Chill out and take a break with that blockbuster you missed at the cinema or the series that everyone at work has been talking about. These awesome streaming services mean you can watch your shows on just about any device, just about anywhere. Plus, the good news is that virtually all of them can be paid for via your Vodacom account, making it simpler for you to sign up and stream today! 

Netflix

When it comes to online streaming of series and movies, no name is bigger than Netflix. While it has been around for years, the service only reached our shores with a local version of Netflix in 2016. With a lineup of original movies and series, along with their impressive catalogue of other content, it is a popular option for cord-cutters.

Vodacom customers can sign up for Netflix via their Vodacom account. Read more here. 

Showmax

Showmax is a local video-on-demand streaming service owned by MultiChoice. This shared ownership means that DStv Premium subscribers get access to Showmax included in their subscriptions. If that’s not you, you can also sign up via your Vodacom account. 

Showmax has both international and local content, including hits such as Game of Thrones. But its local content is what really makes it stand apart from Netflix and Amazon’s services since users can watch local content in local languages such as Zulu and Afrikaans. 

Read more about Showmax’s local reality shows and local comedy shows, including the hilarious stand-up show Nation Wild, hosted by Trevor Noah. 

Vodacom Video Play

Vodacom subscribers get a great bonus: access to Vodacom Video Play, which offers the latest movies hot off the circuit. What’s super cool about Video Play is that you don’t need to sign up for a monthly subscription – you just dip in and pay to watch what you want, or sign up for a week or a day. You can choose to stream or, if you know you won’t have data or be out of wifi range, download to your device. See what’s on Video Play here.

Deezer

Deezer is an online music streaming service that boasts a catalogue of over 53 million licensed tracks. With a free plan and paid plans ranging between R10 and R90 per month, it’s also one of the most affordable for locals. A great feature of the app is its lyrics function, which allows you to see the lyrics to the song.

For Vodacom customers, the service is particularly appealing since they can get discounts when upgrading or taking out new contracts. Read more about the great deals here.

Google streaming apps

Google has a range of apps that are perfect for cord-cutters and streaming devotees across various media types. 

YouTube is its flagship video platform that is unrivalled in its position as the go-to place for videos on the internet. In recent years, YouTube has also become a place where users can watch live videos and digital series. Meanwhile, news organisations and government have also used the platform to directly stream events to viewers, such as parliamentary addresses and important speeches.

While YouTube isn’t typically where you’ll find full movies or TV shows, Google has another app for that. Google Play Movies is a service through which users can rent or buy movies – an online version of a video store.

Meanwhile, Google Play Music is the company’s music streaming service. Unlike Google Play Movies and YouTube, it requires a subscription to stream content.

Finally, the launch of a full Android TV in South Africa also means that owners will even be able to stream games to their television.

Find out how to pay for your Google streaming services via your Vodacom account.

Prime Video

Amazon’s video-on-demand service Prime Video is available in South Africa, even though it doesn’t receive as much attention as Netflix. However, its affordable subscription price and shows like The Grand Tour (the new incarnation of Top Gear with the original cast of Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond) make it an enticing option. The service is still coming into its own and it has stiff competition. But it is definitely stepping up to the plate with offerings such as American Gods and the fourth season of the acclaimed TV show The Expanse.

Stream smart 

Don’t run out of data when you’re streaming. Get a Video Ticket from Vodacom, from just R5 for an hour of streaming to R60 for 1GB that is valid for a month. It covers Showmax, YouTube, VuClip videos and DStv Now.