What Is Showmax and What Do You Get?
Showmax is a streaming service made for South Africans. You can watch movies, series, sport, and local shows. In 2025, Showmax has grown big, with over 2.8 million subscribers across Africa. Most people use it on their phones because it’s cheaper and easier.
Showmax has lots of local content. You’ll find shows like The Wife, Blood Psalms, and The Real Housewives of Durban. There are also international hits like The White Lotus and HBO series. If you like football, you can stream every Premier League and PSL match live, even on your phone.
You can pay for Showmax with a card, airtime, voucher, or add it to your DStv bill. Cancel anytime, no long contracts. You can also download shows to watch offline, which saves data.
Showmax Prices and Packages in 2025
Showmax changed its prices in May 2025. Here’s what you pay now:
Showmax Entertainment: R99 per month (watch on TV, laptop, or phone)
Showmax Entertainment Mobile: R50 per month (watch on one phone or tablet)
Showmax Premier League (includes PSL): R99 per month (mobile only)
Showmax Entertainment + Premier League: R150 per month (all devices)
Showmax Entertainment Mobile + Premier League: R120 per month (mobile only)
If you just want movies and series, the Entertainment Mobile plan is the cheapest at R50. If you want sport and movies on your TV, you’ll pay R150. There’s no free plan, but sometimes Showmax offers a 14-day free trial for new users.
Example: If you earn R15,000 a month, R99 for Showmax is less than 1% of your salary. For a family, the full package at R150 is still cheaper than going to the movies once a month.
How Does Showmax Compare to Netflix and Others?
South Africans have more than 560 streaming services to choose from in 2025. The big names are Showmax, Netflix, and Amazon Prime Video. Here’s how Showmax stacks up:
| Feature | Showmax | Netflix | Amazon Prime Video |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Price | R99 (standard) | R159 (standard) | R79 |
| Mobile Plan | R50 | R49 | No mobile-only plan |
| Local Content | Lots (SA shows, sport) | Some | Very little |
| Live Sport | Yes (Premier League, PSL) | No | No |
| Devices | 2 at once (standard) | 2 at once (standard) | 3 at once |
Showmax is best for local shows and football. Netflix has more international series and movies, but costs more. Amazon Prime Video is the cheapest, but has less local content and no sport.
What’s New in 2025?
Showmax added more African originals this year. You’ll see new seasons of The Wife, Blood Psalms, and Adulting. The Real Housewives of Durban now has five seasons. Sport fans get both Premier League and PSL games live, even on mobile.
Showmax also improved its app. You get better recommendations, more languages, and easier downloads. They’re working with telecoms to offer cheaper data bundles, so streaming costs less.
Steps to Get Started with Showmax
- Go to showmax.com and pick your plan
- Sign up with your email and create a password
- Choose how to pay: card, airtime, voucher, or DStv bill
- Download the Showmax app on your phone, tablet, or smart TV
- Start watching. You can download shows to watch offline
Common Mistakes and Things to Watch Out For
Some people buy the mobile plan and then try to watch on their TV or laptop. That won’t work. The mobile plan only works on one phone or tablet. If you want to watch on your TV, get the standard plan.
Don’t forget to cancel if you don’t want to pay next month. Showmax is month-to-month, but if you forget, they’ll charge you again. Also, streaming uses data. If you don’t have Wi-Fi, check your data costs before watching lots of shows.
Some shows and sport are only available in South Africa. If you travel, you might not see everything you paid for. Downloads help if you want to watch offline or save data.
Is Showmax Worth Your Money?
If you love local shows, football, or want a cheaper streaming option, Showmax is a good choice. The mobile plan is only R50 a month, and you get loads of African content. The sport package is great for football fans. Families who want to watch on TV will pay R99 to R150, which is still less than Netflix.
If you only watch international series, Netflix has more options, but costs more. Amazon Prime Video is cheaper, but has less local stuff. For most South Africans, Showmax gives the best mix of price, local content, and sport.
Example: Say you earn R25,000 a month and spend R99 on Showmax. That’s less than half the price of a single movie ticket for one person. You get hundreds of shows and live sport for the whole month.
Showmax is easy to use, works on most phones, and lets you pay in different ways. If you want local stories and football, it’s worth it. Just pick the right plan for your needs and check your data costs.