Max (HBO) Review: $9.99-$20.99/mo Tested (Worth It?)

If you care about television as an art form, Max is the streaming service built for you. While Netflix churns out hundreds of titles and Disney+ leans on family-friendly franchises, Max (formerly HBO Max) remains the home of prestige television that wins Emmys and defines cultural moments.

But is the best content library worth the price? We’ve tested Max extensively over the past year to answer that question.

Quick Verdict

Bottom line: Max earns a 4.4/5 rating because no streaming service matches the quality of its original programming. If you want the shows that sweep awards season and spark water cooler conversations, this is where you’ll find them. The main drawbacks are a higher price for 4K and a sometimes-cluttered interface mixing HBO content with Discovery reality shows.

Max Pricing and Plans (December 2026)

Max offers three tiers to fit different budgets:

Plan	Monthly Price	Annual Price	Key Features
With Ads	$9.99	$99.99/year	1080p, 2 streams, no downloads
Ad-Free	$16.99	$169.99/year	1080p, 2 streams, 30 downloads
Ultimate Ad-Free	$20.99	$209.99/year	4K Dolby Atmos, 4 streams, 100 downloads

Student discount: Max offers the best student deal in streaming at $4.99/month for the ad-supported tier. You’ll need to verify enrollment through SheerID.

How the ad-supported tier works: Ads play before and during content, averaging about 4-5 minutes per hour. However, some premium HBO originals play with fewer or no ads even on the ad tier. The experience is less intrusive than Hulu’s ad tier but more noticeable than Netflix’s.

How Max Compares on Price

Service	Ad-Supported	Ad-Free	4K Tier
Max	$9.99/mo	$16.99/mo	$20.99/mo
Netflix	$7.99/mo	$17.99/mo	$24.99/mo
Disney+	$9.99/mo	$15.99/mo	$15.99/mo
Prime Video	$8.99/mo + $2.99 ad-free	$11.98/mo	$11.98/mo

Max sits in the middle on pricing. It’s more expensive than Netflix and Prime Video at the entry level, but the ad-free tier undercuts Netflix. For 4K streaming, Max at $20.99 beats Netflix’s $24.99 Premium tier.

Content Library: Where Max Excels

Max’s value proposition is simple: quality over quantity. While it doesn’t have Netflix’s 5,000+ titles, what it does have tends to be excellent.

HBO Original Series

HBO has spent decades building a reputation for prestige television, and that legacy lives on Max:

Currently Airing:

• House of the Dragon - The Game of Thrones prequel that actually works, delivering epic fantasy with the political intrigue fans loved from the original series
• The Last of Us - The video game adaptation that proved the genre could produce genuinely emotional storytelling (Season 2 coming 2026)
• White Lotus - Mike White’s dark comedy anthology that became appointment viewing
• Hacks - Jean Smart’s Emmy-winning comedy about a legendary comedian
• Industry - HBO’s cutthroat look at London investment banking
• The Penguin - Colin Farrell’s spin-off from The Batman

Complete Series Available:

• Game of Thrones - All 8 seasons of the cultural phenomenon
• Succession - The Roy family drama that defined a generation of prestige TV
• The Sopranos - The show that started the golden age of television
• The Wire - Still considered one of the greatest dramas ever made
• Band of Brothers and The Pacific - HBO’s legendary war miniseries
• Chernobyl - The haunting limited series about the nuclear disaster
• True Detective (Seasons 1, 3, 4) - McConaughey and Harrelson’s debut season remains a masterpiece
• Euphoria - Zendaya’s raw portrayal of teenage struggles
• Barry - Bill Hader’s dark comedy about a hitman turned actor

Warner Bros. Film Library

Max is the streaming home for Warner Bros. theatrical releases, which arrive 45 days after their theatrical run:

Recent Theatrical Additions:

• Dune: Part Two
• Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
• Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
• Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire

Franchise Libraries:

• Harry Potter - All 8 films, plus the Fantastic Beasts series
• DC Universe - The Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, The Suicide Squad
• Lord of the Rings - The complete trilogy in extended editions
• The Matrix - All four films
• Christopher Nolan Collection - Inception, Interstellar, Tenet, The Dark Knight trilogy

Classic Films: Max includes the TCM (Turner Classic Movies) library, offering thousands of classic Hollywood films from the Golden Age through the 1990s. Film buffs will appreciate access to restored classics that aren’t available on other streaming platforms.

Discovery+ Content

The 2022 merger with Discovery added a massive library of reality and documentary content:

• HGTV - Fixer Upper, Property Brothers, House Hunters
• Food Network - Chopped, Diners Drive-Ins and Dives, Guy’s Grocery Games
• TLC - 90 Day Fiance, My 600-lb Life
• Discovery Channel - Shark Week, Deadliest Catch, Gold Rush
• ID (Investigation Discovery) - True crime documentaries
• Magnolia Network - Chip and Joanna Gaines content

The trade-off: This content clutters the interface for viewers who subscribed for HBO content. Max’s algorithm sometimes pushes Discovery shows in ways that frustrate HBO purists. You can filter by HBO content, but the mixing can feel jarring.

Kids Content

Max has improved its family offerings, though it still trails Disney+:

• Cartoon Network - Adventure Time, Steven Universe, Teen Titans
• Looney Tunes - Classic cartoons and modern revivals
• Sesame Street - New episodes premiere on Max
• DC Animation - Batman: The Animated Series, Teen Titans
• Studio Ghibli - The complete collection of Miyazaki’s films

The Sesame Street exclusivity is notable for families with young children. Studio Ghibli alone might justify a subscription for animation fans.

Streaming Quality and Technical Features

Video Quality by Plan

Plan	Resolution	HDR	Audio
With Ads	1080p	No	Stereo
Ad-Free	1080p	No	5.1 Surround
Ultimate	4K	Dolby Vision	Dolby Atmos

The 4K limitation is real: Unlike Disney+ which includes 4K on all plans, Max reserves its best picture and sound for the $20.99 Ultimate tier. If you have a 4K TV and care about quality, this is a significant added cost.

How Max 4K compares: In our testing with an LG C3 OLED, Max delivers solid 4K streams at 12-18 Mbps. This is lower than Apple TV+ (20-25 Mbps) and Netflix (15-25 Mbps) but higher than Prime Video’s inconsistent quality. House of the Dragon and other tent-pole series look excellent. Older catalog content varies in quality.

Downloads and Offline Viewing

Plan	Download Limit	Expiration
With Ads	None	N/A
Ad-Free	30 titles	30 days
Ultimate	100 titles	30 days

The ad-supported tier’s lack of downloads is a significant limitation for travelers. The 30-day expiration on downloaded content is standard across the industry.

Device Support

Max supports:

• iOS and Android phones/tablets
• Smart TVs (Samsung, LG, Sony, Vizio, Roku TV)
• Streaming devices (Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast with Google TV)
• Gaming consoles (PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One/Series X|S)
• Web browsers (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge)

Profile limits: 5 profiles per account, which is standard but fewer than Disney+‘s 7.

Simultaneous streams: 2 on With Ads and Ad-Free plans, 4 on Ultimate. For larger households, you’ll need the most expensive tier.

Max vs. Netflix: The Prestige TV Showdown

This is the comparison that matters most for drama fans. Let’s break it down:

Category	Max Wins	Netflix Wins
Prestige dramas	Yes
Emmy wins	Yes
Content volume		Yes
Original movies		Yes
International content		Yes
Binge releases		Yes
Price (entry-level)		Yes
Price (ad-free)	Yes

Where Max beats Netflix:

1. Quality of originals - HBO shows simply win more awards and generate more critical acclaim. The Last of Us, House of the Dragon, and Succession represent a tier of television that Netflix rarely achieves.

2. Film library depth - Warner Bros. theatrical releases and the TCM classic catalog give Max a richer movie selection for film enthusiasts.

3. Curated experience - Max produces fewer shows but vets them more carefully. You’re less likely to start a mediocre series.

Where Netflix beats Max:

1. Volume and variety - Netflix releases 340+ original titles per year versus Max’s 60+. There’s always something new.

2. International content - Squid Game, Money Heist, Dark, and other international hits give Netflix a global edge.

3. Binge model - Netflix releases entire seasons at once, while HBO sticks to weekly episodes for major shows.

4. Original movies - Netflix produces more original films, including Oscar contenders.

The verdict: If you want the absolute best dramas and don’t mind waiting a week between episodes, choose Max. If you want endless variety and binge-release schedules, Netflix is your service.

Who Should Subscribe to Max?

Max is Perfect For:

• Prestige TV enthusiasts who want Emmy-winning dramas
• Film buffs who appreciate Warner Bros. theatrical releases and classic cinema
• Game of Thrones fans wanting House of the Dragon and the complete original series
• HBO loyalists who followed shows from Sopranos to Succession
• Students who can get the $4.99/month discount
• Studio Ghibli fans looking for the complete Miyazaki collection
• Reality TV watchers who value Discovery+ content

Max Probably Isn’t For:

• Families seeking kids’ content - Disney+ has a much deeper library
• Budget-conscious viewers - Netflix’s $7.99 tier offers more value for casual watching
• Binge-watchers - HBO’s weekly release schedule requires patience
• 4K enthusiasts on a budget - The $20.99 Ultimate tier is expensive
• Sports fans - Max has no live sports (unlike Peacock or ESPN+)

How We Tested Max

Our evaluation methodology:

Content Assessment: We tracked new releases over 12 months, noting critical reception (Rotten Tomatoes, Metacritic), awards nominations, and cultural impact. We compared library breadth across genres and counted exclusive titles unavailable on other platforms.

Technical Testing: We tested 4K HDR playback on an LG C3 OLED with a Sonos Arc soundbar, measuring bitrates and picture quality across different content types. We verified Dolby Atmos functionality and compared quality to Netflix, Disney+, and Apple TV+.

User Experience: We timed content discovery, noting how long it takes to find new shows versus browsing distractions. We tested on iOS, Apple TV, and Samsung Smart TV to evaluate interface consistency.

Value Analysis: We calculated cost per quality hour of content, factoring in critical acclaim. A service with fewer but better shows can deliver more value than one with thousands of mediocre titles.

Regional Note: This review covers US availability. Content libraries, pricing, and features vary by country.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Max the same as HBO Max?

Yes. Warner Bros. Discovery rebranded HBO Max to simply “Max” in May 2023. The service retained all HBO content while integrating Discovery+ programming. If you had an HBO Max subscription, it automatically converted to Max.

Does Max include live HBO channels?

No. Max is an on-demand streaming service. For live HBO channels, you need a traditional cable subscription or a live TV streaming service like YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV that includes HBO.

Can I watch Warner Bros. movies on release day?

No. Warner Bros. theatrical releases come to Max approximately 45 days after their theatrical premiere. During the pandemic, some films premiered simultaneously in theaters and on HBO Max, but that practice ended in 2022.

Is there a free trial for Max?

Max offers a 7-day free trial for new subscribers, which is more generous than Netflix and Disney+ (neither offers trials). The trial is available for all plans, including the Ultimate tier.

How does the student discount work?

Students can subscribe to Max With Ads for $4.99/month (50% off). You’ll need to verify your enrollment through SheerID using your .edu email or student documentation. The discount applies for up to 4 years.

Can I share my Max account?

Max allows streaming on multiple devices within your household. The Terms of Service prohibit sharing outside your home. Unlike Netflix, Max hasn’t aggressively enforced password-sharing restrictions yet, but this may change.

Does Max have 4K content on the cheaper plans?

No. 4K, Dolby Vision HDR, and Dolby Atmos audio require the Ultimate tier at $20.99/month. The With Ads and Ad-Free plans are capped at 1080p.

Is Discovery+ content included?

Yes. All Discovery+ content is included with every Max subscription at no extra charge. This includes HGTV, Food Network, TLC, Discovery Channel, and more.

Final Verdict: 4.4/5 Rating

Max earns its reputation as the streaming home of prestige television. No other service matches the quality of HBO originals, from landmark series like The Sopranos and The Wire to current hits like House of the Dragon and The Last of Us. Add the Warner Bros. film library and Discovery+ content, and Max offers substantial value for its price.

The rating breakdown:

• Content Quality: 5/5 - Simply the best original programming in streaming
• Content Library: 4/5 - Smaller than Netflix but more consistently excellent
• Pricing: 4/5 - Competitive, but 4K requires the expensive Ultimate tier
• Streaming Quality: 4/5 - Good 4K when available, but locked behind highest tier
• User Experience: 4/5 - Interface improved but Discovery integration causes clutter

Who should subscribe: Drama enthusiasts, film buffs, and anyone who values watching fewer but better shows. If you find yourself saying “there’s nothing to watch on Netflix” despite its massive catalog, Max’s curated approach may suit you better.

Who should look elsewhere: Families prioritizing kids’ content (get Disney+), casual viewers seeking volume (get Netflix), or budget-conscious streamers unwilling to pay for 4K (consider Disney+ where it’s included free).

For prestige TV lovers, Max isn’t just worth the subscription. It’s essential.