Katarzyna Petru
HBO Max viewers must prepare for higher bills. Warner Bros. Discovery, the owner of the platform, has announced another price increase for all available plans. This is the third time in the last three years that the company has decided to take such a step, looking for ways to increase the profitability of the service. New prices apply to new subscribers effective immediately (as of 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) | Yearly | $109.99 | +$10.00 |
HBO Max Standard (ad-free) | Monthly | $18.49 | +$1.50 |
HBO Max Standard (ad-free) | Yearly | $184.99 | +$15.00 |
HBO Max Premium (4K, ad-free) | Monthly | $22.99 | +$2.00 |
HBO Max Premium (4K, ad-free) | Yearly | $229.99 | +$20.00 |
Who and when will the increase affect?
As mentioned, the new prices apply to all new subscribers from October 21. 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 November 20, 2025, or later. Those paying for a yearly subscription will not feel the change until it is time to renew their plan.
For now, the change applies to America, but the trend is concerning.
The streaming market is getting more expensive
HBO Max is not the only platform raising prices. This is part of a broader trend in the industry where companies are looking to improve the financial performance of their VOD services. At the same time (on October 21), price increases for Disney+ and Hulu also went into effect. Earlier this year, Peacock, Apple TV (which dropped the "plus" from its name), and Netflix also updated their pricing. The prices of bundled packages have also increased. The bundle of HBO Max, Disney+, and Hulu (with ads) has gone up by $3 and now costs $19.99 per month.
What does HBO Max offer in return?
Price increases follow recent branding changes – in July of 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," "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," along with new seasons of "The Pitt" and "Industry," which will debut in January 2026.
