DStv vs Netflix subscription costs
Your post is likely ranking for “dstv versus netflix subscription costs” with a title that doesn’t match the query. It also has outdated DStv pricing. I found that DStv replaced its Access, Family and Compact packages with Starter, Select and Sports on 17 September 2026, and added a new Movies & Series package. Your article still lists the old tiers, which hurts both clicks and trust. tech
What I changed
- Title and intro now match the query (“DStv vs Netflix subscription costs”) instead of “DStv Stream vs Netflix price”.
- Answer first, with prices in the opening paragraph.
- DStv prices updated to the September 2026 package structure. Compact Plus is now grandfathered.
- Annual-cost table added. It is quotable and suits the “subscription costs” intent.
- Fixed “more than 3.5 times”. R799 ÷ R229 is about 3.49, so I wrote “about 3.5 times”.
- Removed scraped junk: “Stream Movies”, “Binge Hit Series” and “Buy Maps”.
- Dropped the Netflix Mobile OS version numbers. I couldn’t verify them, so the text points readers to Netflix’s device requirements.
- Updated the combo maths with the new packages.
SEO title (about 60 characters): DStv vs Netflix Subscription Costs in South Africa (2026)
Meta description (about 155 characters): DStv vs Netflix subscription costs in South Africa, updated for DStv’s new packages. Monthly and yearly prices in rand, and which is better value.
URL: keep your existing URL so you don’t lose the impressions.
DStv vs Netflix Subscription Costs in South Africa (October 2026)
Prices checked: 16 October 2026 · Updated for DStv’s new packages, effective 17 September 2026
Quick answer: Netflix costs R59 to R229 per month. DStv Stream costs R99 to R799 per month. The cheapest plan that works on a TV is R99 on both services, Netflix Basic and DStv Starter. At the top end, DStv Premium costs about 3.5 times Netflix Premium because it includes live sport. If you only watch series and films, Netflix is cheaper. If you need live sport such as Springbok rugby, Formula 1 or tennis, only DStv Premium has it.
DStv vs Netflix: monthly prices side by side
| Level | DStv Stream | Netflix |
|---|---|---|
| Entry | Starter: R99 | Mobile: R59 (phone/tablet only), Basic: R99 |
| Mid | Select: R299, Sports: R399 | Standard: R179 |
| Top | Premium: R799 | Premium: R229 |
| Contract | Month-to-month on streaming | Month-to-month |
Netflix prices are the June 2025 rates and are the latest we could confirm. Netflix Mobile rose from R49 to R59, Standard from R159 to R179 and Premium from R199 to R229, while Basic stayed at R99. Check Netflix’s plans page before you subscribe. iol
How much does it cost per year?
| Plan | Monthly | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Netflix Mobile | R59 | R708 |
| Netflix Basic | R99 | R1,188 |
| DStv Starter (stream) | R99 | R1,188 |
| Netflix Standard | R179 | R2,148 |
| Netflix Premium | R229 | R2,748 |
| DStv Select (stream) | R299 | R3,588 |
| DStv Sports (stream) | R399 | R4,788 |
| DStv Premium (stream) | R799 | R9,588 |
DStv Premium costs about R6,840 more per year than Netflix Premium.
DStv packages in 2026: what changed?
DStv overhauled its packages on 17 September 2026. Existing subscribers are being moved to the new packages automatically, in phases, and DStv says prices stay the same. tech
| New package | Replaces | DStv Stream | Decoder (satellite) | What it’s known for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | Access | R99 | R150 | Premier League match of the week and local channels |
| Select | Family | R299 | R339 | PSL, Mzansi Magic, kids’ channels |
| Sports | Compact | R399 | R479 | Premier League, UEFA, cricket, local rugby, UFC, WWE |
| Movies & Series | New | R500* | Movies and series package | |
| Premium | Unchanged | R799 | R979 | Everything, including Springbok and international rugby, F1, MotoGP and tennis |
| Compact Plus | Grandfathered | Existing subscribers keep it and its price, but it is closed to new subscriptions. tech |
Package details and prices from MultiChoice’s September 2026 announcement as reported by MyBroadband. *The Movies & Series price is reported as R500 per month; confirm whether this is the stream or decoder price. Existing Compact Plus streaming customers were paying R549.
What Netflix gives you at each price
Netflix plans differ by picture quality and screens, not by content. Every plan has the same library.
| Feature | Mobile (R59) | Basic (R99) | Standard (R179) | Premium (R229) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Video quality | 480p (SD) | 720p (HD) | 1080p (Full HD) | 4K (Ultra HD) + HDR |
| Simultaneous streams | 1 phone or tablet | 1 device | 2 devices | 4 devices |
| Download devices | 1 phone or tablet | 1 device | 2 devices | 6 devices |
| Spatial audio | No | No | No | Yes |
The Mobile plan is phone and tablet only and doesn’t support casting to a TV, so it’s no use if you watch on a Smart TV. Check Netflix’s current device requirements before subscribing.
Where DStv wins
- Live sport. Only Premium has the complete lineup, including Springbok and other international rugby, Formula 1, MotoGP and tennis. The Sports package covers the Premier League, UEFA competitions, cricket, local rugby, UFC and WWE at R399.
- Live news and local channels. DStv carries SABC and other local channels. Netflix carries none.
- Real-time viewing. Events can be watched as they happen, not as highlights later.
Where Netflix wins
- Price at the top end. Netflix Premium at R229 is far cheaper than DStv Premium at R799.
- Series and film depth. A much larger and more frequently refreshed on-demand catalogue.
- Simplicity. You choose by picture quality and screens, with no bouquets to compare.
Do you need both?
For many South African households, running both is the cheapest way to cover everything:
- DStv Select (R299) + Netflix Standard (R179) = R478 a month. This covers local channels, PSL and on-demand series, and costs R321 less than DStv Premium alone.
- DStv Sports (R399) + Netflix Standard (R179) = R578 a month. This adds Premier League, UEFA and cricket, and still costs R221 less than Premium.
If you need Springbok rugby, F1 or tennis, only DStv Premium has them, so the combination won’t replace it.
Frequently asked questions
Is DStv or Netflix cheaper?
Netflix is cheaper at every tier except the entry level, where Netflix Basic and DStv Starter both cost R99. At the top, Netflix Premium is R229 and DStv Premium is R799.
How much is Netflix per month in South Africa?
R59 (Mobile), R99 (Basic), R179 (Standard) and R229 (Premium).
How much is DStv Stream per month?
R99 (Starter), R299 (Select), R399 (Sports) and R799 (Premium). Movies & Series is reported at R500.
What happened to DStv Access, Family and Compact?
They became Starter, Select and Sports on 17 September 2026.
Can I still get DStv Compact Plus?
Not as a new subscriber. Existing subscribers keep the package and price.
Does Netflix have live sport in South Africa?
No. Netflix is entirely on-demand.
Can I have both?
Yes. They are separate month-to-month subscriptions.
What does Netflix Premium add over Standard?
4K and HDR, four simultaneous screens, six download devices and spatial audio.
Which has more local content?
DStv has a longer history of local channels. Netflix has reportedly invested over R4 billion in local productions since 2021, though its catalogue is mostly international.
Bottom line
Netflix wins on price and on-demand depth. DStv wins, with no real substitute, on live sport. Set a monthly budget first, then pick: Netflix Standard alone for R179, or Select plus Netflix Standard for R478 to cover local channels as well. Choose Premium only if live international sport matters to you.
Want every package in detail? See our complete DStv pricing guide.
