If you need a South African IP address, a VPN can help. A Virtual Private Network (VPN) will allow you to get an IP address from South Africa, no matter your current location. As such, connecting to a South African VPN server will give you an IP address from the country. A decent VPN will also boost your online security, shielding your activities from prying eyes and intrusive tracking.
Here’s how to get a South African IP address with a VPN:
- Sign up with a VPN that has at least one South African server location.
- Download the VPN app to your device(s).
- If you run into any issues with geo-restricted South African services, make sure to clear your cache and cookies before reloading the page.
Your IP address is used to identify your current location. VPNs encrypt your data, while assigning the user with a new IP that matches the server location you’ve chosen.
Now that you know how to get a South African IP address with a VPN, it's time to look at the best providers for the job.
Best VPN Providers for a South African IP Address
South Africa is the only country on the continent that is pretty much guaranteed to have a VPN server or two. Rather than picking out providers at random, we’ve compiled a comprehensive VPN testing methodology.
Read also: Property Practitioners Regulatory Authority
We've been able to narrow the field with our specific inclusion criteria:
- South Africa servers: Servers in South Africa are necessary for getting an IP address from the country.
- Speeds and performance: Faster connection speeds will allow you to stream, browse, or torrent with greater efficiency.
- Third-party audits: Trust is the foundation of the value that VPNs provide. You are essentially placing more faith in your VPN provider than you are in your ISP. We will only consider providers for our top three positions if they have undergone infrastructure audits from a reputable third party.
- Diskless infrastructure: Moving processes to RAM means that no information can be physically taken from servers, and it is wiped on shutdown.
How to Choose the Best VPN for Your Needs
Here are some of the best VPN providers to get a South African IP address:
1. NordVPN
NordVPN: Our top pick for a South African IP address. 50+ servers in South Africa, high speeds, custom protocol, advanced features, P2P servers, and streaming support.
NordVPN is our top recommendation for getting an IP address from South Africa while abroad. The VPN works with a range of geo-restricted content, making great use of in-built Smart DNS. NordLynx is a custom protocol used for improved speeds and security, while Meshnet allows anyone to create private, encrypted tunnels between devices they trust.
NordVPN is one of the few providers to have independently audited both its infrastructure and apps, ensuring that you won’t have to worry about the legitimacy of its logging claims. As well as apps for Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Linux, there’s support for routers, and browser versions for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge.
Read also: Discover Thula Thula
It’s packed with advanced features to keep your data safe, including Onion Over VPN and Double VPN (MultiHop).
BEST VPN FOR A SOUTH AFRICAN IP: NordVPN ticks every box, with capable speeds and 50+ servers in South Africa.
NordVPN is offering a fully-featured risk-free 30-day trial if you sign up at this page. You can use the VPN rated #1 with no restrictions for a month - great if you want to binge your favorite show or are going on a short trip.
2. Surfshark
Surfshark: Our recommendation for users on a tight budget. Surfshark has affordable subscriptions, and comes with lots of RAM-only servers in Africa that can be used for an IP address.
Surfshark is a low-cost alternative that has coverage in 100+ countries, including nine RAM-only servers in South Africa. Already a capable budget option thanks to a range of affordable subscriptions, it also allows you to connect to the VPN with an unlimited number of devices.
Read also: Traditional South African Bread
Surfshark comes with a kill switch, obfuscation, and AES encryption. Being based in the Netherlands, it’s worth being aware that the country is a part of the Nine Eyes surveillance agreement along with the US, the UK, and others.
BEST VALUE OPTION: Surfshark has affordable subscriptions, and comes with lots of RAM-only servers in Africa that can be used for an IP address.
3. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is another popular provider with strong coverage in South Africa. As well as South Africa, it has server locations in Algeria, Egypt, and Kenya. You’ll be able to connect via the custom Lightway protocol, which saw average speeds of 175 Mbps during testing.
It’s one of the more reliable VPNs in terms of accessing previously blocked sites and services, so it’s easy to recommend for anyone aiming to stream from abroad. The provider is based in the British Virgin Islands, which isn’t subject to any mandatory data retention directives.
Apps are easy to use, and it comes with features like split tunneling and Smart DNS support. It’s harder to justify, given the recent rise of budget options like Surfshark.
FAST, RELIABLE SERVERS: ExpressVPN comes with reliable servers in South Africa and elsewhere.
4. CyberGhost VPN
CyberGhost VPN has 50+ SA servers in Johannesburg, making it ideal for getting an IP address from the country. It includes an automatic kill switch, and offers ad blocking and malware filtering.
As one of a handful of providers to openly support streaming and torrenting, it’s especially user-friendly. The service is headquartered in Romania, which avoids any jurisdictional headaches. It comes with a strict no-logs policy and uses watertight 256-bit AES encryption.
However, it is missing out on a few notable features found elsewhere, including MultiHop and obfuscation.
SIMPLE APPS FOR ALL PLATFORMS: CyberGhost VPN has 50+ servers that can be used for a South African IP address. Beginner-friendly apps, a large network, WireGuard support, fast speeds, and a no-logs policy.
5. Mullvad
Mullvad is a privacy specialist that has a duo of rented servers located in Johannesburg. Mullvad comes with a clear focus on improving security, whether it’s the independently audited infrastructure and apps, or the clear no-logs policy.
It’s also reflected in the wide range of privacy features you’ll find. Average speeds of 666 Mbps are fast enough to put most other services to shame. However, Mullvad won’t be able to access the majority of geo-blocked streaming sites, which is disappointing given the speeds on offer.
SECURE JOHANNESBURG SERVERS: Mullvad is a specialist service capable of keeping your data safe while connected to SA servers.
6. Proton VPN
Proton VPN: Another strong choice for users aiming to improve privacy above all else. Proton VPN has 35+ servers in Johannesburg, which can be used to get a South African IP address from overseas.
These servers also offer streaming support, as well as its NetShield ad-blocker. Proton itself is based in Switzerland. A free version comes with no bandwidth limits, but you won’t be able to connect to Proton’s South African locations.
Average speeds of 320 Mbps ensure that you won’t have to deal with any lag while streaming, torrenting, or gaming, and Proton VPN includes various advanced features. For example, there are Secure Core servers and it allows for Tor Over VPN.
It's great for P2P traffic, and is perfect if you're in need of a provider offering robust security features in South Africa.
ADVANCED SECURITY FEATURES: Proton VPN is an accomplished provider that is packed full of features aiming to improve privacy.
7. IPVanish
IPVanish has a duo of servers in Johannesburg, which are perfect if you need a new IP address from the rainbow nation. It keeps no traffic logs, and 250+ Mbps works out to be some of the quickest average speeds on the market.
Being based in the United States is a notable flaw, as it means IPVanish falls within the jurisdiction of various alphabet agencies that operate in the country.
SELF-OWNED SA SERVERS: IPVanish is another capable provider for a South African IP, offering fast speeds for streaming, torrenting, and gaming.
Why Use a VPN in South Africa?
There are numerous reasons why you might need a South African IP address. You’ll be able to access lots of geo-restricted sites and services from the region. This is great for travelers who need to bypass blocks to watch content via free channels and popular South African subscription services.
Aiming to prevent online copyright infringement, streaming services like YouTube and Netflix use geo-restrictions and block certain content for South African IP addresses.
Another major problem is cybercrime. Hackers and scammers are looking for vulnerable public Wi-Fi hotspots to access users' data. Public Wi-Fi connections are very popular in South Africa and are often not encrypted and have very poor security.
Using a VPN will hide these details and protect your privacy. If you need to log into your Standard Bank, FirstRand, or Absa account, a VPN will work to bypass geo-restrictions.
VPN vs. Proxy: What's the Difference?
No. A proxy can be used to hide your IP address, but it won’t encrypt all of your internet traffic. While VPNs and proxy servers hide your IP address, the key difference is that a VPN also encrypts your internet traffic.
Are VPNs Legal in South Africa?
VPNs are legal in South Africa, and the same is true for the majority of countries worldwide. There are some notable exceptions, as VPNs are banned or blocked in places like Russia and China.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a free VPN to get a South African IP address?
We wouldn’t recommend using a free VPN to get a South African IP address. Free providers are also a liability when it comes to protecting your data. For example, some have been found to contain malware, while others lack the necessary encryption to prevent leaks.
Will a VPN slow down my internet speed?
VPNs do have the potential to slow down internet speeds, especially if you’re connecting to a faraway server. It’ll also depend on the provider you’ve chosen, as some are faster than others.
How can I check if my IP address has changed to South Africa?
You’ll be able to see if your IP address has changed to match South Africa by Googling ‘what is my ip’.
Can I get an IP address from a specific city in South Africa?
Yes, as long as the VPN has a relevant server location in the South African city that you would like to get an IP address from.
Can I watch South African TV with a VPN?
Yes, as long as the VPN is able to bypass geo-blocks to access content in South Africa. To do so, you’ll just need to connect to a server in South Africa with your VPN.
Don’t just take our word for it See what the internet has to say about NordVPN.
