The best HBO Max prices are absolutely worth the money. Actually, we shouldn’t really be calling it HBO Max at all – the streamer was renamed Max after both HBO Max and Discovery Plus were stuck together following the merger between Warner Bros. and Discovery.
All that means is that Max now has one of the most diverse portfolios of content of any streamer, with a single subscription giving you access to HBO shows, all the best movies on Max, CNN, the Food Network, Adult Swim, the DC Universe, and more. With so much on offer, the HBO price is justified despite being a little more than the basic Netflix and Disney Plus tiers.
Luckily, there are deals to be had, bringing down the cost of your subscription. But first, here are a few reasons you should subscribe ASAP to HBO Max. First, the sheer quality of content; you get access to some of the best shows on Max, including hits like The Wire, The Sopranos, and Six Feet Under. Second, the movies; we’re talking modern-day classics like Dune mixed with unmissable golden oldies like Casablanca.
Not sold? Then how about libraries from Discovery, Cartoon Network, and Animal Planet? Plus, there are multiple HBO Max prices to choose from: $9.99 a month for ads, $16.99 a month for ad-free 1080p streaming, and $20.99 a month for ad-free 4K streaming. And there are annual packages to bring the price down and bundles with Disney Plus and Hulu.
Read on for a more in-depth breakdown of what you get for your money.
HBO Max prices and plans
There are a few tiers when it comes to HBO Max subscriptions, and each one offers something different. The cheapest Max subscription is the Max Ad-lite tier at $9.99 a month. This, as implied by its title, has adverts and limits your streaming resolution to 1080p. As well as that, you cannot download any TV episodes or movies to work off, the sound quality is 5.1 surround, and you’re limited to just two concurrent streams.
However, you can get this at an annual price of just $99.99 a year, which equates to a saving of $19.89. The next step up is the Max Ad Free plan for $16.99 a month, which does away with adverts. You are still limited to 1080p HD, 5.1 surround sound, and two concurrent streams, but you also get 30 offline downloads. An annual Max Ad free membership is priced at $169.99 a year, which is a saving of $33.89 in comparison to paying monthly.
Finally, we come to the Max Ultimate Ad Free at $20.99 a month. With the most expensive plan, not only do you have zero adverts, but you can also stream in 4K Ultra HD resolution with Dolby Atmos sound quality and across four devices at once. You also have 100 offline downloads. The annual membership for Max Ultimate Ad Free plan is $209.99 a year, which equates to a saving of $41.89.
These are the current prices and it should be noted that both Max Ad Free tier and Max Ultimate tier had price increases in 2024. Chances are that prices will increase at some point again, especially as we have seen Disney Plus bundles, Hulu prices, and Apple TV Plus costs all rise in recent months. However, with the annual memberships, at least you’re secure in knowing exactly how much you’re paying over the next year.
Max is compatible with Apple TV, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, LG Smart TV, Samsung TV, PlayStation, Xbox, Roku, and more. The full list can be found here.
HBO Max deals
There are a few deals on HBO Max at the moment. First, the previously mentioned annual plans offer significant savings, with Max Ad-Lite at $99.99 a year, Max Ad free membership priced at $169.99 a year, and Max Ultimate Ad Free costing $209.99 a year.
If you’re a student, you’re in even more luck. Max is offering 50% off its Max Ad-lite tier monthly plan, reducing the cost from $9.99 to $4.99. The streamer has partnered with UNiDAYS for the promotion, and you must be enrolled in a school or university that offers UNiDAYS discount. This deal was launched in July 2024 and will last for a total of 12 months, so if you qualify, apply as soon as you can.
Next, you can get Disney Plus, Hulu, and Max all in one bundle. That’s right, Warner Bros. and Disney have teamed up for an unlikely streaming bundle where you can get all three with adverts for $16.99 a month (normally $25.97 a month) or all three on their respective ad-free tiers for $29.99 a month (normally $48.97 a month). Those are some significant savings if you want to watch both HBO shows and your Star Wars and Marvel series.
Finally, if you fancy some food delivered to your door while you watch your favorite HBO show, then you can get the ad-lite tier of Max for free with a subscription to DoorDash. That will set you back $8 a month, or $96 annually, but be warned, these offers don’t last forever, and it’s unclear how long you will get HBO Max for free with your Door Dash membership.
How to get HBO Max for free
HBO Max pulled its 7-day free trial in December 2020 and Max, similarly, doesn't offer one. Warner Bros. has not provided an explanation, but the free trial was initially removed around the day-and-date release of Wonder Woman 1984 on HBO Max and in cinemas – the streamer most likely didn’t want people using a trial to watch the blockbuster for free and then unsubscribing.
That said, Max does allow users to stream a number of free episodes via the website or app. This includes episodes of Tokyo Vice, Succession, The Sex Live of College Girls, Starstruck, The Climb, Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon, The White Lotus, Barry, Euphoria, Industry, and more.
Alternatively, a week-long free trial via Hulu was available if you're a new or existing Hulu customer (and choose HBO Max as an add-on). Bundling HBO Max with Hulu will expand your streaming library by over 80,000 TV episodes and movies — including next-day streaming of current-season shows. Just remember to cancel after seven days, or you'll be charged for a month of service. Check out our full guide to the latest Hulu prices and bundle deals.
If you want to stay updated on the trial's return, keep an eye on our HBO Max free trial guide where we also go into greater detail about the Hulu route mentioned above.
HBO Max shows and movies
There are a whole load of TV shows and movies on HBO Max. Relive the second-hand embarrassment of Curb Your Enthusiasm or see what the fuss over Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon is all about. Kick back and explore the mad universe of Rick and Morty (thanks to Warner Bros. owning Adult Swim), or survive a post-apocalyptic world in The Last of Us.
Some of the hottest properties on streaming are HBO Max exclusives, including The Penguin, Succession, Barry, Peacemaker, The White Lotus, The Gilded Age, Euphoria, Abbott Elementary, The Staircase, and Our Flag Means Death. And there are Max originals such as Kaley Cuoco’s The Flight Attendant, the mockumentary An American Pickle, and the award-winning drama It's a Sin from Russell T. Davies that are must-watches.
Other notable shows on HBO Max include Friends, The Watchmen, Made for Love, Lovecraft Country, The Nevers, Veep, Superman & Lois, South Park, The Boondocks, Reno 911, The Big Bang Theory, Sex and the City, The Leftovers and The Sopranos.
And thanks to Discovery Plus being merged with HBO Max, there’s now a whole load of Discovery content on Max, increasing the number of documentaries tenfold and adding content from the Food Network and HGTV. Of course, TV shows aren’t the only thing available on Max; some of the greatest movies of all time, released by Warner Bros., have been made available.
These include The Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Dark Knight trilogy, The Matrix, all the Harry Potter movies, everything in the DC Extended Universe, and the films of Studio Ghibli. Plus, there are a bunch of classics like The Wizard of Oz, Raging Bull, and Casablanca, as well as modern blockbusters like Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, Dune Parts One and Two, and the Oscar-winning Parasite, all available amongst 1,000 total films.
Is HBO Max on Roku or Fire TV?
Yes, Max is available to stream on Roku devices, as well as Amazon Fire TV Stick and Amazon Fire TV Cube. If you were using HBO Max or Discovery a few years ago and are re-entering the world of Max, then your apps should update to the new Max app – or you may need to uninstall the old app and install the new Max one.
Is HBO Max worth it?
The short answer is yes. Max may be one of the pricier streaming services, but the media library is incredibly impressive; HBO shows have lost none of their lustre since going streaming. It’s that quality that makes Max a must-have.
Sure, its children’s content isn’t quite up there with Disney, and the number of shows added every week doesn’t quite equal Netflix, but Max keeps delivering hit after hit. Dune Part 2 and Furiosa have been brilliant additions to the film line-up, joining other recent smashes like Avatar: The Way of the Water, The Menu, and Banshees of Insherinare. And on a TV level, you will want to subscribe so you don’t miss out on The Last of Us season 2 and House of the Dragon season 3. With so many killer movies and shows, you won’t want to miss out.
Can I watch HBO Max outside of the US?
Max is currently available in the United States (including American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands). It's also available across most of Europe, 39 countries to be exact.
This includes Anguilla, Antigua, Argentina, Aruba, B.V.I., Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Cayman Islands, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Curacao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Montserrat, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks and Caicos, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
In the UK, Max is unlikely to be coming anytime soon as a lot of HBO content is contracted to appear on Sky TV, and, therefore, is available via the NOW streaming service. A VPN is also an option – and you can find out how to watch HBO Max in the UK through our guide. However, if you're thinking of tuning in from outside the US, you'll find it's hard work, as you need a US bank card to set up an account, and you can no longer pay with Apple Pay, PayPal, or Google Pay instead.
Check out our viewing guides for all the upcoming TV shows and upcoming movies. You'll find cheaper options via Disney Plus bundles, and we've got you covered for other networks with guides to the latest Peacock TV costs and Paramount Plus prices.
