Heads up, streamers! HBO Max has just upped its subscription prices across the board, making it the third hike in three years. Whether you're a new viewer or a long-time fan, here's everything you need to know about what you'll be paying and why.
TL;DR
- HBO Max increased prices for all its plans, effective immediately for new subscribers.
- Existing monthly subscribers will see new rates after November 20, 2025; annual subscribers at renewal.
- This is the third price increase in three years, driven by WBD's focus on profitability and belief their content is "underpriced."
Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) announced the new pricing structure, which kicked in on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, for anyone signing up today. If you're already subscribed, don't worry, you've got a little buffer. Existing monthly subscribers will be notified 30 days before their next billing cycle, with the new prices applying on or after November 20, 2025. Annual subscribers get the longest grace period, seeing the increase only when their yearly plan renews, also with a 30-day heads-up.
Here’s the full breakdown of the updated prices:
- HBO Max Basic With Ads
- Monthly: Now $10.99 (up $1 from $9.99)
- Annually: Now $109.99 (up $10 from $99.99)
- HBO Max Standard (no ads, stream on two devices simultaneously)
- Monthly: Now $18.49 (up $1.50 from $16.99)
- Annually: Now $184.99 (up $15 from $169.99)
- HBO Max Premium (no ads, 4K content, stream on four devices simultaneously)
- Monthly: Now $22.99 (up $2 from $20.99)
- Annually: Now $229.99 (up $20 from $209.99)
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The Domino Effect: How Other Streaming Bundles and Services Are Changing
It's not just HBO Max feeling the crunch. If you're subscribed to the popular Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max bundle, those prices are also seeing an increase of $3 per month. The ad-supported three-way bundle now costs $19.99/month, while the ad-free tier is $32.99/month. These bundles were originally introduced in July 2024 at $16.99 and $29.99 respectively.
And if you've noticed your other streaming bills climbing, you're not alone. HBO Max is joining a growing list of platforms that have raised their prices recently. Disney+ and Hulu also increased their prices effective October 21, 2025. Prior to that, NBCUniversal's Peacock, Apple TV (which even dropped the "Plus" from its name), and Netflix all saw price hikes earlier in the year. It seems the streaming wars are shifting from a race for sheer subscriber numbers to a focus on profitability.
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Behind the Price Increase: Why Warner Bros. Discovery Says It's Necessary
So, why the constant price adjustments? According to Warner Bros. Discovery executives, it boils down to the perceived value of their content and a strategic shift in the streaming market.
WBD CEO David Zaslav has been pretty vocal about this. During a September appearance at the Goldman Sachs Communacopia and Technology conference, he said: "The fact that this is quality — and that’s true across our company, motion picture, TV production and streaming quality — we all think that gives us a chance to raise prices. We think we're way underpriced."
"Consumers in America would pay twice as much 10 years ago for content... and they're paying dramatically less. I think we want a good deal for consumers, but I think over time, there's real opportunity... to raise price."
— David Zaslav, WBD CEOWBD CFO Gunnar Wiedenfels echoed this sentiment back in 2023, stating, "There’s no doubt that these products are priced way too low." He pointed out that the previous "land grabbing" phase of streaming, where companies prioritized rapid subscriber growth regardless of cost, is now "behind us." The focus now is on sustainable profitability, especially for legacy media companies navigating the decline of linear TV.
It's worth remembering that this is HBO Max's third price increase since its launch in May 2020. The first was in January 2023, followed by another in June 2024 for its ad-free plans. Plus, the service was only rebranded back to "HBO Max" in July 2025, after spending two years as simply "Max." It's been a journey!
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What These Changes Mean for Warner Bros. Discovery's Future
Beyond just making more money, these price hikes are also happening at a pivotal time for WBD. The company recently announced it's reviewing "strategic alternatives to maximize shareholder value," which is a fancy way of saying they're open to selling parts of, or even the entire company. This move comes after they've reportedly received "unsolicited interest from multiple parties."
Earlier plans to split WBD into two separate public companies by 2026 (one for streaming/studios, one for global networks like CNN) might be put on hold if a suitable buyer comes along. By raising HBO Max prices, WBD is likely trying to make its streaming arm look as valuable and profitable as possible to potential suitors, like Paramount Skydance (whose earlier offer was rejected as "too low"), Netflix, or Comcast.
As of June 30, 2025, WBD reported 125.7 million paying subscribers across all its streaming services, including those with access to HBO Max through legacy HBO linear subscriptions. The company even reported a streaming profit of $293 million in its fiscal Q2 2025 earnings, a significant turnaround from a loss the previous year.
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Still Worth the Watch? Diving Into HBO Max's Incredible Content Library
While price increases are never fun, HBO Max continues to boast an impressive lineup of award-winning and fan-favorite content. The service is home to an incredible range of series and films from HBO, Warner Bros. Pictures, DC Studios, Turner Classic Movies, A24, and even Studio Ghibli. It's a pretty stacked library!
You can binge classic HBO originals like The Sopranos, Game of Thrones, and Succession, alongside newer hits such as The Pitt, The Penguin, The White Lotus, The Last of Us, Peacemaker, and Hacks. Beyond HBO, you'll find popular TV shows like Friends, Abbott Elementary, Rick and Morty, and The Big Bang Theory. On the movie front, titles like Superman, Sinners, and A Minecraft Movie are available, with Zach Cregger's Weapons hitting the service this Friday, October 24.
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Looking Ahead: Upcoming Series and Movies to Justify the New Price Tag
WBD isn't just raising prices; they're also touting a strong pipeline of new content. Later this year, get ready for:
- IT: Welcome to Derry: A prequel series set before the events of Stephen King's terrifying films. It debuts on October 26, just in time for Halloween!
- The Chair Company
- I Love LA
Looking further into 2026, there's even more to anticipate:
- A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: A new Game of Thrones prequel series adapting George R. R. Martin’s Tales of Dunk and Egg novellas, set 90 years before the main books. It's expected in January 2026.
- New seasons of acclaimed series like The Pitt and Industry are slated for January 2026.
- House of the Dragon Season 3 is scheduled for release in early summer 2026.
- New DC Universe shows like Lanterns and Booster Gold are also in the works for next year, though details on Peacemaker Season 2 are still under wraps after its cliffhanger.
While price increases are never ideal, WBD is clearly banking on the quality and quantity of its content to keep subscribers engaged and willing to pay a bit more. It's a strategic move in a competitive market, and only time will tell how it plays out for streamers and the company alike.
Frequently Asked Questions About HBO Max Price Changes
Sources
- Warner Bros. Discovery announcements
- Statements from WBD CEO David Zaslav and CFO Gunnar Wiedenfels
- Reporting from Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, IGN, Polygon, Ars Technica, and Deadline.