What's available

South Africa has access to a solid range of streaming services, giving you plenty to watch across multiple platforms. Here's what you can access right now:

  • Netflix South Africa — Includes local originals like How to Ruin Christmas and Savage Beauty, plus global hits like Stranger Things, Squid Game, and Wednesday.
  • Disney+ (via DStv Stream) — Offers The Mandalorian, Loki, and Pixar titles like Soul and Turning Red.
  • Apple TV+ — Available directly, with Severance, Ted Lasso, and The Morning Show.
  • Showmax — A local favourite with The Real Housewives of Johannesburg, Reyka, and licensed HBO content like House of the Dragon.
  • Amazon Prime Video — Accessible with titles like The Boys, Reacher, and Rings of Power.

What you're missing

Compared to the US libraries, South African viewers miss out on significant content across platforms:

  • Netflix — US-exclusive titles like Suits, That '90s Show, and large portions of the anime catalogue are unavailable.
  • Amazon Prime Video — Many US-only films and the full Thursday Night Football sports package are geo-blocked.
  • Hulu — Completely unavailable in South Africa. You're missing The Bear, Only Murders in the Building, and Abbott Elementary.
  • HBO Max (Max) — Not officially available. The Last of Us, Succession, and White Lotus are off-limits without workarounds.
  • Peacock — Entirely geo-blocked, meaning no Bel-Air, Poker Face, or live Premier League football.

How to access other regions

A VPN lets you change your virtual location and unlock libraries from other countries. Connect to a US server to access Hulu, Max, Peacock, and the full Netflix US catalogue. We recommend NordVPN as your first choice — it's fast, reliable, and works consistently with major streaming platforms. Simply install the app, connect to a US server, and open your streaming service of choice.

Pricing

Pricing in South Africa varies by platform. Netflix plans range from approximately R99 to R259 per month. Showmax starts at around R99/month. Apple TV+ costs roughly R99/month, and Amazon Prime Video is available for around R99/month. Disney+ content is bundled within DStv packages starting from around R179/month.

Our recommendation

If you're streaming in South Africa, you have a decent foundation with Netflix, Apple TV+, and Showmax — but you're missing some of the best content available globally. To get the most out of your subscriptions and unlock platforms like Hulu and Max, grab NordVPN, connect to a US server, and immediately expand what's available to you. It's the single best upgrade you can make to your streaming setup.