# RTÉ Player vs Virgin Media Play

The clearest difference is rating: RTÉ Player at 4.7 against Virgin Media Play's 2.3. RTÉ Player also leads on review sentiment (46% vs 12%) and ratings volume (6.3K vs 3). Virgin Media Play's advantage is monetization model (ad-supported vs free with in-app purchases). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

RTÉ Player holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 2.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: RTÉ Player has 6.3K ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 46% of RTÉ Player's written reviews are positive against 12% of Virgin Media Play's.

RTÉ Player ships an update every 3 weeks, Virgin Media Play monthly. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | RTÉ Player | Virgin Media Play |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (6.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rte-player/id484129073/reviews)** | [2.3 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/virgin-media-play/id602597705/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **6.3K** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | **46.1% of reviews** | 11.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 50 MB | 86 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [RTÉ](https://appshunter.io/developer/417236883) | [TV3 TELEVISION NETWORK LIMITED](https://appshunter.io/developer/464364337) |

## 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


### Virgin Media Play

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/virgin-media-play/id602597705)

Stream popular TV shows, dramas, and Irish content live or on demand. Enjoy features like restarting live shows, accessing all channels, and improved accessibility services. Discover new titles and search for favorites.

**Highlights:** Stream live and on-demand TV shows, Restart live shows from the beginning, Access all Virgin Media channels, Improved accessibility (subtitles, audio description), Watch major shows minutes after airing, Browse and search for new titles and favorites

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is RTÉ Player free?

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

### Is Virgin Media Play free?

Virgin Media Play is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, RTÉ Player or Virgin Media Play?

RTÉ Player is rated higher. RTÉ Player averages 4.7 out of 5 from 6.3K ratings, while Virgin Media Play averages 2.3 from 3 ratings.

### Do RTÉ Player or Virgin Media Play have ads?

Both RTÉ Player and Virgin Media Play show ads.

### Which is updated more often, RTÉ Player or Virgin Media Play?

RTÉ Player ships an update every 3 weeks, and Virgin Media Play monthly. Most recently, RTÉ Player was updated on October 24, 2026 and Virgin Media Play on October 24, 2026.

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