Best VPNs for South Africa in 2025: Secure and fast

A South African VPN allows you to protect your online privacy and access local South African services that would otherwise be geo-blocked.

A VPN is a great tool for anyone staying in South Africa. This is true for residents, expats, and holidaymakers alike. It will enhance your online privacy by encrypting your traffic, allowing you to unblock various international streaming services. 

Additionally, a South African VPN is also highly valuable for residents traveling overseas, allowing you to access your favorite South African geo-restricted shows, regardless of your location. 

As well as a list of the best VPNs for South Africa, we’ll explain how the technology works, including a step-by-step guide to getting started. If you haven’t got time to read through the entire article, here’s a quick roundup.

Best VPNs for South Africa:

1. NordVPN: Our top recommendation for South Africa. Great connection speeds, over 8,100 servers worldwide, strong privacy features, and offers a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.
2. Surfshark: Capable budget VPN that doesn’t compromise with speed or privacy. Will bypass blocks and restrictions and allows unlimited device connections. 
3. ExpressVPN: One of the best VPNs overall for unblocking international services, including South Africa itself. Powerful servers and simple apps. 
4. Mullvad: Privacy-minded provider with top security and simple pricing. Servers found in Johannesburg and anonymous sign-up is possible. 
5. Proton VPN: Another VPN focused on privacy and security. Secure Core servers and can access some streaming services. 
6. CyberGhost VPN: Cheaper option with 50+ servers to choose from in South Africa. Great for unblocking and has beginner-friendly apps. 
7. PrivateVPN: Good all-rounder for anything from streaming to torrenting, fast speeds, and up to 10 simultaneous devices. 

Summary Table

We used the following criteria to come up with this list of the best VPNs for South Africa:

• South African servers: Servers in South Africa are a must, along with a large worldwide network. 
• Fast connection speeds: Fast speeds are a must for everything from streaming to torrenting.
• Ability to access blocked African sites and services: Must access blocked content from Africa, and elsewhere. 
• Privacy and security: We look at logging policies, security features, protocols, and more. 
• Stability and usability: The VPN app must be stable and easy to use. 
• Value for money: The service must be priced fairly. 

To make the top three, we only accept VPNs that tick all of the following boxes:

• Diskless servers (wiped daily, making it almost impossible for the VPN to retain any usage data).
• The VPN must not log identifying data on customers and must have had its logging policy audited by a reputable third party (such as PWC). This ensures that VPNs that claim to adhere to certain practices actually do so.
• The VPN must have undergone a technical security audit by a third party. As opposed to a logging policy audit, this tests the security of the VPN product itself.

You can find out more information about the criteria we used in the testing methodology section further down this article.

Best VPNs for South Africa

Here is a list of our top picks if you need a VPN for South Africa:

NordVPN is our top pick for South African users. It has a collection of 50+ high-speed servers in the region, which can be used for tasks like streaming and gaming, with a total of 8,100+ servers found worldwide. The SA locations are ideal for torrenting, and Nord offers obfuscated options, Double VPN, and a dedicated IP from regions such as the United States and the UK.

The provider is perfect for accessing international streaming platforms like US Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer, which is great news for anyone spending time away from home in South Africa. Connection speeds are also great from SA locations thanks to the proprietary NordLynx protocol. 

One bone of contention is that one of its servers was breached back in March 2018. Fortunately, the incident was caused by a third-party server provider that was removed from its network and has since led to multiple improvements, including RAM-only servers and regular audits. 

You’ll find apps for Linux, Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android, as well as router support, and a trio of browser versions for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. One NordVPN account will cover up to 10 devices at once. 

TOP VPN CHOICE FOR SOUTH AFRICA: NordVPN isn’t going to let you down in South Africa or elsewhere. Speedy, robust servers in the region, thousands more worldwide, lots of additional security and privacy features, great for streaming, and offers a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of NordVPN.

Surfshark has 3,200+ servers worldwide, including nine in South Africa. It’s our top pick for anyone on a budget due to cheap deals and the ability to connect unlimited devices with a single account. There are servers in 100 countries altogether, although it doesn’t have coverage in any other African nations. 

It offers WireGuard support for improved speeds, and comes with extras like automatic ad-blocking and malware-scanning, along with protection against DNS, WebRTC, and IPv6 leaks. Camouflage Mode can be used to ensure that your ISP can’t tell that you’re using a VPN.

Surfshark can be used to watch the popular US version of Netflix, and it works with Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, ITV Hub, All 4, Hotstar, HBO, Sky, and many other international streaming services. It also works to access South African streaming services such as Showmax, DStv, Vidi, Cell C, Telkom, and Vodacom Now from abroad – or on networks where they are restricted (such as at work).

You’ll find apps for iOS, macOS, Android, Windows, and Linux (GUI).

EXCELLENT BUDGET VPN: Surfshark is an affordable service for South Africa, offering unlimited device connections, WireGuard support, streaming capabilities, RAM-only servers, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of Surfshark.

ExpressVPN is undoubtedly a top pick for blocking sites and services worldwide. This includes servers in South Africa, with further continental coverage found in Kenya, Egypt, and Algeria. The SA servers are ideal for streaming content from MTN and Super Sports, while international options are also adept at bypassing geo-blocks. Globally, it has 3,000+ servers in 105+ locations.

You’ll be able to get an IP address in South Africa or elsewhere with ease, and the service also supports torrenting. The proprietary Lightway protocol is especially useful, with a great mix of speeds and security. Lightway can be used with the SA servers, and there are apps for Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, Linux, and routers.

Live chat is available 24/7, apps are beginner-friendly, and servers have been independently audited by ​​PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers). You can connect up to eight devices simultaneously.

SUPER-FAST SERVERS: ExpressVPN is able to unblock almost any service imaginable. Capable performance, simple apps, responsive customer support, and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of ExpressVPN.

Mullvad has a duo of South African servers, which are located in Johannesburg. An optimal pick from a privacy perspective, it has a strict no-logging policy and collects no information about the user during sign-up. WireGuard support ensures top speeds from multiple locations, with servers found in a total of 49+ countries.

It allows for split tunneling and benefits from strict data laws as the service is based in Sweden. However, the region still falls under 14-Eyes Alliance jurisdiction, even if they note that ‘none of the Swedish regulations can force VPN providers to secretly collect traffic-related data’.

Mullvad’s support team is in-house, and it offers a range of features, including port forwarding, MultiHop, and ad-blocking. There are apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, and Firefox. 

It’s great if you’re looking for a secure and private VPN (you can even pay in cash to sign up anonymously), although it’s lacking if you’re hoping to unblock lots of streaming services in the process. The SA servers are the only ones found on the continent, which is another drawback. 

GREAT SECURITY FEATURES: Mullvad is a great pick for improved online privacy in South Africa. Comes with WireGuard support, a strict no-logs policy, split tunneling, lots of features, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of Mullvad.

Proton VPN is another superb choice for users in the Rainbow nation. A privacy-focused provider, there are advanced features such as Double VPN and Tor over VPN, alongside the basics like an automatic kill switch and a strict no-logs policy. There’s a respectable collection of 35+ South African servers in Johannesburg if you’re in need of a local IP address. 

As well as allowing for P2P, it works with major streaming services in the US and the UK, including BBC iPlayer, YouTube TV, ITV, Netflix, HBO Max, Hotstar, Peacock, and more. It’s quick enough for 4K video or gaming with no lag. 

You can also get it packaged with the popular ProtonMail service. There are apps for Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Linux, and more. You can connect up to 10 devices at once.

It does lack live chat support, and it is one of the more expensive providers, but it has a decent rep from a privacy perspective. It is also protected by Swiss laws, which means it can never be forced to start logging (which is not the case for its email service, Proton Mail, which can be forced to provide logs).

PRIVACY-FOCUSED VPN: Proton VPN is another great pick for privacy-conscious users, with added streaming support. Includes a strict no-logs policy, fast South African servers, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of Proton VPN.

CyberGhost VPN is one of the better-known VPNs on the market. With a massive network of over 11,500+ VPN servers located in 100+ countries, it includes 53+ speedy SA servers in Johannesburg, which can be used for P2P file sharing. You’ll be able to find more servers in Algeria, Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, and Nigeria.

Headquartered in Romania, CyberGhost’s NoSpy servers are extra-secure, and they come with streaming support, allowing users to access content from Hulu to BBC iPlayer with ease. Fast speeds and sturdy security back low costs. 

Apps are simple to use and can be found for Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, and Linux. You’ll be able to use seven devices simultaneously with one subscription.

The second Kape-owned VPN to make the list, CyberGhost, was the first provider they purchased back in 2018. ZenMate VPN and PIA soon followed, alongside ExpressVPN. All those VPNs remain independently managed and run.

RELIABLE AND SPEEDY: CyberGhost is a solid option with a strong selection of 53+ South African servers. Good speeds, streaming support, and a 14-day money-back guarantee are available for one-month plans. Six months or longer is covered by a 45-day money-back guarantee. 

Read our full review of CyberGhost.

PrivateVPN has 200+ servers worldwide, with options found in South Africa and Nigeria. It’s one of the only services to support watching DStv outside of SA, arguing for a case of quality over quantity in terms of its network size. The provider has locations in 63+ countries overall, including the US, the UK, and Germany, and can be used to securely access sites like Netflix and Disney+.

The service comes with WireGuard to provide a boost to connection speeds, and additional features include port forwarding, leak protection, and much more. It’s based in Sweden, and the service doesn’t record any Personally Identifiable Information (PII). In terms of flaws, it does lack obfuscation, while Sweden falls under the 14-Eyes Alliance jurisdiction, even if privacy laws are decent in the region. 

It works with up to 10 simultaneous devices, and there are apps or support for Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, Chrome, and routers.

PLENTY OF AFRICAN SERVERS: PrivateVPN is great if you’re looking for servers in Africa, or to stream or torrent from multiple devices. Cheap deals, WireGuard, fast speeds, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of PrivateVPN.

Best VPN for South Africa testing methodology

Most VPNs will be able to handle the basics, but each service will differ significantly depending on what you actually need it for. We used the following VPN testing criteria to come up with this list of the best VPNs for South Africa:

• South African servers: The provider must have servers located in South Africa. These will be useful for connecting to local services, such as banking apps or streaming platforms. We’ll also take the strength of the entire network into account, selecting VPNs with servers in multiple locations.  
• Fast connection speeds: Fast connection speeds will enable users to stream or torrent without encountering lag or buffering. VPNs can lead to slowdown due to the encryption process. The best providers are fast enough for there to be no noticeable difference in speeds while connected. Base speeds should be impressive, ideally showing the fastest server available. 
• Ability to access blocked African sites and services: South Africa has minimal online censorship to worry about. Instead, we’ll look at the VPN’s ability to access region-blocked websites. This goes for SA content, as well as international websites and services.  
• Privacy and security: Is the provider able to improve online privacy? Can it be trusted? We examine logging policies, security features, protocols, auditing, ownership, leak protection, and other relevant aspects.  
• Stability and usability: The VPN should be beginner-friendly, with apps for all popular operating systems. Is there an ad-blocker and a kill switch? Will the VPN close unexpectedly? The VPN must offer unlimited bandwidth, along with support for various compatible devices. 
• Value for money: The provider needs to offer good value for money, with fair deals, and a simple money-back guarantee, just in case. 

Bonus points

As well as the criteria above, we also award bonus points to VPN companies that provide any of the following:

• Diskless servers: Ideally, the VPN will use RAM-only servers, where nothing is stored locally. This is especially important from a privacy perspective, especially if you’re in a country where the government is hostile to journalists or activists. Our top three providers (as well as CyberGhost) run their servers on RAM instead of via traditional storage. This means that all data on the disk is lost the moment it’s turned off or rebooted. Additionally, a VPN’s data-clearing processes won’t be interrupted by external factors such as power cuts or theft, since the moment they shut down, they’re wiped clean.
• Based in countries not part of any known intelligence alliance: It’s best to steer clear of VPNs based in intelligence-sharing regions. For example, there’s the 14 Eyes (officially called SIGINT Seniors Europe, or SSEUR), which includes the UK, USA, Germany, France, Spain, and nine others, though other alliances (such as Maximator and the Afghanistan SiGINT Coalition) also exist. Instead, NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Surfshark are all based in Panama or the British Virgin Islands (which, crucially, is a distinct territory that is separate from Great Britain).
• Regular application and server audits from a respected third party: Rather than taking a leap of faith with logging and encryption, it makes sense to look to auditors to perform an independent review of a provider’s claims. This is often prohibitively expensive, however, with one of the Big Four auditors, PwC, charging hundreds of dollars per hour, per auditor, on a process that can often take weeks. Few providers have had a server audit and an application audit, although NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Surfshark all fit the bill. 

How to use a VPN in South Africa

If you’ve never used a VPN before, we’ve put together a simple guide to help you get started. 

Here’s how to use a VPN for South Africa:

1. Firstly, you’ll need to select a VPN. We particularly recommend NordVPN. This is because it has servers in South Africa, offers fast speeds, and excellent security features. Plus, it comes with a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.
2. Sign up with the provider, and make a note of your login details. 
3. Download the relevant app/s for the devices you plan to use. Some providers, such as Surfshark and IPVanish, allow you to connect as many devices as you like simultaneously.
4. Open the app, and log in. 
5. Select a server location in South Africa and wait to be connected. This will give you a South African IP address that can be used to access local sites and services. Selecting a server elsewhere will enable you to access websites from that specific location. For example, a server in the UK should be used for BBC iPlayer, while a server in the US will work with US Netflix and HBO Max. Once again, this can be done from anywhere in the world, including SA. 

If you’re running into any issues, try switching to a new server or a new browser. You can also try deleting any cookies on your device. 

Does South Africa have internet restrictions?

South Africa doesn’t do badly in terms of internet freedoms, with no major censorship of web content. However, there are a few notable issues relating to privacy. 

The Regulation of Interception of Communications Act (RICA) mandated that any SIM card purchased in SA must be registered to a specific person, while collecting large amounts of user data for surveillance purposes.

RICA was ruled to be unconstitutional as “it fails to provide adequate safeguards to protect the right to privacy, as buttressed by the rights to freedom of expression and the media, access to courts and a fair trial.”

The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) has also proposed linking biometric data to SIM cards, in the hope of curbing fraud.

We have repeatedly covered news about telecommunication service providers being breached by hackers. A database containing sensitive biometric data that can't be reset or changed poses a significant risk for tens of millions of mobile subscribers in South Africa.

The NSO's Pegasus spyware infections were found in South Africa, while in 2019, it was revealed that the government had been performing mass surveillance on internet traffic since 2008.

A VPN is a great option to ensure that your data remains safe and secure while you’re in South Africa. It will encrypt all internet traffic flowing to and from your device, routing it via an intermediary server. This means that your ISP and any snoopers will only be able to see that you’ve connected to a VPN, rather than seeing the sites you visit or the services you’re using. 

As well as various privacy benefits, a VPN is great for anyone traveling to or from the country from abroad, such as expats or holidaymakers. If you’re aiming to access geo-blocked content, such as US Netflix, BBC iPlayer, or even South African options like DSTV and SuperSport, a quality provider will be able to unblock the most stubborn services with ease.  

VPNs for South Africa: FAQ

Can I use a free VPN for South Africa?

It’s always tempting, but it’ll be tough to find a trustworthy free provider that has servers in South Africa. Free VPNs tend to be a security risk, whether it’s due to mining and selling user data, or being unable to provide secure encryption in the first place. Expect lots of adverts and popup windows. 

If you do find a free service, it’s likely to have limitations in terms of connection speeds, server choice, and bandwidth. Streaming support also tends to be nonexistent, as the IP addresses are usually blocked by sites like Netflix.

Will a VPN change my IP address to a local South African IP address?

Yes, one of the main benefits of a VPN is that it will change your IP to match the location you’ve selected. Of course, the VPN will need to have South African servers in the first place. All of the providers listed above have options in Johannesburg.

Will my ISP know if I’m using a VPN in South Africa?

Yes. Your ISP won’t be able to see what you’re up to, but they will be able to tell that you’ve connected to a VPN server. For example, your ISP will see encrypted data is traveling to a remote server, but not the data itself. It’s ideal if you’re hoping to improve online privacy.

Are VPN services legal in South Africa?

VPN services are legal in South Africa. In fact, VPNs are legal in most of the world, with a few notable exceptions. The technology is sometimes banned or restricted, such as in Russia and China. A nearby example would be Uganda, whose government ordered ISPs to block VPN traffic after a controversial social media tax was implemented.

Can I access South African online banks with a VPN?

Yes, depending on the provider you’ve chosen. Banking apps and websites tend to have stronger security than most, but there should be no issues if you need to log into your Standard Bank, FirstRand, or Absa account while using a VPN.

How do I use Showmax outside Africa?

Showmax is arguably the top streaming service across the whole of Africa. It’s also available internationally in many countries:

• ​​Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Cayman Islands, Denmark, Falkland, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Guernsey, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Isle of Man, Italy, Jersey, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pitcairin, Portugal, San Marino, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

However, there are numerous notable exceptions, such as the United States, Canada, and more. 

If you’re trying to watch Showmax while traveling outside of Africa, you might need a VPN to do so. Connect to a South African server to change your IP address. You should now be able to stream Showmax content as normal.

Will using a VPN in South Africa help to stop identity theft?

A VPN will only be able to do so much and should be implemented as part of a robust online security regime. For example, make sure to turn on 2FA for all accounts, and don’t reuse passwords. Be careful when using public WiFi connections, and don’t click on any suspicious links. 

Will Smart DNS change my location to South Africa?

Smart DNS services can be used to access geo-restricted content, with the benefit of great speeds. However, it won’t change your IP address, and it doesn’t encrypt your connection either. Another issue is that you’ll have to find a Smart DNS service that works with SA broadcasters. We’d recommend using a VPN instead if you’re aiming to improve online privacy. 

Can I watch South African TV services abroad with a VPN?

Yes. You can watch South African TV services abroad by using a VPN.

A VPN is an online privacy service that lets you pretend to be in a different country. It works by establishing an encrypted connection to a server that you can choose within the VPN app. By connecting to a VPN server in South Africa, you will get a valid South African IP address, which lets you stream popular South African TV services while on vacation.

In addition to letting you watch popular South African TV channels, you can also use a VPN to play South African game servers, use internet banking, or access any other region-locked South African web services.

With that said, it's important to note that the availability of specific South African TV services and streaming platforms may vary with each VPN. For this reason, we recommend that you test your preferred VPN with your accounts by leveraging its money-back guarantee (all our recommendations have one).

It is also worth noting that to enjoy streaming South African TV abroad, you will need a fast VPN that doesn't cause lag and buffering. Most VPNs have slow servers that will cause frustration, which is why we were careful only to recommend VPNs that have fast Tier-1 servers and speedy protocols like WireGuard. 

Below, we have included a list of TV services that you can watch by connecting to an IP address in South Africa:

• DStv Now
• Showmax
• Netflix South Africa
• Amazon Prime Video (available with a South African Amazon Prime subscription)
• TelkomONE
• Viu South Africa
• Vodacom Video Play
• Cell C Black
• eMedia Player (e.tv)
• SABC (South African Broadcasting Corporation) Online
• OpenView
• SuperSport (SuperSport App)