There's plenty of exciting new content in store for HBO Max in 2024. House of the Dragon is set to return with its second season, along with the long anticipated Batman spin-off, The Penguin later in the year. Following last year's merger between Max and Discovery Plus, there's even more content you'll likely want to sample for free with an HBO Max free trial. Currently, though, there isn't a free trial available directly through HBO Max, though you can find other means of saving, particularly when prepaying for a year.
While HBO Max's trial period was available at launch, it's long since been discontinued. Even with the rebrand to Max we haven't seen the introductory offer return. However, there may just be a way to get a taste for the service if you happen to already be subscribed to Hulu or Amazon Prime Video. Whether you're in the US or elsewhere, we've detailed remaining ways to get a Max subscription for free and watch some of the best Max movies.
Is there a HBO Max free trial available?
Currently there is no Max free trial available directly through the service.
At launch in the US in May 2020 until early December, the HBO Max free trial was available to help uncertain customers decide whether the fledgling streaming service was for them for 7 days.
Much like the Disney Plus free trial prior to its release of Hamilton, the Max free trial disappeared before the release of one of its biggest titles to date, Wonder Woman 1984.
While Max has, in more recent times, launched in parts of Europe and Nordic countries, there's been no sign of a HBO Max free trial in new territories directly through the site, though its rebrand to Max inline with the Discovery Inc. merger will see the service arriving in more countries, giving potential for the free trial to be revived.
Are there other ways to get a Max free trial?
Those in the US are still able to secure access to Max for free if they sign up to one of Cricket Wireless' $60 unlimited plans, with the ad-supported plan thrown in at no extra cost.
There was a time when you could also get a Max free trial when adding it to your Hulu plan. However, this streaming deal, along with adding to your Prime Video subscription, has ended.
What's the cheapest way to get Max without a free trial?
You can save up to 20% by committing to an annual plan rather than its monthly rate. Now with the choice of three plans, its ad-supported plan costs $99.99 a year.
Alternatively, forgo ads and pay $149.99 annually (otherwise $15.99 a month for its ad-free monthly plan). Lock in 4K streams and pay $119.99 upfront for a year.
While the HBO Max free trial has gone for customers in the US – for now – potential subscribers can still check out some of their biggest shows for nothing. Just visit the Free Episodes section of its website to enjoy a small sample of their content: ranging from award-winning show Succession, new Kate Winslet hit The Regime, and Pedro Pascal's The Last of Us.
What can I watch on Max?
Pure TV gold. It’s got everything HBO ever produced, including critically acclaimed hits, while also being the exclusive home to sitcoms like Friends and The Big Bang Theory. Some of its titles include:
- Friends (and Friends: The Reunion)
- Game of Thrones
- House of the Dragon
- Sex and the City
- And Just Like That
- The Wire
- Westworld
- Succession
- Euphoria
- The Gilded Age
- The Last of Us
- The Flight Attendant
- The Sopranos
- The White Lotus
- Time Traveler's Wife
It also hosts films from dozens of major studios. Paramount Pictures, MGM, and Warner Bros all make an appearance, which means viewers can immerse themselves in cinema classics from the Hollywood Golden Age (Gone with the Wind, The Wizard of Oz) all the way up to contemporary blockbusters like 2019’s Joker, and the award-winning animation of Studio Ghibli. It's also the place to watch Dune and 2023's summer hit, Barbie.
