-blocks without any issues.
Make sure the VPN you choose delivers high-speed connections and stable performance. A kill switch comes in handy for preventing IP leaks, and a no-logs policy is crucial for protecting your privacy. On top of that, look for strong protocols like OpenVPN and WireGuard, along with military-grade encryption.
You'll want to find a provider that supports all popular streaming devices, like Windows, Android, macOS, iOS, smart TVs, and more. Plus, it should allow multiple simultaneous connections, so you can stream on more than one screen. Lastly, customer support that is available 24/7 and a reliable money-back policy are musts in case you run into any issues.
Based on the above criteria, these are the 3 best VPNs to stream BBC iPlayer in Ireland:
NordVPN is the best VPN to watch BBC iPlayer in Ireland because it effortlessly unblocks iPlayer from anywhere in the world. It also works with any other streamers you might want to access. This is thanks to 6,000+ servers in 61 countries, which includes 440+ UK servers in London, Glasgow, Manchester, and Edinburgh. Furthermore, its SmartPlay feature helps you stay hidden by masking your DNS queries.
This provider has blazing-fast speeds and consistent performance across its entire network. It didn't matter which server we connected to during testing. We could stream in 4K without buffering on both nearby and distant servers.
In addition to SmartPlay for bypassing geo-blocks, NordVPN has plenty of obfuscated servers. It also comes with a kill switch to prevent your IP from being exposed if the VPN connection drops. Moreover, an audited no-logs policy guarantees your privacy will be upheld.
When it comes to security, NordVPN impresses with its suite of features. You can choose from OpenVPN or IKEv2/IPsec protocols with AES-256 encryption, or there's the in-house NordLynx protocol that's built on WireGuard and paired with ChaCha20 encryption. NordLynx is the best choice for streaming because it's super fast without sacrificing security.
NordVPN can be installed on all popular streaming devices, including computers, smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, and more. It's also compatible with routers, so you can use it to protect devices that don't offer VPN apps, like gaming consoles and Roku. Overall, it allows 6 simultaneous connections.
Thanks to NordVPN's round-the-clock customer support that is always available through chat, you can get help at any time. Finally, you can subscribe risk free because you'll be protected by a 30-day refund period. If you decide it's not a fit, you can get your money back.
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Surfshark made our list because it unblocks BBC iPlayer in Ireland without issues, as well as other streaming platforms. It comes with 212 servers in 4 UK locations: London, Manchester, Edinburgh, and Glasgow. Overall, it has a wide network of 3,200+ servers in 100 countries, and all of them are obfuscated.
When it comes to unique features, Surfshark's proprietary Nexus technology rotates your IP without disconnecting you from the VPN. This is excellent for bypassing geo-blocks. It also utilizes its entire network to boost and stabilize your speeds. Thus, you'll enjoy lightning-fast speeds with reliable performance, regardless of which server you choose.
Surfshark comes with an iron-clad no-logs policy and a powerful kill switch that blocks your device's Internet access if your VPN connection fails. As far as security protocols, you'll get the choice of ChaCha20-encrypted WireGuard or AES-256-enabled OpenVPN or IKEv2.
You can install Surfshark on any streaming devices, such as smartphones, computers, smart TVs, and more. It has apps for Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Linux, among other platforms. As a huge plus, it allows unlimited simultaneous connections, making it a great choice for large families.
You'll be able to test Surfshark for 30 days thanks to its money-back guarantee. Furthermore, you'll always be able to get help if you need it because its customer support is available 24/7.
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ExpressVPN is another excellent choice thanks to its ability to unblock BBC iPlayer and other streaming services. It has plenty of servers in 5 UK locations: London, East London, Wembley, Docklands, and Midlands. Its global network has a very wide reach, with 3,000+ servers in 105 countries. Moreover, it has automatic, network-wide obfuscation.
With ExpressVPN, you can expect ultra-high speeds and dependable performance on both close servers and those further away. This means you'll be able to stream in 4K without any annoying buffering.
As expected for a premium provider, ExpressVPN comes with an audited no-logs policy to shield your privacy, as well as a kill switch to prevent data leaks. For security, it offers the standard OpenVPN and IKEv2 protocols with AES-256 encryption. Or, you can choose Lightway, its proprietary protocol that uses WolfSSL, which is the best one for streaming.
ExpressVPN offers apps for all popular devices, including computers, smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, and more. It uniquely has a dedicated router app, so you can easily protect other devices that lack VPN support. You're allowed to make 8 simultaneous connections on a single subscription.
You can test ExpressVPN risk-free and get a refund if things don't work out by taking advantage of its 30-day money-back policy. Lastly, its knowledgeable customer support can be reached 24/7 via live chat.
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To download the BBC iPlayer app in Ireland, first you need to use a VPN and connect to a server in the UK. This way, you can access the UK version of your device's app store. Unless you do that, you won't be able to find or download the app. Of course, some workarounds exist, which we'll explain below in our guides to downloading BBC iPlayer in Ireland on the most widely used devices.
The easiest way to get the iPlayer app on Android in Ireland is to sideload it using its APK file. This means you'll download it from the Web and install it manually. Use the following steps:
Downloading the BBC iPlayer app in Ireland on iOS is a bit more complicated, but we'll walk you through it. Here's what you need to do:
To watch BBC iPlayer in Ireland on your Firestick, you need to sideload the iPlayer app. So, let's show you what exactly must be done:
If you use Chrome, you don't need to download any apps. Instead, you can use the Web browser itself to unblock, access, and stream iPlayer. Here's what to do:
Since VPNs don't work on smart TVs, you need to install one on a router instead. That's the only way to download and watch BBC iPlayer in Ireland on your smart TV. Follow these steps:
BBC iPlayer has a plethora of engaging content, from live BBC TV channels to an extensive library of on-demand options like movies, TV shows, and sports. When it comes to live TV channels, you'll find the entire BBC roster, which includes all national and regional BBC channels.
You'll also get access to movies and TV shows produced by the BBC and various US TV networks. You could watch Sherlock, the UK version of The Office, Doctor Who, or Killing Eve. For movie night, you can go for classics like Blazing Saddles or newer releases like Aftersun. As for sports, there is extensive coverage of Premier League and FA Cup matches, the World Boxing Cup, and more.
Here are some recommendations of the most popular content to watch right now:
If you can’t access BBC iPlayer in Ireland while using a VPN, sometimes your VPN needs a bit of a “push” to work properly with the streaming service. Here are some fixes you can try to get things working:
There are other steps you can take, as explained in our guide that explains why your VPN isn't working. We also have a handy guide on handling VPN error codes, which is handy for checking if an error code pops up when trying to use your VPN.
BBC iPlayer is very popular worldwide, but it's unfortunately only available in the UK, so you can't sign up for it in Ireland. Moreover, if you have an account already and travel outside the UK, you won't be able to watch anything. This is all due to licensing agreements. Luckily, you can avoid any geo-restrictions by using a VPN to unblock BBC iPlayer.
We recommend NordVPN as the best VPN for watching BBC iPlayer in Ireland. It has hundreds of blazing-fast UK servers for buffer-free streaming. Plus, it can easily unblock any streaming services thanks to its obfuscation and SmartPlay feature.
That would be all on how to watch BBC iPlayer in Ireland for free. Use the comments section below if you have any questions. And finally, thanks for reading!