As of October 2026, HBO Max costs $10.99 a month for Basic with Ads, $18.49 a month for Standard and $22.99 a month for Premium in the US. Each plan also comes as a yearly plan: $109.99, $184.99 and $229.99 a year.
HBO Max has three plans, and the gap between them is bigger than most people expect. The differences come down to ads, how many screens can watch at once, video quality and whether you get live sports. Here's what HBO Max's own help centre lists for each one.
HBO Max plans and prices
Prices in US dollars, as of October 2026. HBO Max says they don't include applicable taxes.
| Plan | Monthly | Yearly | Screens at once | Quality | Downloads |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic with Ads | $10.99 | $109.99 | 2 | Full HD 1080p | None listed |
| Standard | $18.49 | $184.99 | 2 | Full HD 1080p | 30 |
| Premium | $22.99 | $229.99 | 4 (only 2 for sports) | 4K Ultra HD and Dolby Atmos where available | 100 |
HBO Max says each yearly plan comes with a saving compared with paying monthly, so if you're sure you'll keep it for a year, the yearly option is the one to pick.
Live sports are not on the cheapest plan
This is the detail that catches sports fans out. HBO Max says Live Sports is included with the Standard and Premium plans only. That covers select live events such as MLB, NHL, NCAA Men's March Madness and U.S. Soccer. Basic with Ads doesn't include it.
Pay per view events are separate again. HBO Max says subscribers can buy PPV events on select devices, and a purchased PPV event can only stream on 1 device at a time.
Taxes and the price you see
HBO Max's help centre says its listed prices don't include applicable taxes, so your bill can be a little higher than the plan price depending on where you live. If you subscribe through a provider such as Roku, Samsung or a cable company, HBO Max's help centre sends you to that provider to manage the plan, which matters when you're hunting for a subscription to change or cancel.
Where you pay changes what you can buy
You can subscribe to HBO Max directly or through providers, and some providers don't sell every plan. HBO Max's help page lists these limits:
- Cox: Basic with Ads or Standard, monthly billing only.
- Prime Video Channels: Basic with Ads or Standard, monthly billing only.
- Xfinity: Basic with Ads or Standard, monthly billing only.
- Xumo: all plans, monthly billing only.
- HBOMax.com, Amazon Appstore, Roku and Samsung are also listed as providers.
So if you want Premium or a yearly plan, subscribing through one of those cable or channel providers won't give it to you. Subscribe directly instead.
Which HBO Max plan suits which viewer?
- The occasional viewer: Basic with Ads. You get 2 screens at once in Full HD, and the ads are the trade off for the lowest price.
- The sports fan: Standard at minimum, because Basic with Ads doesn't include Live Sports. Premium adds 4K, but HBO Max says sports still stream on only 2 devices at once.
- The commuter or traveller: Standard gives 30 downloads and Premium 100, while no downloads are listed for Basic with Ads.
- The big household: Premium is the only plan with 4 screens at once, plus 4K Ultra HD and Dolby Atmos where available.
If you're unsure, start on Standard monthly for a month or two, then switch to yearly once you know you'll stay. HBO Max lets you change plan from the Subscription section of the app, depending on who bills you.
How to change your HBO Max plan
- Open HBO Max on a phone, tablet or computer, choose your profile and then Subscription. On a TV, choose the Settings icon and then Subscription.
- Check who bills your subscription, as only an Adult profile can manage it.
- If you're billed through a provider such as Cox or Xfinity, contact them to change plan.
- If you're on Prime Video Channels, HBO Max says you need to cancel, wait for the subscription to expire, then resubscribe on the new plan.
- Make the change from the country where you started the subscription, as HBO Max says plan changes won't work while you're travelling abroad.
Sharing HBO Max with someone outside your home
HBO Max's help centre says WarnerMedia billed subscribers can share their plan with someone who doesn't live with them through its Extra Member Add-On. The page names WarnerMedia billing for this, so if you pay through another provider, check with them before you count on it.
Anime is a different story, and the Crunchyroll plans guide covers it.
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HBO Max in a bundle
HBO Max is also sold in the Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max Bundle. Disney's plans page lists it at $21.99 a month with ads or $34.99 a month without ads. If you already pay for Disney+ or Hulu, compare that with HBO Max on its own before you subscribe. My round up of streaming services to compare covers the alternatives, and Roku vs Fire Stick helps you choose a device to watch on.
My verdict
For most viewers, Standard at $18.49 a month is the right HBO Max plan: no ads, live sports and 30 downloads. Basic with Ads at $10.99 is fine if you only watch series and don't care about sports. Pay for Premium only if you have a 4K TV and four people watching at once. And whichever plan you choose, go yearly if you know you'll stay, and subscribe directly so every plan and billing option is open to you.
To see how a close rival structures its tiers, read how Paramount+ lays out its plans.
Frequently asked questions
How much is HBO Max a month?
As of October 2026, HBO Max lists Basic with Ads at $10.99 a month, Standard at $18.49 and Premium at $22.99.
How much is HBO Max a year?
The yearly plans are $109.99 for Basic with Ads, $184.99 for Standard and $229.99 for Premium.
Does HBO Max Basic with Ads include live sports?
No. HBO Max says Live Sports is included with the Standard and Premium plans only.
How many screens can watch HBO Max at once?
Basic with Ads and Standard allow 2 devices at once. Premium allows 4, but only 2 for sports.
Which HBO Max plan has 4K?
Premium. It includes 4K Ultra HD video and Dolby Atmos audio where available.
Can I get HBO Max cheaper in a bundle?
Disney lists the Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max Bundle at $21.99 a month with ads or $34.99 without ads.
