Streaming
HBO Max Price Hikes & Price History (2026)
Updated May 30, 2026 · Researched & fact-checked by Shaheer
HBO Max raised its ad-free Standard plan from $15.99 to $16.99 in 2024, then to $18.49 in October 2025. The Premium ad-free tier reached $22.99 over the same period.
At a glance
- Current price
- $18.49 (Standard (ad-free))
- Last increase
- October 21, 2025 (+8.8%)
- Total change tracked
- +15.6%
- Tracked increases
- 2
Key takeaways
- HBO Max’s ad-free Standard plan rose from $15.99 to $16.99 (2024) and to $18.49 (October 2025).
- The Premium ad-free tier reached $22.99 over the same period.
- The service rebranded from Max back to HBO Max in 2025 amid the increases.
- The $9.99 ad-supported tier and the annual plan are the main ways to cut the cost.
HBO Max price increase history
| Date | Plan | Region | Old → New | Change | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 21, 2025 | Standard (ad-free) | US | $16.99 → $18.49 | +8.8% | Source |
| June 4, 2024 | Standard (ad-free) | US | $15.99 → $16.99 | +6.3% | Source |
What HBO Max costs right now
- Basic (with Ads): $9.99 (US)
- Standard (ad-free): $18.49 (US)
- Premium (ad-free): $22.99 (US)
Has HBO Max raised its price?
Yes. The ad-free Standard plan rose from $15.99 to $16.99 in June 2024 and to $18.49 in October 2025, while the top Premium ad-free tier reached $22.99. The increases landed alongside the service’s rebrand from "Max" back to "HBO Max" in 2025.
Warner Bros. Discovery has prioritised streaming profitability and password-sharing crackdowns, and price increases on the ad-free tiers are central to that. As with Disney+, the ad-supported plan is kept cheaper to steer subscribers toward advertising revenue.
Frequent rebrands and plan changes make it easy to lose track of what HBO Max costs you. Logging your real charge catches each increase as it happens.
To control the cost, the Basic (with Ads) plan at $9.99 is roughly half the Standard ad-free price and is the cheapest way to keep access. HBO Max also offers annual versions of its plans that work out below twelve monthly payments if you stay subscribed year-round. Since the difference between Standard and Premium is mainly extra simultaneous streams and 4K, dropping from Premium to Standard is an easy saving if you do not need them. With ad-free increases now landing roughly yearly, deciding which tier you are willing to pay for ahead of the next hike is the sensible approach.
Frequently asked questions
Did HBO Max raise its price in 2025?
Yes. In October 2025 the ad-free Standard plan rose from $16.99 to $18.49/month in the US, with the Premium tier reaching $22.99.
How much does HBO Max cost now?
As of 2026, US prices are $9.99/month (Basic with Ads), $18.49/month (Standard ad-free) and $22.99/month (Premium ad-free).
Is Max the same as HBO Max?
Yes. The service rebranded from HBO Max to Max in 2023 and back to HBO Max in 2025. It is the same subscription, which has seen several price increases across the changes.
How can I pay less for HBO Max?
Use the $9.99 ad-supported Basic plan (about half the Standard price), drop from Premium to Standard if you do not need 4K or extra streams, or pay for an annual plan to lower the effective monthly cost.
Will HBO Max raise prices again?
Likely. Warner Bros. Discovery has raised the ad-free tiers roughly once a year as it chases streaming profitability, so another increase would be consistent with recent history.