HBO Max has become the go-to destination for prestige television and blockbuster films. With HBO originals like The Last of Us, House of the Dragon, and The White Lotus driving cultural conversations, plus a massive library of Warner Bros. films and Discovery content, Max offers one of the deepest content catalogs in streaming. Here’s everything you need to know about subscribing in 2026.
The service raised prices in October 2025, but also expanded its live sports offerings with 300+ games across NBA, NHL, MLB, and March Madness. Whether you’re here for the Emmy-winning dramas or the college basketball tournament, this guide breaks down what each Max plan costs and what you actually get.
HBO Max Plans and Pricing 2026
HBO Max offers three subscription tiers with significant differences in ads, streaming quality, and sports access. Here’s the current Max pricing breakdown:
Annual Savings: Paying yearly saves roughly 17% compared to monthly billing. The Premium annual plan at $229.99 saves about $46 per year versus paying month-to-month.
π Max Quick Facts
- Parent Company: Warner Bros. Discovery
- Subscribers: 100M+ worldwide
- Launched: May 2020 (as HBO Max)
- Countries: 65+
- Free Trial: No longer offered
- Profiles: Up to 5 per account
π Top HBO Original Series
- House of the Dragon
- The Last of Us
- The White Lotus
- Succession
- Euphoria
π± Max App & Devices
- Smart TVs: Samsung, LG, Sony, Vizio
- Streaming: Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV
- Gaming: PS4/5, Xbox
- Mobile: iOS & Android app
Which HBO Max Plan Should You Choose?
The right HBO Max subscription depends on whether you care about live sports and 4K streaming. Here’s how to decide:
π° Basic with Ads
$10.99/mo
Full HBO library access with ads. Good for casual viewers who don’t need sports. No downloads.
β Best budget option
β Standard (Most Popular)
$18.49/mo
Ad-free viewing plus 300+ live sports games (NBA, NHL, MLB, March Madness). 30 downloads.
β Best for sports fans
π Premium
$22.99/mo
4K UHD with Dolby Atmos, 4 simultaneous streams, 100 downloads. Best for large households.
β Best picture quality
HBO Max Live Sports Coverage
Standard and Premium subscribers get access to 300+ live sporting events annually. This represents a major expansion for Max, which historically focused solely on entertainment content:
π NBA
Select regular season games, In-Season Tournament, and playoff matchups on TNT.
π NHL
Wednesday night hockey, playoff games, and Stanley Cup coverage via TNT Sports.
βΎ MLB
Tuesday night baseball and postseason coverage through TBS.
π March Madness
NCAA Tournament games on TBS and TNT, including Final Four coverage.
How to Sign Up for HBO Max
Creating a Max account takes just a few minutes:
- Go to hbomax.com or download the Max app
- Click “Sign Up Now” and enter your email address
- Create a password and select your subscription plan
- Add your payment method (credit card, PayPal, or through your TV provider)
- Start streaming immediately
Student Discount: Max offers 50% off the Basic with Ads plan through UNiDAYS verification. Students pay just $5.49/month, making it one of the best streaming deals available for college students.
HBO Max Bundles: How to Save Money
Several bundle options can significantly reduce your Max subscription cost:
π¬ Disney Bundle (with Ads)
$19.99/mo: Disney+, Hulu, and Max with ads. Saves ~$13/month versus subscribing separately.
π¬ Disney Bundle (No Ads)
$32.99/mo: Disney+, Hulu, and Max all ad-free. Premium quality across three major streamers.
π± Verizon myPlan
$10/mo add-on: Netflix & Max (with ads) bundle for Verizon wireless customers. Major savings.
How to Cancel HBO Max
Canceling your Max subscription is straightforward with no cancellation fees:
- Sign in to your Max account at hbomax.com
- Click your profile icon and select “Account”
- Under Subscription, click “Manage Subscription”
- Select “Cancel Subscription” and confirm
- Access continues until your billing period ends
If you subscribed through Amazon, Apple, Google Play, or Roku, you’ll need to cancel through that platform instead. Your viewing history and profiles are saved if you decide to resubscribe later.
π Internet Speed Requirements
- SD Quality: 3 Mbps minimum
- HD Quality: 5 Mbps minimum
- 4K UHD: 25 Mbps minimum
π Max Customer Support
Help Center: help.max.com
Live Chat: Available 24/7
Note: Phone support discontinued; use chat or help center.
What’s on HBO Max: Popular Content
HBO Max combines HBO’s acclaimed originals with Warner Bros. theatrical releases and Discovery’s reality programming. Here’s what’s driving viewership:
π House of the Dragon
The Game of Thrones prequel exploring the Targaryen civil war. Season 3 in production.
π The Last of Us
Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey in the acclaimed video game adaptation. Season 2 coming 2026.
ποΈ The White Lotus
Mike White’s satirical anthology series. Season 3 set in Thailand premieres February 2025.
π¬ Warner Bros. Movies on Max
- Dune: Part Two (2024)
- Barbie (2023)
- The Batman (2022)
- Harry Potter complete series
- Lord of the Rings trilogy
- DC Universe films
- Matrix franchise
πΊ Discovery & Reality Content
- 90 Day FiancΓ© franchise
- Fixer Upper
- Shark Week
- Property Brothers
- Food Network shows
- HGTV programming
- True crime documentaries
Is HBO Max Worth It in 2026?
β Pros
- Best prestige TV (HBO originals)
- Day-and-date Warner Bros. films
- Live sports included (Standard+)
- 50% student discount available
- Annual subscription savings
β Cons
- Higher prices than most competitors
- No sports on cheapest tier
- Confusing name change history
- No free trial available
- Downloads limited on lower tiers
π vs Competitors
- Netflix: $7.99 (ads)
- Disney+: $11.99 (ads)
- Peacock: $10.99 (ads)
- Hulu: $9.99 (ads)
- Prime Video: $8.99 (ads)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is HBO Max the Same as Max?
Yes. HBO Max was rebranded to just “Max” in May 2023 when Warner Bros. Discovery merged HBO Max with Discovery+ content. Then on May 14, 2025, it was announced that the “HBO Max” branding would return in a rebranding complete 360. On July 9th 2025 the change was complete back to the original name. Please note the content library and pricing remain the same regardless of what it’s called in your region.
Does Max Offer a Free Trial?
No. Max discontinued free trials. However, students can get 50% off through UNiDAYS, and bundle options through Disney or Verizon provide significant savings.
Can I Download Shows on Max?
Yes, but it depends on your plan. Basic with Ads has no downloads. Standard allows 30 downloads. Premium allows 100 downloads. Downloads are available on mobile devices only.
How Many People Can Watch Max at Once?
Basic and Standard plans allow 2 simultaneous streams. Premium allows 4 simultaneous streams. All plans support up to 5 user profiles.
Is 4K Available on Max?
4K UHD with Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos audio is only available on the Premium plan at $22.99/month. Basic and Standard are limited to 1080p HD.
What Sports Are on Max?
Standard and Premium subscribers get 300+ live events annually including NBA games on TNT, NHL hockey, MLB baseball on TBS, March Madness, U.S. Soccer matches, and more. The Basic with Ads plan does not include live sports.
This guide is updated monthly with the latest Max pricing, features, and content additions. Last updated: January 2026.