HBO Max is relaunching as Max in May — here's what that means for current subscribers

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• HBO Max costs $16/month without ads or $10/month with ads.
• The service combines content from HBO's cable channel with exclusive shows and films.
• On May 23, HBO Max will change its name to "Max" and add content from Discovery Plus.

HBO Max is a streaming service that mixes HBO's library of original series with a huge catalog of blockbuster movies and TV shows provided by Warner Bros. Discovery. 

The service costs $16 a month for ad-free streaming, or $10 a month for ad-supported streaming. And most people who already have HBO through cable automatically get HBO Max without having to pay extra.

In May 2023, HBO Max is set to merge with Discovery Plus to form Max, a new streaming service designed to offer the best of both platforms. HBO Max user accounts will automatically migrate to the new service, and pricing will remain the same for both ad-free and ad-supported plans.

As it stands, HBO Max remains a solid streaming service on its own, and the "Max" rebranding and expansion should add a bit more value. Its large selection of hit movies and prestige series makes it a strong competitor in the increasingly crowded digital entertainment market. 

Below, we've detailed all the basics to help you decide if HBO Max is right for your needs, including pricing, content selection, and what the Discovery Plus merger could mean for members.

How can I sign up for HBO Max?

You can sign up for HBO Max through HBOMax.com. You can also subscribe directly through select partner services, including Amazon Prime Video, AT&T, DirecTV, Spectrum, Hulu, and YouTube TV.

How much is HBO Max?

HBO Max costs $16/month for ad-free streaming or $10/month for ad-supported streaming. The current ad-free price is the result of a $1 price increase that went into effect on January 12.

Subscribers can save up to 20% by signing up for an annual subscription to either plan. An annual ad-free plan is $150 a year, and an annual ad-supported plan is $100 a year.

HBO Max's ad-supported plan includes nearly everything you get with the more expensive ad-free plan. That said, the cheaper plan lacks the option to download content to view offline, and streaming is limited to HD quality rather than 4K. 

Is HBO Max available through Amazon Prime Video?

Amazon Prime Video now offers HBO Max as an add-on channel. Prime subscribers can add HBO Max to their membership for an extra $16 a month. Amazon had previously removed HBO Max as channel, but brought the service back in December 2022.

Does HBO Max offer a free trial?

Though HBO Max initially offered a free trial through its site, that promotion is no longer available. However, there is one workaround. Amazon Prime Video members can get a one-week free trial of HBO Max if they sign up for the service as a Prime Video channel. The trial is only available to new HBO members.

Where can I watch HBO Max?

HBO Max can be streamed via its official website and the HBO Max app. You can find the app on Apple, Android, Roku, PlayStation, Xbox, Amazon Fire TV, and Chromecast devices, as well as smart TVs from LG and Samsung.

Those who sign up for HBO Max directly though a partnered service, like Hulu, will be able to access regular HBO content through the partner service's app. To watch HBO Max exclusives, however, you still need the separate HBO Max app.

Is HBO Max merging with Discovery Plus?

Warner Bros. Discovery has announced plans to merge HBO Max and Discovery Plus into one streaming service called Max. The merged service is set to launch on May 23. Though the new Max service will incorporate Discovery Plus content, Discovery Plus will also continue to remain as a separate platform. 

Ad-supported and ad-free Max plans will remain the same price as those on HBO Max. A new Ultimate tier with 4K streaming support will also be added for $20 a month. Existing HBO Max accounts will automatically migrate to Max.

Discovery Plus will continue to cost $5/month with ads or $7/month without ads. The service offers shows from Discovery, TLC, Animal Planet, Food Network, and HGTV, along with several original series.

During its Q2 2022 earnings call, Warner Bros. Discovery outlined how HBO Max and Discovery Plus complement each other by appealing to different demographics. Once combined, the new service has the potential to attract a wider range of subscribers by offering all of HBO Max's scripted content and all of Discovery Plus' unscripted titles. 

Can I watch movies in 4K on HBO Max?

Several titles are available to watch in 4K on HBO Max. Subscribers to HBO Max's ad-free tier get 4K now, but starting on May 23, new Max subscribers will need the more expensive Max Ultimate plan to watch in 4K.

What movies and shows are on HBO Max?

HBO Max includes access to new and classic HBO shows, from "The Last of Us" and "The Sopranos" to "Succession" and "House of the Dragon." The library also includes the cable channel's rotating lineup of movies. On top of all that, HBO Max offers additional titles from the Warner Bros. Discovery catalog, as well as brand-new originals.

Warner Bros. also has the option to bring all of its new theatrical releases to HBO Max as soon as 45 days after they play on the big screen. Some notable releases on HBO Max include "The Banshees of Inisherin," "The Menu," "The Batman," "Black Adam," "Don't Worry Darling," and "Elvis."

Meanwhile, some popular HBO Max original series you can stream right now include hit shows like:

•  "The Flight Attendant" 
• "Peacemaker" 
• "Our Flag Means Death"
• "Doom Patrol"
• "Tokyo Vice"

Beyond original programs, the catalog offers a wide range of TV series from DC, Cartoon Network, and Adult Swim. The HBO Max movie catalog also incorporates critically acclaimed films from TCM, Criterion Collection, and Studio Ghibli, alongside hundreds of blockbuster Warner Bros. movies. "Shazam! Fury of the Gods" arrives on May 23 with the rollout of Max.

With that said, the HBO Max catalog is not permanent, and the service is known for removing content with little warning. For example, recent cost-cutting measures have led to the removal of shows like "Westworld" and shorts from the "Looney Tunes" franchise.