HBO Max: how to sign up, price, movies, TV shows, supported devices, features, and more

Max is dead, long live HBO Max. After years of questioning like 'why was HBO Max renamed to Max?', Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) has reinstated the streaming platform's original title. At long last, then, one of the best streaming services' unofficial name is official once more.

If its rebranding has piqued your interest, I imagine you'll want to know everything worth knowing about HBO Max ahead of potentially signing up for a subscription. In this guide, I'll run you through the most important details about the streamer, including its various price points, what content it offers, what devices it's available on, and more. So, what are you waiting for? Dive in!

What is HBO Max and how do I sign up for an account?

Originally released in June 2020 under the name HBO Max, WBD merged its streaming platforms – HBO Max and Discovery+ – in May 2023 and rebranded its new super streamer Max. Two years and many confused looks later, WBD renamed its platform HBO Max after the megacorporation split its two main companies – Warner Bros. and Discovery Global – into separate entities again.

Signing up means you'll gain access to HBO Max's vast library. That includes content based around DC Comics, as well as films and TV shows created for HBO, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, and a whole host of other TV networks.

To open an account, you'll need to download the HBO Max app on your device of choice (more on these later) or head to HBOMax.com. From there, you can sign up for one of its tiers, input your details, and begin streaming ASAP.

Where is HBO Max currently available?

HBO Max was only available in the US for a long time. However, in February 2024, HBO Max rolled out in Latin American and Caribbean countries before landing in Europe a few months later. Before the end of 2024, it arrived in in Japan (via U-Next), New Zealand (via Sky), and in Southeast Asian nations, including Hong Kong and Singapore, too. More recently, it's launched in Australia and a host of Eastern European and Mediterranean nations, including Turkey, Cyprus, Malta, Latvia, and Albania.

Alright, but what about in countries where HBO Max is still unavailable, such as the UK? Right now, HBO-developed movies and TV shows air on Sky and with that deal now running until early 2026, UK viewers have another 12 months to wait for the service's potential arrival. Will Max finally launch on British shoes alongside the in-development Harry Potter TV show, which could make its debut on the platform sometime in 2026? We wouldn't rule it out.

Max price: how much does it cost?

There are three main HBO Max price points to choose from in the US and Canada, with the more expensive tiers offering extra perks over their cheaper cousins. All three are available for monthly and annual fees, with the 12-month deals offering significant savings of up to 20%.

Here's a closer look at what's available:

If you're subscribed to HBO through your cable or satellite TV package, internet plan, or wireless plan, you may have access to HBO Max at no extra cost. However, you'll need to head to the providers page to see if you're eligible.

You can also add HBO Max to your Hulu plan for $16.99 per month, or to your Prime Video subscription for $9.99 (ad-supported) or $16.99 (ad-free) per month. Alternatively, an HBO Max, Disney Plus, and Hulu bundle is available that'll save you money in the long run, with prices starting at just $16.99 per month.

As for Australians, HBO Max's Basic With Ads (the ad-supported tier and cheapest one available) will set you back AU$11.99 a month. The Standard plan (the cheapest tier without ads) costs AU$15.99 for a monthly subscription, while the Premium tier weighs in at a hefty AU$21.99 every 30 days. Annual plans are also available for AU$119.99, AU$159.99, and AU$219.99 respectively.

If you're a Foxtel subscriber, you'll gain access to HBO Max's ad-supported option at no additional cost. It might be worth keeping your Foxtel subscription, then, if it's cheaper than the alternative.

Is there an HBO Max free trial?

No. In the early days, new customers had the option of trying out HBO Max for seven days free of charge. However, that free trial was discontinued in December 2020 and hasn't been seen since.

WBD occasionally slashes the price across Max's various tiers but, as of March 31, 2025, there's no free trial to take advantage of.

HBO Max password sharing crackdown explained

In December 2024, WBD confirmed it was in the early stages of implementing a crackdown on account sharing, with a view to rolling out a full-scale crackdown from early 2025 onwards.

As of March 31, 2025, HBO Max subscribers have only been politely informed that WBD is clamping down on sharing your account with people in a separate household. However, per Deadline, WBD will get "aggressive" with said clampdown from September 2025 onwards. Keep an eye our HBO Max password sharing guide for updates as we get them.

What HBO Max movies are worth watching?

HBO Max is stuffed with plenty of critically-acclaimed and highly-rated movies. Netflix's library might contain notable highlights from other studios, but HBO Max offers a seemingly infinite number of amazing flicks from Warner Bros' impressive 100-year-plus film library.

So, what's on offer? For one, an eclectic range of movies based on DC Comics starring legendary superheroes like Batman and Superman. That includes a slate of movies in the now-defunct DC Extended Universe (DCEU). For more details on them, read my guide on how to watch the DC movies in order.

New movies set in James Gunn and Peter Safran's rebooted DC Universe (DCU) are on the way, too. Gunn's Superman movie, which took flight in theaters globally in July, will be the first of those to arrive. Check out my Superman streaming release date article for the latest on its potential home launch date.

Genre movies are generally well represented, with The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies, plus the Dune duology also, available. Take a look at our dedicated guide to the best HBO Max movies for our top-tier choices and our new HBO Max movies list, which is updated every month with the latest movies to hit the platform.

One of HBO Max's bespoke channels features Studio Ghibli movies, which gives subscribers access to every animated film from the legendary studio. There's plenty more for kids among the best HBO Max family movies, too. Another channel – TCM (Turner Classic Movies) – delivers plenty more classics, such as Casablanca, and recently enjoyed an expansion to its catalog that brings even more unmissable flicks to this channel.

Since December 2023, more than 100 A24 films have joined Max's library thanks to a new licensing deal with A24 as well. WBD has also extended its licensing partnership with the Criterion Collection, so those films will stay on the service for years to come.

What HBO Max shows are worth streaming?

Few platforms can compete with the TV drama offerings available on HBO Max, with long-standing classics such as The Wire, The Sopranos, and Game of Thrones sitting alongside more recent (but similarly acclaimed) fare. Indeed, Succession, House of the Dragon, The Last of Us, The White Lotus, The Penguin, and The Pitt are just some of the recent global hits at the streamer's disposal.

HBO isn't just known for its highly bingeworthy dramas. Smash-hit comedies including Veep, Flight of the Conchords, Friends, Curb Your Enthusiasm , and The Big Bang Theory are also on the platform. There are numerous stand-up comedy specials available at your fingertips, plus a plethora of highly-rated docuseries for fact-based fans to consume.

Great animated shows from the ’90s like Batman: The Animated Series, Superman: The Animated Series, and the more futuristic Batman Beyond can be beamed right into your living room, too. And, if you're after some anime, Crunchyroll offers a broad selection.

Access to Cartoon Network encompasses shows like Steven Universe and Adventure Time, while the channel's more grown-up cousin, Adult Swim, supplies not-for-kids animated shows, like Rick and Morty, Robot Chicken, and Aqua Teen Hunger Force. Unfortunately, though, WBD has rung the death knell on its Looney Tunes line-up of programming, which frustratingly means it's on longer streamable on the service.

Lastly, import shows include Italian crime drama Gomorrah, Brit hit I Hate Suzie, and the first 13 seasons of the BBC's successful 2005 Doctor Who reboot are notable TV library inclusions. For more recommendations encompassing Max's impressive suite of TV content, check out our comprehensive guide to the best HBO Max shows.

HBO Max vs HBO: what's the difference?

The main difference between HBO and Max comes down to the range of programming you can access. Subscribing to HBO will allow you to stream every original series and movie that the premium channel has to offer.

Signing up for HBO Max, meanwhile, gets you more than triple the content. You won't only gain access to the platform's line-up of original, but you'll get everything on HBO and numerous other channels. Essentially, there's no reason to get HBO over HBO Max. They cost roughly the same, but you get way more stuff with the latter.

What devices is HBO Max available on?

Want to know what devices support HBO Max via web browsers or its app? Read on:

• Amazon Fire tablets (4th generation or later)
• Amazon Fire TV (Fire OS 5 or later)
• Android (5.1 or later)
• Android TV (with TV OS 5.1 or later)
• Apple TV 4K or HD (with tvOS 14 or later)
• Airplay
• Chromecast
• Chrome/Firefox/Microsoft Edge (latest versions) and Safari (version 13 or later)
• Cox Contour 2 and Contour Stream Player
• HDMI cable
• iOS (14 or later)
• LG Smart TV (webOS 3.5 or later)
• PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5
• Roku (OS 11.0 and later)
• Samsung smart TVs (2016 models or later)
• VIZIO Smart TV (2016 models or later)
• Xbox One and Xbox Series S/X
• XClass TV
• Xfinity X1 and Flex

HBO Max app: what features are available?

HBO Max lets you download content for offline viewing, except on its Ad-Lite tier. It also has a PIN system for parental control, personalized profiles, and brand-based content hubs similar to how Disney+ categorizes Star Wars content and Marvel films.

Other features are also available for subscribers, including SharePlay. Available on Ad-Free and Ultimate Ad-Free tiers with adult profiles, it allows you to watch shows and movies alongside friends and family over FaceTime and iMessage. There are also adult profile ratings and in player discovery for series.

HBO Max also comes packaged with a number of accessibility features, including Alexa voice commands, audio description and audio description quick access, close captions, keyboard navigation, and screen readers.

Classic HBO channels are also available for users on Ad-Free or Ultimate Ad-Free plans, while HBO Max was testing HBO Channels, which is similar to the experience of watching cable. Following its successful test period, you can now tune into a channel that's essentially a stream of HBO programming, like HBO 2 and HBO Comedy.

Max's features list continues to be updated, too. Recently, it received a big change to its user interface navigation menu, introduced new multiview functionality to 2025's Nascar Cup Series on TNT Sports, retained its Live Sports and News output at no additional cost to Standard and Premium customers, and got an AI-supported homepage redesign that aims to help you find the kind of content you enjoy watching.

Throw in other new additions like Audio in Hero for CTV and Web, movie and TV recommendations in-player, skip button functionality on Google Chrome, QR Code and Wi-Fi sign in improvements, and ad-based tweaks, and HBO Max is becoming a better service all round.

Does HBO Max support 4K streaming?

Yes, HBO Max supports 4K streaming on some compatible devices, with over 1000 movies and TV shows available to watch in 4K UHD.

There are a couple of caveats, though. 4K UHD support is only offered as part of the Ultimate Ad-Free tier, which costs $20.99 a month / $209.99 per year. Additionally, Dolby Atmos and Vision are only supported on specific films and TV series (read the full list in this WBD blog post), as well as on certain devices, which you can see below:

• Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K and Fire TV Cube
• Android TVs, including AT&T Streaming Box
• Apple TV 4K
• Google Chromecast Ultra and Chromecast with Google TV
• PlayStation 5
• Roku Ultra 4800x, Roku 4k TVs, Roku Premiere, and Roku Streaming Stick Plus
• Xbox Series X
• Xfinity X1 (Xi6) and Flex

Is HBO Max worth the money?

HBO Max might be on the pricey side but, since its initial US launch, it's only grown in stature. Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney+ all possess their own strong libraries of content, though, while Apple TV+ has even started to muscle in on HBO Max's prestige TV patch, so its ongoing success and/or popularity isn't guaranteed.

That said, HBO Max's superb movie and TV line-ups make it worth investing in even before all of its other features are accounted for. And, with plenty more new films and TV Originals, plus new seasons on must-see shows and regular feature updates, to come in the months and years ahead, I doubt WBD will be pulling the plug on its primary streamer any time soon.

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