Katarzyna Petru
HBO Max viewers need to prepare for higher bills. Warner Bros. Discovery, the owner of the platform, has announced another price increase for all available plans. This marks the third time in the last three years that the company has decided on such a move, looking for ways to increase the profitability of the service. The new prices apply to new subscribers effective immediately (from October 21).
New HBO Max Pricing
Price increases apply to all three subscription levels. Below is a detailed breakdown of the new monthly and annual prices.
Plan | Payment Method | New Price | Increase |
HBO Max Basic (with ads) | Monthly | $10.99 | +$1.00 |
HBO Max Basic (with ads) | Annually | $109.99 | +$10.00 |
HBO Max Standard (without ads) | Monthly | $18.49 | +$1.50 |
HBO Max Standard (without ads) | Annually | $184.99 | +$15.00 |
HBO Max Premium (4K, without ads) | Monthly | $22.99 | +$2.00 |
HBO Max Premium (4K, without ads) | Annually | $229.99 | +$20.00 |
Who and when will the price increase affect?
As mentioned, the new prices apply to all new subscribers from 21 October. Current subscribers will be notified of the changes 30 days before their plan renews. The increase will take effect for them from the next billing cycle occurring on 20 November 2025 or later. Those paying for an annual subscription will not feel the change until their plan is renewed.
For now, the change applies to America, but the trend is concerning.
Streaming Market Gets More Expensive
HBO Max isn't the only platform raising prices. This is part of a broader trend in the industry, where companies are striving to improve the financial results of their VOD services. Simultaneously (on 21 October), price increases for Disney+ and Hulu also took effect. Earlier this year, Peacock, Apple TV (which dropped the "plus" from its name), and Netflix also updated their pricing. The prices for bundled packages have also risen. The package including HBO Max, Disney+ and Hulu (with ads) has increased by $3 and now costs $19.99 per month.
What does HBO Max offer in return?
Price hikes come after recent rebranding changes – in July this year, WBD restored the name "HBO Max", abandoning the earlier rebranding to "Max". The platform still offers access to a rich library of series and films from HBO, Warner Bros. Pictures, DC Studios, Turner Classic Movies, A24, and Studio Ghibli. The catalog includes hits like "Game of Thrones", "The Sopranos", "Succession", "The Last of Us", "The Penguin", and "Hacks", as well as popular series like "Friends" and "Rick and Morty". The company is also promoting upcoming premieres, including "IT: Welcome to Derry", "The Chair Company" (later this year), and the prequel to "Game of Thrones" – "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" and new seasons of "The Pitt" and "Industry", which will debut in January 2026.
