How Much is HBO Max? Price, Bundles, and Deals

HBO Max currently has popular originals and award-winning titles at a low monthly cost. However, after a recent corporate merger between WarnerMedia (HBO Max's original parent company) and Discovery, changes are afoot.

HBO Max and Discovery+ will soon merge their streaming services, combining content and pricing under a new name that is still to be determined for a targeted summer 2023 launch. Before that happens, you may notice content disappearing from HBO Max, as titles from HBO originals Camping and Mrs. Fletcher, to films including An American Pickle and Moonshot have already been removed.

Naturally, you might be wondering what HBO Max deals are available in the meantime. If content is going to decreased in volume, are there bundles to help save money or get back some of that lost content? (Spoiler alert: While there are deals and bundles to consider when deciding whether now is the time to sign up or keep your subscription, the content that was removed is not available anywhere else at this time.)

Here you can learn the latest when it comes to HBO Max price, the shows and movies available, whether there's a free trial, and how to sign up and try the service yourself.

What is HBO Max?

Launched in May 2020, HBO Max is WarnerMedia's on-demand streaming platform. It features 13,000 hours of premium titles, including almost the entire HBO catalog. Also with your HBO Max subscription, you'll get movies and TV series from Warner Bros., New Line Cinema, and Turner Classic Movies, plus even more titles from Adult Swim, Cartoon Network, Crunchyroll, DC, Looney Tunes, Rooster Teeth, TBS, TNT, truTV, and more.

The HBO Max movies and shows available read like a who's who of the entertainment world, from HBO originals Mare of Easttown, to A Black Lady Sketch Show, Insecure, The Sopranos, Sex and the City, and Succession. The DC library currently offers Wonder Woman, starring Gal Gadot, and Aquaman with Jason Momoa. The Sesame Workshop gives us Sesame Street and the other favorites from that world. From Turner Classic Movies, you'll find such top-rated movies as Citizen Kane, The Wizard of Oz, Gone with the Wind, and All the President's Men. Meanwhile, Looney Tunes gives us its library of cartoons, including the original Space Jam.

HBO Max originals range from the Emmy-winning Hacks to the adaptation of The Flight Attendant, the animated Harley Quinn, the latest in the Pretty Little Liars universe (Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin), as well as the Gossip Girl continuation, and even reality series, including FBoy Island.

Outside of its titles, HBO Max offers plenty of features that make it an accessible streaming service for your family. You can create up to five profiles, so each family member can personalize their experience. Also, the HBO Max app can be accessed on most devices, including a variety of laptops, tablets, gaming consoles, and streaming sticks.

How much does HBO Max cost?

The standalone HBO Max cost varies by the plan you choose and the frequency of your payment. The base plan includes ads and costs $10/mo., while the ad-free plan is $15/mo.

In addition to sparing viewers from commercials, the ad-free plan includes a few other special features. The primary benefit of the ad-free plan is the ability to watch new Warner Bros. movies 45 days after they premiere in cinemas.

For example, with an ad-free plan, subscribers were able to watch The Batman, starring Robert Pattinson and Zoë Kravitz, in April and Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, starring Jude Law, in May of this year.

A second subscriber-friendly benefit in the ad-free plan is the ability to download movies and shows to watch offline. Finally, movies and TV shows in the ad-supported plan are available in HD, while select titles in the ad-free plan are broadcast in 4K Ultra HD, giving you a better viewing experience.

How do I sign up for an HBO Max free trial?

There is no HBO Max free trial available for new subscribers, although some providers, such as Hulu and YouTube TV, offer a seven-day free trial. You have a couple of options when signing up for an HBO Max free trial through another streaming service, including:

• Hulu with HBO Max: Hulu offers a seven-day free trial to HBO Max. After seven days, it's $15/mo.
• YouTube TV: New subscribers can get a one-week free trial to HBO Max before it returns to its $15/mo. rate.
• DIRECTV STREAM: New subscribers can get HBO Max free for three months with the Choice and Ultimate packages. After that, it's $15/mo. HBO Max is already included in the Premier package.
• Verizon: Offers a seven-day free trial of HBO Max, followed by a $15/mo. rate.

Current HBO Max deals and bundles

Due to the popularity of the service, there are very few deals available for HBO Max. However, you can save 16 percent by making an annual payment as opposed to monthly payments. This brings the cost of the ad-supported service down to $100/yr., a savings of $20. The ad-free service is $150/yr., a $30 cost savings.

HBO Max does not have any bundles of its own. However, there are many providers that have created bundles that include the HBO Max service, in addition to the ones listed above.

• AT&T Wireless — HBO Max is included in the Unlimited Elite package, which is $50/mo. for four lines.
• Cricket Wireless — Subscribers to the service's $60/mo. plan receive the ad-supported version of HBO Max.

What's the value of the HBO Max bundle?

On its own, HBO Max costs either $10/mo. for the ad-supported version or $15/mo. for the ad-free version. When HBO Max is bundled with a cable, internet, or wireless provider, it's like receiving the service free, for a savings of either $120 or $180. 

Is HBO Max worth it?

Right now there is still a large number of titles available, so HBO Max is definitely worth the price. New originals from the streamer get added every week, as well. And for movie buffs that choose the ad-free version, the ability to watch movie premieres from the comfort of home is a massive benefit that no other provider can offer.