How Much Does HBO Max Cost?
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HBO Max, now known simply as Max, is a subscription streaming service that delivers movies and TV series from HBO, Warner Bros. and more. Plans range from $9.99 to $19.99 per month, though annual pricing is also available.
How much does HBO Max cost per month?
Your monthly cost depends on your type of membership. Max offers three plans, each with unique features and benefits, plus a sports add-on that's available with each plan.
But note, you may already have Max access through another service you pay for, such as cable, phone, internet or a streaming platform. Some include Max for free, while others add it for a fee.
With ads
The ad-supported version of Max costs $9.99 a month or $99.99 a year when billed annually. Users get full HD resolution at no additional cost and can stream on up to two devices at once.
Ad-free
You can select an ad-free version for $15.99 per month, or pay $149.99 per year when billed annually. Like the ad-supported version, users can stream in HD on up to two devices. This plan adds on up to 30 downloads for offline viewing.
Ultimate Ad-Free
The Ultimate Ad-Free plan features commercial-free viewing for $19.99 a month or $199.99 a year. At this price, users gain the ability to stream to four devices simultaneously, as well as 4K Ultra HD support, Dolby Atmos immersive sound and up to 100 downloads for offline viewing.
B/R Sports
Max offers the B/R Sports add-on for free during a promotional period, then starting at $9.99 a month on top of your existing Max subscription (the website notes that pricing and availability will vary by subscription provider). The sports add-on gives access to live sports, pre- and post-game studio programming, on-demand content, special features and live series from Bleacher Report. Some blackout restrictions may apply.
Free and packaged HBO Max plans
You may already have access to a free Max subscription as part of your current phone or internet plan, including:
Cable TV plans (check for your provider on the Max site).
Select AT&T wireless or internet plans.
Select DirecTV/DirecTV Stream plans.
Select Cricket Wireless plans.
In some cases, for a fee, you can add HBO Max to your current TV or streaming service such as Hulu, DirecTV, Xfinity, Amazon Prime or Cox.
MORE: How much does Sling TV cost?
YouTube TV offers an Entertainment Plus plan that includes HBO Max, Starz, and Paramount+ with Showtime for $29.99 a month.
Does Max cost the same as HBO Max did?
Yes. Former HBO Max subscribers now have a subscription to Max at the same price. Max features the same movies and premium HBO programming as HBO Max did and adds content from these sources and more:
The DC Universe.
Cartoon Network.
Turner Classic Movies (TCM).
Adult Swim.
Discovery.
HGTV.
The Food Network.
In other words, Max is an expansion of HBO Max, with more content for the same price.
Does HBO Max allow password sharing?
Max allows users to share accounts only with other members of their household. And with the two base plans allowing streaming on only two devices, someone tempted to share their password outside their household might quickly run out of capacity to access streaming themselves.
How to fit HBO Max into your budget
The 50/30/20 approach to your household budget can help you balance spending. With this budgeting method, 50% of spending goes toward needs, 30% goes toward discretionary spending, and 20% goes toward savings and paying down debt balances.
Streaming platforms fall under the 30% spending on wants. Annual subscription packages may offer additional savings for entertainment enthusiasts who can’t live without multiple platforms. You might also earn a bit of cash back if you pay with a good credit card for streaming services.
