HBO Max price: Ad-free price increase, plans and offers in 2023 (2023)

VonDaniel Pateman

last updateMarch 8, 2023

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HBO Max price: Ad-free price increase, plans and offers in 2023 (1)

2023 promises a plethora of new titlesHBO Max. First out was the long-awaited adaptation of the video game The Last of Us. Next we see the return of Succession for its fourth and final season. HBO Max subscribers will also get Season 2 of And Just Like That, the prequel to Sex and the City. So it's not surprising that the HBO Max price has gone up - at least on the ad-free plan.

20% off HBO Max price with annual plan(opens in new tab)

With Max Originals like DC's Peacemaker and The Flight Attendant taking center stage, you'll also find legendary HBO shows (Chernobyl, Mare of Easttown), a carefully curated lineup of TCM classic films, and top picks from the Warner Brothers film and TV archive . You will also meet hobbits, superheroes, friends and houses full of dragons...

HBO Max offers some excellent deals and is already at a mega competitive price. But how does it compare to some of the others?The best streaming servicesout there like Disney Plus, Hulu and Amazon Prime Video? Read on and we'll let you know.

HBO Max Pricing and Plans: Your Quick Guide

HBO Max has two subscription tiers, with the option to pay for an ongoing monthly contract or pay upfront for a full year and save up to 20%, depending on which plan you choose. This follows the January 2023 price increase where the ad-free plan went up $1 on the monthly rate to $15.99, but stayed the same on the yearly plan ($149.99).

Are there currently any HBO Max deals?

If you are a new or existing customer ofCricket-Wireless(opens in new tab), its Unlimited package includes a free HBO Max subscription “With Ads”.

As for the 7-day free trial? This was discontinued for US customers in December 2020. However, you can learn more about itHBO Max Free Trialand possible eligibility in new countries where the service is rolled out in our guide. Alternatively, if you wish to registerHallo(You can add HBO Max - at full price), this is one of theThe best streaming dealsout there and a well kept secret.

In the meantime, anyone with a current HBO or HBO Now subscription is entitled to an absolutely FREE HBO Max account — as long as they're registered with an eligible provider.

(Video) HBO Max Price Hike | New rates 1/12/23 #shorts

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How does HBO Max price compared to Netflix?

HBO Max offers both affordable and quality content with its With Ads plan. And now that Netflix has increased the cost of its subscription plans -- the base option has jumped to $9.99 -- the two streamers are priced evenly

Netflix still sits at the forefront of online streaming. It has almost three times the content of HBO Max -17,000 titles worldwide to over 2,500— and is regularly inundated with original content, including Stranger Things. There are three levels to choose from:$9.99 Basic, $15.49 Standard and $19.99 for Premium plan.

But now that subscribers can get HBO quality at an affordable price, Netflix's Basic plan looks just like that...simple. at the same price,HBO Max offers three streams where Netflix only offers one,HD quality content where Netflix offers SD, and above all…unforgettable TV shows likeeuphoria,successor, AndThe cable.

Only Netflix's Premium plan allows you to stream on more devices (four total) and admittedly beats HBO Max in terms of the number of titles available to stream in Ultra HD (over 500, with HBO Max around 40 in 4K has). Granted, Netflix delivers a wealth of content with no ads in sight. But HBO Max may offer better value for the more discerning viewer of film and television.

How does the price of HBO Max compare to Amazon Prime Video?

Let's be honest:Amazon Prime-Video(opens in new tab)blows HBO Max out of the water in many ways. As part of a $14.99 Amazon Prime subscription, it's now cheaper than the "ad-free" HBO Max tier.is packed with perks like free delivery and free music streaming, and has a whopping grand total ofover 26,000 movies and TV series. Plus, you get about a 25% discount when you purchase a $139 annual subscription, and you'll find hundreds of curated titles ready to stream in 4K Ultra HD.

Still, HBO Max has a major advantage with valuable content that's exclusive to the service. South Park, The Fresh Prince of Bel Air and The Big Bang Theory are just a few of the wildly popular shows here, alongside Studio Ghibli's award-winning animation. It's the only place where you can listen to newer hits such as B. Stream any flawless HBO showStation elf, euphoria andThe wife of the time traveler.They are just right for you.

How does HBO Max price compared to Disney Plus?

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Disney Plus remains one of the most popular VOD streaming services with a popular collection of lucrative brands. And if you don't mind ads, it's amazing value at $7.99 per month. However, the recent price increase means those who don't want ads will have to pay $10.99 (or purchase an annual subscription to save 20%, which is $109.99). Because of this, and because of HBO Max's reduced "With Ads" plan (which costs just $1 more than Disney's No Ads plan), we could see HBO Max getting a bigger share of VOD profits – especially by adults who crave more adult content.

In terms of functionality,Disney Plus Account SharingpermittedFour people stream simultaneously from one account, while HBO Max is limited to three. But from a content point of view, the house of the mouse has a relatively small bounty, with500 movies compared to over 2000 on HBO Max, and all for not much more. However, if you want the ad-free experience, you'll have to pay $14.99 per month - which is still $4 more than the ad-free offeringDisney Plus price.

Content is key in both cases, and each service is the exclusive home of some well-loved brands and movie franchises. Disney Plus will enchant those who are Team Marvel, Pixar, the Simpsons and the Muppets - plus Star Wars spin-offs likeObi Wan Kenobicome thick and fast. But anyone committed to DC ComicsStudio Ghibli, thrilling TV dramas and blockbuster cinema will take the opportunity to pay the slightly higher HBO Max price.

How does HBO Max Cost compare to Apple TV Plus?

AppleTVPlusis a slow burn VOD service that is quietly gaining subscribers with its high quality exclusive TV series and movies - the price juggernautTeddy Lasso, for example, and the newsroom drama The Morning Show, starring Jennifer Aniston.

At$6.99 per month, that's half the cost of an ad-free HBO Max membership, and an account can be shared by an additional five people — more than any other streamer listed here. But given that it mostly houses brand new Apple TV originals, its library of titles is incredibly slim. Word has got around115 feature films and series, while HBO Max has hundreds.

In terms of quality of offering, Apple TV Plus often produces content on par with HBO, including current hits likeseverance payAndLuminous girls. Everything here is flawlessly produced and can be viewed in stunning 4K. But so far, very little has inspired the adoration of HBO shows like The Wire, Euphoria, Sex and the City, or The Sopranos.

Still, Apple TV Plus is a fraction of the cost of HBO Max, and there's plenty to look forward to. Heading into the future is Marin Scorcsese's crime western drama Killers of the Flower Moon.

How does HBO Max cost compared to Hulu?

At first glance it goes furtherHallois a sure winner. The On-Demand plans remain very competitive at $7.99 per month or $79.99 per year, and there's an impressive library ofmore than 4,000 titles to stream.

But toTo provide similar functionality as a full-fledged HBO Max subscription, you'll need to purchase a few add-onsthat really drives up the price. Would you like to avoid annoying advertising? Then you need to select the $14.99 Hulu (no ads) option. Want to share your account with more than two people? Unlimited screens cost another $9.99, bringing us to a monthly total of $23. Suddenly, HBO Max's $14.99 price tag for its "ad-free" plan doesn't seem so extravagant.

There's no question that Hulu offers great value and flexibility. The basic plan is available for students for a whopping $1.99, while cable TV devotees can upgradeHulu My Live TVfor $69.99 per month, where in addition to a list of more than 75 live channels and a huge VOD library, you now also get Disney Plus and the ESPN Plus sports service. It beats HBO Max in the price war. But few would disagree that when it comes to the sheer quality of the content, HBO takes the crown — and all naysayers can take their arguments to Tony Soprano.

Find out more about this service with our full HBO Max review

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Daniel Pateman

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Daniel Pateman is a freelance writer who writes articles across the cultural spectrum for magazines such as Aesthetica, Photomonitor, The Brooklyn Rail and This is Tomorrow. He also provides copywriting services to individual curators and artists worldwide and has published work internationally. His favorite film genre is horror (out with Scream 5!) and he never tires of listening to Absolute 80s on the radio.