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

The HBO Max price was raised for the third consecutive year in a row in 2025, making the platform one of the most expensive among the world's best streaming services.

Users had been warned that a price hike was on the way, following Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav comments about HBO Max being "way underpriced" for the amount of content it offers. Now that the increase is here, you'll likely want to know how much each subscription tier costs.

In this guide, I'll tell you everything you need to know about HBO Max's different price points, how they compare to its streaming competitors, and more. Here, then, is the lowdown on the cost of HBO Max.

HBO Max prices at a glance

As of October 24, 2025, HBO Max has raised its prices for new subscribers. Existing subscribers will also face a price increase in their next billing date, provided it's on or after November 20. For new users, here's how much each subscription plan will set you back:

• 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

Regardless of which one you pick, you'll gain access to HBO Max's seemingly infinity amount of content, with thousands of movies and TV shows to enjoy. That includes new and classic films from Warner Bros. Pictures, a whole host of live-action and animated DC Comics offerings, and various TV Originals from HBO, Cartoon Networks, Discovery+, and more.

Following a deal that WBD struck with acclaimed indie studio A24 last December, the latter's latest films are exclusively available to stream on HBO Max, too. Lastly, a new in-app featured called 'Channels' allows subscribers to seamlessly watch a live feed of various HBO programs across numerous channels.

It's worth knowing about any extras you'll get if you sign up to one of HBO Max's more expensive plans, too.

Anyone who opens an account using the ad-supported tier can only watch the streamer on two concurrent devices at 1080p resolution and with 5.1 surround sound quality. You can't download content for offline viewing, either.

However, the ad-free plans allow up to four people to watch some of the best HBO Max movies and best HBO Max shows at the same time, and offers 4K resolution and Dolby Atmos sound quality. The Standard plan lets you download up to 30 things to stream without an internet connection, while the Premium package lets you do that 100 times.

HBO Max offers: are there any available?

Yes. First, new or existing Cricket Wireless customers can sign up for its 'Supreme Unlimited' package and bag themselves an ad-supported HBO Max subscription at no extra cost. Essentially, you'll save yourself $110 for the year, so it's well worth investing in.

Want more streaming bang for your buck? An HBO Max, Disney+, and Hulu mega bundle is available for the surprisingly cost-effective price of $19.99 a month. That represents a saving of almost $15 every 30 days compared to you signing up to each platform's ad-supported tier.

Anyone who secures an Amazon Prime subscription, which comes with Prime Video included, can also add HBO Max to their Prime Video plan. However, you'll need to pay an extra $10.99 per month to bolt on WBD's streaming platform to your Amazon prime package. Better yet, Prime Video is having a limited-time streaming sale that's seen over 20 add-on bundles discounted, including a HBO Max and Starz bundle (see details below).

HBO Max + Starz bundle add-on: was $27.99 per month now $20.99 at Prime Video
This offer is a great way to add HBO Max and Starz as part of your Prime Video subscription. HBO Max has plenty of great originals to stream, like The Penguin, The Last of Us and The White Lotus, and being bundled with Starz's great offerings offers fantastic savings than buying both separately.

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Perhaps the cheapest deal on offer, though, is one that's available to those who live in a different household to you.

The introduction of HBO Max's password crackdown last year, means people who don't live with you can no longer access your account. Well, unless you part with more cash. That's because a new 'extra member' HBO Max subscription option means you can add them to your plan for an additional $7.99 a month. Heck, if you watch HBO Max regularly, why not just go halves on the cost? That's an even bigger money saver for both parties!

As for whether a HBO Max free trial is available to take advantage of, I've got bad news. A seven-day offer was discontinued almost five years ago and it hasn't returned since, so it's incredibly unlikely we'll ever see it again.

Lastly, I'd expect Black Friday 2025 to bring us an HBO Max deal or two. That's still a month away at the time of this article's latest update, though, so be sure to check back with us in November to see if WBD will offer up some cheap HBO Max deals for the biggest sales event of the year.

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

Considering how competitive the streaming market is these days, you might be wondering if opening an HBO Max account is better than, say, signing up to Netflix or another rival.

For more on how each platform's ad-free tier compares to every other service, read on:

As the above table reveals, only one of HBO Max's rivals – Hulu – is more expensive if you sign up for an ad-free monthly account. That makes WBD's super streamer one of the most expensive options around if you don't want to sit through ads every so often.

Nonetheless, 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 $18.99 and $22.99 per month price brackets are slightly more appealing, too.

Is HBO Max worth the price?

Yes, especially if you opt for its ad-supported subscription. $10.99 a month is certainly affordable for most households and, as long as you can stomach the occasional ad break, HBO Max's seemingly infinite library of movies, TV shows, and documentaries – many of which are critically acclaimed and/or award-winning – is worth the investment.

At this price point, HBO Max's cheapest tier is priced in line with Peacock TV. Prime Video, Apple TV, Netflix, Paramount+ and Disney+ all cost less to stream with ads, making Hulu the most expensive service to get access to. While these rivals don't offer the same content slate, it's perfectly understandable if you decide to close your HBO Max account if you've opted for an ad-free experience.

If you'd like to find a way to avoid paying more for the service, check out our best streaming deals guide for more details on how to make your money stretch further.

For more HBO Max-based coverage, read my guides on House of the Dragon season 3, The Last of Us season 3, Creature Commandos season 2, and Euphoria season 3.