Best VPNs for South Africa in 2024 and some to avoid

Have you ever been frustrated by being unable to access your favorite shows from home while visiting South Africa? Or have you ever been concerned about lurking threats jeopardizing your online safety? We get it, and we’ve been there. Drawing from extensive research and hands-on testing, we have unraveled the best VPNs for South Africa.

With robust encryption, these VPNs shield your online activities and open the gateway to global streaming content, making you feel right at home.

Let’s dive in for an expert look at leveraging your VPN in South Africa. For those in a hurry, we will get straight to the point with our curated list of the top VPNs for the country.

Our list of the best VPNs for South Africa:

1. NordVPN: Our top VPN for South Africa! Very fast provider with a huge server network. Zero logs and impeccable security. 30-day money-back guarantee.
   TIP In our testing we found that the cheapest NordVPN plan (Standard) works perfectly for South Africa.
2. Surfshark: The cheapest VPN for South Africa. Secure service that keeps no logs and easily bypasses geo-restriction measures and government blocks.
3. IPVanish: No-logs service with a lot of servers and the option to change your IP address at specific time intervals. The cheapest monthly subscription of any provider on our list.
4. CyberGhost: A cheaper alternative with great security, fast speeds, and no logs. Makes it easy to unblock sites in South Africa.
5. ExpressVPN: Unblocks both South African and international streaming sites. Strong security, no logs, and you can even purchase it anonymously.
6. PureVPN: Zero-logs VPN boasting exceptional performance and 24/7 customer support. No issues with popular South African streaming services.
7. ProtonVPN: A great option for everyday usage in South Africa or anywhere else. Fast, privacy-conscious, and highly-customizable.
8. Private Internet Access: Boasts strong security and fast speeds, servers in over 91 countries, including SA, and also supports WireGuard.
9. PrivateVPN: Reliable South African servers and a strong focus on user privacy.

We recommend internet users in South Africa use a VPN while browsing the web. Short for Virtual Private Network, a VPN encrypts all the internet traffic flowing to and from your device and routing it via an intermediary server. It helps maintain privacy and anonymity on the internet and makes it difficult for hackers and government agencies to spy on your activity.

A VPN is also an excellent choice for foreign expatriates living in South Africa and local residents traveling abroad. A South Africa VPN allows you to access online content such as DST, BBC iPlayer, Netflix, Hulu, ESPN, BeIN Sports, MTN, Sky Go, and Super Sports.

The best VPNs for South Africa – Our hands-on review

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

Criteria for the best South African VPNs

Our ranking of the best VPNs for South Africa is based on our extensive research and the following factors:

• Fast server speeds for streaming, downloading, and browsing
• Strong security and a strict no-logs policy
• Unblocks geo-restricted African and international content with ease
• Servers in South Africa for residents traveling abroad
• Large number of servers across the world for foreign expats living in SA
• Good value for money and a money-back guarantee
• Responsive customer service available via live chat

The best VPNs for South Africa

Here’s our list summary of the best VPNs for South Africa:

1. NordVPN

Nov 2024

NordVPN has a stellar reputation in the VPN business because it’s been around for over a decade and offers a product that packs a punch. It’s fast, doesn’t store any data, allows multiple VPN connections, and has a robust selection of servers, including local ones for a South African IP address.

NordVPN declines to hold any data about its users. This means there’s no metadata about browsing habits, timestamps, or choice of servers. The policy has thwarted attempts by authorities to force Nord to hand over customer data. The company is also based in Panama – which means it doesn’t fall under the purview of Western agencies and has no mandatory data retention laws to comply with.

NordVPN operates 6,000+ servers in 111+ countries – with options to connect depending on your specific requirements – such as downloading, P2P file sharing, video streaming, or anonymity. There are multiple servers in South Africa.

NordVPN has long been considered one of the quickest providers around, so whether you’re looking to stream, torrent, or make video calls, it’s up to the task. In fact, when we tested its South African servers, it significantly outperformed most of the competition, delivering speeds of over 400 Mbps two out of three times. We did notice a fair degree of slowdown in the evening but even with that, NordVPN boasted average speeds of 388.33 Mbps – let’s see the full results:

The service works with Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer without any problems. It’s quite generous when allowing multiple connections—a total of 10 devices can connect at any one time. This means it’s an ideal choice for sharing with friends and family and saving on costs by splitting the bill.

All internet traffic is secured by 256-bit AES encryption, which comes as standard. It’s coupled with 2,048-bit SSL keys and DNS leak protection.

There’s support for Linux, Windows, MacOS, iOS, and Android.

BEST VPN FOR SOUTH AFRICA:NordVPN is our top choice. A solid all-round performer in South Africa. Accesses Netflix, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer. A great choice for security and privacy. Use up to 10 devices at once with great internet connection speeds. Offers a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.

Here’s our full review of NordVPN.

---

2. Surfshark

Surfshark is the cheapest South African VPN. It currently operates around 3,200 servers in 100+ countries, including SA. This service boasts excellent unblocking ability, meaning it’s ideal for live streaming region-locked content abroad. Best of all, Surfshark has no connection limit, allowing you to secure all of your devices at once.

Despite its low price point, Surfshark offers exceptional performance. There was remarkably little variance in speed regardless of which time of day we tested, and on all three occasions, it delivered speeds in excess of 330 Mbps. Overall, this service averaged an impressive 349.67 Mbps, which for context, is enough to stream dozens of 4K videos simultaneously. In short, you shouldn’t notice any issues, even if your entire family is using the internet at the same time. Take a look below for our full Surfshark speed test results:

This VPN takes your security seriously. It uses effectively uncrackable 256-bit encryption, a kill switch (in all versions), and protection against DNS, WebRTC, and IPv6 leaks to keep your activities private at all times. There’s also automatic ad-blocking and malware scanning, as well as a strict no-logs policy that ensures your online activities can’t be traced back to you.

Surfshark apps are available for iOS, MacOS, Android, Windows, and Linux. Manual installation is required for use with network traffic routers.

Read our full review of Surfshark here.

BEST BUDGET OPTION:Surfshark is an inexpensive service that lets you connect as many devices as you like, so you can stream and browse securely at home or on the go. 30-day money-back guarantee.

---

3. IPVanish

IPVanish is another supremely reliable VPN service that prioritizes strong encryption, stringent privacy, and blazing speeds. It’s a completely logless VPN which means there’s absolutely no data retention of any kind.

To secure web traffic, IPVanish uses 256-bit encryption on the OpenVPN protocol by default, SHA512 authentication, and a DHE-RSA 2,048-bit key exchange with perfect forward secrecy. The lattermost feature means that your past data will remain encrypted even in the unlikely scenario of a hacker gleaning access to your account.

An internet kill switch is embedded within the system architecture – similar to ExpressVPN. The company allows any number of devices to be connected simultaneously, setting it apart from most other VPNs on the market.

Servers are spread out worldwide and don’t compromise on any aspects of the web experience. There’s an option to connect to over 2,200, including multiple servers in South Africa.

IPVanish has always been one of the faster VPNs on the market but it’s really kicked things up a notch lately. Across three tests, it delivered average speeds of 199 Mbps, with its worst result being a still solid 179 Mbps. That’s more than enough for any day to day task! There was minimal variance on its South African servers too, though naturally, performance does drop slightly the further away you are from your chosen location. Below, you’ll find our complete results:

IPVanish isn’t a good choice for people looking to access Netflix or Hulu. However, it does work very well with BBC iPlayer.

There are apps for both iOS and Android as well as desktop support for Windows and MacOS.

IPVanish is popular with Kodi users because it allows them to download the Android APK directly to their device. The interface is also remote control friendly for Kodi devices that lack a keyboard and mouse.

SECURE EVERY DEVICE:IPVanish has a large network of servers. Great for families and multiple connections. Reasonable speeds for streaming. Solid security and privacy. Works well with Kodi but look elsewhere if you want to access Netflix. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of IPVanish.

---

4. CyberGhost

CyberGhost will appeal to beginner users because it’s relatively inexpensive, offers decent speeds and strong encryption, and is easy to set up.

The company is headquartered in Romania and privacy advocates will be pleased with the fact that it has a stated policy of not storing any user data. Having said that, there was a bit of a management shuffle recently – CyberGhost was acquired by an Israeli firm headquartered in the UK. There’s a slight chance this could change the logging policy so we’ll keep our readers updated on this front.

Let’s come back to service standards. The company has been adding new server locations at a voracious speed – right now, there are 11,500+ servers online. They’re spread across 100+ countries, including South Africa. This makes CyberGhost’s server network the largest on the market.

This service is virtually tied with IPVanish, with average speeds of 198.33 Mbps. Across our three tests, it remained remarkably consistent, even though we were a fair distance from South Africa. No matter whether you’re hoping to play online games with friends, torrent anonymously, or watch TV in the highest-possible quality, this VPN is up to the job. Let’s take a closer look at its speed test results:

Encryption standards are robust – the company deploys 256-bit AES encryption on the OpenVPN protocol by default along with 2,048-bit RSA keys and MD5 HMAC authentication. These are considered to be top-tier standards. An internet kill switch is also included.

Apps are available for both Android and iOS as well as desktop support for Windows, MacOS, and Linux. One paid account allows for seven devices to connect at a single time.

CyberGhost is a solid option for streaming and will allow you to watch US Netflix in South Africa.

Beginner friendly:CyberGhost is easy to use. Great privacy and security. A good option for the price-conscious. Reliable in South Africa. Unblocks BBC iPlayer and most other popular streaming sites. 45-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of CyberGhost.

---

5. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is a solid all-around VPN. It offers fast speeds and combines them with military-grade encryption protocols and a rustic design. It’s easy to install and works just right.

The company operates over 3,000 VPN servers in 105+ countries, including a few in South Africa. Hence, local residents traveling abroad can use these servers to access local content like MTN and Super Sports.

This is one of the faster providers we’ve seen, with average speeds of around 260 Mbps in our most recent tests. Its South African servers were quite a bit slower but still capable of handling anything you throw at them, averaging 161.67 Mbps. ExpressVPN delivered the most consistent speeds by far, with less than 5 Mbps between its highest and lowest results; that’s extremely impressive given that many of its rivals are significantly less reliable. Here’s a chart showing the results in more detail:

If you’re worried about privacy and anonymity, ExpressVPN’s policy of not storing any user logs should ease your concerns. The company stores only minimal information, including metadata pertaining to the “date (not time) of connection, choice of server location, and total bandwidth used.” Your individual IP address will never be logged.

As for encryption parameters, ExpressVPN uses 256-bit AES-CBC protocols as well as HMAC authentication and perfect forward secrecy. There’s an internet kill switch included, which the company calls a ‘network lock’. This feature means all web traffic will be temporarily halted if the connection drops unexpectedly. That’s an additional layer of security – ensuring there are no momentary open doors for prying eyes to enter.

ExpressVPN can unlock geo-restricted content on Netflix. It’s also compatible with Hulu, Amazon Prime, BBC iPlayer, SuperSport, and other South African TV channels. ExpressVPN also supports torrenting. There are apps for Android and iOS as well as desktop clients for Windows, MacOS, and Linux.

SPEED AND SECURITY:ExpressVPN is a quick, privacy-conscious VPN that works great in South Africa. Hard to beat on privacy and security. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Here’s our in-depth review of ExpressVPN.

---

6. PureVPN

PureVPN users in South Africa can get a secure, reliable connection using any of the nearby servers in Johannesburg or any of the other 65+ supported countries. This VPN has what it takes to torrent anonymously and access your usual Netflix library during a short trip abroad. Better still, it’s absurdly fast; our team recently noted average download speeds approaching 400 Mbps. Up to 10 devices can be connected simultaneously and support staff are available around the clock over live chat (though they sometimes take a few minutes to respond).

Overall, PureVPN delivered steady performance with speeds hovering around the 180 Mbps mark. That said, there was quite a high level of falloff during our test at noon. During this time, it returned results of just below 130 Mbps which is still respectable, despite dropping the service’s average speed to 162.33 Mbps. You’re unlikely to experience performance issues with this VPN unless your speeds are already very slow though, so that’s a relief.

One of the best things about this service is that it makes staying safe as simple as possible. A kill switch and DNS and IPv6 leak protection are enabled by default, and PureVPN only uses industry-approved encryption (256-bit AES on OpenVPN and ChaCha20 on WireGuard). PureVPN doesn’t log any data that could identify you, something proven by multiple independent audits. It even offers automatic obfuscation, which helps you maintain your anonymity while in countries with strict digital censorship.

PureVPN offers apps for Android, iOS, Windows, Linux, and MacOS. Its website provides detailed instructions for installing this service on dozens of different routers.

ONLINE SECURITY ANYWHERE:PureVPN is a beginner-friendly provider with quick and reliable servers in South Africa. It doesn’t compromise where privacy is concerned and includes a 31-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full PureVPN review.

---

7. ProtonVPN

ProtonVPN has a limited free plan so if you just want to browse safely while on vacation, you won’t even have to pay anything. Upgrading does come with several benefits though. For instance, you’ll be able to access 4,851+ servers in 91+ countries, use geo-restricted streaming platforms, protect up to 10 devices at a time, and speak directly to support staff if anything goes wrong. Additionally, the speed limiter will be removed.

On that note, ProtonVPN’s speeds are impressive and more than suitable for live streaming, video calls, or downloading large files quickly. During our tests, it returned an average speed of 163.67 Mbps, beating PureVPN by a hair’s breadth. Like its rival, it suffered from slower speeds at noon but that’s not a huge problem given its strong overall performance. Here’s a chart breaking down how well it performed at different times of day:

Your online activities are kept private thanks to this VPN’s uncrackable encryption. There’s also a kill switch, IPv6 and DNS leak protection, and automatic tracker-blocking. Some servers are even kept in underground data centers to limit the risk of outside interference. Crucially, ProtonVPN follows a strict no-logging policy, and we know this for sure because it has been independently audited. Users can also take advantage of split tunneling functionality, and set up port forwarding (though this feature is only available on Windows at the time of writing).

ProtonVPN has its own apps for MacOS, iOS, Windows, Android, and Linux. it can also be installed directly on most routers, though you’ll have to follow manual setup instructions.

BROWSE ANONYMOUSLY:ProtonVPN puts your privacy first and delivers speeds many of its competitors can only dream of. With an expansive network and a proven no-logs policy, it’s perfectly suited to anyone living in South Africa.

Read our ProtonVPN review.

---

8. Private Internet Access

Private Internet Access (PIA) is a reliable no-logs provider that offers good speeds and robust security. As its name implies, the company strives to protect user privacy with extra measures like IP address masking, port forwarding, DNS leak protection, SOCKS5 proxy server connections, and more.

It’s not as powerful as ExpressVPN in unblocking content abroad, but it still works well with BBC iPlayer, YouTube TV, and other popular streaming services. It can also access geo-restricted content from networks like Netflix US and Max.

It has servers in South Africa that produce steady speeds. The overall number of PIA servers globally totals over 35,000+, which means you can access content from almost any corner of the world.

Let’s address the elephant in the room: Private Internet Access was the slowest service we tested, by a fair margin. It did manage to break 100 Mbps but only in one of our three tests, leading to a final average speed of 93.33 Mbps. Note that this is still well above what you’ll need for streaming 4K video (even on multiple devices) though, so the majority of people won’t notice much of a difference. Let’s take a closer look at the results:

It also provides apps for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Chrome and Firefox extensions. And if you’re using Kodi or Firestick devices, there are dedicated versions for those as well. Support is on hand day and night via a chat facility. You can try PIA for 30 days risk-free thanks to its money-back guarantee.

SUPPORTS WIREGUARD:Private Internet Access includes an unlimited simultaneous device limit, a network kill switch, and operates over 35,000 servers globally.

Read our full Private Internet Access review.

---

9. PrivateVPN

PrivateVPN has a smaller network than most of its rivals, with roughly 200 servers spread across 60+ countries including South Africa. Despite this, it’s still worth your time. For instance, it’s capable of accessing popular streaming platforms like Netflix and DStv Stream, regardless of where you are in the world.

PrivateVPN’s South African servers offer fairly reliable speeds though it’s far from the quickest provider we’ve tested. Its overall average speed was 117.67 Mbps, which is enough for most households, even if everyone likes to browse at the same time. Note that this service does allow you to reduce your encryption level for slightly improved performance but we wouldn’t recommend doing so since your privacy should be your first priority. Here are our full speed test results:

There’s plenty to like from a security perspective too. For starters, this VPN uses uncrackable encryption and backs it up with a kill switch, DNS and IPv6 leak protection, and a Stealth mode designed to help you browse safely in countries with strict digital censorship. There’s a no-logs policy as well, though this hasn’t been professionally audited at the time of writing. Still, PrivateVPN has been around for over a decade and has yet to have any breaches, which certainly says something.

PrivateVPN has its own MacOS, iOS, Windows, and Android apps. It can also be manually installed on Linux systems and routers; check the website for detailed setup instructions.

STEADY SPEEDS:PrivateVPN is a relatively quick provider that’s known for its strong streaming capabilities and extreme security focus. What’s more, every plan comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our ProtonVPN review.

---

Methodology: Finding the best VPNs for South Africa

One of the biggest challenges consumers face is deciding which VPN to use. With hundreds of providers competing for your attention, there’s certainly plenty of subpar services to wade through. Our team does the hard part for you, personally testing dozens of VPNs and evaluating them on more than 40 individual data points. We’ve broken these down into five distinct categories and will explain why each is so important in more detail below:

Performance

Sluggish performance is the kiss of death for a VPN. No matter how secure it is, nobody is going to use a service that slows their connection to a crawl. The problem is that the same VPN can have very different speeds depending on which server you use, where you are in the world, and what time of day it is. To account for this, we ran multiple speed tests throughout the day and averaged the results. Note that these were performed using a South African server to minimize latency and ensure that we get the best idea of the speeds you can actually expect to see.

After all the results were in, we weighted and normalized them, giving us a single overall score out of 10 for each provider. This is helpful because it allows us to more easily visualize how each service stacks up against its competitors. Let’s take a look:

NordVPN was the fastest provider we saw, so it earned a perfect score here. All others were graded on a curve, relative to the top-performer. That’s why, for instance, PIA has the lowest score despite still offering decent speeds. It’s worth mentioning that most VPNs can’t deliver performance anywhere near 90 Mbps, so no matter which of our recommendations you choose, you should be just fine.

Streaming ability

These days, most streaming services are geo-restricted. They may only be accessible from a single country, or change their content based on your location. That’s why our experts personally test each VPN against a variety of popular streaming platforms, noting how many they work with and how reliable their servers are for this task.

Once we’ve recorded all of the relevant information, our next step is to assign scores based on what each provider offers. These are weighted and normalized, giving us a final result out of 10 for each, as shown below:

Looking at these results, it’s safe to say we’ve found providers that excel at streaming. Every single one was able to access platforms like ShowMax and DStv Stream without any issues. NordVPN came in first place again due to its high speeds, ad-blocker, and Smart DNS service, though we had a three-way tie for second place between Surfshark, IPVanish, and ExpressVPN.

Security and privacy

A VPN’s primary goal is to shield your online activity from prying eyes. Services that can’t achieve this have no right being in our list (or on your devices). Our team checks to see whether providers use industry-approved protocols and encryption standards, whether they’ve been independently-audit, and how reliably they work in countries with severe digital censorship. All in all, we evaluate them on 15 key areas, as shown in the table below:

Once again, scores are assigned based on how impressed we are with each VPN’s performance in each area. The higher the score, the better the service is equipped to keep your browsing habits safe from snoopers. Let’s take a look at the full results:

This is a truly impressive set of results, with five of our nine top providers scoring above nine points. Surfshark and NordVPN were tied for first place but there’s definitely room for improvement: the former is based in a Nine Eyes country, which might make some people nervous, and the latter could do with bringing its authentication up to SHA-512, which is the gold standard.

Ease of use

Nobody wants a VPN that’s a hassle to use. The good news is that most major providers have worked hard to make their apps beginner-friendly, even if they offer lots of advanced functionality. Here at Comparitech, we take the user experience very seriously, checking for anything that makes the service less stressful. This includes task-specific servers, 24/7 customer support, and the ability to connect automatically, among other things. Here’s a full list of things we consider when ranking the best VPNs for South African users:

One thing we realized very quickly is that all of our top providers have clearly focused on usability. NordVPN scored an impressive 9.6 out of 10, only losing out because some features weren’t included in every version of the app. This goes both ways, though, with mobile users getting access to a tapjacking protection tool that, for obvious reasons, isn’t available on desktop. PrivateVPN received the lowest score as it was slightly less reliable for streaming and lack of specialty servers, though we should mention that 8.6 is still an incredible result.

Value for money

Experience has shown us that you aren’t guaranteed a high-quality VPN just because it costs more. In fact, some of our top providers could be considered budget services! We begin by comparing a service’s functionality to that offered by similarly-priced rivals then look for ways to cut the cost. This might be by waiting for a sale, obtaining a student discount, or choosing a longer-term subscription. One other key point: to be eligible for a place in our list, VPNs must offer at least a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Surfshark came out on top in this category thanks to its lower than average monthly price, total lack of connection limits, and lower prices for students. IPVanish was hot on its heels, though! In contrast, PrivateVPN came in last place. You might be a little surprised, since it has a lower initial price point. That said, it doesn’t offer student discounts and has a strict 10-connection limit.

Can I use a free VPN for South Africa?

People who don’t think VPNs are worth the money might opt for a free VPN service. But it’s better to know the full truth before embarking on an option you might regret later.

Several free VPN and proxy providers have been caught mining and selling user data (more about this in the next section). Another point to consider is that there will be download caps, bandwidth throttling, and an inferior selection of servers. Such services aren’t out there to zealously guard your privacy either, so don’t expect world-class standards.

Free VPN companies have to monetize, too. You’ll be bombarded with invasive advertisements and migraine-inducing popup windows. This means you’re the product now. We recommend staying safe on the internet and cough up a few dollars each month. Otherwise, you might just incur thousands of dollars in losses if your device contracts a malware infection or your data is exposed.

One VPN to avoid in South Africa

One of the principal caveats of opting for a VPN to browse the web is an implicit understanding that the service will do all it takes to protect your privacy and anonymity. After all, that’s why they were designed in the first place. The recommended VPNs on this list have no documented cases of handing over customer data, but a few don’t value this commitment as much. We recommend you avoid them. Here’s such a case:

HolaVPN

Israel-based Hola once had a gigantic user base of almost 50 million – with people attracted to its free proxy extension for the Chrome browser. Unfortunately, it chose to leverage this for illegal activities and turned it into a huge botnet army.

Hola users saw a part of their bandwidth bifurcated for attacks on other websites, distribution of pornography, and other notorious online activities. And it all happened without their consent. We firmly believe it’s best if you avoid Hola or uninstall it if already downloaded.

Will Smart DNS change my location to South Africa?

There are a few things to consider when answering this question. The first is that Smart DNS does not encrypt your traffic the way a VPN does, so your location could potentially be discovered by someone looking closely at your traffic. The second thing to consider is that not all Smart DNS services work with South African broadcasters.

If you’re looking for a way to change your location to South Africa, then I would recommend using a VPN service instead of Smart DNS. A VPN will encrypt your traffic and ensure that your location remains hidden, and there are many VPN services that have servers in South Africa.

How do I use a VPN in South Africa?

Access US Netflix and other services from home

In this section, we’ll provide two examples of how to use your VPN. Follow these steps if you’re a foreign expatriate and would like to obtain a non-South African IP address while physically located in the country. These steps also protect your online anonymity and security. Simply select any server location, and your data will be secure.

Here’s how to unblock streaming services in South Africa:

1. Browse through our recommended list of VPN services and decide on a plan that works for you. We particularly recommend NordVPN.
2. Register and pay for the service.
3. Once that’s done, download the companion apps (for your phone) or software (for PC or MacOS).
4. Clear your cookies and cache in all web browsers (Firefox, Chrome, Internet Explorer) to remove old location identifiers.
5. Restart your device.
6. Open the VPN companion software and log in.
7. Select a server from the country you’re trying to obtain an IP address – such as the US or Great Britain.
8. Allow a few seconds for the connection to be established. Once that’s done there should be a green notification icon in the taskbar.
9. Browse the web like you normally would.

You’ll notice that the host websites will assume your location is in the country you’re currently connected to. This will open up things like streaming media content and local online banking services, including DST and Netflix US.

Access South African TV, sites, and apps from abroad

Another way you can use your VPN is for South African residents who are traveling abroad and need a local South African IP address. A VPN could be for streaming content, accessing online banking, or finding cheaper airline deals.

Here’s how to unblock South African websites from abroad:

1. Browse through our recommendations and settle for an option that has servers in South Africa.
2. Register and pay for the VPN – select either a monthly or annual plan depending on how frequently you’d like to use a VPN.
3. Once that’s done, get the apps for your phone or computer from the VPN download page.
4. Clear your cookies in all web browsers (Firefox, Chrome, Internet Explorer) to remove old location identifiers.
5. Restart your device.
6. Open the VPN companion software and log in.
7. Select a server in South Africa and click connect.
8. Allow a few seconds for the connection to be established. Once that’s done there should be a green notification icon in the taskbar.
9. Browse the web like you normally would.

Watch South African sports with a VPN

The best VPNs for South Africa are a great way to keep up with the latest South African sporting events. By connecting to a server in South Africa, you can unblock and stream sports in South Africa while you’re traveling abroad.

Here are some of the streaming platforms you can use a VPN to unblock, as well as their respective sports offerings:

DStv Stream

DStv Stream is a paid streaming platform that offers no shortage of sports channels. In particular, it offers well over a dozen SuperSport channels, many of which are specific to single sports. This includes SuperSport Rugby, SuperSport Cricket, and SuperSport Football. It even includes ESPN for a selection of international sports including American football.

Here are some of the sports covered alongside their respective channels on DStv:

• American football (ESPN 2)
• Baseball (ESPN 2)
• Basketball (ESPN 2)
• Combat (SS Variety 1)
• Cricket (SuperSport Cricket)
• Football (ESPN, SuperSport PSL, SuperSport Premier League, SuperSport La Liga, SuperSport Football)
• Golf (SuperSport Golf)
• Ice Hockey (ESPN 2)
• Motorsport (SuperSport Motorsport, Ignition)
• Racing (Racing 240)
• Rugby (SuperSport Rugby)
• Tennis (SuperSport Tennis)

There are additional SuperSport channels which show a mix of combat sports (UFC, MMA, boxing), football, and overflow premium content and this includes Blitz, Grandstand, SuperSport Variety 1-4, SuperSport Action, SuperSport Events

SABC Sport

SABC Sport is a free-to-air sports channel from the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC). You can stream its sports-related content via the SBC Plus streaming platform.

• Athletics
• Basketball (NBA)
• Boxing
• Cricket
• Football (PSL, Bundesliga, Premier League)
• Motorsports
• Racing
• Rugby

Content is spread across the SABC 1, SABC 2, SABC 3, and SABC Sport channels. Note that while SABC+ is free, you still need to sign up for an account to watch.

Showmax

Showmax is a subscription-based streaming service. Although it doesn’t have a strong focus on sports, it still covers football, specifically the English Premier League (EPL) and the South African Premiership.

VPNs for South Africa FAQs