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

HBO Max might be a leading light of the streaming world, but it's becoming increasingly more expensive to subscribe to. Indeed, with the cost of one the world's best streaming services' various tiers going up in mid-October, you may be wondering if you can justify signing up to the platform or sticking with your current plan.

That's where we come in. In this guide, we've rounded up the latest information on the price of each HBO Max subscription tier, how they stack up against its rivals, and whether you'll be able to take advantage of a cost-cutting Black Friday 2025 deal. So, don't delay any longer – read on to learn more about HBO Max's different price points.

HBO Max prices at a glance

As part of its now-customary annual price rises, Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) jacked up the price of HBO Max for anyone signing up to the service for the first time.

Current subscribers aren't immune to the monthly $1 increase for the ad-supported Basic tier, $1.50 price rise for the ad-free Standard tier, and $2 bump for the ad-free Premium option. Indeed, come November 20, existing users will be forced to hand over more money to watch the streamer, too.

Here's a snapshot of how much you'll need to spend to sign up to HBO Max and/or stay subscribed:

• 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

No matter which plan you opt for, you'll gain access to HBO Max's seemingly infinite amount of content. Its vast library includes new and classic films from Warner Bros. Pictures, numerous live-action and animated DC Comics offerings, and various TV Originals from the likes of HBO, Cartoon Network, and Discovery+.

Furthermore, movies developed by fan-favorite indie studio A24 exclusively debut on HBO Max a few months after their initial theatrical release. Lastly, a new in-app feature called 'Channels' lets you watch live feeds of various HBO programs across various channels.

There are caveats with the basic and standard plans, though.

Sign up to the ad-supported tier, and you can only watch HBO Max on two concurrent devices at 1080p resolution and with 5.1 surround sound quality. You can't download content for offline viewing, either.

Meanwhile, 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. However, the standard tier only lets you download up to 30 things to stream without an internet connection. By contrast, the Premium package lets you do so 100 times before it cuts you off.

HBO Max offers: are there any available?

Yes. New and existing Cricket Wireless customers can take advantage of a '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 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.

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 add it to your current package, so don't expect HBO Max to come free of charge.

Perhaps the cheapest deal on offer, though, is one that people who live separately to you should make full use of.

The introduction of HBO Max's password crackdown last year means anyone who doesn't live with you can't access your account unless you ad a new 'extra member' HBO Max subscription option to your current plan. 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. I wouldn't bank on it making an unexpected comeback, either.

Lastly, Black Friday 2025 should deliver some form of cheaper HBO Max deal. Previous years have seen its price slashed across the board – indeed, the streamer's ad-supported tier was reduced to just $17.94 for a six-month subscription during last year's event. There might be a saving or two to be had during the biggest sales event of the year, then.

For more details, check out our guide on the best Black Friday streaming deals that are available right now.

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, Hulu is the only streamer that's more expensive than HBO Max from an ad-free experience standpoint.

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 decide to spend your money on the its ad-supported plan. $10.99 a month is a cost-effective price 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.

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 Euphoria season 3.