Is HBO Max available in South Africa? Unfortunately, it’s not available there. But you can still watch it in South Africa by using a special VPN service like ExpressVPN.
HBO Max is a streaming service from the US that has lots of shows and movies. It used to be called HBO but changed its name to MAX in May 2023. Now, it has both HBO and Discovery Plus content.
Is it possible to watch MAX in South Africa? The changes made are only meant for the US and not for South Africa. However, you can still access HBO Max outside the USA by using a VPN.
Keep reading to find out about the top VPNs for HBO Max in South Africa and how much HBO Max costs there!
How to Watch HBO Max in South Africa- Simple Steps
To watch HBO Max in South Africa, you’ll need an HBO Max South Africa subscription and an HBO Max VPN to bypass location restrictions.
Follow these seven simple steps to watch HBO Max in South Africa:
- Sign up for a high-quality VPN service. (Suggested: ExpressVPN with US servers ideal for streaming).
- Download the VPN application.
- Open the VPN app and connect to a US-based server.
- Visit the HBO Max website and create an account.
- Review the available HBO plans and select a suitable HBO price in South Africa.
- Install the HBO Max app on your device.
- Log in to HBO Max South Africa and start streaming.
Why do you need a VPN to Watch HBO Max in South Africa?
To watch HBO Max in South Africa, you need a VPN because HBO Max is limited to certain locations. Can you watch HBO Max in South Africa? No, it’s not available there—it’s only in the USA.
Since it’s a service from America, only folks in the US can use it. If you try from South Africa, you’ll see an error message saying it’s restricted.
Does South Africa offer HBO Max? No, it doesn’t. But if you use a good VPN, it can hide your location and make it look like you’re in the US. This allows you to watch HBO Max in South Africa. We suggest using ExpressVPN because it has really quick US servers.
How much is HBO Max in South Africa?
The monthly cost of HBO Max is $15.99, which is about ZAR 292.72 in South Africa. Besides this, there are various other subscription plans for HBO Max in South Africa. You can choose one that fits your budget.
How to sign up for HBO Max in South Africa?
This guide outlines the steps to obtain HBO in South Africa using a gift card:
- Use ExpressVPN and connect to a US server, preferably in New York.
- Buy an HBO Max gift card.
- Redeem the gift card to set up your account.
- Input a US Zip code, like New York 2969.
- Log in with your details on HBO Max.
- Start streaming and enjoy HBO Max in South Africa.
Top 3 VPNs to Watch HBO Max in South Africa
HBO Max has a tough firewall that’s hard to get around, so if you aim to watch Max in South Africa, it’s crucial to pick a high-quality VPN service. To make it easier for you, we’ve tried out over 50 VPNs and selected the top three best VPNs for watching HBO Max in South Africa.
1. ExpressVPN- Best VPN to Watch HBO Max in South Africa
First, let’s talk about ExpressVPN. It’s a top-quality VPN that’s super fast and great for unblocking HBO Max in South Africa.
Why is it the best for HBO Max? Well, it has more than 23 servers in over 14 US cities. Plus, there are over 3000 servers in 94 countries worldwide.
Because ExpressVPN has so many servers, it’s really quick and gives you new IPs that trick HBO Max.
It’s super speedy! I could watch loads of HBO Max shows in high-definition without any pauses. Its USA – Atlanta server worked really well.
Regarding speed, it hit a download speed of 88.24 Mbps out of 100 Mbps. I could easily watch shows like My Neighbor Totoro on HBO Max without any problems.
Apart from speed, ExpressVPN has easy-to-use apps for iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Fire Stick, and more. You just click once, and you’re connected.
About the cost, ExpressVPN is about $6.67 a month (that’s a 49% discount for a year plus 3 extra months for free). All their plans allow you to use it on 8 devices at the same time, and they offer a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Overall, ExpressVPN is the best VPN out there, especially for unblocking HBO Max.
2. Surfshark- Pocket Friendly HBO Max VPN
Surfshark is a budget-friendly VPN for watching HBO Max in South Africa. It costs just US$1.99 per month with an 86% discount on a 27-month plan, and it allows unlimited connections so you can share with friends and family.
There are more than 3200 servers available in 65+ countries, with 23+ servers in US cities to access HBO Max in South Africa. We easily unblocked HBO Max using the Surfshark Chicago server and watched Gossip Girl Season 2. However, the Los Angeles server is a bit slow, so we don’t recommend it.
In our speed tests on a 100 Mbps connection, we got download and upload speeds of 88.14 Mbps and 83.72 Mbps. This speed is good enough to access US HBO Max in Uruguay without any technical problems.
Surfshark takes your online security seriously. It uses AES-256-GCM encryption, has a Kill Switch, Camouflage Mode, and Bypasser, and protects against IP and DNS leaks.
It works well with various devices like PS4, Windows, iOS, Android, macOS, and more to unblock HBO Max. This VPN comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee and offers 24/7 live chat support.
3. NordVPN- Best Server Range VPN to Watch HBO Max in South Africa
Finally, there’s NordVPN. It’s a super reliable VPN service to unlock HBO Max. NordVPN has a really huge network of 5200+ servers, more than both ExpressVPN and Surfshark.
Because it has such a big bunch of servers, it’s awesome for streaming on HBO Max and other famous channels without any pauses.
I didn’t face any problems with the streaming quality when I watched Westworld on HBO Max using NordVPN’s US servers. And guess what? NordVPN has over 1970 servers in 15 US cities—crazy, right?
All their servers are super fast. When I tried their US servers, they hit speeds of up to 85.54 Mbps out of 100 Mbps. That’s seriously fast!
Just like the other VPNs I mentioned, NordVPN has cool apps for iOS, Android, Fire Stick, Windows, macOS, and more.
About the cost, it’s really budget-friendly. You can get NordVPN for just $2.99 a month (that’s a 63% discount).
Conclusion
HBO Max, like many other streaming platforms, faces geographical restrictions due to copyright policies. These restrictions prevent access to HBO Max from various regions around the world, including South Africa. To bypass these restrictions and access HBO Max in South Africa, a reliable solution is to use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) that offers multiple servers and robust bandwidth.
A VPN acts as an intermediary between your device and the internet, allowing you to route your connection through servers located in different regions, thereby masking your actual location. For accessing HBO Max in South Africa, it’s essential to select a VPN service with a robust network of servers and high-speed internet capacity to ensure a smooth streaming experience.
ExpressVPN is recommended for its secure and reliable connection. It provides a comprehensive network of servers across various locations and offers strong bandwidth, making it an excellent choice to access HBO Max in regions like South Africa, where it’s not directly available due to geographical restrictions.
