HBO Max Just Announced Another Price Increase

HBO Max is joining other streaming services in raising prices in 2025. CEO David Zaslav had mentioned the service was undervalued given its high-quality shows, and now subscription costs will be going up. The price increase was announced on the same day as Disney+ and Hulu’s, and it’s likely to impact many viewers’ budgets. HBO Max now also offers a combined subscription with Disney+.

HBO Max is raising the price of its subscriptions starting November 20th. Current subscribers will get a 30-day notice before the changes apply. The most basic plan with ads will now cost $10.99 per month, up $1. The standard plan will increase to $18.49 per month, a $1.50 increase, and the premium plan will be $22.99 per month, up $2. If you pay annually, prices will go up by $10 for the ad-supported plan ($109 total), $15 for the standard plan ($184.99 total), and $20 for the premium plan ($229 total).

HBO Max Continues To Increase Prices Over the Past Five Years


HBO

When HBO Max first launched in 2020, it cost $14.99 per month, as it didn’t have an option to watch with ads. The price went up to $15.99 in January 2023. Then, in June 2024, right before the new season of House of the Dragon began, the price of the ad-free plan increased to $16.99 for the standard version and $20.99 for premium. Overall, the original HBO Max plan has become $8 more expensive over the last five years.

To make matters worse, most major streaming services increased their prices in 2025. Disney+ and Hulu announced their increases at a particularly bad time – right after many people canceled their subscriptions due to Jimmy Fallon’s brief absence. Netflix, Apple TV+, and Peacock also raised prices earlier in the year. Now, Netflix’s top-tier plan costs $24.99, just $2 more than HBO Max. With all these subscriptions adding up, and the economy being uncertain, many people may have to cancel some services to save money.

The recent price increase for HBO Max comes at a sensitive time, as Warner Bros. Discovery is reportedly considering selling the company. Combined with plans to limit password sharing, this has understandably frustrated viewers. Paying nearly $25 a month for a streaming service, and not being able to easily share it with family, feels like a greedy move. While HBO Max offers excellent shows like A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms and Lanterns, raising prices annually could end up costing them subscribers.

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2025-10-21 21:00