HBO Max vs. Max Subscriptions: What’s Changed and What You Need To Know

After a lot of chatter and a formal announcement last April, the HBO Max to Max change has been in effect for over a year now.

The new-ish service combines the libraries of HBO Max and Discovery+ into one mega streaming service, much like the Warner Bros. and Discovery merger in 2022 created one mega entertainment company.

The good news for you is that it’s… hasn’t really changed much if you were already an HBO Max subscriber.

Still, you might have some questions, like, Am I going to have to pay more? And, Do I have to get a new app for this?

Lucky, we’ve got the As to your Qs, so keep reading for everything you need to know about Max, the streaming service formerly known as HBO Max.

What is Max?

Max is a streaming service from Warner Bros. Discovery that combines the libraries of several major networks and studios into one massive catalog of films and television.

HBO Max vs. Max: How is Max Different From HBO Max?

The short answer? Aside from the new name, it’s not really all that different.

The longer answer? Warner Bros. Discovery announced HBO Max would become Max, to reflect that they’ll be combining HBO Max with content from the Discovery+ platform.

In essence, Max is just HBO Max in blue with even more content.

(Discovery+ will remain a standalone streaming service despite this because, being priced at a lower price point, they don’t want to deter some 20 million subscribers from the service.)

Rest assured, all of the HBO content you know and love will still be streaming on Max, so your yearly The Sopranos rewatches are safe and shows from the HBO cable network like The Wire, Sex & The City, and Game of Thrones will still be part of Max’s library of titles.

Max Subscriptions and Prices:

Max has three subscription tiers: Max Ad-Lite, Max Ad Free, and Max Ultimate Ad Free. If you were an HBO Max subscriber before the change, or have HBO included in a linear cable subscription, your subscription is likely the same as it was before with no action required on your part.

The Max Ad-Lite plan costs $9.99/month or $99.99/year and gives you access to everything on the service with limited ads, up to 2 concurrent streams and 1080p resolution.

If you prefer to stream without ads, the Max Ad Free plan gives you everything the With Ads plan has, plus the ability to up to 30 download movies and TV episodes for offline viewing for $16.99/month or $169.99/year.

These first two plans are the same as the ones previously offered with HBO Max, so you likely won’t have to do anything unless you want to upgrade your plan.

The new plan being offered with Max is Ultimate Ad Free, priced at $20.99/month or $209.99/year. This plan includes streaming in 4K UHD and Dolby Atmos, if available, 100 offline downloads, and the ability to stream on four devices at once.

Over 1,000 films and episodes of TV are included in the 4K rollout — that’s eight times as many as were available on HBO Max.

These include all eight Harry Potter movies, Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy plus six other Batman movies, The Lord of The Rings trilogy (and extended editions) and The Hobbit trilogy, and a significant number of HBO and Max originals like Succession, The Last of Us, and House of the Dragon.

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What Networks and Studios are on Max?

In addition to Max Originals, the service is “the one to watch for HBO,” so, of course, you’re going to be able to watch all things HBO — from their past hits like The Sopranos and Succession to the network’s current Sunday night fare, plus a rotating selection of movies that are part of HBO’s collection.

You can also watch all things Looney Tunes, DC Entertainment, Adult Swim, and Wizarding World (Harry Potter), plus titles from Turner Classic Movies and Cartoon Network.

The addition of Discovery+ means you’ll also be able to stream shows from TLC, Food Network, HGTV, Discovery Channel, Magnolia Network, ID, and more.

Max recently launched a beta version of a new live news section featuring CNN, plus a backlog of CNN’s documentary programming.

Sports on Max:

In September 2023, Max introduced a new add-on service with Bleacher Report that allows streamers to watch live sports that air on WBD’s linear cable networks (TNT, TBS, or truTV). This includes three of the big four leagues (NHL, MLB, NBA), plus NCAA Basketball (March Madness), and several international sporting events.

Bleacher Report Sports launched free for all users and was scheduled to start costing $9.99/month extra for users who wanted it beginning March 1, but a technical difficultly has delayed this date. B/R Sports will still be included free for Max subscribers through at least the end of March Madness.

Movies on Max:

Max’s movie library will include new titles from Warner Bros. Entertainment and movies from DC, Turner Classic Movies, Studio Ghibli, and more. You’ll also be able to watch movies that the HBO cable network carries at any given moment.

Right now, Max is the only service where you can stream Barbie, and eventually (no dates have been specified yet), Wonka, Aquaman: The Lost Kingdom, and the 2023 musical version of The Color Purple will also stream exclusively on the service.

Catch up on Dune before Dune Part Two hits theaters, and watch recent blockbusters like Avatar: The Way of Water and every Lord of The Rings and The Hobbit film.

For more movies, check out our list of the best movies on HBO Max.

Shows on HBO Max:

In addition to HBO’s vast prestige library, Adult Swim, Looney Tunes, and nearly two years’ worth of Max Originals staying on Max, additional shows from Discovery+ will also be added.

Discovery titles on Max will include House Hunters, Chopped, Property Brothers, Ghost Adventures, and Say Yes to the Dress, among other lifestyle titles.

Same-time HBO premieres will continue to happen, so new episodes of True Detective: Night Country will hit the service at the same time as they air on linear cable; the same will go for upcoming HBO series like the second season of House of the Dragon, the final season of Curb Your Enthusiasm, and the new drama The Sympathizer.

Among some of the most popular HBO titles available to stream in their entirety are The Sopranos, The Wire, Succession, and Game of Thrones.

To see everything hitting Max this month, head to our New on Max page.

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Why Trust Decider Shopping

This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Writer/Reporter for Decider. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, how to watch your favorite sports teams and movies on each streaming service and the very best in tech, like soundbars, to enhance your viewing experience. Not only does Angela test and compare the services, devices and merch she writes about, but she’s also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech and pop culture. Prior to joining Decider and the New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews. 

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