If you’ve been searching for a way to join the “Game of Thrones” bandwagon, the old HBO Now vs. HBO Go decision no longer applies. HBO Now and HBO Go were retired/renamed in 2020 as streaming consolidated around HBO Max—confirmed at the time by coverage like this report. The service itself later rebranded in the U.S. to “Max” with a rebuilt app and expanded 4K catalog (details). Today, Max is the streaming home for HBO series and Warner Bros. Discovery content.
Below, we explain what exists now (Max), how plans and pricing work, what devices and video formats are supported, how live news and sports fit in, and how to get access if you subscribe to HBO through a TV provider. We’ll also flag international rollout notes and bundle deals. For current plan features and pricing, see Max plans.
Same Content, Different Subscription Methods
HBO Go and HBO Now are no longer active services; streaming is via Max, which combines HBO originals (e.g., House of the Dragon, The Last of Us) with Warner Bros. films, DC, Discovery brands, Cartoon Network/Adult Swim, and more. U.S. plan options and core features are as follows (official plan page; see device/4K specifics in the Max Help Center):
– With Ads: $9.99/month or $99.99/year; HD (up to 1080p); 2 concurrent streams; no offline downloads.
– Ad-Free: $16.99/month or $169.99/year; HD (up to 1080p); 2 concurrent streams; up to 30 offline downloads.
– Ultimate Ad-Free: $19.99/month or $209.99/year; up to 4K UHD and Dolby Vision/Atmos on select titles/devices; 4 concurrent streams; up to 100 downloads. Note: 4K/HDR/Atmos availability varies by title and device and requires the Ultimate tier (plans; device/quality support). In 2024, WBD raised the Ad-Free monthly price by $1 as part of industry-wide price adjustments (Variety).
How you subscribe matters only for billing and sign-in. If you buy HBO through a cable/satellite or live TV streaming provider, you often get Max app access at no extra cost—use “Sign in with a provider” in the app (Max provider sign-in). Linear HBO channel pricing via pay‑TV typically runs about $15–$20/month depending on provider/promotions, and many of those subscriptions include Max access (example provider pricing; Max Help).
Downloads and devices: Offline downloads are not available on With Ads, are capped at up to 30 titles on Ad‑Free, and up to 100 on Ultimate Ad‑Free (plans). Max supports major platforms (iOS/Android, Apple TV, Android/Google TV, Roku, Fire TV, select Samsung/LG smart TVs, Chromecast, Xbox/PlayStation, and modern web browsers). 4K HDR/Dolby Vision/Atmos playback is limited to Ultimate Ad‑Free, select titles, and compatible devices; consult the Help Center for supported hardware and setup.
What about HBO Max?
“HBO Max” launched in 2020 and in the U.S. rebranded to “Max” with a refreshed app and a much larger 4K catalog (Engadget). Internationally, Max expanded across Europe beginning May 21, 2024, with additional markets following in June; the rollout also brought a Sports tier in many European countries (Variety). Content, brand hubs, and sports rights vary by region; some territories have used transitional branding while features align with Max (WBD Newsroom; Max Help Center).
Live on Max (U.S.): Max includes a 24/7 live news experience branded “CNN on Max,” which exited beta in late 2024 (Variety). Live content (news and sports) carries advertising even on Ad‑Free plans (Max Help Center). Sports are available via the B/R Sports add‑on, featuring events from WBD’s Turner Sports portfolio (NBA, NHL, MLB, NCAA March Madness, select U.S. Soccer, and others as scheduled). WBD announced $9.99/month post‑promo pricing for the add‑on, then extended a free promotional window through at least February 2025 (pricing announcement; promo extension; see current status in the Help Center). Important: Max does not include the live linear HBO channels; those remain part of pay‑TV packages and provider apps—Max is the on‑demand/home for HBO programming (provider access explained).
Catalog breadth: Alongside HBO and Max Originals, Max aggregates Warner Bros. franchises (DC, Wizarding World), Discovery brands (Discovery, HGTV, Food Network, TLC, ID, Magnolia), kids/animation (Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Looney Tunes), Turner Classic Movies curation, and in the U.S., the Studio Ghibli film library (availability varies by region) (Max Help Center). Warner Bros. theatrical films arrive on Max after theatrical/home windows; timing varies by title and territory (release window guidance).
Which Should You Choose?
If you have a traditional TV subscription, the simplest path is to add the HBO channel through your provider and then sign in to the Max app with your provider credentials—this typically includes Max access while preserving your live HBO channels on the set‑top or provider app (how provider sign‑in works). Pay‑TV pricing for HBO commonly falls around $15–$20/month depending on promotions (example provider page).
No cable? Choose a Max tier based on features: With Ads is the lowest price; Ad‑Free removes ads from on‑demand and enables up to 30 downloads; Ultimate Ad‑Free adds up to 4K HDR with Dolby Vision/Atmos, 4 concurrent streams, and up to 100 downloads (current U.S. pricing/features). There’s generally no direct free trial from Max; discounts most often come via annual billing (about 16–17% savings vs. paying monthly) or partner bundles (annual plan details).
Deal hunters and sports fans: In the U.S., a Disney+/Hulu/Max bundle launched in 2024, offering ad‑supported and ad‑free combinations (bundle announcement). Wireless and pay‑TV partners also run promos (e.g., Verizon’s “Netflix & Max (With Ads)” perk for $10/month for eligible customers) (Verizon). For live games, check the B/R Sports add‑on availability and pricing in your market—promotional access has been extended through at least February 2025, with post‑promo pricing announced at $9.99/month (promo status; pricing).
International notes: After the U.S. rebrand, Max expanded widely in Europe in 2024 (and across Latin America earlier), sometimes with local Sports tiers. Libraries, brand hubs, device support, and sports rights vary by country—always check your local Max site or app for specifics (European rollout; WBD Newsroom). For scale context, Warner Bros. Discovery reported 97.1 million global direct‑to‑consumer subscribers across Max and discovery+ as of June 30, 2024 (WBD Q2 2024 results).
What’s Next?
- Read up on all the streaming services available to you with our review of the best streaming services. Then compare Max’s tiers and bundles like the Disney+/Hulu/Max package to see which mix of ad tiers, downloads, and 4K suits you (bundle details; Max plans).
- Up your internet speeds to handle HD/4K video, multiple streams, and live sports. For 4K HDR/Dolby Atmos on Max you’ll also need the Ultimate Ad‑Free plan, supported devices, and sufficient bandwidth (device/quality guidance).
- Check out our guide to cord cutting for everything you need to know about switching to streaming, signing in through a TV provider to access Max, and saving with annual billing (~16–17% off vs monthly) (provider sign‑in; annual plans).