Streaming services have essentially become the new norm in terms of entertainment. With more streaming services popping up and offering free trials and incredible deals, it’s no wonder people are cutting the cord. HBO Max has earned it’s rank as one of the top options for cord cutters, but is on the more expensive side for on-demand services at $14.99 a month. However, HBO Max announced at the end of 2020 that it would be offering all of Warner Bros. movies to stream on the same day as their releases during 2021. It’s a huge move for the service and might be enough to convince you to subscribe to HBO Max if you’re not already. We’ll cover all the details on price, deals, available free trials, and more to help you make the best decision at the best price.
What is HBO Max?
HBO Max is a premium streaming service owned by WarnerMedia Entertainment that enables cord cutters to watch movies and TV shows on demand. It launched in May 2020, bringing viewers a huge on-demand library that includes the entire HBO back catalog as well as content from across the various WarnerMedia brands, such as Adult Swim, Cartoon Network, CNN, Crunchyroll, DC Comics, Looney Tunes, New Line Cinema, Studio Ghibli, and Warner Bros.
HBO Max is the third streaming service from HBO. It brings cord cutters a larger content library than previous offerings HBO Go and HBO Now. HBO Go comes free with a subscription to HBO via cable or TV providers, while HBO Now is a standalone streaming service that only carries HBO content. However, HBO Max is also available to both HBO Go and HBO Now subscribers for no additional fee.
The key appeal to HBO Max is that it offers the entire HBO back catalog of award-winning TV programming. This includes acclaimed series such as Deadwood, Game of Thrones, The Sopranos, The Wire, and West Wing, as well as more recent shows like Big Little Lies, Chernobyl, Silicon Valley, Watchmen, and Westworld.
HBO Max Features
HBO Max provides unlimited simultaneous streams and enables users to create up to 5 separate profiles per account. Users can also download up to 30 movies or TV show episodes onto their mobile devices to watch offline. Once downloaded, they have 30 days to start watching the content and 48 hours to finish watching it once playback has started. The same movie or show can be downloaded on up to 5 devices.
The streaming service can be accessed via all popular web browsers and mobile or streaming devices that support its apps. This includes Android and Apple phones and tablets, as well as Android TV and Apple TV. HBO Max is also available through Google Chromecast, gaming consoles PlayStation 4 and 5 and Xbox One, Roku, Amazon Fire Stick, and Samsung TVs.
How much is HBO Max?
HBO Max, the on-demand streaming service, currently costs $14.99 a month. The price is the same as HBO’s cable network, but comes with a bigger library of shows and movies for users to watch. All of Warner Bros. movie releases in 2021 will also launch on HBO Max the same day as theaters.
With your subscription, you have full access to HBO Max’s library of entertainment through the app and website. HBO Max can be accessed online, on a Smart TV, or on your app-enabled device. Also with your subscription to HBO Max, you’ll have access to Warner Bros. library of 2021 movies on their release day — exclusively on the streamer.
How do I sign up for an HBO Max free trial?
HBO Max currently does not offer a free trial. Though the service did offer free trials when it launched in 2020, it has decided to do away with them for now. While you might find a free trial through another signup process, signing up for a subscription through HBO Max directly will not yield any trial. However, HBO Max notes that you can cancel your subscription at any time, as you’re under no obligation or contract.
To sign up with HBO Max, simply do the following on your desktop:
- Go to HBOMax.com.
- Click the purple Sign Up Now button and choose your subscription type (month-to-month or prepay for six months). Click the purple Continue button.
- Fill out the form with your name, email address, and password. Click the purple Create Account button.
- Fill in your payment details. Click the purple Start Subscription button.
To sign up on your mobile device or tablet, download the app and follow the instructions on the screen. They will mirror those of the desktop instructions.
Should you choose to cancel your subscription, you can do it easily by following these instructions.
- Go to HBOMax.com on your desktop.
- Click on your name on the upper right corner of the page.
- Select Billing Information.
- Select Manage Subscription.
- Click Cancel and confirm.
If you’re using the app on a mobile device or a tablet, open the app, go to your profile, and follow the previous instructions from there.
What types of free trials does HBO Max typically offer?
Currently HBO Max does not have a free trial, but it’s not to say they won’t eventually offer a one again. The service has offered free trials in the past, so it’s possible that they will come back again in the future. However, if you’re looking at adding HBO Max to your streaming portfolio now, your best bet is actually just to pay $14.99 for one month to see if you like it. It’s a small investment to try out the service, and then you have access for a whole month.
A loophole to not getting a free trial directly through HBO Max is to get a 7-day free trial through Hulu with HBO Max. Hulu offers HBO Max as a premium add-on, and you’re able to take advantage of the free trial with both services. To take advantage of this free trial, do the following:
- Go to https://www.hulu.com/hbomax.
- Click on Start Your Free Trial.
- Input your information and payment information.
- You now not only have access to Hulu, but also HBO Max. After the free trial, the price is $14.99/mo. for the add-on.
It’s also worth noting that if you had an HBO subscription, HBO Go subscription, or HBO Now subscription prior to the launch of HBO Max, you may be able to get an HBO Max account for free. Check out what your previous subscription was to see if it carries over.
Are there bundle deals with HBO Max?
HBO Max is not currently included in any bundle deals alongside other video streaming services. However, it is available as an add-on through other on-demand streaming services. The difference between these is that a bundle deal will provide the user with a discount on the regular monthly cost of HBO Max, whereas an add-on simply enables them to access it through their subscription to another service.
A good way to get an HBO Max deal is as an add-on through Hulu. Existing Hulu customers can add HBO Max to their subscription and watch all of the service’s content through the Hulu app. This costs $14.99/mo for the premium service add-on. HBO Max is also available through Apple TV — it costs $14.99/mo. on top of the regular Apple TV subscription fee.
Current 2021 HBO Max deals
An existing HBO Max deal sees current HBO Go and HBO Now customers get the service for free. Other current HBO Max deals include AT&T internet, video, and wireless plan customers getting access to the service included in their regular subscription fee.
HBO Max is also currently offering a 20% discount if you prepay six months up front for $69.99. This deal is good through the end of March.
What should I do after my HBO Max trial expires?
If you went the route of the Hulu and HBO Max free trial, you’ll have to decide if you want to either keep that combo deal or just subscribe to HBO Max. HBO Max will cost $14.99/mo. This monthly fee enables them to watch more than 10,000 hours of award-winning original programming, movies, and TV shows. Unlike most other similar on-demand streaming services, they can do so with unlimited simultaneous streams on most computers, mobile phones, tablets, and streaming devices.
HBO Max makes it simple for users to cancel their subscription. To do this, users need to click on their profile name in the top right-hand corner of their homepage. They then need to select Billing Information and Manage Subscription, where they will see the option to cancel their active subscription.
Cord cutters who feel that HBO Max is not quite right for them have plenty of options in the on-demand streaming marketplace. These include the likes of Amazon Prime Video, CBS All Access, Disney+, Hulu, and Netflix. Many of these streaming services offer at least a 30-day free trial, so users can easily try all of them out to find the best fit.
The final cut
HBO Max provides cord cutters with a huge library of on-demand content that includes HBO’s own original programming as well as further movies and TV series. Though new subscribers don’t have the simple option of a free trial, they can test out HBO Max through Hulu free for 7 days before deciding on subscribing. The HBO Max price is $14.99/mo.