HBO Max is a streamer that features the back catalogue of HBO and Warner Bros but has been on quite the journey recently for its title alone, as well document and ridiculed everywhere.
Originally launching as HBO Max in 2020 it changed its name to simply Max in 2023 before reverting to its original HBO Max this summer. It's a move the equivalent of ordering a 16 oz ribeye steak on the menu, sending it back to the kitchen in favour of a side salad, and then changing your mind again and asking the waiter to fish out the original steak from the bin and serve it to you instead.
But aside from the own goals scored by this much discussed title change, HBO Max has a lot to offer. From DC superhero content, Game of Thrones, Discovery documentaries, TNT sports and everything in between. And from next year it will have the much-anticipated Harry Potter TV series to offer too which is a sure-fire way to draw up even more interest.
However, for all it has to offer this streamer is one of the most expensive ones on the market. How much is it and is it worth your time? Well, we shine a light on this to help you make your mind up below...
HBO Max price — how much does it cost?
HBO Max has three subscription plans:
- HBO Max ad-free: the ad-free plan costs $16.99 per month (the same as a legacy HBO account); you can sign up for a full year for $169.99. This plan gives you access to any and all content available on Max without ads, as well as all the bells and whistles of the service, including 4K resolution.
- HBO Max with ads: HBO Max's ad-supported plan is cheaper at $9.99 per month plan ($99.99 for a full year), but there are some key differences to the service. You get the same access to library titles and HBO Max originals but, not only do you have to sit through the commercials, there's also no 4K resolution and no ability to download content to watch offline.
- HBO Max Ultimate ad-free: an upgraded version of the previous tier at $20.99 per month or $209.99 per year which offers 4K video streaming on lots of titles, 100 offline downloads, streaming on four screens at once, and Dolby Atmos sound on supported titles.
You can also sign up for HBO Max through other streaming platforms as an add-on channel. This includes YouTube TV and Hulu/Hulu with Live TV.
What's the difference between HBO, HBO Max and Max?
HBO, the legendary cable channel that we know and love is still there, the same as it ever was, offering incredible original content paired alongside the best of Hollywood.
For a while, HBO Max was the streaming service, and then it was Max...and then back to HBO Max again. The difference between the two is that HBO Max gets the top subscription tier and Discovery Plus content, neither of which are on HBO Max.
HBO Max has everything that's on HBO, plus movies and shows from many of Warner Media Discovery's other brands, such as TBS, TNT, CNN, Adult Swim, classic movies from Turner Classic Movies and even the best kids programming — courtesy of Sesame Street, Cartoon Network, Cartoonito and Looney Tunes.
HBO Max also has its own original series that stream exclusively on the streaming service, dubbed as Max Originals.
Can I get Max for free?
Define free. Consumers can no longer try out HBO Max, as there is no free trial currently available for the streaming service, unless there is a special promotional offer. But there are a handful of ways that consumers can get access to HBO Max without technically paying extra for the service, but that's not really getting HBO Max for free. Here's what you need to know.
Most notably, if you have a cable subscription that includes HBO, then you automatically have access to HBO Max via that deal, signing into the streaming service with your cable package login information.
Though AT&T has stopped offering HBO Max for free now that it is no longer its parent company, AT&T customers that previously received HBO Max for free as part of their plan still have access to it at no additional charge as long as they keep their plan. Meanwhile, AT&T still plans to offer versions of HBO Max as part of select wireless plans. This includes the ad-supported version of HBO Max with the $60 per month plan of AT&T's Cricket Wireless.
Is HBO Max available in the UK?
Although HBO Max is gradually rolling out across the world, sadly the answer is no — HBO Max is not available in the UK, yet.
Most of the must-see shows that you'll find on HBO Max — from House of the Dragon to Euphoria, Winning Time to Succession — are currently available on Sky TV, which has a licensing deal to air HBO's shows. This likely means that HBO Max won’t launch in the UK (or Germany and Italy) until the Sky deal ends in 2025.
What shows are on HBO Max?
As we said, HBO Max is HBO... and then some. There are new movies and shows every month. We have a monthly guide to what's new on HBO Max, to help you keep track of everything that the streaming service has to offer.
The streaming service has many of the HBO originals you've come to know and love, like Last Week Tonight, as well as classic shows, like Friends.
There is also a full slate of HBO Max originals. Here's a sampling of these original series available on the streaming service:
What movies are on HBO Max?
HBO Max gets the benefit of the Warner Bros. library, which means a vast array of cinematic goodness is available to stream from the comfort of your own home. After a short pandemic-induced period of releasing movies straight to streaming, Warner has reimposed its theatrical window, meaning new 2022 movies are going to be released exclusively in movie theatres and it will be at least 45 days before they head to VOD or streaming.
That said, 45 days isn't long to wait and WarnerMedia Discovery also announced they are producing some movies exclusively for Max. In 2022 already that has included Kimi, Moonshot and The Father of the Bride.
Current movies on Max:
- Dune
- The Batman
- The Bob's Burgers Movie
- Death on the Nile
- The Last Duel
- Last Night in Soho
- Fast & Furious 9
- The French Dispatch
- West Side Story
- Shazam!: Fury of the Gods
- Black Adam
Classic movies on Max:
- Citizen Kane
- Gone With the Wind
- Mad Max: Fury Road
- The Maltese Falcon
- Sleepless in Seattle
- Warrior
- The Wizard of Oz
How can I watch HBO Max?
HBO Max is available on a variety of devices that allows subscribers to watch on their TV, phone, tablet or computer. Here's a full rundown of what devices support HBO Max:
- iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch with iOS 12.2 or newer
- Android phones and tablets with Android 5 or newer
- Amazon Fire tablets (fourth generation or newer)
- PC running Windows 7 or newer
- Mac with macOS 10.10 (Yosemite) or newer
- Google Chromebooks with Chrome browser version 95 or newer
- A web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Safari)
- Amazon Fire TV with Fire OS 5.1 or newer
- Android TV with Android OS 5 or newer
- Apple TV 4K or Apple TV HD with latest tvOS software
- Cox Contour 2 and Contour Stream Player
- LG Smart TV
- PlayStation 4 & PlayStation 5
- Samsung Smart TVs (2016 models or newer)
- Spectrum WorldBox (in select areas)
- Vizio Smart TVs (2018 models or newer)
- Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S
- XClass TV
- Xfinity X1 & Flex
- Chromecast
- AirPlay
- Roku
