You can watch BBC iPlayer from Ireland with a VPN. It’s a piece of technology that can virtually change your IP address to a UK one, making it seem like you’re in the country. That way, you can stream Doctor Who, Killing Eve, or Peaky Blinders on BBC iPlayer without issues. After testing 30+ VPNs, my top choice for unblocking BBC iPlayer is ExpressVPN because it has plenty of UK servers and lightning-fast streaming speeds. It also comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try ExpressVPN risk-free. Start Watching BBC iPlayer Today
Why You Need a VPN to Watch BBC iPlayer in Ireland
BBC iPlayer is blocked in Ireland to comply with its broadcasting and licensing rights. The platform uses complex geoblocking technology to prevent access to its content library outside the UK. As a result, when you try accessing BBC iPlayer from Ireland, you get an error message like this: BBC can determine your location through your IP address, a unique number that identifies your device on the internet. The best way to get around this problem is to use a VPN. VPNs hide your real IP address and replace it with a temporary UK one, making it seem like you’re accessing BBC iPlayer from within the country. However, not all VPNs can successfully unblock BBC iPlayer. The platform has started using sophisticated VPN-blocking technology in recent years to prevent users outside the UK from gaining access. Most VPNs have a limited number of servers in the UK, so the same IP can be assigned to thousands of users, which gets them quickly identified and blocked. With the right VPN, you can easily access BBC iPlayer from Ireland without compromising your speeds. As an added benefit, it also encrypts your data to protect you against various online threats. Try ExpressVPN Risk-Free Today
Best VPNs to Watch BBC iPlayer From Ireland in 2023
All the VPNs on my list have servers in the UK, which is crucial to minimizing overcrowding and blacklisted IPs. I personally tested all of them to ensure they can successfully unblock BBC iPlayer from Ireland. Additionally, all the VPNs enjoy fast speeds for streaming without buffering in UHD quality. Best of all, they come with trustworthy money-back guarantees, so you can test them completely risk-free.
1.ExpressVPN — Plenty of UK Servers to Access BBC iPlayer Anywhere
With ExpressVPN, you can easily access BBC iPlayer on the first try. Its unblocking capabilities are this good because it has servers in various UK locations and uses advanced obfuscation technology, which masks the fact that you’re using a VPN. This allows it to slip past the stubborn VPN-blocking tech that BBC uses. However, you can only use obfuscated servers when your protocol is set to automatic. During testing, I also noticed that Docklands servers work the best, so I recommend connecting to them from Ireland. Its connection speeds are equally impressive. My baseline speed without a VPN was 212 Mbps. I tested servers in London, East London, Wembley, and Docklands, and my speeds averaged around 199 Mbps, which means my speed loss was only 6%. With such an insignificant speed reduction, you can stream Doctor Who (and other popular British TV shows) in full HD quality with zero buffering — you only need 25 Mbps for UHD quality viewing. I also found ExpressVPN super easy to set up. It has native apps for all major platforms and takes less than 2 minutes to install them. It even has a dedicated router app, enabling you to use the VPN on all devices connected to your home WiFi. This way, you’re no longer limited to 5 simultaneous device connections. You can even get a router through FlashRouters with ExpressVPN already pre-configured. Its prices are on the more expensive side, starting at $6.67/month. However, ExpressVPN regularly offers generous discounts on its long-term plans that can lower your subscription costs by 49%. With its current offer, I also got 3 months of using the VPN for free. ExpressVPN also comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. You can ask for a refund if you aren’t 100% happy with it. I contacted customer support via the company’s 24/7 live chat feature to confirm its refund policy. The support agent was delightful and didn’t pressure me to stay. My refund was approved immediately, no questions asked, and I got my money back in my bank account within 3 days. Watch BBC iPlayer With ExpressVPN
2. CyberGhost — BBC iPlayer Optimized Servers for Easy Streaming
CyberGhost has optimized streaming servers for BBC iPlayer, which can help you watch staple BBC shows like Killing Eve with ease. These dedicated servers are tested regularly to ensure that you can always unblock iPlayer. You can quickly find these servers under the “For streaming” category. I also love that you can mark them as Favorites by clicking the star icon, so you can access them immediately when you launch the app. Similarly to ExpressVPN, its speeds are superfast. When I tested Berkshire and Manchester servers, my speed averaged around 178 Mbps, resulting in a minimal speed loss (only 16%). To put things into perspective, you only need 5 Mbps to stream in HD. I experienced no buffering while watching EastEnders on BBC iPlayer. CyberGhost can also provide you with your own dedicated IP address in the UK for a small extra fee. Since you’re not sharing your IP with other users, it’s unlikely that iPlayer will flag it because it belongs to a VPN. That way, you can enjoy BBC content without worrying that your address will be blocked. CyberGhost’s monthly cost is a bit expensive and only provides a 14-day money-back guarantee. However, its long-term plans are budget-friendly at $2.11/month. I recommend the 3-year option as it has the same great features as more expensive plans and a longer money-back guarantee. You can try CyberGhost free for 45 days, and if it doesn’t fit your needs, you can request your money back. I wanted to see how well its refund process works, so I contacted its support team via the 24/7 live chat. After asking me only one troubleshooting question, they agreed to refund me — the whole experience was hassle-free. I received the full amount on my Paypal account after only 4 days. Watch BBC iPlayer With CyberGhost
3. Private Internet Access — A Vast Server Network to Watch BBC iPlayer Buffer-Free
PIA’s large server network in the UK is ideal for flawless streaming. In fact, it has servers in London, Manchester, and Southampton. With so many UK servers at your disposal, you can easily find a server offering the best speeds and won’t have to worry about overcrowding. It also has London-Streaming servers, which are optimized for watching content in the UK. I watched the live stream of BBC Two without interruption. I tested PIA’s Manchester servers, and my average download speed was 161.82 Mbps. As I’m thousands of miles from the UK, a 24% speed reduction is a great result. You’ll experience no patchiness or buffering with these speeds. It also allows for Unlimited simultaneous device connections. I wanted to see how well it performs when the maximum number of devices are connected. After installing it on my Windows PC, several smartphones, and an iPad, I noticed no differences in speed or video quality with all these simultaneous connections. The only downside is that PIA’s apps aren’t the most beginner-friendly. This is because it provides many customization options to balance speed with security. However, the good news is that the app comes pre-configured for streaming, so you can connect to a UK server and watch BBC iPlayer almost immediately. Its long-term subscription costs only $2.03/month. Short-term options are more expensive despite no additional features, so I went with the 2-year plan. In addition, you can try PIA risk-free using the 30-day money-back guarantee. I tested its refund policy by contacting support via email and got a response within an hour. The process was painless. After a few quick questions, the rep granted my request, and I received my money back on my credit card after 5 days. Watch BBC iPlayer With PIA
How to Sign Up for BBC iPlayer From Ireland
BBC iPlayer is free to use, but just remember that if you’re streaming on your phone, your mobile operator may charge you for data usage. You can sign up for BBC iPlayer from Ireland following these simple steps: You can find the BBC iPlayer app for Android devices in Ireland’s Google Play store. Your device needs to be running on Android 5.0 or above to be able to use the app. BBC iPlayer is also compatible with Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Apple TV, Roku, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Fire Stick, PS3, PS4, and Smart TVs. However, you might need to watch iPlayer through your web browser because the app doesn’t always work. These browsers reliably work with BBC iPlayer: Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, and Safari. Try ExpressVPN Risk-Free
How to Watch BBC iPlayer on Firestick Outside the UK
You can watch BBC iPlayer on Fire TV Stick (Fire OS 5 and above) by following these easy steps:
How to Watch BBC iPlayer on Kodi From Ireland
You can also stream BBC iPlayer on Kodi by downloading the iPlayer WWW addon from the official Kodi repository. Watch BBC iPlayer on Any Device Now
How do I get BBC iPlayer on Sky in Ireland?
Unfortunately, the BBC iPlayer app is unavailable on Sky Ireland, but you can still watch BBC channels and on-demand shows through it. Alternatively, if you don’t want to pay for a costly monthly Sky TV subscription, you can access BBC iPlayer in Ireland with a VPN. VPNs can provide you with a temporary UK IP address to access iPlayer directly as if you were in the UK. That way, you can access all the unique iPlayer features, such as downloading the shows for offline viewing.
Why is BBC iPlayer not working with a VPN?
It’s probably not working because BBC iPlayer’s sophisticated VPN-blocking technology has detected you using a VPN. You can fix this by disconnecting from your current UK server and reconnecting to another to get a new UK IP address. That’s why you might want to choose a VPN that has plenty of UK servers. If this doesn’t work, try clearing your browser’s cache and cookies. The final step should be contacting your VPN’s customer support. The support team can help you identify the issue and provide a list of servers that can reliably unblock the BBC iPlayer.
Can I watch BBC iPlayer from Ireland for free?
Technically, yes. While BBC iPlayer is blocked in Ireland, it is available in the UK for free. All you need is a VPN with plenty of UK servers and strong unblocking capabilities to access iPlayer in Ireland. While reputable VPNs aren’t free, most of them come with a money-back guarantee, so you can try them without risk.
How can I watch BBC iPlayer in Ireland on my iPhone or iPad?
Yes, you can watch BBC iPlayer from Ireland on your iOS devices (iOS 12 or above) by following these step-by-step instructions: Important. Any remaining ID balance on your Apple ID will be lost after you change your region. If you have any gift cards, don’t redeem them before changing the region. You might need to cancel your subscriptions and re-download your apps. Apple may also prevent you from changing your region more often than once per 90 days.
Can I use a free VPN to access BBC iPlayer from Ireland?
No, free VPNs can’t unblock BBC iPlayer. That’s because they limit server locations to save costs. I personally tested out a couple of them, and none were successful. A premium VPN with a money-back guarantee is a more reliable option. That way, you can try it risk-free. Free VPN servers are also overcrowded, which negatively affects your speed and causes their IP addresses to be blacklisted at a higher rate. BBC iPlayer has most likely blocked all IPs belonging to free VPNs, and you can lose a lot of time trying to find a working one. Plus, they limit the amount of data you can use. Unfortunately, those data caps can be as low as 500MB per month, which isn’t enough to finish streaming even a single episode of Doctor Who. In addition, free VPNs are notoriously unsafe. Some can infect you with malware, and others contain tracking libraries embedded in them to collect your data and sell it to third parties.
Do I need a TV license to watch BBC iPlayer in Ireland?
Yes, you do. The BBC provides iPlayer as a free service to UK residents, but TV license payments fund its operation. However, it doesn’t require proof that you have a TV license. You only need to confirm that you have one when the pop-up window appears. Unfortunately, even if you are a UK citizen with a valid TV license, you won’t be able to watch BBC iPlayer from Ireland. You need to use a VPN to virtually change your location to a UK one to unblock the service.
Can I watch BBC iPlayer live from Ireland?
Yes, you can. Simply launch your VPN and connect to a UK server to get a British IP address. Then, you can watch the following BBC channels live:
BBC One, Two, Three, and Four BBC Radio 1 CBBC CBeebies BBC Scotland BBC News BBC Parliament BBC Alba S4C
With live streams of these channels, you can keep up with various sports, including football, tennis, Formula 1, cricket, and rugby. Stream the Premier League, and the World Cup live and enjoy the best Wimbledon, Australia Open, French Open, and US Open matches. With BBC News, you can also keep up to date with the current affairs in the world.
Is it legal to watch BBC iPlayer from Ireland using a VPN?
VPN use is legal in Ireland and the UK, so you can freely use a VPN to access BBC iPlayer from Ireland. Just, launch your VPN and connect to a UK server to get a UK IP address. However, you can’t watch iPlayer if you don’t have a valid UK TV license. The BBC doesn’t ask for proof that you have one, but watching its content without one might go against its regulations. However, the national broadcaster hasn’t revealed if it plans to implement any detection methods. Also, using a VPN to access BBC iPlayer, might be against the service’s T&Cs. Be sure to read through its policy to avoid accidentally breaking any rules. Watch BBC iPlayer With ExpressVPN
Start Watching BBC iPlayer in Ireland Now
BBC iPlayer is unavailable outside the UK, but you can still watch it in Ireland with a VPN. However, only premium VPNs (like the ones on my list) can reliably unblock the service. I recommend using ExpressVPN because of its vast server network in the UK and blazing-fast speeds for streaming British TV shows and movies. It’s also backed by a 30-day guarantee, so you can test ExpressVPN risk-free. If you aren’t 100% satisfied with it, you can request a full refund.
To summarize, the best VPNs for watching BBC iPlayer in Ireland are…
The information above can be used to track you, target you for ads, and monitor what you do online.
VPNs can help you hide this information from websites so that you are protected at all times. We recommend ExpressVPN — the #1 VPN out of over 350 providers we've tested. It has military-grade encryption and privacy features that will ensure your digital security, plus — it's currently offering 49% off.
Visit ExpressVPN
