RTÉ Player vs Arc Cinema
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
RTÉ Player
Access a vast library of Irish television content, both live and on-demand. Stream popular dramas, sports, entertainment, and children's programs from RTÉ channels. Features include personalized recommendations, watchlists, and accessibility options.
- Live and on-demand TV streaming
- Thousands of favorite RTÉ shows
- Full series of dramas and soaps
- Live sporting action
- RTÉ Player Kids section
- In-vision ISL and Audio Description
- Personalized recommendations and watchlists
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RTÉ Player is the home of must-see TV in Ireland, live and on-demand. Watch 1000s of your favourite RTÉ shows. Full series of gripping drama from home and abroad, soaps, live sporting action and entertainment shows everyone’s talking about. Browse and switch between RTÉ channels - RTÉ One, RTÉ 2, RTÉ News and RTÉ Kids on the go. Entertain little ones with RTÉ Player Kids. A world of fun, learning and entertainment with the best RTÉJr programmes live and on demand. KEY FEATURES - Don’t miss a minute of the action, breaking news or live sport. -Discover the most-talked about shows like Room to Improve, Kin and Smother. -Access shows with in-vision Irish Sign Language (ISL) and Audio Description (AD) -Sign in to RTÉ Player to continue watching shows and pick up where you left off on any device. -Sign in and get recommendations tailored to you, making picking what to watch easier than ever. -Watch later. ‘Favourite’ a program to create a watchlist of programmes to go back to, so you don’t miss RTÉ’s most talked about shows. -Share your favourites with friends through social sharing. The RTÉ Player App uses streaming technology which means that you must be connected to the Internet in order to watch programmes. The app will automatically adjust video quality based on the speed of your WiFi connection.
Arc Cinema
Easily plan your cinema visits by checking showtimes, watching trailers, and booking tickets. The app allows you to select seats and purchase concessions, with e-tickets delivered directly for a seamless experience.
- View film showtimes
- Watch movie trailers
- Book cinema tickets
- Select seats
- Order cinema treats
- Receive e-tickets
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Plan your next big screen experience from the comfort of your mobile; anytime, anywhere! Getting showtimes and booking tickets at Arc Cinemas could not be easier! Watch trailers, explore film times, and order your cinema treats in one easy to use app. Still not sure what to see? No problem! Use filters in the app to browse what’s showing now, what’s coming soon, and special performances, to help you decide. The easy to use booking system allows you to choose your film time, pick your seats, and add extras all in one simple order! Better than that, once you have finished your booking your e-tickets will be waiting for you in the app, so no need to queue to collect them at the cinema!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Arc Cinema at 82% against RTÉ Player's 46%. Arc Cinema also leads on monetization model (ad-supported vs free with in-app purchases) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). RTÉ Player's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 6 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
RTÉ Player ships an update every 3 weeks, Arc Cinema every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | RTÉ Player | Arc Cinema |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (6.3K ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 46.1% of reviews | 81.8% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 6.3K — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks — better | Every 6 months |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Ad-supported — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV — better | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 12.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 50 MB | 36 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | RTÉ | Collaborative Software Ltd / Admit One |
Customer experience
RTÉ Player
Arc Cinema
In-app purchases
RTÉ Player
No in-app purchases
Arc Cinema
No in-app purchases
