What HBO Max subscribers need to know about the Max launch

The wait is finally over – HBO Max has changed its name and branding to Max, bringing in new content from Discovery+ channels such as HGTV, Discovery Channel and Food Network. 

Max also includes improved performance, an easier sign-in process, profile PINs for Adult profiles, new genre hubs and smarter recommendations.  

Alongside all the new shows and platform improvements is a different pricing system. However, if you already subscribed to HBO Max to watch the likes of The Last of Us and Succession, you may be wondering what this means for you.  

We’ve rounded up everything you need to know. You can also check out our guide to the Netflix password sharing crackdown, and BT Sport rebranding to TNT Sports.

Is the price of Max different to HBO Max?  

Yes – but firstly, we’ll be covering what this means for new customers, as things work differently for existing subscribers.  

HBO Max had two tiers. These were: 

• Ad-supported: $9.99 per month/$99.99 per year – 1080p resolution, no offline downloads 
• Ad-free: $15.99 per month/$149.99 per year – 4K resolution, offline downloads available 

On 23 May 2023, these plans changed to the following: 

• Max Ad-Lite: $9.99 per month/$99.99 per year – 1080p resolution, no offline downloads, two concurrent streams, 5.1 surround sound quality 
• Max Ad-Free – $15.99 per month/$149.99 per year – 1080p resolution, up to 30 offline downloads, two concurrent streams, 5.1 surround sound quality 
• Max Ultimate Ad-Free – $19.99 per month/$199.99 per year – 4K resolution, up to 100 offline downloads, four concurrent streams, Dolby Atmos sound quality available 

So, 4K content and a higher number of offline downloads have been moved to a pricier plan.

Will previous HBO Max subscribers be charged more for Max? 

Not right away. Former HBO subscribers will still have access to all their features for six months after Max launched on 23 May.  

That means that if you currently pay $15.99 per month for 4K streaming, then you can keep that price up until the end of this year. After that, you can either downgrade to the Max Ad-Free plan – the price will stay the same, but you’ll lose access to 4K streaming. Alternatively, you can pay $4 per month/$40 per year more for the Ultimate Ad-Free plan.  

How do I change from HBO Max to Max? 

You shouldn’t need to do anything. The interface should automatically migrate over to Max, though the company has advised that some people may have to redownload the app if there are any technical issues.  

Subscribers, passwords, usernames, profiles, billing and even watch history should all be carried over.

I’m a Discovery+ subscriber – will I get access to Max? 

No – Discovery+ will be remaining as a standalone platform, so customers will not be migrated over to Max. 

For reference, Discovery+ costs $4.99 per month for ad-supported viewing, and $6.99 per month for an ad-free subscription.