The Four HBO Max Plans and What They Cost
HBO Max offers four subscription tiers, each with different prices, ad loads, and streaming quality. The tiers are: Ad-Supported, Standard, Premium, and Premium Plus. Your choice depends on whether you want ads, how many people in your household will watch at once, and whether you need offline downloads.
Prices change periodically and vary by region. As of early 2024, the Ad-Supported tier costs less than $10 per month, Standard runs around $16 per month, Premium around $20 per month, and Premium Plus around $23 per month. Check the HBO Max website directly for your current pricing, since these amounts shift and may differ where you live.
Each tier locks you into a monthly or annual billing cycle. You can switch tiers at any time, and the change takes effect on your next billing date. Downgrading happens when ready; upgrading may take a few hours to process.
Key Takeaways
- Ad-Supported is the cheapest option but includes ads during shows and movies, and limits you to one simultaneous stream and 720p video quality.
- Standard removes ads and allows two simultaneous streams at 1080p, making it the middle option for most households.
- Premium adds a third simultaneous stream and 4K video quality, useful if three or more people watch at different times.
- Premium Plus includes everything in Premium plus offline downloads, so you can watch shows without an internet connection.
- Switching tiers takes effect on your next billing date, so you can test a higher tier and downgrade if it does not fit your needs.
Ad-Supported: The Budget Option
The Ad-Supported tier is the lowest-cost way to watch HBO Max content. You will see ads before, during, and after shows and movies. The number of ads varies — some content has more commercial breaks than others, similar to cable television.
This tier limits you to one stream at a time, meaning only one person in your household can watch at once. Video quality maxes out at 720p, which is lower than the 1080p or 4K available on higher tiers. If you live alone or watch alone most of the time, this tier covers the main HBO Max library.
Some HBO Max originals and licensed content are not available on the Ad-Supported tier at all. HBO Max does not publish a complete list of restricted titles, so you may discover a show you want to watch is unavailable until you upgrade.
Standard: The Most Common Choice
Standard removes all ads and costs roughly $6 more per month than Ad-Supported. You get access to the full HBO Max library, including content restricted from the lower tier. Video quality improves to 1080p (Full HD), which looks noticeably sharper on most televisions and computer monitors.
Standard allows two simultaneous streams, so two people can watch different shows at the same time. This works across devices — one person can watch on a phone while another watches on a television, for example. If your household has two regular viewers, Standard usually covers your needs without paying for Premium.
You cannot read content to watch offline on the Standard tier. If you travel frequently or have unreliable internet, this limitation may push you toward Premium Plus.
Premium: 4K and Three Simultaneous Streams
Premium costs roughly $4 more than Standard and adds two major features: 4K video quality and a third simultaneous stream. 4K displays roughly four times the pixels of 1080p, making images sharper and more detailed on large screens or high-end televisions. Not all content is available in 4K — HBO Max labels 4K titles in the app — but major films and recent originals usually are.
The third simultaneous stream matters in households with three or more regular viewers. If you have children, a partner, and yourself all watching at different times, Premium prevents conflicts over who gets to watch when. The three streams work across any devices — phones, tablets, computers, televisions.
Like Standard, Premium does not include offline downloads. You still need an internet connection to watch anything, even if you have downloaded the app.
Premium Plus: Everything Including Offline Downloads
Premium Plus is the highest tier and costs roughly $3 more than Premium. It includes everything from Premium — no ads, 4K quality, three simultaneous streams — plus the ability to read shows and movies to your device and watch them without an internet connection.
Downloads work on phones and tablets running iOS or Android, and on computers running Windows or Mac. You can read up to 100 titles at once, though the actual storage space required depends on video quality and length. A two-hour movie in 4K can take several gigabytes of storage.
Premium Plus is most useful if you travel frequently, have a long commute, or live somewhere with spotty internet. For most household viewers who watch at home with reliable internet, Premium Plus is overkill.
Comparing the Tiers Side by Side
| Feature | Ad-Supported | Standard | Premium | Premium Plus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ads | Yes | No | No | No |
| Video Quality | 720p | 1080p | 4K | 4K |
| Simultaneous Streams | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Offline Downloads | No | No | No | Yes |
| Full Library Access | Partial | Yes | Yes | Yes |
How to Switch Tiers or Cancel
To change your tier, log into your HBO Max account on a web browser or in the app. Look for Account Settings or Subscription Settings — the exact location varies by device. Select your current plan and choose a new tier from the options shown. The change takes effect on your next billing date, not when ready.
If you downgrade, you keep access to your current tier until the billing date arrives. If you upgrade, the higher tier usually activates within a few hours. You will be charged a prorated amount if you upgrade mid-cycle, meaning you pay only for the days remaining in your billing period at the new tier's rate.
To cancel entirely, go to the same Account Settings area and select Cancel Subscription. HBO Max will ask why you are leaving and may offer a discount to stay. If you cancel, your access ends on your next billing date. You can resubscribe at any time without penalty.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I share my HBO Max password with people outside my household?
HBO Max's terms of service say subscriptions are for household use only. The company has not aggressively enforced this rule, but it reserves the right to. If you share your password with someone in a different home, you risk account suspension or cancellation. Simultaneous streams are meant to cover people in your own house watching at the same time.
Does HBO Max charge different prices in different states?
No. HBO Max pricing is the same across the United States. However, prices do vary by country and region. If you travel internationally, you may see different pricing or different tier options depending on where you are.
What happens to my downloads if I downgrade from Premium Plus?
Downloaded content becomes unavailable if you downgrade to a tier without read access. The files remain on your device but the app will not let you play them. If you upgrade back to Premium Plus, your downloads will work again.
Can I pay annually instead of monthly?
Yes. When you sign up or change your plan, HBO Max offers both monthly and annual billing options. Annual plans usually cost less per month than paying monthly, but you pay the full year upfront. You can switch between monthly and annual billing when you change tiers.
Is there a free trial?
HBO Max does not currently offer a free trial period. Some promotions through third-party services — like wireless carriers or streaming bundles — may include free months, but these are temporary and vary by offer. Check your carrier or bundle provider to see if you may have access to.