ShowMax is an online video streaming service similar to Netflix offered across Africa, Europe, and a few other countries by MultiChoice the owners of DSTV and GoTV. The streaming service, available online and on mobile enables you watch live TV shows like Big Brother All Stars as well as on demand movies, Series, and TV shows on your smartphone, Smart TV, gaming consoles, Windows or Mac computers, and other devices. In this article, you will discover all there is to know about Showmax subscription and price.
Showmax is the best streaming service for African content as they have the largest and superior library of Nigerian, South African, Ugandan, Ghanaian, Kenyan, and African Movies, Series, and TV shows. Their programming is also more respectful of African culture. Want to see the best of Nollywood movies? Showmax is a great choice.
Do you want to live stream the most popular reality TV shows in Africa? Showmax is also your best streaming service.
As a large number of audiences now watch more live videos online and on mobile than ever rather than to be stationed at a spot, streaming services are now gaining in popularity.
Showmax offers live streaming of local news and live sports as well as video on demand (VoD) services that enables you stream or download a large collection of TV Series, Movies, Documentaries, and Kids Shows.
You can watch Showmax via a mobile app on your smartphone and tablet. Showmax also has dedicated apps for Apple TV, Chromecast, DStv Explora, Smart TVs, Gaming, consoles, and more. You can also watch on your PC or Mac computer, laptops or even mobile phones via the browser by visiting www.showmax.com.
For a better understanding of how it works, let’s dive in.
What Is Showmax?
Showmax is an online live and on-demand video streaming service that gives subscribers unlimited access to loads of Movies, TV Series, TV Shows, Live TV, Live News, Live Sports, and more.
The streaming service was launched in August 2015 with the focus of establishing video on demand of local contents in Africa. Today, the service is available in over 43 countries in Africa as well as a few countries in Europe, Asia, and Australasia. Showmax is a part of the Multichoice group, a subsidiary of Naspers.
Over the years, the streaming service has spread its reach to audiences in different countries (even outside Africa) which makes it a direct competitor to leading global video streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video not just in Africa, but around the world.
Showmax Subscription Packages
Showmax is available in four subscription packages tailored to suit your budget and preferences. These include a full packages that supports multiple devices and a more affordable mobile only version available on smartphones and tablets. There are also Pro variants that adds more live content like Live Sports and News.
All four Showmax packages are available in Africa. Showmax Pro and its mobile only subscription are not available outside Africa for obvious reasons. Here are all four Showmax Subscription packages with their prices and countries where they are available:
1. Showmax Entertainment
The Showmax Entertainment plan offers you access to thousands of local and international series, movies, and kid’s shows to stream and download. It is more of a video on demand service with live streaming of a couple of popular reality TV shows like BBTitans, BBNaija, and BBMzansi. Live News channels seems to have been dropped in the latest Showmax update.
This subscription plan offers full HD quality viewing experience with support for up to 5 registered devices. With this subscription plan, you can watch Showmax on your smartphone, Smart TV, tablet, gaming consoles, and your Windows and Mac computer.
Note that, although you can register up to five devices, you can only watch on two devices simultaneously. You can either stream or download for watching offline later.
ShowMax Entertainment costs 89 ZAR, 2500 NGN, 850 KES, 59 GHC, and 19000 UGX monthly in South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, and Uganda respectively. The subscription costs $5 in the rest of Africa. DSTV subscribers get a 50% discount on this plan.
This plan is available free to DSTV Premium subscribers. You can access this plan in every country where Showmax is available.
2. Showmax Entertainment Mobile
ShowMax Entertainment Mobile is just like the Entertainment plan, but as the name implies is for mobile devices. It is a more affordable, limited edition streaming service for smartphones and tablets.
It offers the same movies, series, and Kid’s shows as the Entertainment plan. The limitation is that unlike the Entertainment where you can register up to 5 devices and stream on 2 devices simultaneously, you can only register and stream on one device with Showmax Entertainment Mobile and that device must be either a smartphone or a tablet.
ShowMax Entertainment Mobile costs 39 ZAR, 1200 NGN, 27 GHC, 11400 UGX, and 300 KES monthly in South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda, and Kenya respectively. The price is $3 in the rest of Africa. Showmax Entertainment Mobile is available in all Showmax countries.
3. Showmax Premier League Plan
The Showmax Premier League Plan enables you stream all premier league live matches on your mobile phone. This is great for football fans you are just interested on watching football and sports. This plan is only available on mobile.
ShowMax Premier League Plan costs 69 ZAR, 2900 NGN, 55 GHC, 15200 UGX, and 500 KES monthly in South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda, and Kenya respectively. The price is $4 in the rest of Africa.
4. Showmax Entertainment + Premier League Bundle
Showmax also offers a bundle that combines the Entertainment Plan with the Premier League Plan enabling you get both at a premium. Paying for both plans separately should cost 5,400 Naira in Nigeria (i.e. 2500 + 2900), but when you buy this bundle, you get both for 4,600 Naira, a whole 800 Naira discount (or 14% off).
With this bundle, you enjoy all the thrills of the Entertainment as well as Premier League on the go experience of the Premier League plan.
Watch exciting TV shows, TV Series, Movies and Entertainment on the Entertainment plan and watch live Premier League matches on mobile with the Premier League plan.
You can register up to 5 devices such as your smartphone, tablet, laptop, Smart TV, etc. Note that you can only stream on two devices simultaneously. The Premier League plan is only available on Mobile.
ShowMax Entertainment + Premier League bundle costs 140 ZAR, 4600 NGN, 105 GHC, 31200 UGX, and 1000 KES monthly in South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda, and Kenya respectively. The price is $8 in the rest of Africa.
4. Showmax Entertainment Mobile + Premier League Bundle
ShowMax also offers another bundle that combines the Entertainment Mobile plan and the Premier League plan. You can only register and stream on one device which must be either a smartphone or tablet.
Apart from the limitation of only being available on mobile and accessible on just one device, you get the same experience as the Entertainment plan. You can stream movies, TV series, TV shows, kid’s shows, as well as live Premier League matches.
ShowMax Entertainment Mobile + Premier League costs 99 ZAR, 3200 NGN, 75 GHC, 24000 UGX, and 700 KES monthly in South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda, and Kenya respectively. The price is $6 in the rest of Africa.
Showmax Pricing
The Showmax pricing plans are not fixed. The price is different in each country and often quoted in the local currency of the country.
Showmax currently has three subscription packages and two subscription bundles.
Here are some of the subscription pricing in some countries:
Showmax Price
Showmax offers three subscription packages, the Entertainment, the Entertainment Mobile, and the Premier League packages. Here are their prices:
Country |
Showmax Entertainment
|
Showmax Entertainment Mobile |
Showmax Premier League |
South Africa | ZAR 89 | ZAR 39 | ZAR 69 |
Kenya | KSh 650 | KSh 300 | KSh 500 |
Nigeria | NGN 2500 | NGN 1200 | NGN 2900 |
Ghana | GHC 59 | GHC 27 | GHC 55 |
Uganda | UGX 19000 | UGX 11400 | UGX 15200 |
Botswana | 70 BWP | 36 BWP | 55 BWP |
Namibia | 89 NAD | 39 NAD | 69 NAD |
Zambia | 90 ZMW | 60 ZMW | 80 ZMW |
Tanzania | 12000 TSh | 7300 TSh | 9800 TSh |
Rest of Africa | $5 | $3 | $4 |
ShowMax Bundle Price
Showmax offers two bundles, namely the Entertainment + Premier League bundle and the Entertainment Mobile + Premier League bundle
Country |
ShowMax Entertainment + Premier League Bundle
|
ShowMax Entertainment Mobile + Premier League Bundle |
South Africa | ZAR 140 | ZAR 99 |
Kenya | KES 1000 | KSh 700 |
Nigeria | NGN 4600 | NGN 3200 |
Ghana | GHC 105 | GHC 75 |
Uganda | UGX 31200 | UGX 24000 |
Botswana | 110 BWP | 80 BWP |
Namibia | 140 NAD | 99 NAD |
Tanzania | 19800 TSh | 15000 TSh |
Zambia | 155 ZMW | 125 ZMW |
Rest of Africa | $8 | $6 |
To get the update of the local price of all the plans and bundles in your country alongside with other special benefits they offer, you can log on to showmax.com.
You can pay for your Showmax subscription with your debit card and credit cards (MasterCard or VISA). You can pay via the MyDSTV App, JumiaPay, MTN MoMo, QuickTeller, etc. Payment via PayPal is available in some countries. You can also subscribe for Showmax via your telecom services provider in some countries like in Nigeria (MTN and Glo) and South Africa (MTN, Vodacom, and Telkom).
Countries Where you can Watch Showmax
You can watch Showmax in over 43 countries in Africa as well as a few countries and territories in Europe, Australasia, Asia, and Americas. Nigeria and South Africa are its biggest markets in Africa with the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Australia its major markets outside of Africa.
Showmax is the best subscription video on demand streaming service in Africa. It boasts of the best selection of Nigerian, South African, and African TV shows, Series, and Movies. The company’s African heritage also means that its programing will resonate better with the African audience and they are more accurate and respectful of African culture.
In Africa you can stream Showmax in Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Ghana, Uganda, Namibia, Liberia, Madagascar, Botswana, Zambia, Benin, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Burundi, Cameroon, Gabon, Central African Republic, Eritrea, Guinea, Mauritius, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Carbo Verde, Chad, Gambia, Senegal, Comoros, Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Lesotho, Malawi, Niger, Reunion, Eswatini, Mali, Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, São Tomé and Príncipe, Togo and lot more.
In Europe the service is available in the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, Austria, Belgium, Portugal, Spain, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Switzerland, Denmark, Andorra, Finland, Greece, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Malta, Luxembourg, Monaco, and San Marino, Isle of Man, Jersey, Gibraltar, and Guernsey.
In Australasia you can watch Showmax in Australia and New Zealand and in Asia the streaming service is available in Indonesia. The service is also available in British overseas territories like the Cayman Islands, Pitcairn Islands, and Falkland.
How to Watch Showmax Outside Nigeria, South Africa, Africa
Some of the best and most premium African content on Showmax or even Showmax itself is blocked outside Africa. This is because like most streaming services they offer different streaming catalog for each country in accordance with the dictates of rights owners.
For example, you can only stream popular TV shows like BBTitans, BBNaija, and BBMzansi in Nigeria, South Africa, and the other 43 supported African countries as well as a few countries outside Africa like the United Kingdom and New Zealand.
This means that if you travel outside Africa regularly and want to stream on Showmax, you will need a good VPN like ExpressVPN and Surfshark to swap out your travel destination with your country of origin or another Showmax country where the content you want to watch is available.
Best VPN for Watching / Streaming Showmax Outside Nigeria, South Africa, and Africa
1. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is another top rated VPN service. The service offers servers in South Africa or Kenya. You also get a 30 day money back guarantee. You get best in class encryption with AES 256. This service also offers you the best in class privacy with private DNS. Click Here.
2. NordVPN
NordVPN is a good option is you want to pick South Africa as your location as that is the only relevant DSTV country. You can connect up to 6 devices simultaneously. For more info, Visit Site
3. Surfshark
Surfshark is a fast, reliable, and secure VPN that supports unlimited devices. It is the perfect choice for watching Nigerians and Africans who are located abroad and want to unblock exclusive Nigerian and African content from local streaming services. Learn More
4. CyberGhost
CyberGhost is one of the best VPN for Showmax. With this service, you can watch Showmax from anywhere in the world, just pick a server in a country where the content you want to stream is available. You can pick servers and IP addresses in Nigeria or South Africa, as well as the United Kingdom. Learn More
5. BulletVPN
BulletVPN comes highly recommended for unblocking Showmax. It is a good choice if you want to pick South Africa as your location. With 16 servers in the country, they come highly recommended by users. It supports up to 6 devices simultaneously. Visit Site for More
6. Ivacy VPN
With over 3500 servers in more than 100 locations, Ivacy VPN is one of the best VPN providers as far as coverage is concerned. It is also a good VPN for Nigeria.
In Africa, the service boasts of 62 servers in 4 DSTV countries namely: South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, and Seychelles. For more info, Click Here For More
7. PureVPN
This is another option with good coverage in Africa, boasting 69 servers in 4 DSTV countries in the continent, namely: South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Angola. PureVPN supports 256-bit encryption, p2p tunneling, and can be used with up to 10 login accounts. Learn More
Showmax FAQs
How to Download ShowMax
You can download ShowMax for Android devices and iOS devices (iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV) at the Play Store and App Store respectively.
How Do I Download With Showmax
The mirage of having your favorite shows watched only on your TV channels have been cleared.
The app creates a bridge between the producers and the viewers.
Importantly, you can now have full access to your downloads offline without the fear of your data bundles being consumed or when in a place with or without a connection.
Notably, Showmax supports the use of Wi-Fi to access the site when you are in the areas that provide such a service.
However, the downloading differs depending on the gadgets you are using for your downloads.
The following step-by-step guides will be helpful to have successful downloads
- Search showmax.com on your browser and follow the steps to sign in
- Download the Showmax App on your smartphones or tablets for either iOS or Android
- Open the app and sign in with the details you used while signing in your account
- Set up your account by selecting the shows that you would love to download
- Click on the download button. In most cases, the icon button for download shows as a cloud that has an arrow pointing downwards.
- The download starts immediately.
- Once the download is completed, you will have access to view.
- If you have issues with your storage capacity, you can adjust the video quality to free space on your gadgets.
- Also, you can reduce the video quality from high quality, good quality, standard quality, or low quality to minimize data usage and space.
How Can I Download From Showmax To Laptop?
The sad news is that the Showmax app does not support laptops as this lacks the download option.
Showmax downloads are only Mobile-ready using the app on supported iOS devices for iPhone and iPad, and also Android smartphones and tablets.
However, you can stream your favorite shows on your laptop and watch them directly. You do this using a browser. Just type showmax.com on your browser and press enter and you will be able to watch all the best Movies and TV shows on your laptop.
How Much Data Do You Need To Download?
The data consumption to download a video varies depending on the length and quality of the video you choose to get.
Basically, a 30-minute long video might take between 80MB to 500MB depending on your choice. Of course, you can reduce the quality of the video to reduce data consumption.
How Many Series Or Movies Can I Download At A Time?
The answer still falls back to the amount of storage capacity on your device.
Practically, you can download up to 25 shows at a time. To properly make use of the space on your device, it is advisable to download with low or standard quality.
Note that your downloaded contents can only stay for 30 days on your device before it will be deleted automatically.
How Can I Watch Live Sports On Showmax?
Basically, adding a sport to Showmax is new and a lot of glitches are involved. You need to upgrade to ShowMax Pro to start with.
One of such is the data consumption of the site. Though looking forward to seeing when data becomes affordable to all in Africa.
So that the big dream about the streaming of live sport will not enter Waterloo.
But for now, to keep satisfying the audiences, streaming live sport is their next big fish to catch up with.
However, the sports section is ready on most Showmax apps and platforms except for the few ones like AppleTV, Xbox, and Playstation.
Needful to say that the content is presently ready in South Africa only.
How Do I Watch Live TV Channels On Showmax?
You can also watch live TV channels on ShowMax. The list include local channels at least in Nigeria. Of course live TV channels available will vary from country to country.
In Nigeria, the following live TV channels are available:
- NTA International
- Silverbird TV
- Channels TV
- AIT
If you pay for a Pro subscription you can watch both local and international channels. Namely:
- NTA International
- Silverbird TV
- Channels TV
- AIT
- NewZRoom Afrika
- Euronews
- AfricaNews
- Trace Urban
- Trace Gospel
This is a great way to catch up with local and international news while on the move. You can also watch Big Brother Naija live on the app.
How Can I Install Showmax App On My Smart TV?
To install Showmax app on your smart TV, the following guides will be helpful.
Since smart TV differs, the steps for installing them are also different.
Samsung Smart TV
- Ensure that your smart TV’s firmware is up to date.
- Locate the smart TV interface on your smart TV.
- Browse to the smart TV application store and search for Showmax.
- Then install the free app.
LG Smart TV
- Ensure that your smart TV firmware is up to date.
- Go to the smart TV interface on your smart TV
- Browse to the smart TV application store and then search for Showmax
- Lastly, install the free application.
Hisense Smart TV
You don’t have to stress yourself to install the Showmax app on this type of smart TV.
The new model of Hisense smart TV comes with the app pre-installed.
How Can I Watch Showmax On Gamings Consoles?
In the move of Showmax to be one of the leading subscription videos on demand.
The service launched its app for the world’s best selling game console, Sony Playstation 4 (PS4).
This allows the users of PS4 to enjoy a full package of the app.
However, this app is presently available in South Africa only. And subscribers enjoy these unlimited benefits with just a takeaway cost as low as R99 per month.
Notably, the app on the PS4 allows bandwidth capping which helps to decrease the amount of data consumed by reducing the video quality.
To watch Showmax via PS4, the step-by-step guide will help you
- Sign up at www.showmax.com
- Go to the Playstation Store on the PS4.
- Search for Showmax.
- Then install the app.
- You can always sign in with the same email and password you used to sign up for Showmax.
How Do I Switch Plans?
To switch from one plan to another plan, the following guides should be obeyed.
- Sign in on the Showmax website.
- Select my account from the top menu icon under your username.
- Select manage subscription.
Worthy of emphasis, each plan offers different features and benefits and to this effect, it is advisable to look carefully before settling for one.
However, once the payment is made for switching, the action is instant.
Note that any subscriptions from your last plan are changed into credit vouchers and are saved in the payment method section of that same page.
And as a result, your voucher can automatically be restored when switching back to your previous plan.
How Do I Change My Password?
To have your password changed on the app, the guides should be followed
- Sign in on the website.
- Then select my account on the top menu bar right below your username.
- Select account details to change your password.
- Enter your present password and a new password you want to change into.
- Select the new password
How Do I Control Data Usage On Showmax
Since data usage is one of the ho-hum of using Showmax, the service gives out two ways to manage it.
Bandwith Capping
With bandwidth capping setting, the fear of running more data than it’s expected is solved.
Bandwith capping works in such a way that it automatically adjusts your streaming quality so that you don’t go beyond a specific number of data while streaming.
The supports three capping levels. No capping will consume about 3GB per hour, Medium capping will consume around 700MB per hour, and Low capping will take around 300MB per hour.
Reduce Download Quality
You can reduce the amount of data consumed by reducing the quality of the video. You can choose the following download quality:
- Low Quality (360p)
- Standard Quality (480p)
- Good Quality (576p)
- High Quality (720p)
- Super High Quality (1080p)
Download Shows To Watch Offline
Another way to control the use of data is to download your series and movies in areas that support free Wi-Fi service.
These downloaded shows can be watched when you go offline.
How Do I Cancel My Showmax
To stop using the app, the following steps will guide you on how to cancel it
- Sign in on the website.
- Select my account on the top menu bar under your username.
- Then select manage my subscription.
- Now click on cancel my subscription.
Popular Series On Showmax
A happy heart does good like a medicine and that is exactly what you get.
It provides loads of hundreds of series to its subscribers hereby leaving a smile on their faces.
Here are some of the popular series offer by Showmax
- Game of Thrones
- Succession
- House of the Dragon
- Suits
- Insecure
- Billions
- Barry
- The Winter King
- The Last of Us
- MRS DAVIS
- Warrior
- Shades of Blue
- Silicon Valley
- Little Fires Everywhere
- True Detective
- Empire
- The Good Fight
- Ambitions
- SuperStore
- Grey’s anatomy
- House
- You
- Sex and the City
- Mr. Robot
- Girls
- The young people
- This is Us
- Motherland
- Project Blue Book
- Brooklyn Nine-Nine
- Shuga
- Ready to love
- Jara
- Rig 45
- Burden of truth
- Die Byl
- Tali’s wedding diary
- The real housewives
- Farmer wants a wife
- Mr. Pickles
- Ballmastrz
- Mafanato
- Unmarried S2
- Pieces of Us S1-2
- Every woman has a story
- Line of duty S1-4
- LoveIsland UK S1-6
- Downton Abbey S1-6 and lot more
Popular Movies On Showmax
- Father of the Bride
- Shazam
- Transformers
- Mission Impossible
- Marlowe
- Wrath of Man
- Knives Out
- Babylon
- Wonder Woman
- Assasin Club
- Jack Reacher
- Megan
- City of Lies
- The Mummy
- Fast & Furious 8
- Dog
You can browse for more.
Speaking of ShowMax and other live streaming services, it’s one of the best changes in the entertainment industry.
Conclusion
Apparently, the search for getting informed and entertained is often so stressful, burning out your desire for it.
Here’s it, you don’t have to be bothered anymore, the good thing is that you have a whole load of entertainment at your fingers tip.
You might not really be convinced by all of these if you don’t have the mind of testing it.
A trial is claimed to be a convincing tool, and there is no harm in trying.
Now it’s over to you
Which of the packages are you going for first?
I would love to hear from you via the comment box below.
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