HBO Max price: how much does it cost, is it cheaper than Netflix and Disney+, and more big questions answered

HBO Max is one of the biggest streamers on the planet — but, if you've only just learned of its existence, you might be wondering how much it costs to sign up for an account.

That's where we come in. Below, our entertainment experts have rounded up the latest news one of the best streaming services' various plans, their price points, the features they offer, and more besides. So, if you're unsure if you want to subscribe to Warner Bros. Discovery's (WBD) super streamer, this guide will answer all of your biggest questions.

HBO Max price: at a glance

First things first, let's take a look at how much HBO Max's ad-supported tier, aka its cheapest plan, will set you back in the US, UK, and Australia, so you can decide if it'll suit the budget you're working to:

• US — $10.99 per month
• UK — £5.99 per month
• Australia — AU$11.99 per month

Still interested but what a much clearer picture of what's on offer? I don't blame you. Continue reading on, then, to see what other plans are on offer that what you'll get if you opt to part with your cash by signing up to the platform.

HBO Max US price: how much does it cost?

After last October's price hike, HBO Max has become more expensive stateside. Here's a brief look at how much money you'll need to part with as of May 2026:

• Basic With Ads plan — $10.99 a month or $109.99 a year
• Standard (ad-free) plan — $18.49 a month or $184.99 a year
• Premium (ad-free) plan — $22.99 a month or $229.99 a year

As well as subscribing to HBO Max through its website, US customers can also add it to their existing Prime Video subscription as an extra channel. However, it'll cost you an additional $10.99 per month to do so.

No matter what plan you sign up to, you'll gain access to HBO Max's vast library of content. That includes new and classic films from Warner Bros. Pictures, numerous live-action and animated DC Comics offerings, and various TV Originals from HBO, Cartoon Network, and Discovery+ to name just three.

Additionally, movies developed by acclaimed indie studio A24 are released exclusively on HBO Max following their initial theatrical debut. Lastly, a new in-app feature called 'Channels' lets you watch live feeds of various HBO programs across different linear and curated channels.

Before you open or reactivate your account, you'll want to know what each tier offers you.

Go for the Basic With Ads plan, and you can only watch HBO Max on two concurrent devices at 1080p resolution and with 5.1 surround sound quality. Downloading content for offline viewing isn't supported here, though, so bear this in mind if you want to download things to watch on any long-haul flights you might be about to embark on.

Meanwhile, both ad-free plans allow up to four people to watch it at the same time, and offers 4K resolution and Dolby Atmos sound quality. The major difference between the Standard and Premium tiers is that you can only download up to 30 things to stream without an internet connection on the former, while the latter allows up to 100 downloads before your limit is reached.

HBO Max UK price: how much does it cost?

Following its late March launch on British shores, here's how much each HBO Max tier will set you back — and what features you'll get with each one:

Like the US, UK residents can sign up directly via hbomax.com. It's also available as a Prime Video add-on for £4.99 per month and a wide variety of Sky packages.

Where the latter is concerned, HBO Max's Basic With Ads tier comes bundled with any Sky TV subscription worth £4.99 a month. Existing NOW Entertainment customers will get Basic With Ads at no extra cost, too.

Additionally, HBO Max is part of the £22 per month Sky Ultimate TV package, the £32 per month Ultimate TV and Sky Cinema bundle, the £39 a month Sky Ultimate TV and 300mbps full fibre broadband bundle, and the £42 a month Ultimate TV and Sky Sports package. Sign up to any of these, then, and you'll get HBO Max at no extra cost.

HBO Max offers: are there any available?

Yes — but only in the US. New and existing Cricket Wireless customers can take advantage of a 'Supreme Unlimited' package and grab an ad-supported HBO Max subscription for free. Essentially, you'll save yourself $120 for the year, so it's well worth investing in.

Meanwhile, a HBO Max, Disney+, and Hulu mega bundle is available for the surprisingly cost-effective price of $19.99 a month for the ad-supported version, and $32.99 every 30 days for the ad-free experience. That represents a saving of $13 and $23.48 respectively every month.

US readers who subscribe to Verizon can also take advantage of a $10 Netflix and HBO Max (With Ads) bundle deal that'll save you almost $9 per month. You don't need us to tell you that this represents a saving of almost 50% every 30 days.

Lastly, HBO Max's password crackdown means anyone who lives in a separate household can't access your account unless you add them to your plan via HBO Max's 'extra member' perk. It'll set you back an extra $7.99 a month but, hey, if you split the full cost of an HBO Max membership between you, everyone will save money in the long run.

"But what about an HBO Max free trial?", I hear you cry. A seven-day offer was discontinued almost five years ago and hasn't been seen since.

How does HBO Max's price compare to other streaming services?

Curious to know how HBO Max compares price-wise to its rivals? Here's how much each platform's cheapest ad-free tier will set you back (NB: Hulu and Peacock TV aren't available as individual streamers in the UK):

As you'll have noted, Hulu is the only streamer who's ad-free experience costs more than HBO Max in the US. In the UK, it'll be the joint second-most expensive platform to subscribe to from a 'no ads' standpoint, with only Netflix costing more.

Still, HBO Max's library is one of the biggest around — indeed, only Netflix and Prime Video, who license content from other TV networks and streamers, can boast bigger back catalogs. Throw in the additional benefits of HBO Max's ad-free tiers, such as 4K and Dolby Atmos 5.1 support, and its ad-free tiers' price brackets are slightly more appealing, too.

Is HBO Max worth the price?

Yes, especially if you decide to spend your money on the its money-saving ad-supported plan. So, as long as you can stomach the occasional ad break, HBO Max's seemingly unlimited number of movies, TV shows, and documentaries — many of which are critically acclaimed and/or award-winning — is worth the investment.

Okay, you can't take advantage of HBO Max's best features if you opt for the Basic tier. However, with the Standard and Premium offerings being some of the most expensive options throughout the streaming realm, HBO Max's ad-supported plan is not to be sniffed at.

For more HBO Max-based coverage, read our guides on House of the Dragon season 3, The Last of Us season 3, Creature Commandos season 2, and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 2.