How to watch South African TV shows abroad

It’s easy to forget that some of the services we use every day aren’t available everywhere. For instance, many people only realize they can’t keep watching South African TV shows while on vacation abroad. However, most geo-restricted platforms rely on the user’s IP address to find their location, and this kind of blocking is extremely simple to get around with a Virtual Private Network.

VPNs encrypt your data—and hide it from anyone who might be watching—before sending it through servers in a different country. In short, if you use a South African VPN server, you can stop websites from realizing you’re abroad. This lets you regain access to your favorite services while traveling. Here’s a brief overview of the best VPNs for South African channels:

Best VPNs for South African TV:

1. NordVPN: Our #1 pick for South African TV. This no-logs service has some of the strongest security around, as well as high-speed servers and great unblocking ability. Also offers a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.
   TIP In our testing we found that the cheapest NordVPN plan (Standard) works perfectly for South African TV.
2. Surfshark: Our top budget VPN service. No connection or bandwidth limits, impressive unblocking abilities, and a great set of security features built-in.
3. IPVanish: Impressive connection speeds and six servers available in South Africa’s largest city – Johannesburg. Great for streaming national and international content and allows unlimited simultaneous device connections.
4. ExpressVPN: With fast speeds, easy-to-use apps, and a solid set of security features, there’s very little this VPN can’t do.
5. CyberGhost: A speedy, secure VPN with dozens of African servers and a strict no-logs policy. Ideal for safely accessing geo-restricted content abroad. 
6. PureVPN: This no-logs provider boasts first-class performance, strong security, and excellent streaming ability. Works with SuperSport, Showmax, and more. Protect 10 devices at a time.
7. ProtonVPN: Highly versatile service with 35 speedy South African servers. Includes plenty of advanced security features and a no-logs policy. 24/7 support via live chat.
8. Private Internet Access: Servers available in 91+ countries. Works with DStv and popular international platforms. Strong privacy protection and allows unlimited device connections.
9. Hotspot Shield: Boasts a good set of security features and steady speeds. Works with most geo-blocked SA content we’ve tested.
10. PrivateVPN: An excellent choice for almost any task, whether it’s streaming South African TV or torrenting.

How to watch South African TV abroad with a VPN

VPNs make it very easy to access geo-blocked content abroad. In fact, you can get started in a matter of minutes.

Here’s how to unblock South African TV channels anywhere:

1. First, create an account with one of the VPNs below (we recommend NordVPN).
2. Download and install the VPN app. You’re allowed several simultaneous device connections, so go ahead and install it on any device you want to stream on.
3. Log in and select a South African server to get a South African IP address.
4. Visit a previously inaccessible TV channel and see if you can watch now. In most cases, your video will begin immediately.
5. If you encounter any issues, clear your cookies and reload the page to fix the most common problems. Alternatively, ask your VPN’s support team for advice.

Best VPNs for South African TV compared

We’ve compared the most important features for the top VPNs here. Prefer to read the in-depth reviews? Start with NordVPN – our #1 choice for accessing South African TV from anywhere.

Criteria for testing VPNs for SA television

We know how difficult it can be to decide which VPN to use. To find you the best — and most versatile — options, we objectively compare providers by carrying out tests in the following areas:

• Network scope: We scored providers on the number of server locations they had in South Africa, as well as the number of countries they supported in total. We then tested them with South African TV channels as well as a selection of international streaming platforms.
• Speed: To find suitably quick VPNs able to stream South African TV without constant buffering, we carried out multiple speed test while connected to each provider’s servers in South Africa.
• Security and privacy: We measured each VPN’s ability to keep your online activities safe from potentially malicious third parties by evaluating them against 16 different security and privacy metrics.
• Ease of use: To make it as simple as possible to access South African TV, we looked for user-friendly VPNs that scores highly against our 10 ease-of-use metrics.
• Value for money: Rather than settle for comparisons of subscription costs, we tried to gauge each VPN’s worth using eight different metrics.

The above is just a summary. You can read more about how we test and rank the VPNs we recommend in our methodology section below.

Best VPNs for watching South African TV shows abroad

Take a look below for a more detailed look at each of our recommended VPNs:

1. NordVPN

Jun 2025

NordVPN is our top choice for watching South African TV. It has more than 50 South African servers, so you’re all but guaranteed a high-speed connection, even at peak times. In our tests, the provider achieved an impressive average of 193.03 Mbps. This was more than 76 Mbps faster than the combined average speed of the other tested providers. 

With over 7,800 servers in 118 countries and impressive unblocking abilities, you’ll be able to use services like SuperSport, DSTV, and Prime Video from anywhere in the world. This VPN permits 10 simultaneous connections per account.

NordVPN values its users’ privacy. For a start, it doesn’t keep any logs. Additionally, it accepts three different cryptocurrencies and has certain servers specifically optimized for maximum protection against snoopers.

Features include 256-bit AES encryption, a kill switch, IPv6 and DNS leak protection, and a built-in ad-blocker/malware scanner. If you need assistance, you can reach NordVPN’s support team over live chat, day or night.

NordVPN apps are available for Linux, macOS, Windows, iOS, and Android. Further, select wireless routers are supported via manual configuration.

BEST VPN FOR SOUTH AFRICA:NordVPN is our #1 pick. It’s an inexpensive service that doesn’t compromise on security. Further, it offers high speeds, impressive unblocking ability, and a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee. With a true no-logs policy, your privacy is all but guaranteed.

Check out our comprehensive NordVPN review.

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2. Surfshark

Surfshark is a fantastic budget VPN. It has more than 3,200 servers in 100+ countries, not just South Africa. It’s fast too, and offers unlimited bandwidth, meaning users won’t have to worry about lag or buffering, keeping them from streaming their favorite shows. While connected to its servers in South Africa, we measured speeds averaging 182.24 Mbps. This is fast enough to stream 4K video on seven devices simultaneously.

In addition to South African TV channels like SuperSport and SABC Plus, Surfshark works in South Africa for Netflix US, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu. Best of all, there’s no connection limit.

This VPN features a wide range of security features, such as 256-bit AES encryption, a kill switch, automatic ad-blocking and malware scanning, and protection against IPv6 and DNS leaks. It can also swap your South African IP address periodically, plus its NoBorders is capable of getting around country-wide internet censorship. Crucially, Surfshark doesn’t keep any logs. Should you run into any problems, you can reach customer support 24/7 over live chat.

Surfshark offers iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, and Linux apps. You can also use it with supported routers but you’ll have to follow manual configuration instructions.

BEST BUDGET VPN:Surfshark is the best budget provider. It’s fast, works with major streaming platforms, and comes packed with advanced security features. If that still doesn’t convince you, perhaps its lack of a connection limit or its 30-day money-back guarantee will.

Read our comprehensive Surfshark review.

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3. IPVanish

IPVanish is a veteran provider that owns most of its network hardware. This is great for both privacy and connection quality. Its six servers in South Africa are reliable and fast, with ping times and relative load listed next to each server. In our tests, they achieved consistent speeds of between 163.42 Mbps and 170.71 Mbps. 

The provider works with numerous international streaming platforms, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+ in South Africa. For national content, you can use IPVanish to watch the SABC live channels SABC1 and SABC2. 

If you have VPN-incompatible devices such as smart TVs and games consoles, you can configure an IPVanish connection on any home router that supports OpenVPN. This allows you to spoof the location of any connected device. Instructions for router configuration are available on the IPVanish website. 

IPVanish apps are available for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and FireTV. Features include automatic Wi-Fi protection, a kill switch, split tunneling, and leak protection. We tested for IP, DNS, and WebRTC leaks ourselves and found none while connected to a South African server.

The provider uses strong encryption to protect user-generated internet traffic and keeps no records of subscribers’ online activity – a claim that’s been independently verified by auditors. IPVanish has fairly priced subscriptions and allows unlimited simultaneous device connections.

WORKS WITH ROUTERS:IPVanish has several speedy South African servers and works with a host of streaming services. It has easy-to-use apps and is compatible with many home routers. Plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full IPVanish review.

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4. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is an excellent choice for streaming South African channels or, really, TV from just about anywhere. It works with eTV and SuperSport, as well as Netflix, Disney Plus, and Amazon Prime Video. With servers in 105 countries, there’s an almost endless choice of streaming options available.

In our tests for this article, ExpressVPN achieved an average download speed of 122.57 Mbps. This is fast enough for streaming South African TV without any noticeable lag or buffering.

Once connected, your online activities are hidden thanks to ExpressVPN’s 256-bit encryption and kill switch, as well as its DNS, IPv6, and WebRTC leak protection. It even blocks malicious sites and turns obfuscation on automatically whenever it’s needed.

Further, this service doesn’t log any data that could be traced back to you. If you’d like, you can sign up with a disposable email address and Bitcoin. There’s a 24/7 live chat-based help desk in case you have any issues.

ExpressVPN allows up to eight simultaneous device connections and provides apps for Windows, Android, macOS, iOS, and Linux. Additionally, it has custom firmware for routers that can help you more easily protect your home network.

GREAT FOR STREAMING:ExpressVPN is a great streaming VPN with speedy connections, powerful security and privacy features, and support for a wide range of South African TV channels. It also includes a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Why not take a look at the full ExpressVPN review?

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5. CyberGhost

CyberGhost has a large network, with 10,000+ servers in 100+ countries. This includes around 30 servers in South Africa.

It’s a strong choice for anyone looking to stream geo-restricted content on vacation thanks to its fantastic unblocking capabilities. It works with eTV, DStv, and SuperSport — as well as more difficult-to-access services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. CyberGhost tells you which servers to use with which platforms, which greatly simplifies things.

Speeds are generally excellent. While connected to CyberGhost’s servers in South Africa, we recorded speeds of between 119.97 Mbps and 138.06 Mbps. This was a little more variable than with some providers but still more than fast enough for streaming South African TV in the highest resolution available. 

This VPN makes staying safe online as simple as possible. There’s no configuration required as connections are secured with IPv6 and DNS leak protection, 256-bit encryption, and a kill switch by default. There’s also a malware-scanner and ad-blocker, giving you even greater protection.

Additionally, CyberGhost doesn’t log any personally identifiable data, so you can rest assured that your privacy is in good hands. Support staff are on-hand 24/7 over email and live chat.

CyberGhost offers easy-to-use apps for macOS, iOS, Linux, Windows, and Android, This service also works with Linux systems and select routers via manual configuration.

USER-FRIENDLY:CyberGhost is a high-speed, VPN that’s great for streaming. What’s more, with solid unblocking capabilities, pre-configured security features, and a generous 45-day money-back guarantee, it’s ideal for anyone looking for their first VPN.

Read our full review of CyberGhost.

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6. PureVPN

PureVPN is another strong choice for staying up-to-date with your favorite South African TV shows during a vacation abroad. It has reliable servers in Johannesburg and tested download speeds that averaged 129.48 Mbps. As a rough guide, this is fast enough for streaming 4K video on five devices at the same time. 

This VPN excels at unblocking stubborn streaming platforms like DStv and Showmax. It’s also able to access Netflix, Disney Plus, and Amazon Prime Video — so you’ll never be short of something to watch.

This VPN is designed for beginners so there’s minimal setup required unless you want to change protocol or take advantage of the split tunneling option. By default, PureVPN protects you from IPv6 and DNS leaks, uses top-tier encryption, and offers a kill switch that keeps you safe after sudden disconnections.

There’s also a no-logs policy that’s been audited four times to date. Our only complaints are that there’s no kill switch on Apple platforms and that port forwarding and tracker-blocking both cost a little extra each month.

PureVPN allows up to 10 simultaneous connections and provides apps for Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Linux. Additionally, it supports most types of router, though you will have to follow manual configuration instructions.

QUICK AND RELIABLE:PureVPN has the speed needed to stream TV from South Africa in the best possible quality. It’s very easy to use, highly secure, and great at evading detection. Best of all, every plan comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Interested? Read our full review of PureVPN.

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7. ProtonVPN

ProtonVPN is known for its expansive network, with more than 12,000 servers in 117+ countries and roughly two dozen in South Africa alone. It’s a great choice for streaming since it works with stubborn region-locked platforms including Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video.

Speed-wise, ProtonVPN’s test results ranged from 120.66 Mbps to 135.26 Mbps. Although not as consistent as some of the other providers we tested, its overall download speed of 126.35 Mbps makes it suitable for all of your everyday online tasks — streaming included. 

It’s rare to find a service with as much advanced functionality as this one. ProtonVPN stops trackers from keeping tabs on your activities, prevents data leaks, and supports port forwarding as standard. There’s also split tunneling functionality, top-tier encryption, a kill switch, and multi-hop servers. There’s even a built-in ad-blocker, meaning users can remove one of the web’s biggest annoyances.

Most importantly, ProtonVPN doesn’t keep any logs and has been audited to prove it. Anyone looking to sign up anonymously can simply use a throwaway email address and pay with cryptocurrency or a prepaid card.

ProtonVPN has its own iOS, Android, Windows, Linux, and macOS apps. It also provides manual setup instructions in case you’d prefer to run it on your home router. Need help? Just use the 24/7 help desk to speak directly to support staff.

SECURITY FIRST:ProtonVPN gives you as much control over your connection as possible. Not only that, it boasts top-tier performance, a zero-logs policy, and the ability to access all of your favorite channels abroad. Paid plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Check out our in-depth ProtonVPN review.

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8. Private Internet Access

 

Private Internet Access has servers in more than 91 countries. While connected to its servers in South Africa, we recorded speeds averaging 63.81 Mbps. While slower than the previous VPNs, this is nevertheless still fast enough for streaming South African TV without interruption (so long as you have a decent base connection speed).

Users can eke a few more Mbps out of their connection by reducing the level of encryption used on their traffic — from 256-bit to 128-bit. This is possible via the Settings menu.

The provider worked with plenty of South African streaming services during testing. It’s also able to get past blocks imposed by the likes of Netflix and BBC iPlayer.

The service includes live chat and email support, which is available 24 hours a day. Security-wise, you’re very much protected thanks to the use of 256-bit AES encryption. There’s also DNS leak protection and a kill switch, while PIA operates a true no-logs policy. Indeed, it doesn’t even keep the connection logs that many other VPNs retain.

Private Internet Access has no device connection limit. Its apps are available for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, and Amazon Fire TV. Browser extensions are offered for Chrome and Firefox. You can even use PIA with select compatible routers, but manual setup is required.

SERVERS WORLDWIDE:Private Internet Access works with South African TV from anywhere. It also works with Netflix US. Decent connection speeds and no simultaneous connection limit, plus a no-logs policy. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full Private Internet Access review.

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9. Hotspot Shield

Editor’s note: Hotspot Shield is owned by Pango, Comparitech’s parent company.

Hotspot Shield has more than 1,800 servers in over 80 countries including South Africa. It allows users to easily stream TV from all over the world. It works with both South African channels and those from other countries, like BBC iPlayer.

The provider has no bandwidth limits and solid speeds. In our tests for this article, it averaged a respectable 86.48 Mbps. This is more than fast enough to stream South African TV without any noticeable lag or buffering.

This VPN comes with an impressive array of security features. For instance, there’s 256-bit encryption, DNS and IPv6 leak protection, and a kill switch that stops sending data the moment your connection drops. Also included are split tunneling functionality and automatic Wi-Fi protection.

Hotspot Shield deletes all identifiable data once your session ends, which means it can’t reveal what you get up to online under any circumstances. This service operates a 24/7 live chat help desk.

Hotspot Shield can protect up to 10 devices at a time. It has apps for desktop (Windows, Linux, and macOS) and mobile devices (Android and iOS). If you’d like to use it on a router, you can follow a manual setup guide.

HIGHLY VERSATILE:Hotspot Shield isn’t just great for streaming South African TV abroad; its steady speeds, powerful security, and large network make it a strong choice for almost any task. Still not convinced? This service also comes with a 45-day money-back guarantee.

Find out more in our Hotspot Shield review.

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10. PrivateVPN

PrivateVPN doesn’t have as large a network as some of its competitors, but its 230 servers cover 63+ countries and are capable of securely accessing a range of streaming services. This includes South African platforms such as eTV and SuperSport, as well as big-name providers like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.

Connection speeds averaged 46.71 Mbps in our tests, making PrivateVPN the slowest VPN in this list. Nevertheless, it was still fast enough for streaming South African TV without interruption. The only caveat is that you’ll need a decent base connection speed to start with (ours was 250 Mbps). If yours is much slower, then we’d recommend opting for one of the faster VPNs higher up in our list.  

This service comes packed with powerful security features, including 256-bit AES encryption, a customizable kill switch, and a stealth mode that helps you hide the fact that you’re even using a VPN in the first place. There’s also built-in protection against DNS and IPv6 leaks. PrivateVPN follows a strict zero-logs policy and provides live chat-based support almost (but not quite) around the clock.

PrivateVPN has apps for a wide range of platforms (iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS). Further, it can be manually configured for use with Linux systems and most routers.

NO LAG WHATSOEVER:PrivateVPN provides secure connections and unblocks plenty of South African streaming services. What’s more, it has advanced security features, a zero-logs policy, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Take a look at our in-depth PrivateVPN review.

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Methodology: How we found the best VPNs for South African TV

Nobody wants to spend their vacation struggling to access their usual streaming services. That’s why we’ve done the research for you and identified the best VPNs for streaming South African TV. We did this by testing providers in the following key areas:

Network scope

We started by scoring providers on the number of South African server locations they had. After all, you’ll need access to at least one South African server to get a South African IP address and watch TV from back home.

Next, we scored them on their support for other countries. A higher score means more versatility for streaming and other tasks. Finally, we assessed each VPN’s streaming ability. In addition to testing them with South African TV channels, we also tried them with typically stubborn platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney Plus.

These scores were combined to generate an overall score out of 10 for each provider. This makes a direct comparison easier.

NordVPN scored a near-perfect 9.8 out of 10. It has servers in 118 countries and worked seamlessly with every streaming platform that we tried it with. ExpressVPN, with a score of 9.6 out of 10, was the next-best option. It, too, works with a huge range of streaming services, though it supports 13 fewer countries than NordVPN.

Speed

Live streaming is fairly data-intensive, so you’ll need a quick and reliable VPN if you’re going to watch South African TV regularly. To find which providers were fastest, we carried out multiple speed tests while connected to their servers in South Africa.

We measured speeds using the desktop version of the Ookla app. To better emulate the experience of the average user, we rate-limited the base connection speed of our test machine to 250 Mbps (which is a little slower than the median fixed broadband speed in the US). 

The results for each provider were averaged and converted to a score out of 10 relative to the other tested VPNs. This enables a simple side-by-side comparison.

NordVPN was the fastest provider overall. It should be your first choice if you want the best chance of conserving your current connection speeds — whether they’re fast or slow. Surfshark, with its score of 9.3 out of 10, is the next-best option. 

Security and privacy

VPNs are primarily privacy tools, which is why we required them to have a no-logs policy, 256-bit encryption, DNS and IPv6 leak protection, and a kill switch before recommending them. Some providers go even further, as the table below demonstrates.

We scored each of the above metrics based on their relative importance. We then combined these scores to give an overall score for each provider.

NordVPN and Surfshark were the stand-out providers, with a score of 9.5 each. Both use effectively uncrackable encryption and RAM-only servers in their networks. Furthermore, they’ve had multiple third-party audits of their no-logs policies. ProtonVPN and PIA are the next-best alternatives, though they aren’t as good for restrictive countries like China.

Ease of use

All of the VPNs we’ve recommended are simple enough for newcomers to grasp. We scored services based on their overall user-friendliness, prioritizing those that offered 24/7 support, no connection limits, and apps for all major platforms.

As before, each metric was scored according to its relative importance. The resulting scores were then combined into more easily digestible overall scores.

NordVPN and PIA each scored 9.6 out of 10. Both services have well-designed apps that include task-specific servers. They also offer a hassle-free sign-up and cancellation process. IPVanish and ExpressVPN were the next highest scoring providers, and good alternatives for those new to VPN software.

Value for money

We’ll never recommend a service that charges more than is fair. What’s more, we help you pay as little as possible by finding which providers offer discounts, free trials, and money-back guarantees.

If you’d prefer an overview, the following chart is comprised of the total scores for each test metric.

Surfshark was the best-value provider overall. This was primarily due to its low-cost two-year introductory offer and the fact that it doesn’t limit the number of connected devices. IPVanish and NordVPN also come with introductory offers for new customers.

Streaming South African TV abroad: FAQs