Quick take
Who Max is best for
HBO originals, prestige drama, Warner Bros films, CNN, Discovery content
Subscriber context: 110M+
Service page
Max subscription cost
HBO originals, prestige drama, Warner Bros films, CNN, Discovery content
Default planStandard · $16.99/mo
Starting price$9.99/mo
Official sourceLinked below
Pricing snapshot
What you should know before paying
Starting price: $9.99/mo
Free trial or free tier: Check the Max official page for any active free trial offers.
Student pricing: No public student discount is highlighted for Max right now. Check the official pricing page for current eligibility.
Current pricing
Current plans and prices
Primary source:Max official pricing
Prices verified: March 30, 2026
Prices change: Prices and promotions can change quickly, so always confirm the current terms on the official provider page before you subscribe, upgrade, or cancel.
Student pricing: No public student discount is highlighted for Max right now. Check the official pricing page for current eligibility.
Plan option
Basic with Ads
$9.99/mo
$99.99/year
1080p • 2 streams
What changes on this plan
- Full HD 1080p
- 2 simultaneous streams
- Max originals and HBO catalog
Most popular
Standard
$16.99/mo
$169.99/year
1080p • Downloads
What changes on this plan
- Full HD 1080p
- 2 simultaneous streams
- Up to 30 downloads
- Live sports included
Plan option
Premium
$20.99/mo
$209.99/year
4K + Dolby Atmos • 4 streams
What changes on this plan
- 4K UHD + Dolby Vision / HDR10 where available
- 4 simultaneous streams
- Up to 100 downloads
- Live sports included
Billing notes
Free trial, annual billing, and discounts
Free trial or free tier: Check the Max official page for any active free trial offers.
Annual comparison: Basic with Ads is available on annual billing. Check the official pricing source to confirm the current annual savings versus monthly billing.
Student pricing: No public student discount is highlighted for Max right now. Check the official pricing page for current eligibility.
Before you subscribe
What to double-check on the official page
Prices and promotions can change quickly, so always confirm the current terms on the official provider page before you subscribe, upgrade, or cancel.
Check billing frequency, cancellation terms, and whether any limited-time discounts are still active.
Closest competitors
Services that are closest to this one
Netflix
$17.99/mo default plan
Largest original library, international content, broad appeal across all demographics
Prime Video
$14.99/mo default plan
Included with Amazon Prime, Thursday Night Football, growing originals library
Disney+
$18.99/mo default plan
Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar, Disney Animation, National Geographic, and family content
Lower-cost options
Cheaper substitutes worth checking
Crunchyroll
$7.99/mo default plan
Anime — largest library of simulcast and catalog anime anywhere
Paramount+
$7.99/mo default plan
CBS shows, Showtime, NFL, Champions League, Star Trek, Yellowstone
Peacock
$7.99/mo default plan
NBC shows, Premier League, WWE, classic sitcoms like The Office and Parks & Rec
Head-to-head comparisons
Compare Max side by side
FAQs
Common questions
What is the cheapest Max plan and is it worth it?
Max's lowest paid plan is Basic with Ads at $9.99/mo. 1080p • 2 streams Compare this against alternatives in Streaming Video to see if the price-to-feature tradeoff makes sense for your use case.
How much does Max cost per year?
With annual billing, Basic with Ads costs $99.99 per year, saving you $19.89 compared to paying monthly. Without annual billing, the same plan would cost $119.88 per year.
Does Max have a free trial or free tier?
Check the Max official page for any active free trial offers.
How many plans does Max have and what is the difference?
Max offers 3 plans ranging from $9.99/mo to $20.99/mo. The main differences between plans typically include content quality, concurrent streams or seats, and whether ads are shown. See the full plan comparison above for details.
Is Max worth the price compared to alternatives?
HBO originals, prestige drama, Warner Bros films, CNN, Discovery content Closest competitors in Streaming Video include Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+. Compare features and pricing to find the best fit for your needs.
Sources