BEST VPN SERVICES
In a hurry?
The best VPN for Ireland in 2023, as found in our independent testing, is NordVPN!
Whether you live and work in Ireland or are just going to the country to enjoy a holiday, you’ll need a good Ireland VPN to access blocked content in the country.
Other than blocking file-sharing sites pushed by the Irish Recorded Music Association, Ireland does not restrict or censor its citizens’ access to the internet.
The torrenting of copyrighted materials is illegal in Ireland.
In January 2018, authorities ordered various ISPs to block the access to 8 famous pirate file-sharing websites.
The government requires telecom providers and Internet Service Providers to keep records of the online activities of their customers for up to 2 years.
Netflix and other streaming services are also unrestricted in Ireland.
Although, the content on these services varies from that of other geographical locations.
Other services, however, are accessible only within those regions.
Fortunately, you can bid a farewell to all mentioned drawbacks of the internet life by using a VPN.
Best VPN for Ireland in 2023
So, if you are thinking about what VPN you should use, allow us to solve the problem for you.
This guide sheds light on and helps you decide on the best VPN for Ireland.
1. NordVPN
Recommended Guide: NordVPN Review
NordVPN is the most loved VPN in the world, and our pick as the very best VPN for Ireland.
This product is worth your consideration with glowing reviews across the internet, highlighting the platform’s online security tools, high speeds, torrenting and streaming capabilities, and web browsers.
Headquartered in Panama, NordVPN provides its users a combination of unbreakable encryption, greatspeeds, and an independently-audited no-logs policy.
- NordVPN is the industry leader (by a long way)
- 30-day risk-free trial
- Superfast speeds
- 5,442+ servers in 60+ countries
- Strict no-logs policy
- Next-generation military-grade encryption
- DoubleVPN, double privacy
- 6 simultaneous device connections
- Great for: Safety, security, anonymity & peace of mind
- Compatible with: Windows, Mac, Android, iPhone, iPad & iOS, Linux, routers, Apple TV, FireFox, Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and more
NordVPN has over 14 million users worldwide. Both beginners and tech experts love using NordVPN due to its intuitive apps and top features.
NordVPN was founded in 2012 by a group of childhood friends. Late in May 2016, the company launched its Android app, followed by an iOS app in June of the same year.
In October 2017, it came up with a browser extension for Google Chrome. In mid-2018, the platform launched an application for Android TV.
These services and tools of the platform make it an ideal choice for the people in Ireland.
NordVPN’s website is designed so simple and straightforward that even tech newbies won’t have any trouble using it to enjoy the banned internet platforms in Ireland.
The personal account page is apparent, having all the important details under the “Dashboard” tab.
The other two tabs on the page are “Downloads,” where all apps and software for different devices are available, and “Change Password,” which is used for changing password.
Basic features of the platform include an automatic kill switch that disables your internet connection as soon as it drops.
Moreover, there’s an app kill switch that allows the users to select the apps that are closed automatically as soon as their connection fails.
Users also get access to the dark web monitoring feature that searches dark web marketplaces to check if their personal data has been hacked.
DNS leak protection is another worth mentioning feature that hides users’ DNS requests from ISP.
NordVPN is excellent for streaming the banned shows of your favorite platforms in Ireland.
The VPN enhances streaming speed by preventing bandwidth throttling by your Internet Service Provider.
The advanced features of NordVPN include multi-hop connections and split tunneling.
The multi-hop connections send your connection from two VPN servers.
This way, your data is encrypted twice, preventing the intruders from easily accessing it.
Hence, if one connection fails, there’s another one at backup to provide cover.
On the other hand, the split tunneling feature allows users to select which app routes the traffic through VPN and which directly accesses their internet.
Last but not least, NordVPN’s admirable no-strings-attached 30-day money-back guarantee is worth a mention.
If for some reason, you don’t like the app, you can always get your money back during the first month without any hassles.
2. Surfshark
Recommended Guide: Surfshark VPN Review
Surfshark is a highly recommended cheap VPN for Ireland as its limitless simultaneous connections at a competitive price make it an attractive option for Irish people.
With 3200+ serves distributed across 95 countries, Surfshark offers high-speed connections and military-grade AES encryption.
Surfshark was launched in 2018 in the British Virgin Islands — a privacy-friendly location.
In 2018, Surfshark underwent an external audit by a German cybersecurity firm, Cure53, but only for its browser extensions.
In mid-2021, Surfshark began to merge with the popular Nord Security, the parent company of NordVPN.
The merger was finalized at the start of 2023, with both services continuing to work independently.
- Surfshark is the best budget VPN
- 30-day risk-free trial
- Strict no-logs policy
- 3200+ servers in 95 countries
- Unlimited simultaneous device connections
- Great for: private browsing on a budget
- Compatible with: Windows, Mac, Android, iPhone & iOS, Linux, FireFox, Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and more
Surfshark offers some pretty handy features like SmartDNS, split tunneling, P2P-optimized servers, GPS spoofing, and the fast WireGuard protocol.
And to make things even better, Surfshark frequently comes up with new features, like a graphic interface for Linux and features of Nexus.
The main feature of Surfshark is a Virtual Private Network that is privacy-focused, however, the company also offers a few other security features beyond data encryption only.
For instance, it has a split tunneling tool known as Whitelister that allows users to send most traffic through a VPN “tunnel” and specific traffic directly outside of the VPN.
The technical essentials of the service include AES-256-GCM solid encryption, OpenVPN, WireGuard, and IKEv2 support, a no-logs policy, and a kill switch for protecting you in case your VPN connection drops.
Surfshark truly shines when it comes to streaming, and you can watch restricted shows in Ireland on Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, Disney+, iPlayer, and other platforms.
And since its servers are P2P optimized, it also works excellently for torrenting.
Surfshark has spread its service to many platforms so that the users can enjoy the service on almost any device existing today.
Surfshark has its app available for Windows PC, Mac, Android, iOS, and Linux.
Users can also install it on their gaming device or smart device such as a smart TV.
Surfshark’s major draw is its pricing, it only costs 2.49$ a month if you get the 2-year plan.
However, short plans are pricier and cost $12.95 per month. Just like NordVPN, Surfshark also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
3. Atlas VPN
Recommended Guide: Atlas VPN Review
Atlas VPN is also an excellent choice for anyone searching for the best free VPN for Ireland.
It might be relatively young in the world of VPNs, but it continues to improve after being spotted as a rising talent and taken over by the well-known NordVPN.
Like the other best VPNs in the market, Atlas VPN offers a set of privacy features along with a basic Virtual Private Network functionality.
Endless simultaneous connections for premium users and a high data cap for the free users are its main draw.
- Atlas VPN is the best free VPN
- Privacy Pro servers
- 750 servers in 40+ locations
- Unlimited simultaneous device connections
- Great for: people seeking a freemium VPN
- Compatible with: Windows, MacOS, Android, iPhone & iOS, Android TV, Fire TV Stick
Both the premium and free versions work at a fast speed and offer security to help you safely browse.
However, the free users are given a data cap of 2 GB daily, and they can’t unblock geographically restricted streaming services.
Therefore, if you want to enjoy the blocked streaming services or specific content on these services in Ireland, then the paid version is for you.
It unblocks content on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and other popular streaming services.
It also offers P2P file-sharing for torrenting safely and anonymously.
Features of Atlas VPN include a high-speed WireGuard protocol, a kill switch for backup in case the VPN drops, and a SafeSwap feature that regularly changes your IP address when you are connected to the same server to maximize your anonymity.
Bonus features include malware blocking and ad tracker, which block ads and websites that host malicious content such as malware, phishing, or virus-distributing sites.
Atlas VPN is currently compatible with iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS devices.
Also, the Atlas VPN software can be used on Android TV as well as Fire TV!
The website says that in the future, their service will be available on the other operating systems as well.
The app is simple and easy to use. Once you download and install the Atlas VPN app from Google Play Store or iOS, the app simplifies the process itself into a handful of prompts.
It is very intuitive as a software experience. From start to completion, you can be web browsing anonymously within a minute.
4. CyberGhost
Recommended Guide: CyberGhost
One of the biggest VPN service providers on the market, CyberGhost, has also made to our list as a top VPN for Ireland.
Founded in 2011 in Bucharest, Romania, CyberGhost is the creator of one of the most reliable security and privacy solutions around the world.
The company secures and anonymizes the online presence of more than 15 million users around the earth.
With over 7,800 servers in 110+ locations across 91 countries, you can virtually set your location anywhere while sitting in Ireland.
With CyberGhost’s VPN service, you can easily access streaming services.
The service helps you find optimized servers for streaming services regardless of where you are in the world.
If you, for example, want to access American Netflix from Ireland, CyberGhost can help you identify an optimal server for doing so.
If you want to do torrenting, you’ll be happy to know that torrents are allowed on most (but not all) servers, and the company has its apps available on Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and more.
CyberGhost VPN offers features like automatic connection while using a specific app, which helps in delivering ultimate torrenting safety.
Moreover, you are allowed to connect up to seven devices simultaneously.
How to Unblock Restricted Content by using a VPN for Ireland
Accessing restricted content in Ireland is simple, even for someone completely new in the world of VPNs:
- Start by selecting a reliable VPN provider (we recommend NordVPN)
- Download and install its app as per the device you wish to use.
- Connect to one of the servers of the VPN in your preferred location. For example, choose an American server to get access to America Netflix.
- Try to load a video on your selected site. It should load right away, however, if it doesn’t, clear the cookies and cache of your browser, then load the page again.
If you want to watch a live event, you should perform these steps before the event begins.
This way, in case anything goes wrong, you’ll have time for contacting your VPN service provider’s support team for assistance.
FAQs
Is It Legal to Use a VPN in Ireland?
The use of VPNs is legal in Ireland. This is because of the robust independence of expression values and laws that the state has.
However, it’s important to understand that using VPNs is sanctioned only while undertaking legal activities.
The other essential aspect to mention is that the law doesn’t require service providers to retain any information about the users.
Is Using a VPN Safe?
Using a trustworthy virtual private network (VPN) like NordVPN, Atlas, or Surfshark can be a safe way of browsing the internet.
VPN security can protect from IP and encrypt internet history and is being used increasingly to prevent snooping by government agencies.
However, VPNs can’t keep you safe in every scenario.
Do I Need a VPN if I Live in Ireland?
No matter in which country you live, hackers, companies, and government can track — and most often, are already tracking — your activity on the internet.
Most of the time, this gathering of information is for benign purposes, like targeted advertising, but even so, many folks do not like their privacy being violated for companies to increase profits.
Using an Ireland VPN can instantly improve your online privacy as it hides your IP from websites you visit, making it difficult for your Internet Service Provider to see what you are doing online.
How Can I Get an Irish IP Address Using a VPN?
If you want an Irish VPN, you can effortlessly get one with help of a VPN from anywhere around the world.
A VPN can connect you to an Irish server to provide you with an Irish IP.
This way you can access Irish content and services blocked outside Ireland because of the geo-restrictions.
Even if you’re physically in Ireland but want to enhance your privacy, you can connect to an Irish server from your VPN provider to encrypt your traffic to conceal it from your Internet Service Provider.
As a result, you can enjoy local Irish services along with the privacy advantages of a VPN.
Why Use a VPN In Ireland?
A VPN establishes a secure, encrypted connection between your device and the internet, providing a private tunnel for your data and communications while you are using public networks.
This makes it more difficult for ISP, the Ireland government, or any third party to track your activities and steal data.
With servers located all over the world, VPN enables users to “relocate” themselves and access content that is blocked by the Irish government within their geographical boundaries, such as some gaming services, streaming services, and Pirate Bay.
In Summary, the best VPNs in 2023 are;
Rating | VPN Service | Get Offer |
---|---|---|
#1 Top Rated#1 | NordVPN - #1 VPN in the industry | FREE Trial |
#2 Top Rated#2 | Surfshark - top budget VPN | Start Now |
#3 Top Rated#3 | Atlas VPN - best free VPN | Start Now |
Conclusion
Every VPN listed here has its own pros and cons, but NordVPN is our pick as the best VPN Ireland service, thanks to its amazing speed and top-grade security.
While Surfshark VPN and Atlas VPN are also good, when it comes to providing virtually high-speed connections to almost any location around the world, NordVPN stands out among others as the best VPN for Ireland in 2023.