Furthermore, the hidden cost of “free” is often time and frustration. The hours spent hunting for a working, non-malware-infested stream could have been used to earn the price of one month’s subscription. In many economies, a Showmax subscription costs less than a single lunch or two cups of coffee.

If you live in the US, UK, or Canada, Showmax often requires a paid subscription via their global app. So, the "free" tag is largely location-dependent.