HBO launched HBO Max in 2020 to compete with other streaming services, replacing the existing HBO channels, HBO Go and HBO Now. The revamped service focuses on original content and boasts one of the largest and highest quality content libraries available, including Warner Bros. films, Studio Ghibli, Looney Tunes, Sesame Street, Turner Classic Movies, and more.
If you already subscribe to HBO through a major TV provider, you likely have access to the full HBO Max experience, which you can activate and start streaming immediately. If not, you can subscribe directly online, with a free 7-day trial and a monthly fee of $15 (or $150 per year) for the ad-free tier. HBO Max has also introduced an ad-supported tier, which costs $10 per month or $100 per year, but doesn’t offer offline content downloads and is limited to 1080p streaming.
HBO Max is available on a variety of platforms, including Roku, Apple TV, Android TV, Samsung, and more, and can also be streamed via a browser, game consoles, and mobile apps on Android and iOS. It offers simultaneous streaming on up to three devices and allows multiple profiles.
HBO Max’s extensive content library features shows like Friends, The Fresh Prince, Game of Thrones, The Wire, and movies like DC Universe-related films and more. The service also invests in original content, such as House of the Dragon, a Game of Thrones spin-off, and a series based on The Last of Us video game.
However, as a cost-cutting measure ahead of its merger with Discovery+, HBO Max has recently cancelled several shows, deprioritized kid and family content, and removed Sesame Street spin-offs and some Cartoon Network titles. Despite these changes, HBO Max remains a top contender among streaming services for its vast content library and original offerings.
Number 4. Hulu
