# RTÉ Player vs Castiva Player

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Castiva Player at 100% against RTÉ Player's 46%. Castiva Player also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks). RTÉ Player's advantage is rating (4.7 vs 2.3) and in-app purchases (none vs 5). On price, ads, monetization model and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Castiva Player sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. RTÉ Player asks for nothing beyond the download.

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 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 46% of RTÉ Player's written reviews are positive against 100% of Castiva 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 3 weeks, Castiva Player weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | RTÉ Player | Castiva Player |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (6.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rte-player/id484129073/reviews)** | [2.3 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/castiva-player/id6758323517/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **6.3K** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | 46.1% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 50 MB | 126 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [RTÉ](https://appshunter.io/developer/417236883) | [Seryan Lootback](https://appshunter.io/developer/1887184502) |

## 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


### Castiva Player

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/castiva-player/id6758323517)

Stream videos and IPTV playlists to your TV with a simple, one-tap interface. Load M3U playlists via link, QR code, or upload. Enjoy smooth playback and multi-device access for a seamless viewing experience on the big screen.

**Highlights:** Cast videos to Smart TV, Chromecast, AirPlay, Load IPTV playlists (M3U), Add playlists via link, QR code, or upload, Smooth and stable playback, Multi-device access, Quick sync with QR code

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

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| Special Deals | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly | $19.99 | per month |
| Yearly | $79.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is RTÉ Player free?

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

### Is Castiva Player free?

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

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

RTÉ Player is rated higher. RTÉ Player averages 4.7 out of 5 from 6.3K ratings, while Castiva Player averages 2.3 from 6 ratings.

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

Both RTÉ Player and Castiva Player show ads.

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

RTÉ Player ships an update every 3 weeks, and Castiva Player weekly. Most recently, RTÉ Player was updated on October 19, 2026 and Castiva Player on October 9, 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.*