Showmax packages and prices in 2026: your complete guide to streaming in Africa

Showmax has become one of Africa’s most popular streaming services, offering a mix of local originals, international series, live Premier League football, and on-demand entertainment across 44 countries. Whether you are comparing Showmax packages before subscribing, checking the latest price for your country, or wondering what channels and content are included, this guide covers everything you need to know in 2026.

What is Showmax?

Showmax is a video-on-demand streaming service that launched in 2015 under MultiChoice, the company behind DStv. In 2024, the platform was rebuilt on NBCUniversal’s Peacock streaming technology through a partnership between MultiChoice, Comcast’s NBCUniversal, and Sky. This brought improved video quality (up to Full HD), a wider international content library, and a dedicated Premier League streaming plan to the African market.

Following Canal+’s acquisition of MultiChoice, the future direction of Showmax is under review. However, the service continues to operate across all its markets and remains the only major streaming platform in Africa that bundles live Premier League football with on-demand entertainment in a single subscription.

Showmax packages: which plans are available?

Showmax offers five subscription packages across three standalone plans and two bundles. Each plan is available without a contract and can be cancelled at any time.

Showmax Entertainment (All Devices)

The standard plan for households. It includes the full content library — series, movies, kids’ shows, documentaries, Showmax Originals, and MultiChoice originals — plus shows from NBC, Sony, BBC, Sky, and Peacock. You can watch on any supported device (smart TV, laptop, tablet, smartphone, gaming console) with two simultaneous streams in Full HD. Offline downloads are included.

Showmax Entertainment Mobile

The same content library as Entertainment, but limited to one stream on a smartphone or tablet. This is the most affordable way to access all of Showmax’s series and movies, designed for viewers who primarily watch on their phone.

Showmax Premier League Mobile

A sports-focused plan that includes live streaming of every Premier League match and every Betway Premiership (PSL) match, plus match highlights, behind-the-scenes content, talk shows, and interviews. This plan is available on mobile devices only.

Showmax Entertainment Mobile + Premier League bundle

Combines Entertainment Mobile and Premier League Mobile into a single mobile-only subscription. You get the full entertainment library plus all live football on one device.

Showmax Entertainment All Devices + Premier League bundle

The most comprehensive package. It combines full Entertainment access on all devices (two simultaneous streams, Full HD) with live Premier League and PSL football on mobile. This is the best option for households that want both entertainment and sport.

How much is Showmax per month? Prices across Africa

Showmax prices vary by country and are set in local currency. Below are the current monthly rates for key markets, updated as of February 2026. Prices may change; check showmax.com for the latest.

Showmax price in South Africa

DStv subscribers can add Showmax to their monthly bill and may receive a discount depending on their DStv package. Showmax is also available as a standalone subscription without DStv — you do not need a DStv account to sign up.

Showmax price in Nigeria

Payment options in Nigeria include credit/debit cards, MTN airtime, and bank transfers. Promotions such as “subscribe for one month, get two free” are offered periodically.

Showmax price in Kenya

M-PESA integration makes sign-up and payment straightforward. Promotional codes offering 50% off for several months appear regularly.

Showmax price in Ghana

MTN MoMo (Mobile Money) is available as a payment method in Ghana alongside card payments.

Other markets

Namibia’s pricing mirrors South Africa’s rates (N$99 for Entertainment, N$50 for Mobile). Uganda and Tanzania follow a similar structure to Kenya’s pricing in local shillings. Botswana, Zimbabwe, and other southern African markets offer comparable rates. In all 44 countries, the same five plans are available with prices adjusted for the local economy.

Where is Showmax available?

Showmax operates in 44 African countries:

• Southern Africa: South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Angola.
• West Africa: Nigeria, Ghana, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo.
• East Africa: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, Somalia, South Sudan.
• Central Africa: Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo-Brazzaville, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, São Tomé and Príncipe.

The service is not officially available outside Africa. Viewers in the United States, the United Kingdom, or elsewhere abroad may be able to access it using a VPN connected to a supported African country.

Showmax channels and content: what can you watch?

Unlike traditional pay-TV with live channel feeds, Showmax is primarily an on-demand platform. You browse and select what to watch from its library. The exception is live sport, which streams in real time on the Premier League plans.

Series and Showmax Originals

The platform carries over 1,000 series. International titles include shows from NBCUniversal, Sky, Peacock, BBC, HBO, Sony, and Warner Bros. Discovery — from dramas like Yellowstone and The Handmaid’s Tale to comedies like The Office and Parks and Recreation. Showmax Originals focus on African stories, including The Real Housewives of Durban, Youngins, Cheta’m, and animated series like Iyanu: The Age of Wonders. New originals and international acquisitions are added weekly.

Movies

The film library spans Hollywood blockbusters from Universal Pictures and Focus Features, Nollywood titles, South African comedies, and international independents. Genres include action, drama, romance, horror, family, and documentary. New films are added monthly.

Live sport

The Premier League plans include live coverage of all 380 English Premier League matches per season, every Betway Premiership (PSL) match, plus highlights, magazine shows, and behind-the-scenes content powered by SuperSport. This makes Showmax the only standalone streaming service in Africa offering live Premier League football without a DStv subscription.

Kids’ content

A dedicated kids’ section includes shows from Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, and DreamWorks Animation, with parental controls available on all plans.

Which devices support Showmax?

Showmax apps are available on a wide range of devices. The All Devices plans support smart TVs (Samsung, LG, Hisense), Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, PlayStation, Xbox, DStv Streama, DStv Explora Ultra, Windows, Mac, and iOS/Android/Huawei smartphones and tablets. Mobile-only plans are restricted to smartphones and tablets.

Up to five devices can be registered to a single account. The Entertainment plan allows two simultaneous streams, while Mobile plans allow one. Offline downloads are available on mobile apps, with up to 25 titles stored per device.

Can you get Showmax without DStv?

Yes. Showmax is a standalone streaming service that does not require a DStv subscription. You can sign up directly on showmax.com or through the app, and pay by credit card, debit card, PayPal, mobile money (M-PESA, MTN MoMo), or airtime top-up depending on your country. However, DStv subscribers may receive a discount when adding Showmax to their existing bill.

How to sign up and start streaming

Visit showmax.com or download the Showmax app from the Google Play Store, Apple App Store, or your smart TV’s app store. Select your country, choose a plan, and create an account using your email address or phone number. Payment is processed immediately, and you can begin watching straight away.

New subscribers may receive a 14-day free trial on select plans, depending on the market. Returning subscribers and DStv customers should check for reconnect deals and bundle discounts.

Frequently asked questions