How Much Is an HBO Max Subscription in 2025?

HBO Max, now shortened to Max, is a subscription streaming service known for its extensive library of Max originals, and movies and series from Warner Bros., the DC Universe, and more. Max competes against streaming giants like Netflix, Disney Plus, Amazon Prime Video, and Apple TV+. Its monthly cost depends on the membership you choose. Max is expected to continue offering tiered subscription options to cater to all users. While pricing is subject to change, Max is anticipated to maintain its current plans with minor adjustments for streaming quality. This article will discuss HBO Max's recent price increases and whether the new HBO Max price per month is worth it.

Top Max Deals

Disney+, Hulu, Max Bundle

From $17

Get Disney+, Hulu, and Max bundled together in 2025. At the ad-free tier, you'll be saving 42% per month compared to paying for the services separately. Alternatively, the basic bundle is a savings of 43% per month in comparison. The Trio plan options, which include ESPN+ instead of Max, start from $17/month, and the Duo plans with Disney+ and Hulu start at $11/month.

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Max Annual Plans

Up to $41 off

Save up to $41 a year by signing up for a Max yearly plan instead of a monthly one in 2025. To see the savings options, go to the Yearly tab on the landing page. Here are the plan offerings and what you'll pay annually vs monthly:

• Ultimate Ad-Free: Save $41 ($209.99 on yearly plan; $251.88 on monthly plan)
• Ad-Free: Save $33 ($169.99 on yearly plan; $203.88 on monthly plan)
• With Ads: Save $19 ($99.99 on yearly plan; $119.88 on monthly plan)

Note that your subscription will auto-renew every 12 months at the then-current yearly price until you cancel.

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Max Streaming Service Student Discount

$4.99/mo.

Students who wish to consume all the Max content they can get their hands on can do so and save 50% to boot in 2025! You'll have to be a student at an accredited college or university and verify your status through UNiDAYS. Once you have the discounted subscription, it'll automatically renew at that rate each month for 12 months unless you cancel.Note this discount only applies to the Max With Ads monthly plan, which offers unlimited access to all of HBO including hit series, movies, news, sports, and more. Watch in full HD resolution on up to two devices at once with this plan.

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Max, Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, and More via DirecTV Stream

Free 3-Month Trial

DirecTV Stream members can sign up for a free 3-month trial in 2025 of the Premium Channels add-on bundle that includes Max, Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, STARZ, MGM+, and Cinemax. After the promo period, the channels will auto-renew at then-prevailing rates (currently $16.99/mo. for Max, $12.99/mo. for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, $10.99/mo. each for STARZ and Cinemax, and $6.99/mo. for MGM+), unless you change or cancel.

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Subscription Pricing

Max has something for everyone by providing a wide range of entertainment through different packages.

Max With Ads

The Max With Ads subscription plan costs $9.99 per month (or $99.99 per year). This price remains the same as it was before HBO Max's recent price surges for its two ad-free subscription plans.

Max Ad-Free

The Max Ad-Free plan now costs $16.99 per month (or $169.99 per year), up from its previous price of $15.99 per month ($149.99 per year). The HBO Max monthly cost for this plan offers a balance between ad-free viewing and affordability, though it lacks the bells and whistles of the Ultimate Ad-Free plan.

Max Ultimate Ad-Free

HBO Max also increased the price for its Ultimate Ad-Free plan, which now costs $20.99 per month ($209.99 per year). Before the price hike, this plan cost only $19.99 per month ($199.99 per year).

B/R Sports Add-On

In addition to its three plans, HBO Max offers a B/R Sports Add-On. This optional service, which gives you access to live sports streams from various channels (including NHL and MLB) and TNT Sports, is currently available at no extra charge for HBO Max subscribers. However, HBO Max will begin charging $9.99 per month for this add-on within the next few months.

How Does HBO Max's Cost Compare?

So, how much does HBO Max cost compared to other streaming services?

HBO Max falls toward the more expensive end of the spectrum as far as streaming services go, with its ad-supported plan costing more than the ad-supported plans of Netflix, Paramount Plus, and Peacock, for example.

Its two ad-free plans are also significantly more expensive than those of most of its competitors, including Amazon Prime, Apple TV Plus, Paramount Plus, and Starz. However, the Max Ultimate Ad-Free plan is a bit more affordable than Netflix's comparable Premium plan.

While HBO Max is a bit harder on the wallet than its competitors, it also offers an expansive library featuring some of today's most in-demand shows and movies. This library includes HBO and Max Originals, which are generally known for their high level of quality and entertainment value.

What About Free Trials?

In 2025, you can still get a seven-day free trial by bundling HBO Max with Hulu. Hulu will give you the chance during signup to bundle with HBO Max, which will give you access to the free trial. Unless you plan on keeping the HBO Max add-on with your Hulu subscription, though, you will need to cancel before the trial is over.

How Do You Sign Up for HBO Max?

There are three primary ways you can sign up for HBO Max:

• Directly with HBO Max: You can sign up for HBO Max directly on its website or through the app. The streaming service provides detailed instructions on how to do this.
• Through a third-party service or provider: As mentioned earlier, a few third-party providers (including AT&T, DirecTV/DirecTV Stream, and Cricket Wireless) will allow their customers to sign up for HBO Max through their platforms, usually offering some kind of discount or even free HBO Max access.
• As part of a bundle with other streaming services: Hulu, Disney Plus, and Amazon Prime allow their customers to choose HBO Max as an add-on, giving you an overall better deal on the streaming service.

Add-Ons and Bundles

While Max doesn't offer direct add-ons, subscribers can often find bundle deals through cable and streaming providers. These bundles typically include additional channels or services at a reduced rate, creating a more comprehensive entertainment package. For example, Max can be bundled with Disney Plus and Hulu for $16.99 per month with ads or $29.99 per month without ads.

Additionally, most HBO cable subscribers can access an ad-free Max subscription with HD streaming at no extra cost. However, it's advisable to confirm this with your specific cable provider, as availability may vary.

Students can also take advantage of discounted pricing, making Max more accessible to younger audiences. Those 18 and older can subscribe to Max with ads for just $4.99 per month for up to 12 months. Some colleges and universities even offer Max access for free, providing students with a cost-effective way to enjoy premium content. While Max offers limited discounts, with student deals providing up to 50% off, though availability is restricted. There are no widely available specific discounts beyond these student offers, making promotions relatively rare compared to other streaming services.

What To Watch?

Subscribers gain access to exclusive Max Originals and selections from Warner Bros. films and series and iconic superhero content from the DC Universe. Families can enjoy Cartoon Network and the Turner Library, while fans of reality TV and home improvement shows can watch channels like TLC, HGTV, Discovery, and Food Network. Max also offers live news and sports, a feature not typically found on competitors like Netflix or Disney Plus.

Max's original content library includes award-winning series like Succession and Friends along with blockbusters like Harry Potter and The Matrix.

Which Channels Are Included with HBO Max in 2025?

One of HBO Max's shining features is its huge array of available channels. Whether you like to get inspired by The Food Network, unwind with your Adult Swim favorites, or binge-watch pretty much any HBO or Max Original, this streaming platform has your entertainment needs covered.

Here's a list of the most popular channels that HBO Max currently offers:

• HBO
• Max Originals
• Warner Bros.
• DC
• Cartoon Network
• Wizarding World
• Adult Swim
• HGTV
• The Food Network
• TLC
• ID
• Magnolia Network
• Discovery
• TCM

This list is not comprehensive, and HBO Max's offerings include much more.

How About Shows and Movies?

The No. 1 thing that makes HBO Max so attractive to consumers is its huge number of high-quality, in-demand, binge-worthy shows and movies. It would be impossible to list all their offerings here, so here are a couple of lists to get you started.

Movies:

• The Lord of the Rings trilogy
• The Dark Knight trilogy
• The Matrix quadrilogy
• All the Harry Potter movies
• The Wizard of Oz
• Casablanca
• Studio Ghibli films

TV Shows:

• Curb Your Enthusiasm
• Game of Thrones
• House of the Dragon
• Rick and Morty
• The Last of Us
• The Flight Attendant
• Close Enough
• An American Pickle
• Barry
• It's a Sin
• Euphoria
• The White Lotus
• Friends
• VEEP
• South Park
• The Boondocks
• Sex and The City

Does HBO Max Have Live Sports?

With the B/R Sports add-on, HBO Max subscribers can watch all their favorite live sports. This add-on gives you access to sports channels including MLB, NBA, and NHL, among others. Take advantage of this HBO Max offering soon—you can currently add it to your subscription for free, but the streaming service will begin charging $9.99 per month for this add-on within the next few months.

HBO Max also gives you access to TNT Sports, which is the sports channel hosted by the streaming service's parent company Warner Bros. Discovery.

Where Can You Get HBO Max Customer Support?

The first place you should go for customer support is the Max Help Center. Here, you can find information on various topics or contact the support team via the "Contact Us" button.

HBO Max also has its Max Feedback form online. You can fill out the form to ask questions, express concerns, or leave general feedback for the streaming service.

Finally, you can try calling the HBO Max support line: (855) 442-6629.

What Did Max Pricing Look Like in Previous Years?

Max has made several price adjustments over the years to meet subscriber preferences. Max now offers plans that cater to a variety of viewing preferences and collaborate with several additional services, as seen above.

Historical Max Pricing Chart

Where Are Prices Headed?

Projections suggest a trend towards incremental pricing adjustments across major streaming platforms, not just Max, reflecting the growing demand for high-quality content and enhanced viewing experiences. Slight price increases are expected over the next few years as the platform expands its original content and continues to compete with other streaming services.

Price changes are effective immediately for new subscribers, and existing customers receive a 30-day notice to adjust to the new rates. The ad-supported plan remains unchanged at $9.99/month or $99.99/year, maintaining a budget-friendly option.

Is HBO Max Worth It This Year?

Let's talk about the elephant in the room: HBO Max is considerably more expensive than most of its competitors, and the recent HBO Max price increase for its ad-free plans does not inspire confidence in the streaming service becoming more affordable anytime soon.

That said, signing up for an HBO Max subscription is still worth it for many consumers due to the sheer number and quality of its offerings. HBO Max's expansive library includes hot shows such as House of the Dragon, exceptional movies such as The Lord of the Rings and Dark Knight trilogies, and the promise of many more high-quality, binge-worthy shows in the near future.

Additionally, HBO Max recently added Discovery Plus to its extensive list of channels offered, giving you even more for your money.

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