If you’ve opened your monthly Dstv bill and felt that familiar twinge of frustration, you are not alone. Across Southern Africa, millions of households are rethinking their pay TV subscriptions as prices climb every year. This guide breaks down 10 Alternatives for Dstv that work for every kind of viewer, from sports fanatics to people who only watch weekend movies.

You don’t have to choose between cutting costs and watching the shows you love. Most people only watch 12 out of the 200+ channels included in standard Dstv packages, according to 2024 Africa Digital Media Report data. That means you are paying for hundreds of channels you never scroll past. In this article, we will break down pricing, content, contract terms and real user feedback for every option, so you can pick the right one without guessing.

1. Netflix

Netflix is the most well-known global streaming service, and for many households, it is the first alternative people try when leaving Dstv. It works on every smart TV, phone, laptop and streaming box you already own, so you will not need to buy any extra hardware to get started. There are no installation fees, no call out charges and no long term lock in contracts.

Pricing is split into three simple transparent tiers, with no hidden fees or mandatory annual price increases. You can cancel, pause or change your subscription at any time, with zero penalty charges. This is one of the biggest differences from traditional pay TV.

Plan	Monthly Price (ZAR)	Simultaneous Screens
Basic	R69	1
Standard	R129	2
Premium	R199	4

Netflix carries thousands of movies, original series, documentaries and kids content. New titles drop every single week, and you can download shows to watch offline when you don’t have reliable internet. The service also now includes limited live sports for premium plan users, including major tennis and golf tournaments.

This option works best for households that watch mostly scripted content. If you only turn on the TV after work for series or family movie nights, Netflix will cover almost everything you need. It is not the best pick for die hard rugby or soccer fans, but it pairs well with cheaper sports streaming add ons.

2. Showmax

Showmax is a locally built streaming service designed specifically for African audiences, making it one of the most popular Dstv alternatives on the market. It is owned by MultiChoice, but operates as a separate standalone service with far lower pricing than traditional satellite packages.

Unlike most international streaming services, Showmax carries local soapies, reality shows, African movies and live local news that you will not find anywhere else. It also has exclusive rights to many major international series the same day they air globally.

• Standard plan costs R99 per month for 2 screens
• Showmax Pro with live sports costs R249 per month
• 14 day completely free trial for all new users
• Offline downloads available for all content

Showmax Pro includes live Premier League, PSL, rugby and most major international sporting events. For many sports fans, this single subscription replaces an entire mid tier Dstv package at less than half the monthly cost. User reviews consistently note that stream quality is reliable even on average home internet connections.

This is the best all round alternative for most South African households. It balances local content, international shows and sports at a price point that works for most budgets. You can even share your account with one other household without violating service terms.

3. OpenView

OpenView is a free to air satellite TV service that requires no monthly subscription at all. For people fed up with recurring bills, this is the most dramatic way to cut TV costs while still getting access to over 30 regular channels. You only pay once for the decoder and installation.

The hardware costs around R700 once off, and most existing Dstv dishes will work with OpenView decoders without any adjustments. Once installed, you will never receive another TV bill again. There are no contracts, no reconnections and no account issues to deal with.

1. Local news channels including eNCA and SABC News
2. All SABC and free to air e.tv channels
3. Movie channels, kids entertainment and religious channels
4. Free 7 day electronic programme guide

You will not get premium sports or latest international series on OpenView, but it covers all regular daily viewing for many people. Over 2.7 million South African households already use OpenView as their primary TV service, according to 2024 industry numbers. Most users pair this service with one low cost streaming add on for premium content.

This option is perfect for anyone on a very tight budget, or for households that only watch TV occasionally. Even if you keep a small streaming subscription, pairing it with OpenView will still cost you far less than even the cheapest Dstv package.

4. Amazon Prime Video

Amazon Prime Video is often overlooked as a Dstv alternative, but it offers incredible value for money. When you pay for a Prime subscription, you get far more than just TV streaming included in the single monthly fee.

For R79 per month, you get access to the full video library, free fast delivery on all Amazon orders, ad free music streaming and free access to Prime Gaming. Most users don’t realise that this single subscription covers multiple benefits that people usually pay for separately.

Feature	Included With Prime
TV & Movie Streaming	Yes
Free Delivery	Yes
Music Streaming	Yes
3 Simultaneous Screens	Yes

Prime Video carries a large library of original series, blockbuster movies and live sports including international cricket. New content is added every week, and you can download any title to watch offline. The service works on almost every device, and stream quality is consistently good even on slower internet lines.

This is the best value pick for anyone who already shops online. Most users find that the free delivery benefit alone pays for the entire subscription every month, making the TV access effectively free. It works great as a standalone service or paired with other options.

5. Disney+

Disney+ launched in South Africa in 2022 and has quickly become a favourite family alternative to Dstv. For households with children, this single service replaces almost all kids content and family movies.

At R119 per month, you get full access to every Disney, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic and Pixar title ever made. There are thousands of hours of kid appropriate content, all with built in parental controls that are easy to set up and manage.

• No adult content appears on child profiles
• Set daily screen time limits per profile
• Block specific titles or categories
• View full watch history for every user

Disney+ also now includes live sports content as part of the standard subscription. You can watch live cricket, Formula 1 and many other sporting events with no extra charge. The service allows 4 simultaneous screens per account, which is enough for most large families.

If you have children under 16 in your home, this will be one of the most used services you buy. Many parents report cancelling Dstv and only keeping Disney+ for their kids, with zero complaints about missing content. It is also one of the most ad free streaming services available.

6. StarSat

StarSat is a direct satellite TV competitor to Dstv, operating on the same broadcast model but with much lower pricing. It is the best alternative for people who do not have reliable internet and cannot use streaming services.

Packages start at just R49 per month for basic channels, with the top tier full package costing R299 per month. Unlike Dstv, StarSat does not increase prices every 12 months, and you can pause your subscription for up to 6 months at a time with no penalty.

1. No internet connection required
2. Works on standard satellite dish hardware
3. Over 130 channels on the top package
4. Local and international sports included

StarSat carries most popular local channels, international movies, series and live sports. While it does not have every single sport that Dstv offers, it covers all major leagues and tournaments that most people watch. Installation is available nationwide, and decoders are available at all major retail stores.

This is the best option for people living in areas with poor internet access. If streaming will never work reliably where you live, StarSat gives you all the benefits of satellite TV at roughly half the monthly cost of equivalent Dstv packages.

7. YouTube Premium

Most people use YouTube every day but never consider it as a full Dstv alternative. With a Premium subscription, this platform can cover almost all your TV viewing for a very low monthly cost.

For R89 per month, you get completely ad free YouTube, background play, offline downloads and access to YouTube Originals. You can also share your subscription with up to 5 other people in your household on the family plan.

Plan	Price	Users
Individual	R89	1
Family	R149	6

YouTube hosts full episodes of many local shows, live news, sports highlights, documentaries and every kind of hobby content you can imagine. Millions of people already watch more content on YouTube than they do on traditional TV channels, and Premium just removes the annoying ads.

This is a great option for anyone who prefers casual on demand viewing over scheduled TV channels. If you regularly find yourself scrolling YouTube instead of watching normal TV, upgrading to Premium will give you a much better experience for less than most other streaming services.

8. Telkom ONE

Telkom ONE is a local streaming service built for South African internet users, with optimised streaming that uses less data than most international platforms. It is an especially good option if you already use Telkom for your home internet.

Subscriptions start at R49 per month, with all content zero rated for Telkom mobile and home internet users. That means watching shows on this service will not use any of your monthly data allocation, which is a huge benefit for most households.

• All SABC and e.tv live channels
• Local soapies, drama and reality shows
• Zero rated data for Telkom customers
• No contract required

Telkom ONE also has a growing library of original local content that you will not find on any other service. The app works on all smart TVs and mobile devices, and you can cast content to your TV easily. The service adds new content every single week.

This is the best budget pick for Telkom customers. If you are already paying for Telkom internet, this service effectively gives you access to most local TV channels for almost no extra cost. It pairs perfectly with one other premium streaming service.

9. eVOD

eVOD is the streaming service from e.tv, and it gives you access to all e.tv channels plus a large library of on demand content. It is one of the most affordable legal streaming options available in South Africa right now.

You can use eVOD completely for free with ads, or upgrade to the premium ad free version for just R29 per month. That is the lowest price of any mainstream streaming service in the country.

1. Free tier available for all users
2. All e.tv channels live streamed
3. Exclusive original local series
4. Offline downloads for premium users

eVOD carries all popular e.tv soapies, reality shows, news and movies. Most new episodes are available on the platform before they air on the linear TV channel. The service works on all devices, and stream quality is very reliable even on 3G connections.

This is the perfect add on service for any household. For less than R30 per month, you get full access to all e.tv content with no ads. Almost every household watches at least one show from e.tv, making this a very worthwhile small investment.

10. Plex Live TV

Plex Live TV is the best option for people who like full control over their viewing experience. It lets you build your own custom TV service using free over the air broadcasts and your own media collection.

You will need a small digital TV tuner that costs around R500 once off, and then you can receive all free to air local channels with no monthly bills at all. You can also add streaming services directly into the Plex interface for one unified viewing experience.

Cost	Details
One off tuner cost	~R500
Monthly Plex Pass	R79 (optional)
Recurring bills	None required

Plex lets you pause live TV, record shows, skip adverts and watch your content on any device in your home. You can also access your recorded shows from anywhere when you are away from home. This is the most flexible TV system you can build right now.

This option is perfect for people who enjoy tech and want full control. It takes a little bit of setup, but once it is running you will never have to deal with another TV bill or subscription increase again. More and more people are switching to this model every year.

At the end of the day, there is no perfect one-size-fits-all replacement for Dstv. The best choice will always match exactly what you actually watch, how many people use your account, and what you can comfortably afford every month. Every option on this list offers a free trial period, so you can test them out before you cancel your existing subscription.

Don’t rush your decision. Pick 1 or 2 services that look like a good fit, run them alongside your Dstv for one month, and track what you actually watch. Most households end up saving 50% or more on their monthly TV costs once they switch, without giving up any of the content they enjoy. Take the first step this week, and stop paying for channels you never open.