The Four HBO Max Plans and Their Monthly Cost

HBO Max offers four subscription tiers as of 2024. The Ad-Supported plan costs $5.99 per month and includes ads during shows and movies. The Standard plan costs $15.99 per month with no ads. The Premium plan costs $19.99 per month and adds the ability to download content to watch offline and stream on four devices at once. The Premium Plus plan costs $22.99 per month and includes everything in Premium plus the option to create up to six user profiles on one account.

These prices and plan names are current but can change. HBO Max occasionally adjusts pricing or restructures its tiers. You can see the current options and exact pricing on the HBO Max website or in the app itself before you commit to any plan.

Key Takeaways

  • The Ad-Supported plan at $5.99 per month is the lowest cost but shows advertisements during content.
  • Standard and Premium plans remove ads, with Premium adding offline downloads and four simultaneous streams for $19.99 per month.
  • Premium Plus at $22.99 per month includes everything in Premium plus up to six user profiles on a single account.
  • All plans include access to the full HBO Max library of movies, shows, and originals — the difference is in ads, downloads, and how many people can watch at the same time.

What Each Plan Includes and Excludes

All four plans give you access to the same content library: HBO originals like Succession and The Last of Us, Warner Bros. movies, DC shows, and licensed series from other networks. The differences lie in how you watch, not what you watch.

The Ad-Supported plan shows ads but costs the least. You cannot download episodes or movies to your device, and you can stream on only one device at a time. Standard removes the ads and costs $10 more per month, but still limits you to one stream at a time and no downloads. Premium adds the ability to download content and stream on up to four devices simultaneously — useful if multiple people in your household watch at the same time. Premium Plus keeps everything from Premium and adds the ability to create up to six separate user profiles, each with its own watch history and recommendations.

Simultaneous Streaming and Device Limits

How many people can watch HBO Max at the same time depends on your plan. Ad-Supported and Standard plans allow one stream at a time, meaning only one person can watch on one device. If a second person tries to watch on another device, the first stream stops.

Premium and Premium Plus both allow four simultaneous streams. This means four different people can watch four different shows or movies at the same time on four different devices. This is the main reason households with multiple viewers choose Premium or Premium Plus over the cheaper tiers.

Downloading Content to Watch Offline

Only Premium and Premium Plus plans include the ability to download shows and movies to your phone or tablet. Once downloaded, you can watch without an internet connection. This is useful for travel, commutes, or times when your internet is unavailable.

Downloaded content expires after a set period — typically 30 days for most titles, though some may differ. HBO Max will notify you when a download is about to expire. You can re-download the same content as many times as you want as long as your subscription remains active.

User Profiles and Parental Controls

Ad-Supported, Standard, and Premium plans allow you to create one user profile per account. Premium Plus lets you create up to six profiles on a single account. Each profile has its own watch history, recommendations, and saved list of shows to watch later.

Profiles are useful if you share an account with family members and want to keep your viewing separate from theirs. HBO Max also offers parental controls that let you restrict content by rating on specific profiles — for example, blocking R-rated movies on a child's profile while allowing them on an adult's.

How to Choose the Right Plan for Your Situation

If you live alone and do not mind ads, the Ad-Supported plan at $5.99 per month is the cheapest way to watch. If you live alone and want no ads, Standard at $15.99 is the next step up. If you share your account with one or more people in your household, Premium at $19.99 becomes worth the cost because it lets four people watch at the same time instead of one.

Premium Plus at $22.99 makes sense if you share your account with multiple people and want each person to have their own profile with separate recommendations and watch history. The extra $3 per month over Premium is small if it prevents arguments about recommendations or watch history.

If you travel frequently or commute on public transit, Premium or Premium Plus is necessary because only those tiers let you download content to watch offline.

Switching Plans and Cancellation

You can change your plan at any time through your account settings on the HBO Max website or app. If you upgrade to a more expensive plan mid-month, HBO Max charges you the difference prorated to your next billing date. If you downgrade, the change takes effect on your next billing date and you are not refunded for the current month.

You can cancel your subscription at any time with no penalty or cancellation fee. Your access ends on your next billing date. If you cancel and later want to resubscribe, you can do so — your watch history and profiles are saved for 10 months after cancellation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I share my HBO Max password with people outside my household?

HBO Max's terms of service state that accounts are for personal, non-commercial use by members of the same household. Sharing passwords with people who do not live with you violates the terms. HBO Max has periodically enforced this by requiring account holders to verify their location or sign in periodically.

Do I have to pay for HBO Max if I already have HBO through cable?

That depends on your cable provider and plan. Some cable packages include HBO Max at no extra cost, while others charge an additional fee. Contact your cable provider to find out whether HBO Max is included in your current package.

What happens if two people try to watch on the same plan at the same time?

On Ad-Supported and Standard plans, the first stream stops when a second person tries to watch. On Premium and Premium Plus, up to four streams can run simultaneously without interruption. If a fifth person tries to watch, their stream will not start until one of the four stops.

Can I use HBO Max on my TV, phone, and tablet at the same time?

Only if you have Premium or Premium Plus. These plans allow four simultaneous streams across any devices — TV, phone, tablet, or computer. Ad-Supported and Standard plans allow only one stream at a time, regardless of the device.

How often does HBO Max change its prices or plans?

HBO Max has adjusted pricing and plan structure several times since its launch. There is no set schedule for changes. The company typically announces price increases or plan changes in advance and gives existing subscribers time to decide whether to keep their current plan or switch.