We may earn affiliate commissions for the recommended products. Learn more

Best VPN for South Africa in 2025: tested in February

best vpn for south africa

In 2022, South Africa ranked fifth globally in cybercrime density. This means that internet users, especially those choosing to connect to public WiFi in cafes or airports, put their sensitive data at a particularly high level of risk. To ensure online safety in South Africa, using a reliable VPN is strongly recommended. A VPN is capable of encrypting your network traffic and hiding your activities not only from ISPs but also from malicious actors. Additionally, a VPN can be used to relocate your virtual IP address to another country, allowing you to access streaming services or websites that might be blocked in South Africa. Alternatively, it can change your address back to South Africa when traveling abroad; for it - you’ll need a VPN with South African servers.

For optimal performance, the best South Africa VPN should have strong encryption, excellent security features, great geo-unblocking capabilities, and fast connection speeds. After testing around 20 providers, NordVPN, Surfshark, and Total VPN stood out as the best VPNs in South Africa in 2025. Proton VPN emerged as one of the top 5 VPNs with its reliable free version for those who want a free South Africa VPN. Continue reading this article to learn more about the best South Africa VPNs, how to use them, and their main benefits for South Africa.

🏷️ LIMITED OFFER: Get 72% discount! 🏷️

Top 5 best VPNs for South Africa

Why VPNpro is Trusted
Justė Kairytė - Barkauskienė Chris Bluvshtein Djordje Djordjevic

Since 2018, VPNpro has delivered unbiased, expert-backed insights through in-house research and thorough VPN testing. Our team ensures every review is fact-checked and reliable. Learn how we maintain these high standards in our testing methods.

How to choose VPN for South Africa

Using a VPN in South Africa is completely legal as long as you don’t use the service for criminal activities. However, not all VPNs work in South Africa, and to choose the best VPN for this country, you need to consider a few key criteria:

  • Check the VPN server fleet in South Africa and worldwide. The best VPN for South Africa should have local servers to browse securely at optimal speeds. It should also have servers in Europe and the US to access available content. If you’re looking for a VPN to stream South African TV, NordVPN is the best choice, as it has 50+ servers in this region.
  • Check streaming abilities and speed test results. We did in-house testing on VPN speeds and geo-unblocking capabilities. Only the VPNs with higher than 420+ Mbps speeds and reliable bypassing capabilities made it to the list. We also considered whether they have features for unblocking, such as strong encryption, obfuscated servers, or Stealth mode.
  • Prioritize strong security features. A reliable South Africa VPN should have AES-256 or ChaCha20 encryption and a kill switch for IP leak prevention. Additional IP & DNS leak protection features have also been considered. Lastly, VPNs that made it to our final list passed our security tests with a 100% mark.
  • Set a budget. Decide how much you want to pay for a VPN, as the price usually correlates with the feature set. Alternatively, you can always opt for a free South African VPN, such as Proton VPN, which is the most reliable free VPN in the industry despite lacking South African servers. My selected VPNs offer the best feature-to-price ratio, with Total VPN being the cheapest option for $1.59/month.

Remember that you don’t have to commit to a long-term VPN plan immediately. Look for VPNs that offer free trials and money-back guarantees, during which you can try out the service commitment-free.

As of February 2025, NordVPN is still the best choice for South Africa VPN. This provider has 7100+ servers in 118+ countries, with 50+ located in South Africa. This allows users to browse local content securely or access foreign sites without issues. Lastly, NordVPN has the fastest connection speeds in the industry, making it perfect for browsing, streaming, gaming, or torrenting.
9.8 /10
50+ servers in South Africa
Robust security features
Fastest connection speeds

Best South Africa VPN providers: comprehensive list

  1. NordVPN - best overall VPN for security, streaming, and geo-unblocking
  2. Surfshark - best for unlocking geo-blocked content
  3. Proton VPN - best for security and privacy
  4. Total VPN - the most affordable VPN
  5. Bitdefender VPN - best VPN for streaming and casual browsing

Before compiling my final list of the top VPNs for South Africa, I tested over 20 of the available services. I made sure my selected VPNs performed well at geo-unblocking, had strong security features, and optimal speeds for all kinds of network activities. Continue reading for detailed reviews of the top 5 South Africa VPNs.

1. NordVPN - best VPN for South Africa overall

9.8
review-badge__icon #1 South Africa VPN provider in 2025
Number of countries covered
Number of countries covered:
118
Number of servers
Number of servers:
7100
Support
Support:
24/7, email
  • 50+ servers in South Africa
  • Fastest connection speeds in the industry
  • Unparalleled securityBest
  • Only up to 10 simultaneous connections

NordVPN is the best overall VPN for South Africa, as it has the most South African servers to browse local content at optimal speeds, offers exceptional geo-unblocking capabilities, and the fastest connection speeds in the industry. Plus, with NordVPN, you’ll also be getting the highest standard of VPN security, with third-party verified no-logs policy and robust security features.

Servers. NordVPN has 50+ servers in Jonnesburg, South Africa, which makes it the perfect choice to encrypt your browsing while still enjoying the fastest possible speed. Alternatively, this also makes it a good choice if you want to watch South African TV in the US, as with this many servers, you can easily get a South African IP. Lastly, all of 7100+ NordVPN servers in 118+ countries are RAM-only, which means that none of your data is ever tracked or logged.

NordVPN servers in South Africa
NordVPN has more than 50 servers in South Africa

Speed. To test out NordVPN connection speeds, I connected to several of its Johannesburg servers, and servers in the US, and European countries, to get a fair estimate of an average. Ultimately, I found that on average, the connection speeds kept at a very high 467 Mbps with a 94% initial speed retention rate. This is not only the fastest VPN that I’ve tried so far, but the fastest VPN in the industry.

Security features and unique benefits. NordVPN offers the highest-level security and it starts with covering the ground base with AES-256 encryption, a reliable kill switch, and additional IP & DNS leak protection. Besides all that, NordVPN offers obfuscated servers to mask your VPN usage, there’s also Threat Protection to ward off annoying ads and trackers, and a Dark Web Monitoring feature to alert you if your sensitive data becomes endagered, which is particularly useful for internet users in South Africa, where cybercrime is prominent.

Pricing and free plan. NordVPN does not offer a free version, but you can try out this service during a 7-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee. The subscriptions start at $3.39/month, which is an excellent price considering the quality of service and the features you get for it.

For more information on this provider, read our NordVPN review.

2. Surfshark - fastest VPN with South African servers

Number of countries covered
Number of countries covered:
100
Number of servers
Number of servers:
3200
Support
Support:
24/7, FAQ
  • 9+ servers in South Africa
  • Obfuscated servers for extra privacy
  • Excellent at geo-unblocking
  • Some features cost extra

Surfshark is among the best VPNs for South Africa in 2025, due to its fast speeds, excellent geo-unblocking capabilities, and general ease of use. Additionally, this VPN is perfect if you want to protect a lot of devices at the same time as every subscription comes with unlimited device connections.

Servers. In total, Surfshark has 3200+ servers in 100+ countries, 9+ of which are located in Johannesburg, South Africa. All of these servers can be used with the WireGuard tunnelling protocol which allows for fast speeds and reliable geo-unblocking. Naturally, South African servers will allow locals to encrypt their traffic while enjoying the fastest possible speeds, while those from outside the country can access local content by connecting to these servers.

Speed. When I tested Surfshark speeds, I wanted to figure out its average speeds. For a fair view, I connected to servers in South Africa, the US, and European locations, such as the UK and Germany. In the end, I got a whopping 466 Mbps connection speed average with a 93% initial speed retention rate. Such speed and retention rate are great for all sorts of online activities, and you won’t feel your speed slowing down while using Surfshark.

Surfshark South Africa server speed test results
Surfshark South Africa server speed test results

Security features and unique benefits. Besides the mandatory security features, Surfshark has several unique ones for data protection and online anonymity. The list includes obfuscated and dedicated servers, both of which are perfect for enhancing your security and privacy. Then, there’s the CleanWeb feature to get rid of annoying ads, and NoBorders mode to circumvent VPN blocks and bypass censorship.

Pricing and free plan. Although Surfshark does not offer a free plan, you can try it out during the 7-day free trial and a 30-day money back guarantee, which makes up for 37 days in total of unpaid VPN use. If you do decide to sign up for it, the subscriptions start at $2.19/month, making it one of the more affordable premium VPNs.

To learn more about this provider, read our Surfshark review.

3. Proton VPN - reliable South Africa VPN with a free version

Number of countries covered
Number of countries covered:
117
Number of servers
Number of servers:
9900
Support
Support:
Email
  • 9+ servers in South Africa
  • Offers both paid and free versions
  • Great for online anonymity
  • Pricier than average

Proton VPN is one of the best VPN for South Africa, especially to those mostly concerned about their security and privacy. The Swiss-based provider has a strict no-logs policy and offers the latest innovation in VPN technology with ever-evolving security measures.

Servers. Proton VPN operates one of the bigger fleets in the industry with 9900+ servers in 117+ countries. Naturally, it also has servers in South Africa; 9+ in Johannesburg to be precise. Interestingly, almost all Proton VPN servers are bare-metal with the provider claiming that such servers are more reliable and safer. However, such servers may also log and keep some of your encrypted data until they’re re-written all over again. Lastly, with this many servers you’ll never find yourself in a situation where connection spots in your desired location are congested or poorly-working.

Speed. To give you a fair estimate of Proton VPN average connection speeds, I did my tests on South African servers, and servers located in the US as well as in several European locations. In the end, I got an average of 428 Mbps with an 86% initial speed retention rate. This is an overall good result for all sorts of online activities, including streaming, browsing, or torrenting, but you might feel a bit of slowing down if your internet connection is not that good.

Security features and unique benefits. In addition to the most important features, like AES-256 encryption, kill switch, and IP & DNS leak protection, Proton VPN has some unique features on its roster. For example, there are streaming-optimized servers and a VPN Accelerator feature to make faraway connections faster. Then, there are obfuscated servers and double-hop for extra anonymity, with an ad & tracker blocker finishing up the list.

Proton VPN South Africa servers
Proton VPN South Africa servers

Pricing and free plan. Proton VPN offers a completely free version, which comes without any data or bandwidth caps. However, with the free version you’ll only be getting servers in The Netherlands, Romania, Poland, Japan, and the US, and won’t be able to use the VPN Accelerator feature. If you’d rather get a full version, the subscriptions start at $3.59/month and are protected with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

For more information, read our in-depth Proton VPN review.

4. Total VPN - cheap and secure South Africa VPN

Number of countries covered
Number of countries covered:
35
Number of servers
Number of servers:
50
Support
Support:
24/7, email
  • Easy-to-use
  • Robust security features
  • Very affordable price
  • Does not have South African servers

Total VPN is one of the top VPN for South Africa, because of its highly affordable subscription prices. And even though it’s a relatively cheap service, Total VPN does not compromise on security, privacy, or geo-unblocking capabilities, giving you the best of both worlds.

Servers. Total VPN operates a compact fleet of 50+ servers in 35+ countries. While this might seems like a comparatively small number, I can assure you that the thorough dispersion over locales allowed me to access all sorts of content anytime I wanted it. However, this provider does not have servers in South Africa, so it’s better suited for local residents wishing to access foreign content in the US or Europe, or simply to encrypt their traffic.

Speed. When I tested Total VPN connection speeds, I got an average of 428 Mbps and an 85% initial speed retention rate. These great speeds are made available by the use of the speedy WireGuard tunelling protocol. However, the lower initial speed retention rate might be tangible if your internet connection is poor to begin with.

Security features and unique benefits. While Total VPN might lacks some advanced features, such as obfuscated servers or Dedicated IPs, it still ensures your total security and privacy online with AES-256 encryption, kill switch, and IP & DNS leak protection features. By the way, the AES-256 encryption is so powerful, that it alone makes it easy to bypass censorship and unblock geo-locked websites. Additionally, with Total VPN you’ll also get an ad & tracker blocker and a real-time protection feature which protects internet users in South Africa from possible hacker attacks.

Total VPN ad block for South Africa
Total VPN Adblock feature

Pricing and free plan. Total VPN does not have a free version unless you get the Total Antivirus package with VPN included. However, if you’d rather get just the VPN, you can still try it out during the 30-day money-back guarantee period. When you do decide if you like this fuss-free, easy-to-use VPN, you can subscribe to it for just $1.59/month.

For more information, read our Total VPN review.

5. Bitdefender VPN - easy-to-use VPN for streaming South Africa content abroad

Number of countries covered
Number of countries covered:
50
Number of servers
Number of servers:
4000
Support
Support:
  • User friendly apps
  • Has servers in South Africa
  • Offers Identity Protection as an add-on
  • Lacks some advanced features

Bitdefender is a great VPN for South Africa choice for those looking for a no-fuss VPN, suitable for first-time users. The provider offers a solid server fleet and can easily be used to unblock and stream foreign content.

Servers. Although Bitdefender does not disclose how many exactly and where it has its South African servers, but I was assured by a company representative that they do exist. It was really easy to verify, by simply opening the app and connecting to one of them. Besides South African servers, Bitdefender operates a good-sized fleet of 4000+ servers in 50+ countries. So, with Bitdefender it’s easy both to get a South African IP and to connect to the US or Europe for foreign content.

Bitdefender VPN connected to South Africa
Bitdefender VPN connected to South Africa

Speed. I really liked how consistent the speeds were during my Bitdefender VPN tests, which is sort of a rare feat. So, when I tried South African servers, servers in Europe, and the US, I got a nice average of 422 Mbps with an 84% initial speed retention rate. This sort of consistency is reassuring, as no matter your connection spot, you know what to expect from it.

Security features and unique benefits. Bitdefender is a robust VPN that covers all the necessary bases with strong encryption, kill switch, and additional IP leak protection. In addition to all of that, Bitdefender offers streaming-optimized servers and an ad & tracker blocker for a smooth browsing experience. Additionally, you can get a feature called Digital Identity Protection, which will protect your sensitive data from being used without your knowledge, which is quite important if you tend to use public WiFi connections.

Pricing and free plan. Bitdefender VPN does not have a free version, but you can easily test out the service during the 7-day free trial, or extend the period with a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you decide to subscribe, the prices start at $2.92/month.

For more information, read our in-depth Bitdefender VPN review.

Best VPN providers in South Africa compared

VPN for South Africa Rating Global servers Servers in South Africa Streaming Average speed Price Free version or free trial
NordVPN
9.8
7100+ 50+ (Johannesburg) ✅ Yes 468 Mbps $3.39/month ✅ Yes, 7-day free trial
Surfshark
9.5
3200+ 9+ (Johannesburg) ✅ Yes 466 Mbps $2.19/month ✅ Yes, 7-day free trial
Proton VPN
8.6
9900+ 12+ (Johannesburg) ✅ Yes 428 Mbps $3.59/month ✅ Yes, free version
Total VPN
8.2
50+ - ✅ Yes 428 Mbps $1.59/month ✅ Yes, 30-day money-back guarantee
Bitdefender VPN
8.2
4000+ Undisclosed ✅ Yes 422 Mbps $2.92/month ✅ Yes, 7-day free trial

How to get a South African IP address

Using a VPN is the easiest way to get a South African IP address. Simply connect to a South African server, and the VPN will reroute your traffic through it, giving you an IP address located in South Africa.

  1. Subscribe to a reliable VPN with servers in South Africa. I recommend NordVPN with 50+ servers located there. Plus, you can get NordVPN, now 72% off. NordVPN for South Africa
  2. Download and install the app on your preferred device.
  3. Launch the application and connect to a South African server. NordVPN connected to South African server
  4. That’s it – now you can easily access local content and stream shows with your new South African IP address.

Get South African IP with NordVPN

Why do you need a South Africa VPN?

A reliable South African VPN can ensure the safety of your personal data while also allowing you to bypass geo-restrictions on foreign streaming platforms, websites, and various types of content. Below, you’ll find more details on VPN benefits for South Africa:

Bypass internet censorship in South Africa

Although South Africa is among the top countries considering internet freedom, it does not mean this freedom comes without any restrictions or online censorship.

For instance, the South African government can monitor and log its residents’ online activities, with social media platforms being the number one spying playground. Here, a VPN is beneficial, as it hides the real IP address that can be linked directly to you and encrypts your network connection, obscuring your activities. On top of it, cybercrime is very prominent in South Africa, with small and large businesses becoming victims of hacker attacks.

Lastly, some sorts of content, like porn, and some websites, like torrenting, are restricted in South Africa by law. The only way to access such websites is with a VPN, which can change your IP address and make it appear like you’re browsing from another country.

Access geo-restricted content

Many foreign streaming platforms are geo-restricted to certain countries due to broadcast agreements and licensing. This means that popular platforms such as US Netflix, Paramount+, HBO Max, Hulu, and ESPN+ are restricted to US residents only and cannot be accessed from South Africa. Here, a VPN can help you by relocating your virtual IP address to the US via a US server connection and unlocking the previously restricted content. However, most of these platforms also employ at least some degree of VPN detection, so to bypass them reliably, you’ll need a robust VPN, like NordVPN, known for its geo-unlocking capabilities.

Watch South African TV from another country

To watch South African TV in the USA, you’ll first need to get a streaming-oriented, reliable VPN with South African servers. Once you connect to a server in South Africa, your virtual IP address will be located there, allowing you to bypass geo-restrictions imposed on South African streaming platforms. The most popular streaming platforms in the region are DStv, Showmax, Netflix South Africa, and SABC iPlayer, just to name a few, all of which are full of exclusive South African content, such as TV shows, movies, and sports.

Streaming platform Exclusive South African content
DStv Now The River, Gomora, Isibaya, Carte Blanche, Survivor SA, SuperSport channels, kykNET’s Binnelanders.
Showmax Blood Psalms, The Wife, Tali’s Baby Diary, Devilsdorp (docuseries), Legacy, Life with Kelly Khumalo.
SABC iPlayer Generations: The Legacy, Skeem Saam, 7de Laan, SABC News, Uzalo.
eVOD House of Zwide, Imbewu: The Seed, Durban Gen, Gqeberha: The Empire.
Netflix South Africa Blood & Water, Kings of Jo’Burg, Jiva!, How to Ruin Christmas, Silverton Siege (movie), I Am All Girls.

To watch South African TV, including DStv, from the US, I recommend NordVPN. It has over 50+ South African servers – perfect for getting an IP address in the region. Once you connect to the server, you can bypass the geo-restrictions imposed on these websites and access the exclusive content from anywhere in the world.

Unlock exclusive content with NordVPN

Yes, using a VPN is legal in South Africa, and you can protect your online privacy without being reprimanded by the government for it. However, as with many other countries, using a VPN in South Africa is illegal if you use it for criminal activities.

South African IP with NordVPN
South African IP with NordVPN

Remember that accessing websites from anywhere with a VPN is completely legal, but streaming copyrighted content while using this tool is illegal in South Africa. Otherwise, you’re free to use this cybersecurity tool as you like.

Can I use free VPN for South Africa?

If your only goal is to hide your IP address and use another country for it, you can use the free Proton VPN version, which has servers in The Netherlands, Japan, Romania, Poland, and the US. To get this South Africa VPN for free, head to the official Proton VPN website, register, and download the app. If you’d like to get this VPN for your phone, look for the app in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, download it, and register. However, while the Proton VPN free version has no data or bandwidth limits, it doesn’t have servers in South Africa for accessing local content and browsing at optimal speeds.

Besides the Proton VPN free version, I also tested numerous free VPNs. All in all, I did not find any other unpaid VPNs suitable for South Africa, as all of them come with crippling daily data caps, have very few servers to choose from, and are incapable of bypassing any geo-blocks. Additionally, some free VPNs are known to monetize their users’ data, making it dangerous to actually use them.

If you’re looking for an optimal South Africa VPN solution with robust security, great speeds, servers in South Africa, and reliable geo-unblocking capabilities, I recommend choosing a premium VPN service with a free trial and a money-back guarantee. For instance, NordVPN and Surfshark offer 7-day free trials and a 30-day money-back guarantee, extending the period of unpaid use to 37 days in total. You can use all of these services' premium features during this time.

The final verdict: What is the best VPN to use in South Africa?

The South African government is known to spy on its residents’ online activities, especially on social media. In addition, the cybercrime rate in South Africa is especially prominent, with malicious actors targeting businesses and regular people to extort their personal data. Luckily, you can secure your online activities with a VPN, which will encrypt your network traffic, obscure your online activities, and allow you to access restricted content locally and globally.

My top recommendation for a South African VPN is NordVPN. This service has the most South African servers for browsing local content and a widespread global fleet to access European, US, or any other content you like. Plus, it comes with a robust security features package to ensure your safety and the fastest connection speeds in the industry to stream content comfortably from all over the world.



FAQ

Which VPN has a South African IP address?

NordVPN has a South Africa IP. You can easily get an IP in this region by connecting to one of the 50+ NordVPN servers in South Africa. With this new IP address, you can access South African content and unlock local streaming platforms freely.

Which VPN has a free South Africa location?

Currently, no free VPNs offer South African locations. However, if you’re interested in a free VPN for South Africa, I recommend trying Proton VPN, which has a free version without any data or bandwidth caps. Although this free VPN does not have South African servers, you can choose from ones in the Netherlands, Romania, Poland, and Japan.

How much is a VPN per month in South Africa?

VPNs for South Africa start at $1.59/month and can go up to $3.59/month or more. The cheapest is TotalVPN, with subscriptions starting at $1.59/month, while the most expensive is Proton VPN, costing $3.59/month. If you’re looking for a middle-ground price but a truly reliable South Africa VPN, I recommend choosing NordVPN, with subscriptions starting at $3.39/month, or Surfshark, for $2.19/month.

How do I change my VPN to South Africa?

To change your VPN to South Africa, you need to open the app, find a server in South Africa, and connect to it. This way, you’ll get a South Africa IP and will be able to unlock local content. If you can’t find South African servers on your VPN app, try NordVPN instead, which has over 50 servers in Johannesburg.

Which VPN is best for Netflix South Africa?

The best VPN for South Africa is NordVPN. The service has more than 50 servers located in the country, offers robust security features, and has the fastest connection speeds in the industry for smooth browsing or streaming. You can try NordVPN during a 7-day free trial or subscribe for just $3.39/month.

What is the fastest VPN for South Africa?

The fastest VPN for South Africa is NordVPN. During our tests, NordVPN showed an average connection speed of 467 Mbps with a 94% initial speed retention rate. The second-fastest VPN for South Africa is Surfshark, with a 466 Mbps average and a 93% initial speed retention rate.

4 comments
default-avatar.

Your email address will not be published.   Required fields are marked *


  1. Evie Bray
    Evie Bray May 22, 2019 at 11PM

    Proton VPN the only free VPN service who works perfectly well! I have tried many VPN applications nothing’s better than Proton. Its premium rocks also, unblock Netflix and grants you access virtually into many geo-restricted sites. Great job guys



  2. Tola Delia
    Tola Delia April 3, 2019 at 3AM

    The Internet is so full of amazing content, and it’s a pity that we only get to access a small portion of it due to geo-restriction. Thankfully, VPNs exist! One of the best inventions for the online world in my opinion.



  3. 21Ham Terry
    21Ham Terry April 1, 2019 at 1PM

    The promotion, protection and enjoyment of human rights on the internet is a policy that should be adopted by every country. Sadly, South Africa still wants to be repressive in this digital age, too bad for one of the most developed nations in Africa.



  4. Betygirl26780
    Betygirl26780 March 30, 2019 at 8AM

    We are so conscious of the security and privacy of our data in South Africa. This simply the reason most of us are keen on using a reliable VPN. Here we make choice of the best VPN based on our individual expectations not necessarily because the person next to you uses a particular VPN and considers it the best


Thanks for your opinion!
Jump to section