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Quick Facts
- RTÉ Player, Virgin Media Play and TG4 Player are free — no subscription needed
- Netflix now costs €11.99 to €25.99 a month after its September 2026 price rise
- Live sport runs through NOW Sports, Sky, Premier Sports, TNT Sports and GAA+, plus free coverage on RTÉ, TG4 and Virgin Media
- You don't need a TV licence for streaming-only devices (the licence is €160)
The short answer: most Irish households can cover everything they watch with the three free Irish apps (RTÉ Player, Virgin Media Play and TG4 Player) plus one or two paid services — usually Netflix, Disney+ or NOW. Live sport is where costs climb, so decide what sport you actually follow before you sign up for anything.
This guide covers every major licensed streaming service available in Ireland in 2026, what each costs, and who it suits. Prices were checked in September 2026; providers change them often, so always confirm on the provider’s own site before paying.
Why “legal” matters
Unauthorised IPTV resellers and “fully loaded” boxes are illegal in Ireland. They get shut down without warning, often carry malware, and give you no refund or consumer protection when they stop working. Everything on this page is a licensed service you can pay for — or watch for free — without any of those risks.
Free Irish streaming apps
You can watch every main Irish channel live and on catch-up without paying a cent:
| App | What you get | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| RTÉ Player | RTÉ One, RTÉ2 and RTÉ’s other channels live, plus catch-up and box sets | Free (free account needed) |
| Virgin Media Play | Virgin Media One, Two, Three and Four live, plus catch-up | Free, with ads |
| TG4 Player | TG4 live, Irish-language drama, documentaries and GAA coverage | Free |
| Saorview | Free-to-air channels through a TV aerial (not an app) | Free, but needs a TV licence |
Virgin Media Play replaced the older Virgin Media Player app in 2024, so if you still have the old app, update it. For more detail, see our comparison of Virgin Media Play and RTÉ Player, our TG4 Player guide and 5 free Irish streaming apps worth knowing.
Paid streaming services and prices
These are the standard monthly prices in Ireland as of September 2026. Several services run introductory offers for new customers.
| Service | Plans and monthly price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Netflix | Basic €11.99 · Standard €18.99 · Premium €25.99 | The biggest general library; no ad tier in Ireland yet |
| Disney+ | From €8.99 (Standard with Ads) · Standard €11.99 · Premium €15.99 | Families, Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar |
| Prime Video | €6.99 | Good value, especially if you already shop on Amazon |
| Apple TV | €9.99 | Apple originals like Slow Horses and Severance |
| Paramount+ | From €5.99 (Basic with Ads) | US drama and comedy on a budget |
| NOW Entertainment | €8.99 (€11.99 with HBO Max Basic with Ads) | Sky Originals and HBO series without a Sky contract |
| NOW Cinema | €11.99 | New film releases |
| HBO Max | Standalone at hbomax.com, or through Sky and NOW | HBO, Warner Bros. and DC in one app |
NOW’s optional Boost add-on (€5 a month) adds 1080p, ad-free on-demand viewing and a second simultaneous stream.
Read more in our guides to Netflix’s 2026 price changes, Disney+ plans, Paramount+, HBO Max in Ireland and NOW’s latest prices.
Pay-TV packages with streaming built in
If you want live channels, sport and on-demand in one bill, the pay-TV providers now deliver most of it over broadband:
- Sky — Sky Stream works over Wi-Fi with no satellite dish. See Sky Stream vs NOW.
- Virgin Media TV — sold with Virgin broadband in Essential, Mix and Max packages. See Virgin Media TV compared.
- Eir — Eir Vision bundles TV with broadband. See Eir Vision explained.
Pay-TV prices depend heavily on your broadband bundle and any current offers, so compare the total monthly bill rather than the TV part alone.
Live sport
Sport is split across several services, so the cheapest route depends on what you follow:
| Sport | Where to watch legally |
|---|---|
| GAA | RTÉ and TG4 (free) for many championship games; GAA+ for the rest — the 2026 Season Pass cost €95, or €15 per match |
| Premier League football | Mainly Sky Sports and TNT Sports — both included, along with Premier Sports, in the NOW Sports membership (€72.99 a month, or less on a 12-month deal) |
| Champions League football | Selected games free on Virgin Media until 2027; the rest on Premier Sports. From 2027 the free games move to RTÉ |
| Rugby | Six Nations free on RTÉ and Virgin Media; URC through pay-TV and streaming partners |
| Golf and other events | Mostly Sky Sports, with some free coverage on RTÉ |
Our sport guides go into detail: where to watch GAA, Premier League football, the Champions League, Six Nations rugby and the URC.
Do you need a TV licence to stream?
The TV licence costs €160 a year. According to Citizens Information, you don’t need one to watch on a computer, phone or other device that can’t receive a TV signal by aerial, satellite or cable — so streaming-only households are generally exempt. A TV set that can be connected to an aerial still counts as TV equipment. Our TV licence guide explains the rules in full.
What you need to watch on your TV
Most smart TVs from the last few years already have RTÉ Player, Virgin Media Play, Netflix and the other big apps built in. If yours is older or missing apps, a plug-in streaming stick is the cheapest fix:
- Amazon Fire TV Stick — wide app support, including all the Irish apps. Check price on Amazon
- A new smart TV — worth it if your current set is slow or no longer gets app updates. Check smart TV prices
- A soundbar — the single biggest upgrade for TV speakers. Check soundbar prices
See our best streaming devices for Irish homes and best budget streaming sticks for full comparisons.
How to choose
| If you mainly want… | Start with |
|---|---|
| Irish TV and the soaps | The free apps: RTÉ Player, Virgin Media Play and TG4 Player |
| One all-round paid service | Netflix, or Prime Video if you want to spend less |
| HBO and Sky shows | NOW Entertainment (with HBO Max) or HBO Max directly |
| Kids and families | Disney+ |
| GAA | Free RTÉ and TG4 coverage, plus a GAA+ pass |
| Premier League football | NOW Sports, or a Sky or Virgin Media package with sport |
Not sure how many services you actually need? Read how many streaming subscriptions Irish households really need, or take our quick streaming quiz.
Complete Your Setup
Compact Soundbar
TV speakers rarely do streaming audio justice — a simple soundbar is the most-requested upgrade.
Universal Remote Control
Cuts down on juggling three remotes to switch between your TV, streaming box, and soundbar.
Portable Bluetooth Speaker
A flexible alternative to a fixed soundbar if you want to move audio between rooms or take it outside for a match.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest legal way to stream TV in Ireland?
Is IPTV legal in Ireland?
Is there a Netflix plan with ads in Ireland?
Do I need a TV licence if I only stream?
Sources
Prices checked September 2026: Netflix price rise (Irish Times) · Disney+ prices (SmartSaver) · Streaming prices in Ireland (SmartSaver) · NOW memberships · GAA+ 2026 Season Pass · Champions League rights (The42) · Six Nations free-to-air coverage (RTÉ) · TV licences (Citizens Information) · HBO Max UK & Ireland launch (WBD) · Virgin Media Play launch
