Max — formerly HBO Max — has the deepest library of prestige TV drama in streaming. Game of Thrones, The Wire, Succession, The Last of Us, White Lotus. If you care about quality over quantity, Max is the streaming service worth paying for. The problem: at $15.99/month for ad-free, it's one of the more expensive options on the market. For a full breakdown, read our Max (HBO) review and Netflix vs Max comparison.
Max Plan Breakdown (2026)
| Plan | Price | Screens | Quality | Ads |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| With Ads | $9.99/mo | 2 | 1080p | Yes |
| Ad-Free | $15.99/mo | 2 | 1080p | No |
| Ultimate | $19.99/mo | 4 | 4K HDR | No |
How to Get Max Cheaper
With Ads plan: $9.99/month is nearly half the ad-free price. For casual viewers who don't mind limited ads, this is the best official deal.
Bundle deals: Max is included in some carrier bundles (AT&T, certain Hulu plans). Check if Max is included at no extra cost before paying separately.
Annual billing: Max's annual plan works out to about $13.33/month for ad-free — saving $32/year vs monthly.
Discounted access via Norths Clearance: Norths Clearance offers Max access at bulk pricing — below retail, delivered within 24 hours. Browse the full entertainment collection — Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and YouTube Premium all available at discounted rates.
Is Max Worth It?
If you watch prestige TV, yes. The HBO library alone justifies it. Nothing on Netflix or Prime matches The Wire, Succession, or The Last of Us for consistent quality. See our guide on getting all major streaming services for under $20 a month for the full streaming stack strategy.