HBO is the name behind some of the best TV shows in the history of television, including Game of Thrones, the legendary series that captured audiences all over the world for 8 seasons, becoming the biggest success for the TV network. HBO is a cable TV channel that has evolved throughout the years and it offers subscribers the chance to enjoy movies, TV shows, documentaries and specials online, through HBO GO, the streaming service that lets you watch your favorite HBO content when you are on the go. The downside of HBO GO is that it is only available in the United States.
If you are in any other country, such as South Africa, you will face error messages and restrictions if you try to access HBO GO. This is because the streaming platform will be able to detect your IP address and once it finds that it is not a US IP, it will stop you from accessing the content that HBO GO offers. If you are wondering if there is anything that can be done to overcome this, you’ll be glad to know that the simple answer is yes. You can simply connect to a VPN server in the United States, which gives you a US IP address so that you can unblock HBO GO and other services and websites, from any location. Here we will tell you how to watch HBO GO in South Africa with the help of a VPN.
How to unblock HBO GO in South Africa using a VPN
Due to licensing agreements, HBO GO is only available in the United States. This means that even if you are a US resident who travels abroad, you won’t be able to access HBO GO, even if you have a subscription. As we previously mentioned, what HBO GO checks is your IP address and as soon as it confirms that it is not a US IP address, it blocks access to the content. This can be solved by using a VPN with servers in the United States because in that case, all you need to do is to connect to a VPN server located in the US. Even if you are in South Africa, you will appear as if you were in the United States.
VPN stands for Virtual Private Network and they are services that enable you to get around restrictions, while protecting your privacy at the same time. When you use a VPN, your traffic is secured as your data is redirected through an encrypted tunnel. Your real IP address is hidden and others will only see the IP address of the VPN server you are connected to, which in this case, would be located in the US. The steps to start enjoying HBO GO in South Africa are very simple. All you need to do is the below:
- Sign up with a reliable VPN provider. There are many options available and we will tell you which ones we recommend, later on in this article. Just keep in mind that while there are free services available, we don’t recommend them in general. They are not secure and in general, they are not suitable for streaming since they are quite slow.
- You just need to download and install the VPN app that is better suited for your streaming device. Most VPNs offer apps for Android, iOS, macOS and Windows, which are the most popular operating systems. It is also likely that you find instructions to set up the VPN manually on other devices such as PS4 or Smart TVs.
- Create an account and select the US server you want to connect to. Allow some time for the connection to be established. Once you connect to a VPN server in the US successfully, you will get an IP address from that location. Then you can go to HBO GO and watch all the content that HBO GO offers, even if you are in South Africa.
Using a Smart DNS proxy
While a VPN is the recommended solution due to the high security that it provides, there are other methods to protect your information. One of them is using a Smart DNS proxy, which is the ideal solution to enjoy fast speeds and overcome geographical restrictions to be able to stream content. While it is a convenient options, there are a few caveats that you need to keep in mind. For instance, a Smart DNS proxy doesn’t hide your IP address, meaning that you won’t be anonymous while using it.
A Smart DNS proxy is simply a service that is capable to unblock a list of services, so before subscribing to one, you need to check that it actually works to unblock HBO GO. The convenient thing about a Smart DNS proxy is that you can unblock UK or US services without having to switch servers. However, you need to configure the Smart DNS proxy on your device. While this process can take some time, there are practical guides online, or you can get guidance from your provider.
The main advantage of a Smart DNS proxy is that it doesn’t slow down your connection since it doesn’t use encryption and doesn’t reroute your traffic. Just keep in mind that this also means that it doesn’t protect your information. There are good services available such as Unlocator, but before opting for a Smart DNS proxy, just remember that a VPN is a more comprehensive solution that combines security and privacy.
Best VPN services to unblock HBO GO in South Africa
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is one of the best services in the VPN industry and it has incredible speeds as well as high encryption. You can connect to servers in over 90 countries and in the US, ExpressVPN offers servers in multiple cities including Tampa, Miami, New York, San Francisco and Atlanta. You have a great selection of options to connect to and will enjoy fast speeds while streaming content from HBO GO. ExpressVPN doesn’t keep logs your online activities and you can get around blocks with the advanced technology that this provider supports.
NordVPN
NordVPN is another good provider that lets you defeat restrictions and protect your online data. NordVPN doesn’t keep any logs and it uses advanced protection tools to keep your internet traffic protected from threats like hacking, eavesdropping and other threats. It is possible to connect to servers in over 60 countries, including of course, the United States. Other advantages of NordVPN include good software, knowledgeable customer support and advanced protection for your data. NordVPN is also fast and it will enable you to defeat restrictions and enjoy TV shows and movies on HBO Go, even if you are in South Africa.
Private Internet Access
This is an affordable solution that keeps you protected from online threats and that also allows you to overcome restrictions. With PIA, you will have the chance to defeat blocks and enjoy access to a vast selection of servers. While PIA currently supports 30 countries, which seems limited when you compare it to other providers, its network has over 3000 servers so you will have many options to defeat the restrictions that could prevent you from accessing HBO GO and other services. PIA doesn’t keep logs of your online activities and it offers convenient features like kill switch and SOCKS% proxy.
Surfshark
Surfshark is another excellent choice for people in South Africa who want to overcome restrictions and unblock HBO GO. Surfshark has more than 800 servers in over 50 countries, including the United States. Surfshark also protects you from malware, ads and trackers and it offers fast speeds, as well as unblocking technology that will allow you to access all the content that you want. Surfshark also uses high encryption to protect your information. It doesn’t keep logs that could compromise your privacy.
