Is Showmax worth it?

What’s really an absolute value for the buck when it comes to internet TV? Well, we could say that the ability to access on demand TV shows and videos could suffice. Or maybe a budget friendly option and one that is ad free. In this article, we will look at whether Showmax is a worthy investment.

Launched on August 19, 2015, Showmax is an ad-free subscription video-on-demand streaming TV service designed to meet all your entertainment preferences and needs.  Showmax is among the multiple streaming services that seem to dominate the entertainment industry. It employs a localization plan of action to take on established video on demand competitors through partnerships with mobile telcos and a focus on local content. Its service bundles the already existing Showmax entertainment service with news, music channels, and live sport streaming from Super Sport. The offering includes all the games from Italy’s La Liga and Serie A, the UK’s Premier League and South Africa’s Premier Soccer League.

At this juncture you may be wondering whether Showmax is worth it. Honestly, Showmax is only worth it if you love watching local stuff. It gets even better and easier to navigate if you have already subscribed to DSTV and are trying to explore more options to what you already have.

What beneficial features do you get when you subscribe to Showmax?

Downloads

Showmax has a download feature that allows you to download up to 25 movies or shows concurrently so that you can watch them offline on your iOS or Android device, whether a tablet or a smartphone. Offline video access comes in handy when you are travelling to remote areas with no internet access, when you are experiencing a power blackout or when you do not wish to use your mobile data plan and would like to catch up on your favorite shows. In addition, there are four different video quality settings, which have been set to reduce the amount of data that you would use to download your favorite shows or movies.

Bandwidth Capping

Showmax has a bandwidth capping tool that allows you to choose different quality levels. Through this bandwidth capping tool, you can either select a low bandwidth cap of 0.3 GB per hour, leave your usage uncapped or choose a medium cap of 0.7 GB per hour. All in all, Showmax’s bandwidth capping has been developed to suit both your needs and budget and Showmax ensures that you are able to still get a good picture quality and an immersive TV watching experience on the low and medium settings, especially if you are using a tablet or your smartphone to catch up on your favorite shows or watch movies.

Multiple Profiles

Showmax has a multiple profile feature that comes with the ability to set up child-friendly profiles for your kids. The multiple profiles feature gives you a chance to create up to two additional unique profile for every subscription. Each profile allows you to select your own TV shows and movie genre based on your individual preferences, view your personal watch history, update notifications, receive personalized recommendations and set your language preferences.

Mobile Plan

Following the recognition and conclusion that smartphones and tablets are the main window through which most of its subscribers access Showmax in Africa and the world at large, Showmax then introduced a mobile plan at 50% of the overall cost of the standard subscription prices. This does not affect the subscription package which in fact is an added advantage. It still features a hundred percent of the video content and both the mobile and standard plans include magazine shows, live sport and sport documentaries.

Showmax Pro

The most recent Showmax Pro service was introduced to elevate your TV watching experience and cater for all your entertainment needs. It bundles the already existing Showmax entertainment service with news, music channels and live sport streaming from SuperSport as a budget friendly package.

How much does Showmax cost?

The amount you would pay for your Showmax subscription depends on the currency in your region. To view the local prices for all Showmax plans, you would need to log onto showmax.com in your respective country. The table below gives a summary of the Showmax plans.

Plan	South Africa	Sub Saharan Africa	Kenya	Nigeria
Showmax Mobile Plan (Starting price)	R49 per month	$3.99 per month	KSh 380 per month	₦1450 per month
Showmax Standard plan	R99 per month	$7.99 per month	Ksh. 760 per month	₦2900 per month
Showmax Pro  Mobile	R225 per month	$ 9.99 per month	Ksh. 1050 per month	₦3200 per month
Showmax Pro Standard package	R449 per month	$ 17.99 per month	Ksh. 2100 per month	₦6300 per month

Are there any disadvantages of having Showmax?

Unfortunately, you cannot access show max without a stable internet connection and you are limited to local content. This is a good thing but an absolute bummer if you prefer to explore different content. Aside from that, Showmax allows you to create up to 11 profiles and log in on a maximum of 5 devices, however, you can only watch content from two devices concurrently.

Verdict: So, should you get Showmax?

If you love international TV shows, documentaries and stand-up comedies, you may want to settle for a different streaming TV service such as Netflix which provides you with multiple options that you can explore.

However, when it comes to Showmax, they focus a lot more on local movies, shows and more. A great advantage that comes with Showmax is that you can get a 14-day free trail at the beginning of your subscription. In addition, Showmax is definitely a great option for you if you have subscribed to DSTV. There are also Showmax series that you can enjoy from time to time.

FAQs

1. Does Showmax use a lot of data when streaming?

This is relative. However, when streaming a video on Showmax, you can use up to 3G of data per hour.

2. How may devices can use Showmax concurrently?

Only two devices but you have the option to register up to 5 devices on your Showmax account.