Max is here — prices, plans, and everything you need to know

MAX logo with blue gradient background
(Image credit: MAX)

Whether you're a new subscriber or you've been around since the HBO Now days, we're here to tell you everything you need to know about the streaming service Max.

To put it in the simplest terms, the creation of Max was caused by the 2022 merger of WarnerMedia with Discovery Inc. The new combined company then decided to combine their two flagship streaming services, HBO Max and Discovery Plus, to create a totally new service called Max. This new app has all of the TV series and films of HBO Max, plus loads of new content from networks like HGTV, TLC, and Food Network.

So if you're looking to watch hit series like The Last of Us or Barry, reminisce over your favorite Studio Ghibli films, or binge-watch guilty pleasures like 90 Day Fiancé or Say Yes to the Dress, if you're on the hunt for the best Max prices, this is the guide for you.  

Max: Starting at $9.99/month

Max: <a href="https://www.prf.hn/click/camref:1011lqSFc/pubref:hawk-custom-tracking/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hbomax.com%2Fsubscribe%2Fplan-picker" data-link-merchant="hbomax.com"">Starting at $9.99/month

Formerly known as HBO Max, Max combines all of the great content from that beloved streaming service with loads of new stuff from Discovery Plus. Monthly plans will continue to start at just $9.99 with ads or $15.99 if you want to go ad-free. Max has also introduced a new plan called Ultimate Ad-Free, which costs $19.99 per month and comes with 4K UHD streaming and the ability to download up to 100 titles for offline enjoyment. 

What MAX plans are available?

When signing up, the first thing to decide is which Max plan is right for you. As mentioned above, three Max price tiers are currently worth checking out. How do they differ? Let's break it down.

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Header Cell - Column 0 With AdsAd-FreeUltimate Ad-Free
Monthly price$9.99$15.99$19.99
Yearly price$99.99$149.99$199.99
ResolutionFull HDFull HD4K Ultra HD
DownloadsN/AUp to 30 titlesUp to 100 titles
Simultaneous DevicesUp to 2 devicesUp to 2 devicesUp to 4 devices

Where is Max available?

Max is available in the United States (including US territories American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands). 

Max is also available in Latin American and Caribbean countries with HBO Max. In Europe, Max will be available in the Spring of 2024. But, in France and Belgium, it'll be available later in 2024. Europe and Southeast Asia will hopefully receive access in 2024. Unfortunately, those are all of the specifics that we have so far, but we'll update this page as more info becomes available.

(Image credit: Max.com.ar)

Is there a Max free trial?

Nope. In the same way that there was no HBO Max free trial, you also won't find any free promotional period offered by Max. To lure potential subscribers, you can watch episodes of various shows thanks to the Watch for Free section. The shows are divided into categories: Young and Wild, Home of the DC Universe, Crime Picks, and more. 

While Hulu doesn't offer a free trial to Max, YouTube TV and Amazon Prime do. Amazon Prime, you can get a 30-day free trial and a 10-day free trial with YouTube TV. You can also get Max for free if you sign up for Cricket's $60 monthly plan. Things are changing quickly in the streamosphere, so we'll update this page as we learn more.

How to sign up

(Image credit: Hulu)

How to sign up through Hulu or YouTube TV

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Hulu and YouTube TV offer access to Max by adding a $15.99/month subscription to your existing streaming plan. That means you don't have to sign up for a separate subscription with Max. Once the app is installed, log in and stream. 

The additional $15.99/month grants Hulu subscribers access to HBO Max and DIscovery Plus titles via the Max app. The extra $15.99/month for YouTube TV subscribers allows them to add HBO Max or get it as part of the platform's Entertainment Plus add-on bundle. The Entertainment Plus collection costs $29.99, including Max, STARZ, and SHOWTIME.

How sign up through your mobile provider

(Image credit: Cricket)

Once upon a time, AT&T offered a free subscription to HBO Max when you signed up for one of their eligible unlimited plans, but that offer is long gone. Now, the only wireless carrier (that we know of) that offers Max is Cricket Wireless, a prepaid carrier that uses AT&T's network to provide great coverage over a massive area.  

Sign up for the carrier's $60/month unlimited plan, and you'll get Max with ads for free. The premium plan also has a 15GB mobile hotspot, unlimited high-speed data, and nationwide 5G. 

How to sign up through your cable provider

If you subscribe to HBO through your cable provider, you may get access to Max at no additional cost or for an extra fee. Rather than list every single provider that will offer Max free of charge as part of your current HBO plan, you can find the official list on the Max website

If your cable provider is on this list, you only need to download the Max app on a smartphone, tablet, or third-party streaming device. You will be prompted to sign in through your cable or digital media provider before you can start streaming. Using your cable credentials, you can also log in directly on the Max website.

Max: Starting at $9.99/month

Max: <a href="https://www.prf.hn/click/camref:1011lqSFc/pubref:hawk-custom-tracking/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hbomax.com%2F" data-link-merchant="hbomax.com"">Starting at $9.99/month

The new streaming service Max combines all of the great HBO titles you know and love with 35,000 hours of new content from networks like TLC, HGTV, and Food Network. 

The best part is that the price of both the With Ads and Ad-Free plans will stay at $9.99/month and $15.99/month, respectively, or you can pay $19.99/month for the new Ultimate Ad-Free plan. 

Patrick Farmer
eCommerce Editor

After almost a decade of working in the e-commerce space, Patrick Farmer (he/him) began his career at Android Central as a Deals and Commerce Writer before moving into a new role as AC's eCommerce Editor in 2023. When he's not hunting down the best deals and offering shopping advice for our readers, you'll often find him listening to music, camping out at a brewery, or treating his cat like a human child. 

With contributions from