Ireland is renowned for its technological advancements and has friendly open internet policies. But there are compelling reasons to consider incorporating a VPN into your online routine while you’re in Ireland.
No country is immune to potential privacy challenges. While Ireland has established a decent environment for data privacy, you should still exercise caution and take personal measures to protect your online privacy. And that includes considering privacy tools like VPNs.
If you’re wondering what the best VPN for Ireland is, this article will closely examine the five best options. Each entry will keep your online activities safe and private while offering global and local servers to unblock restricted content.
Top 5 VPNs for Ireland in 2024:
- ExpressVPN
- CyberGhost VPN
- NordVPN
- Surfshark
- Private Internet Access
5 Best VPN in Ireland: Here Are Our Top Picks
We’ve reviewed dozens of VPN services, and many more are out there. Virtually each one guarantees that a subscription translates into browsing anonymously. They also promise to let you bypass geo-restrictions and hide your private information. In reality, most providers don’t live up to those boasts.
If you live in (or are visiting) Ireland, these VPNs will get the job done. It’s important to note that they are all premium services. Choosing a free VPN means sacrificing security and performance, as they cannot measure up to paid services.
Let’s get down to business.
1. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN prides itself as the best VPN for Ireland. After putting it through extensive tests, we tend to agree.
The provider has its base in the British Virgin Islands. The tiny territory has no data retention laws and is renowned for being a privacy–friendly jurisdiction.
ExpressVPN has 3000+ servers in 94 countries, which is an impressive global spread. It means you’ll find servers to connect to when you travel abroad. And when you feel like enjoying what’s streaming back home, ExpressVPN’s Ireland-based options ensure it’s a piece of cake.
It’s not just an extensive network — ExpressVPN’s servers are the fastest you’ll find. Especially when you’re on the proprietary Lightway protocol.
Combine that with the provider’s ability to unblock virtually any streaming platform, and you have the perfect streaming VPN. Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and the more regional RTÉ Player, Sky Go, and Virgin Player are no match.
When it comes to privacy and security, ExpressVPN is stacked. You get bulletproof encryption, an automatic kill switch, leak protection, threat management, Perfect Forward Secrecy, and lots more. And if you’re worried about leaving activity logs, don’t be. Besides having RAM-only servers that wipe all data after turning off, its logless policy consistently undergoes independent audits.
It’s compatible with a wide range of platforms, so you can install ExpressVPN on Windows, macOS, Android, iPhone, and Linux. Other supported devices include Amazon Fire TV, Kindle Fire, Fire TV Stick, Chromebook, and routers. You can use the VPN on up to five devices on one account.
If you hop on ExpressVPN’s one-year subscription plan right now, you’ll get a massive 49% discount and three months free. If you’re not fully satisfied, there’s a hassle-free refund option within 30 days.
Pros
- High-level security and privacy features
- Independently audited
- Unblocks major streaming services
- Speedy and reliable servers
- Server locations in Ireland
Con
- Not very affordable
2. CyberGhost
Romania-based CyberGhost’s jurisdiction falls under the European Union. However, it is protected by some of the best online privacy laws in the world.
CyberGhost has a massive network of servers, with over 9,800 in 91 countries. It’s enough to consider the provider one of the best VPN in Ireland for its 100 servers in the country. Connecting to any of those servers grants you an Irish IP address.
That can unblock streaming content on local platforms like Sky Go UK. But the provider makes doubly sure, with specialized servers for streaming. All things considered, it is an excellent VPN for streaming and will help you bypass restrictions on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and more.
While you shouldn’t expect ExpressVPN-level speeds, CyberGhost is certainly fast enough to enjoy buffer-free videos online.
When you jump on the Internet with CyberGhost, your activities stay private. The provider’s arsenal includes best-in-class encryption, Wi-Fi protection, a kill switch, and DNS/IPv6 leak protection. For tunneling protocols, you get OpenVPN, IKEv2, and WireGuard. There’s also an ad and malware blocker to eliminate pesky advertisements.
You can download any of its user-friendly Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Linux apps for your device. Moreover, you can set up CyberGhost on your router, Smart TV, Amazon Fire TV Stick, or gaming console.
There’s a two-week period to make up your mind on monthly plans. However, subscribing to a longer package gives you a generous 45-day money-back guarantee.
Pros
- Robust security features
- Affordable pricing
- Dedicated streaming servers
- Unblocks major streaming services
- 45-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- WireGuard issues on Mac
- Fewer features on Apple devices
3. NordVPN
NordVPN is another excellent VPN service for safeguarding your online presence in Ireland. Very widely known, its teeming users have come to trust the quality of its service and stellar performance.
The provider offers an impressive network of over 5,700 servers in 60 countries. More than 50 of those servers are in Ireland, so there’s no shortage of options when you need an Irish IP address.
Few VPNs can rival NordVPN when it comes to evading geo-restrictions on streaming platforms. The provider has routinely conquered every streamer we’ve squared it up against, including Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, and BBC iPlayer. Even Hulu, as difficult as it is to bypass, fell to NordVPN without a fight. Expect similar results with regional services, including the notorious RTÉ Player.
Velocious speeds, especially on closer servers, ensure you can expect smooth streaming experiences each time you settle down to binge-watch your favorite show. Seriously, it is blazing fast, especially if you use NordLynx, its iteration of the WireGuard protocol.
NordVPN is known for its strong focus on security, privacy, and online anonymity. An advanced feature set includes specialty servers for Double VPN, Onion over VPN, and obfuscation, all technologies and systems for reinforcing privacy and online safety.
There’s also military-grade AES-256 encryption for rendering your data undecipherable to snoops. A kill switch, malware protection, Smart DNS, and more make up an effective toolkit.
NordVPN is compatible with all the major platforms and devices. The provider guarantees you the right to claim a refund within 30 days of your first subscription.
Pros
- Robust collection of privacy and security tools
- Blazing-fast VPN connection
- Unblocks Netflix and other services
- Dedicated servers
Cons
- Slow to establish connections on Windows
- Not all servers work with torrent clients
4. Surfshark
This young provider is the best value VPN for Ireland if you’re working on a budget. You’d have to shell out significantly more for its main rivals, especially on longer-term plans, but Surfshark holds its own, offering a feature set to match them.
Surfshark has a network comprising more than 3,200 servers in 100 countries worldwide. Ireland makes the count, with servers located in its capital, Dublin. It’s pretty rare in the industry, but Surfshark facilitated a security audit of its infrastructure, which found no major flaws.
Affordable VPNs are not known for their geo-restriction–evading prowess, but Surfshark stands out as an exception. In our tests, the provider unblocked access to exclusive content on all the major platforms. And thanks to its Irish servers, you can easily unblock services based in Ireland.
Surfshark’s speeds are not chart-topping, but they are decent enough to watch your movies and shows without annoying buffering.
There’s no compromise when it comes to the VPN’s main priority. Surfshark has also undergone an audit of its no-log policy, which found no holes in its claims. On top of that, there’s the virtually unbreakable AES 256-bit encryption, WireGuard, OpenVPN and IKEv2 protocols, kill switch, malicious ad-blocker, and more.
Surshark supports all the major platforms and devices. And that’s great because there’s no limit to the number of devices you can use simultaneously on one account. If you’re looking to try Surfshark VPN out risk-free in Ireland, it has a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Pros
- Cheap long-term subscription
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
- Advanced security features
- Support for WireGuard
Cons
- Not the fastest speeds
- Expensive monthly plans
5. Private Internet Access
Private Internet Access’ server network is so large that it engulfs all the other options on this list. Several of its 29,000+ servers in 84 countries are located in Ireland, so you’re spoiled for choice.
Based on our tests of Private Internet Access, we don’t consider the service slow but don’t expect extraordinary speeds. Expect a lag or two while connected to servers far from you. That performance mirrors its unblocking abilities, which is just okay. It will unblock Disney+ and UK and Ireland Netflix libraries but struggle against iPlayer and others.
The US, its base, is a 5 Eyes member country. That said, PIA has a strict zero-logs policy, which Deloitte put to the test and found factual. We also like that all its apps are open-source, demonstrating its transparency. They’re publicly available, and anyone with the ability to can analyze them.
You can switch between two high-level encryption, with the AES-128 bit better for performance. An automatic kill switch, IP/DNS leak protection, and obfuscation ensure your connection is safe and private. And to get rid of annoying pop-up ads, its ad-blocker works well.
With no limits on the number of devices, you’re sure of complete protection across all your gadgets simultaneously. PIA offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on all purchases, so you can test it risk-free.
Pros
- Massive network of servers
- Impressive array of security features
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
Cons
- Average connection speeds
- Struggles with some streaming services
How We Tested and Ranked The Best VPN in Ireland
There are tons of options out there, making selecting the best VPN in Ireland a tough task. We have recommended the entrants on this list based on how well they perform in a variety of areas. They form the basis of strict criteria we applied to dozens of providers we tested.
We used these metrics to arrive at our selection. You should have these factors in mind when considering a VPN for Ireland:
- Extensive Server Network: We opted for VPNs with extensive networks of servers, including some in Ireland. This allows you to effortlessly bypass geo-restrictions on international streaming platforms while accessing content from Ireland. Additionally, Irish servers enable you to unlock local content even when you are abroad, ensuring uninterrupted access to region-specific websites and services.
- High-Speed Performance: VPNs with fast speeds guarantee smooth streaming of your favorite shows, seamless gaming sessions, and uninterrupted torrenting activities. That way, you can enjoy your online activities without frustrating lags or buffering.
- Security and Privacy Features: The best VPNs in Ireland incorporate top-of-the-line security measures. They include AES 256-bit encryption, a trustworthy no-logs policy, and effective IP/DNS leak protection to safeguard your identity and personal information.
- Streaming Capabilities: With a VPN that supports streaming, you can enjoy content from different regions, no matter where you are. Unblocking platforms like Netflix and BBC iPlayer is great, but the best VPN in Ireland should also grant you access to exclusive regional content.
- User-Friendly Applications: Intuitive interfaces and cross-platform compatibility enable you to set up and use the VPN effortlessly across multiple devices. Responsive customer support is a bonus, offering assistance whenever you encounter any issues or have questions.
- Money-Back Guarantee: If the service does not meet your expectations, you can request a refund and explore alternative solutions.
Why You Need a VPN in Ireland
Online privacy is not guaranteed in Ireland, as regulations mandate that communications providers retain user data for at least one year. Interestingly, law enforcement and government authorities can request access to this data without a warrant.
To be fair, the government maintains a hands-off approach to online censorship. However, schools and private companies have autonomy over content restrictions on their networks. So, they can regulate access to certain websites or services to maintain a focused learning environment and manage network resources efficiently.
Internet Service Providers are not left out — they have blocked access to popular P2P sites like The Pirate Bay and Mininova.
A VPN sends your Internet traffic through an encrypted tunnel, preventing any onlookers from observing your online activities. As a result, your private data will remain confidential and secure. And with high-level encryption, you are shielded from cyber attacks like DDoS attacks, whether you’re connected to your home network or using public Wi-Fi.
And when you go abroad, a VPN tricks websites and streaming services into thinking you’re still in the country. As a result, you can enjoy uninterrupted access to your favorite content, just as if you were in the comfort of your own home.
Conclusion
Ireland is not infamous for restrictions on Internet privacy. Still, it’s not exactly Switzerland or Romania. Using a VPN in the country means your online activities are not intercepted or scrutinized by any entities. You also get many other benefits.
The best VPN in Ireland is ExpressVPN. Lightning-fast speeds, an extensive network of servers, and a strong line-up of features cover all the bases. Plus, you can stream videos in Ireland or anywhere else with no hassles.
Best VPN in Ireland — FAQs
Are VPNs legal in Ireland?
Yes, they are. The country does not place any restrictions on using a VPN to mask your IP address and use the Internet privately. Consequently, there’s no chance you get into trouble with law enforcement authorities as long as you’re not breaking the law.
What is the best VPN for Ireland?
ExpressVPN is the best VPN you can use in Ireland. Other options include CyberGhost, NordVPN, Surfshark, and Private Internet Access.
Can I use a free VPN in Ireland?
You shouldn’t. Free VPN services are a privacy and security risk because they are limited in standard and advanced features. They can even sell your data to third parties, countering the need for a VPN in the first place.
