# RTÉ Player vs Fast Player

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: RTÉ Player at none against Fast Player's 5. RTÉ Player also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.5). Fast Player's advantage is review sentiment (68% vs 46%) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 5 weeks). On price, ratings volume, ads and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Fast Player sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per year. RTÉ Player asks for nothing beyond the download.

RTÉ Player holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6.3K and 5K respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 46% of RTÉ Player's written reviews are positive against 68% of Fast Player's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

RTÉ Player ships an update every 5 weeks, Fast Player fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | RTÉ Player | Fast Player |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (6.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rte-player/id484129073/reviews)** | [4.5 (5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fast-player-video-player/id1320554555/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **6.3K** | 5K |
| Positive reviews | 45.9% of reviews | **67.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 53 MB | 161 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [RTÉ](https://appshunter.io/developer/417236883) | [章健 杨](https://appshunter.io/developer/1566849627) |

## What reviewers say

### RTÉ Player

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rte-player/id484129073)

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.

**Highlights:** 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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Fast Player

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fast-player-video-player/id1320554555)

This app plays nearly all audio and video formats, including M3U8 playlists and streaming videos. It offers advanced playback controls, custom subtitle support, and multiple file transfer methods. Secure your media with password protection and enjoy casting to your TV.

**Highlights:** Plays all audio/video formats, M3U8 playlist and IPTV support, Custom subtitle downloads, Multiple file transfer options, Cloud drive integration, Casting to TV (Chromecast, AirPlay), Archive file support, Password protection for privacy

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Annual professional version | $3.99 | per year |
| Compress / unzip the file | $0.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $0.99 | one-time |
| Passcode Lock | $0.99 | one-time |
| Professional Version | $5.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and user-friendly
- 👍 Versatile and plays various file formats
- 💡 Useful for transferring and managing media files
- 👍 Simple and intuitive interface

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional freezing and crashing issues
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 📢 Intrusive ads in free version
- 🔒 Concerns about data privacy and sharing

**Reported bugs**

- Videos not playing correctly or only showing audio
- App failing to remember playback position
- Issues with file format compatibility
- Unexpected app crashes and freezes

**Requested features**

- Add shuffle and repeat options
- Implement picture-in-picture mode
- Improve playlist management and file ordering
- Provide better Bluetooth/AirPlay support


## Frequently asked questions

### Is RTÉ Player free?

RTÉ Player is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Fast Player free?

Fast Player is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, RTÉ Player or Fast Player?

RTÉ Player is rated higher. RTÉ Player averages 4.7 out of 5 from 6.3K ratings, while Fast Player averages 4.5 from 5K ratings.

### Do RTÉ Player or Fast Player have ads?

Both RTÉ Player and Fast Player show ads.

### Which is updated more often, RTÉ Player or Fast Player?

RTÉ Player ships an update every 5 weeks, and Fast Player fortnightly. Most recently, RTÉ Player was updated on September 22, 2026 and Fast Player on September 25, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*