How Much Is an HBO Max Subscription in 2024?

Streaming has become a way of life for many, and choosing the best streaming services is critical as doing so will save you money while ensuring you get the features you care about most.

HBO Max is one of the most popular streaming services today, and for good reasons. Its expansive library of shows and movies, reputation for high-quality content, and variety of plan options make it a solid choice. This article will discuss HBO Max's recent price increases and whether the new HBO Max price per month is worth it.

Top HBO Max Deals

Max Streaming Service Black Friday Deal

$2.99 / month for 6 months

Get the premium service for just $2.99 per month for your first six months with this Black Friday deal. This is valid only on the Max with ads plan, and after six months, your plan will renew at the then-current rate (currently $9.99 per month) unless you cancel first.

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Max Streaming Service Student Discount

$4.99/month

Students who wish to consume all the Max content they can get their hands on can do so and save 50% to boot! You'll have to be a student at an accredited college or university and verify your status through UNiDAYS. Once you're getting your the discounted subscription, it'll automatically renew at that rate each month for 12 months unless you cancel. Note this discount only applies to the Max With Ads monthly plan, which offers unlimited access to all of HBO including hit series, movies, news, sports, and more. Watch in full HD resolution on up to two devices at once with this plan.

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Max, Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, and More via DirecTV Stream

Free 3-Month Trial

DirecTV Stream members can sign up for a free 3-month trial of the Premium Channels add-on bundle that includes Max, Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, STARZ, MGM+, and Cinemax. After the promo period, the channels will auto-renew at then-prevailing rates (currently $16.99/mo. for Max, $12.99/mo. for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, $10.99/mo. each for STARZ and Cinemax, and $6.99/mo. for MGM+), unless you change or cancel.

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Max Streaming Service with DoorDash DashPass

30-Day Free Trial

New DoorDash DashPass customers can sign up for a 30-day free trial, which includes a membership to Max With Ads. After the 30-day trial, the subscription will be billed at $96 annually. Along with the Max streaming service, DashPass members enjoy a $0 delivery fee on DashPass orders, 5% back on pickup orders, and much more.

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Disney+, Hulu, Max Bundle

From $17

Get Disney+, Hulu, and Max bundled together. At the ad-free tier, you'll be saving 42% per month compared to paying for the services separately. Alternatively, the basic bundle is a savings of 43% per month in comparison. The Trio plan options, which include ESPN+ instead of Max, start from $17/month, and the Duo plans with Disney+ and Hulu start at $11/month.

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What Is HBO Max?

HBO Max, rebranded in 2023 as just Max, is a streaming service that launched in May 2020. Since then, this streaming service has become a favorite among consumers for its strong offering of high-quality shows and movies.

How Much Are HBO Max Subscriptions?

According to an article by The Verge, HBO Max recently increased the prices for its Ad-Free and Ultimate Ad-Free subscriptions, but its Max With Ads subscription remains at the same price. Here is an overview of how much HBO Max costs per month with the recent price increases:

Max With Ads

The Max With Ads subscription plan costs $9.99 per month (or $99.99 per year). This price remains the same as it was before HBO Max's recent price surges for its two ad-free subscription plans.

Max Ad-Free

The Max Ad-Free plan now costs $16.99 per month (or $169.99 per year), up from its previous price of $15.99 per month ($149.99 per year). The HBO Max monthly cost for this plan offers a balance between ad-free viewing and affordability, though it lacks the bells and whistles of the Ultimate Ad-Free plan.

Max Ultimate Ad-Free

HBO Max also increased the price for its Ultimate Ad-Free plan, which now costs $20.99 per month ($209.99 per year). Before the price hike, this plan cost only $19.99 per month ($199.99 per year).

B/R Sports Add-On

In addition to its three plans, HBO Max offers a B/R Sports Add-On. This optional service, which gives you access to live sports streams from various channels (including NHL and MLB) and TNT Sports, is currently available at no extra charge for HBO Max subscribers. However, HBO Max will begin charging $9.99 per month for this add-on within the next few months.

More to Know About HBO Max

How Does HBO Max's Cost Compare?

So, how much does HBO Max cost compared to other streaming services?

HBO Max falls toward the more expensive end of the spectrum as far as streaming services go, with its ad-supported plan costing more than the ad-supported plans of Netflix, Paramount Plus, and Peacock, for example.

Its two ad-free plans are also significantly more expensive than those of most of its competitors, including Amazon Prime, Apple TV Plus, Paramount Plus, and Starz. However, the Max Ultimate Ad-Free plan is a bit more affordable than Netflix's comparable Premium plan.

While HBO Max is a bit harder on the wallet than its competitors, it also offers an expansive library featuring some of today's most in-demand shows and movies. This library includes HBO and Max Originals, which are generally known for their high level of quality and entertainment value.

Can You Get a Free Trial of HBO Max?

HBO Max offered a seven-day free trial for a limited time at its launch. However, the streaming service has since removed its free trial option.

The good news is that you can still get a seven-day free trial by bundling HBO Max with Hulu. Hulu will give you the chance during signup to bundle with HBO Max, which will give you access to the free trial. Unless you plan on keeping the HBO Max add-on with your Hulu subscription, though, you will need to cancel before the trial is over.

While not as good as a free trial, HBO Max does allow you to watch the first episode of certain series for free. This gives you the chance to determine whether you enjoy the content and quality that Max offers enough to subscribe.

How Do You Sign Up for HBO Max?

There are three primary ways you can sign up for HBO Max:

• Directly with HBO Max: You can sign up for HBO Max directly on its website or through the app. The streaming service provides detailed instructions on how to do this.
• Through a third-party service or provider: As mentioned earlier, a few third-party providers (including AT&T, DirecTV/DirecTV Stream, and Cricket Wireless) will allow their customers to sign up for HBO Max through their platforms, usually offering some kind of discount or even free HBO Max access.
• As part of a bundle with other streaming services: Hulu, Disney Plus , and Amazon Prime allow their customers to choose HBO Max as an add-on, giving you an overall better deal on the streaming service.

Are There Any Discounts for HBO Max?

There are numerous ways you can get discounts for HBO Max. This includes:

• Signing up for the annual plan: When signing up for a plan, choose to pay annually instead of monthly to receive a 17% discount. An HBO Max annual subscription is a smart and convenient way to save money on your favorite streaming service.
• Taking advantage of HBO Max's student discount: HBO Max offers a student discount, allowing students to enjoy its services for only $4.99 per month for up to 12 months. This discount can only be applied to HBO Max's ad-supported subscription plan. To qualify, students need to create an account with UNiDAYS to verify their student status.
• Applying promo codes: HBO Max may offer special promo codes from time to time. Applying a promo code is a great way to reduce what you're paying for the streaming service, at least for a limited time.
• Bundling HBO Max with other streaming services: Finally, you can receive discounted access to everything HBO Max has to offer by bundling it with other streaming services. In particular, Hulu, Disney Plus, and Amazon Prime offer HBO Max bundles to save you money.

If you plan on utilizing that last option, you may be wondering how much HBO Max bundles are.

Bundling HBO Max with Disney+ and Hulu starts at $16.99 per month (with ads) or $29.99 per month (without ads).

Which HBO Max Subscription Plan is the Best?

The best HBO Max subscription plan for you depends on what you expect from the streaming service and on your budget. Each plan has its pros and cons, so let's take a look.

Max With Ads

Pros:

• Is the most affordable option
• Offers access to a huge number of shows and movies

Cons:

• Comes with ads
• Cannot stream in HD, 4K, or Dolby Vision

Max Ad-Free

Pros:

• Streams without ads
• Comes at a reasonable midrange price

Cons:

• Cannot stream in HD, 4K, or Dolby Vision

Max Ultimate Ad-Free

Pros:

• Streams without ads
• Allows you to stream in HD, 4K, and Dolby Vision

Cons:

• Is significantly more expensive

Which Channels Are Included with HBO Max?

One of HBO Max's shining features is its huge array of available channels. Whether you like to get inspired by The Food Network, unwind with your Adult Swim favorites, or binge-watch pretty much any HBO or Max Original, this streaming platform has your entertainment needs covered.

Here's a list of the most popular channels that HBO Max currently offers:

• HBO
• Max Originals
• Warner Bros.
• DC
• Cartoon Network
• Wizarding World
• Adult Swim
• HGTV
• The Food Network
• TLC
• ID
• Magnolia Network
• Discovery
• TCM

This list is not comprehensive, and HBO Max's offerings include much more.

What Shows and Movies Are on HBO Max?

The No. 1 thing that makes HBO Max so attractive to consumers is its huge number of high-quality, in-demand, binge-worthy shows and movies. It would be impossible to list all their offerings here, so here are a couple of lists to get you started.

Movies:

• The Lord of the Rings trilogy
• The Dark Knight trilogy
• The Matrix quadrilogy
• All the Harry Potter movies
• The Wizard of Oz
• Casablanca
• Studio Ghibli films

TV Shows:

• Curb Your Enthusiasm
• Game of Thrones
• House of the Dragon
• Rick and Morty
• The Last of Us
• The Flight Attendant
• Close Enough
• An American Pickle
• Barry
• It's a Sin
• Euphoria
• The White Lotus
• Friends
• VEEP
• South Park
• The Boondocks
• Sex and The City

Does HBO Max Have Live Sports?

With the B/R Sports add-on, HBO Max subscribers can watch all their favorite live sports. This add-on gives you access to sports channels including MLB, NBA, and NHL, among others. Take advantage of this HBO Max offering soon—you can currently add it to your subscription for free, but the streaming service will begin charging $9.99 per month for this add-on within the next few months.

HBO Max also gives you access to TNT Sports, which is the sports channel hosted by the streaming service's parent company Warner Bros. Discovery.

Can HBO Max Be Streamed in Dolby Vision, 4K, and HDR?

Whether you can stream HBO Max in Dolby Vision, 4K, or HDR depends on three things:

1. The title you plan to watch: Only certain titles are available to stream in these definitions.
2. The device you're using: HBO Max only supports these definitions on select devices.
3. The subscription plan you have: You can only stream in these definitions with an Ultimate Ad-Free plan.

What Parental Controls Does HBO Max Have?

HBO Max provides two parental control options:

• Kid-Proof Exit: This parental control requires that you, the parent, input a 4-digit "Parent Code" before your child is able to leave their Kids' profile to ensure they cannot navigate to inappropriate content.
• Profile PIN: This feature allows you to set up a PIN for your (or other) HBO Max profiles, meaning your child would not be able to access any PIN-protected profiles.

Where Can You Get HBO Max Customer Support?

The first place you should go for customer support is the Max Help Center . Here, you can find information on various topics or contact the support team via the "Contact Us" button.

HBO Max also has its Max Feedback form online. You can fill out the form to ask questions, express concerns, or leave general feedback for the streaming service.

Finally, you can try calling the HBO Max support line: (855) 442-6629.

Which Devices Support Watching HBO Max?

You can stream HBO Max from a variety of devices, depending on where you live.

United States

• Most Android phones and tablets (with Android OS 5.1 or later)
• Apple iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch (with iOS 15 or later)
• The latest version of Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge for Windows, or Safari.
• Android TV devices with Android TV OS 5.1 or later
• Apple TV 4K or Apple TV HD with tvOS 15 or later
• Hisense VIDAA TV with OS 6.0 or later
• LG Smart TV with webOS 3.5 or later
• PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5
• Most Roku TV and streaming players with Roku OS 11 or later
• Samsung TV (2016 models and later) — select countries only
• Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S

Other Countries

• Amazon Fire tablets (4th generation or later) (Brazil and Mexico only)
• Amazon Fire TV devices with Fire OS 5 or later (Brazil and Mexico only)
• Claro Box 4KIP and 4KQAM models (Brazil only)
• Totalplay TV DIW362, VSB3940, and DIW377v models (Mexico only)

How to Get HBO Max for Free

Despite HBO Max gutting its promotional seven-day free trial in 2020, there are still a few ways to begin watching HBO Max for free . Some methods suggested by NerdWallet include:

Get seven days free with Hulu. If you choose HBO Max as an add-on for your Hulu account, you can get seven days for free. Just make sure to cancel the HBO Max subscription before the trial period ends or else you will be charged.

Look into offers from third-party providers. Some phone and internet providers offer free or discounted access to HBO Max with select plans. A few providers to look into include AT&T, DirecTV/DirecTV Stream, and Cricket Wireless.

Watch first episodes of select shows. HBO Max allows you to watch the first episode of select shows for free.

Is HBO Max Worth It?

Let's talk about the elephant in the room: HBO Max is considerably more expensive than most of its competitors, and the recent HBO Max price increase for its ad-free plans does not inspire confidence in the streaming service becoming more affordable anytime soon.

That said, signing up for an HBO Max subscription is still worth it for many consumers due to the sheer number and quality of its offerings. HBO Max's expansive library includes hot shows such as House of the Dragon, exceptional movies such as The Lord of the Rings and Dark Knight trilogies, and the promise of many more high-quality, binge-worthy shows in the near future.

Additionally, HBO Max recently added Discovery Plus to its extensive list of channels offered, giving you even more for your money.

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