Before we get into all the HBO Max prices, you need to know that HBO Max is no more! That's right, Warner Bros has changed its streaming service with a relaunch under the name Max. This now means HBO Max has combined with Discovery Plus to bring together the latest from HBO, WB Movies, the DC Universe, Animal Planet, Food Network, CNN, and more in one catalogue. It's a new dawn. It's also quite a confusing one, so we're here to break down all of the changes in Max's prices and deals.
The transition from HBO Max to Max officially took place on May 23rd, 2023. So, let's start with the new pricing (which recently saw a slight increase). There are three tiers: the regular Max price is $9.99 a month (ads), $16.99 a month (ad-free), or $20.99 a month for the new Max Ultimate Ad Free tier.Each tier has its own annual prices, too, which will save you a bit of cash. However, even going for the cheapest option, it's one of the more expensive streaming services out there when you compare it to today's Disney Plus bundles, Hulu prices, and Apple TV Plus costs.
Given its catalogue is packed with some of the best TV shows of all time and all the new movies added on a regular basis, though, Max is arguably the best and only streaming service you need.
Whether it's House of the Dragon with Matt Smith or the must-watch black comedy-drama Succession, there's so much that justifies HBO Max's price. Not to mention the plethora of DC movies and shows, including original series like Peacemaker and Doom Patrol. Films like The Flash and The Batman are exclusively available on Max, too. If you're a comic book fan, you need to get on this.
Of course, the most recent must-watch show is HBO's The Last of Us TV series, which stars Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey. With all this in mind, check out our Max guide for a complete rundown of what’s included, plus ways you can save money on the Warner Bros streaming service.
HBO Max prices and plans
The cheapest way to get HBO and Discovery Plus (or Max as it's now known) is to subscribe to the Max Ad-lite tier at $9.99 a month. This version offers access to the full HBO and Discovery Plus library, two concurrent streams, 1080p resolution, no offline downloads, and 5.1 surround sound quality. It does, however, feature limited ad breaks. There is also an annual membership for $99.99 a year, which equates to a saving of $19.89.
If you don't fancy ads, Max Ad Free is the next tier up at $16.99 a month. This gives you access to the full HBO and Discovery Plus, two concurrent streams, 1080p HD, up to 30 offline downloads, and 5.1 surround sound quality. Again you will receive no ads here. 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.
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The third and final new tier is Max Ultimate Ad Free at $20.99 a month. Alongside gaining access to the full HBO and Discover Plus line-up, this also gets you four concurrent streams, 4K Ultra HD resolution, 100 offline downloads, and Dolby Atmos sound quality. The annual membership for Max Ultimate Ad Free is $209.99 a year, which equates to a saving of $41.89.
It should be noted that both the Max Ad Free tier and Max Ultimate tier had price increases in 2024. With the streaming wars still ongoing, price hikes may happen again. Opt for the monthly plans, and you can upgrade and downgrade at will if you want to try all three Max plans.
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
At the time of writing, Max is offering 50% off its Max Ad-lite tier monthly plan, reducing the cost from $9.99 to $4.99. However, this deal only applies to students as the streamer is currently partnering with UNiDAYS for the promotion. 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! You can learn more about the deal via HBO's website here.
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. didn't provide an explanation behind this move, but we imagine it's because HBO didn't want people to stream Wonder Woman 1984 and other same-day premiere movies for free and then ditch its service.
That said, Max does allow users to stream a number of free first episodes CIA the website or app. This includes 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. We'll have to wait and see if this continues for Max.
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
Catch all of HBO's award-winning original series on Max. Relive the second-hand embarrassment of Curb Your Enthusiasm or finally 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 or even survive a post-apocalyptic world in The Last of Us.
Meanwhile, HBO Max has expanded its portfolio of Max Originals exclusive content. Standouts include the thriller series The Flight Attendant with Kaley Cuoco, the animated sitcom Close Enough, the mockumentary An American Pickle, and the award-winning drama It's a Sin from Russell T Davies. You then have Succession, Barry, Peacemaker, The White Lotus, The Gilded Age, Euphoria, Abbott Elementary, The Staircase, Our Flag Means Death, and The Rehearsal all making waves over the past couple of years.
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.
With the relaunch in May 2023, this also means Max features Discovery Plus content now, such as the Food Network, HGTV, and the Discovery Channel. That's a huge increase in new shows and documentaries.
HBO Max's vast catalog of movies features a mix of recent hits and beloved classics including The Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Dark Knight trilogy, The Matrix quadrilogy, all eight Harry Potter films, the DC Extended Universe, The Wizard of Oz, and Casablanca. HBO Max is also home to an extensive library of Studio Ghibli films — hence the reason you can't find Ghibli movies on Netflix in the United States. On top of this, Max now features more than 1,000 films and episodes in 4K UHD, increasing by almost eight times compared to what was available on HBO Max.
Is HBO Max on Roku or Fire TV?
HBO Max is now available to stream on Roku devices as of December 2020, and so is Max as of May 2023. If you already subscribe to HBO via Roku, it'll update to Max automatically.As of November 2020, HBO Max is now available to stream on Amazon Fire TV Stick and Amazon Fire TV Cube.This applies to the Max rebranding as well.
Is HBO Max worth it?
The short answer is yes. Max's new prices may give you pause since competing services like Disney Plus and Apple TV+ are half the cost and feature some Ultra HD content. However, Max arguably has the most impressive media library of any streaming platform thanks to parent company WarnerMedia, its ongoing quality of original shows, and the new addition of Discovery Plus.
If you can only pick one streamer, we'd recommend Max. While the movies are pretty great - Avatar: The Way of the Water, Magic Mike's Last Dance, The Menu, and Banshees of Insherinare are some of the highlights - it's really the original TV series that makes it stand out above everything else. Every award season, HBO clears up, and with The Last of Us season 2 heading our way, we recommend keeping the streamer on your radar.
We even saw numerous films released on streaming the same day as theatres back in 2021, with Wonder Woman 1984 being released in 4K Ultra HD. There are around 50 movies on HBO Max available in 4K, so if that's a priority for you, it might be wise to look elsewhere. Also, now that the pandemic is over, it's unlikely we'll see films being released day and date like then. We are, however, seeing movies come to HBO Max faster than ever before. Baz Luhrmann's Elvis debuted in cinemas in June 2022 and then arrived on HBO Max in September, for example.
Max may have pulled the plug on its free trial – although you can still try first episodes of several shows – but you can still head over to Hulu and try both HBO Max and Hulu for a week at no cost.
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 until the end of 2025. If you're thinking of tunneling in from outside the US, you'll find it's hard work. 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.
If you are outside the US and have access to Hulu, though, and are paying for that with something like a Revolut card, then you could add Max as a bolt-on to that streaming service instead for the same price as you would going direct.
Check out our viewing guides for all theupcoming TV showsandupcoming movies. You'll find cheaper options viaDisney Plus bundles, and we've got you covered for other networks with guides to the latest Peaco*ck TV costs and Paramount Plus prices.
Matt Poskitt
Deals Editor
Matthew is the Deals Editor for GamesRadar, keeping up with everything in games and constantly searching the web for the best deals on offer. Prior to this, Matthew headed up the games and entertainment section at T3 with his work also found across TechRadar, IGN, Tom's Guide, Fandom, NME, and more. In his spare time, Matthew is an avid cinema-goer, keen runner and average golfer (at best). You can follow him @MattPoskitt64.
With contributions from
- Emma-Jane BettsManaging Editor, Evergreens
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