HBO Max just absorbed all of the content of the Discovery Plus streaming service, and now the combined streamer is just called “Max”. Alright, but what’s the big deal?
Well, the biggest thing people are excited about is that HBO Max subscribers saw their total available content more than double to 35,000 hours of content — with no price increase. Yep, the base plan still starts at $9.99 per month, but you can find new upgraded options as well. That puts them within striking distance of the estimated 40,000 hours of content available on Netflix, and way beyond Disney Plus’s 5,000 hours.
But there’s more for you to know about this new-look streaming service. We’ll tell you how much you can expect to pay for Max, what you get with a subscription, whether there’s a free trial, how to get some discounts, and how to maximize your account.
How is Max different from HBO Max?
The biggest difference is that Max adds all of the content that had been previously available on the Discovery Plus streaming service — the majority of reality TV programming that includes content from these channels:
- A&E
- Animal Planet
- CNN (original content)
- Discovery Channel
- Food Network
- HGTV
- History Channel
- Investigation Discovery
- Lifetime
- Magnolia Network (formerly DIY Network)
- Oprah Winfrey Network
- TLC
- Travel Channel
Plus, there are thousands of hours of original documentaries, films, and TV series that have been added to Max, including lots of 90 Day Fiance spin-offs, plus:
- Aliens in Alaska
- Bobby and Giada in Italy
- Chopped: Next Gen
- Contraption Masters
- The Diana Investigations
- Hillsong: A Megachurch Exposed
- House of Hammer
- Love Off the Grid
- Oprah’s Super Soul
- The Rise and Fall of LulaRoe
- Toddlers & Tiaras: Where Are They Now?
- Trixie Motel
IMPORTANT: If you already had HBO Max, your existing login will work — but if you stream via mobile app, your existing HBO Max app will no longer work; you’ll have to download the new Max app.
How much does Max cost?
If you were an HBO Max customer before the Max switcheroo, you’ll be pleased to find that prices haven’t gone up. The basic plan still starts as low as $9.99 per month. In addition to the two existing plans (the base-level ad-supported plan, and the general ad-free plan), Max has added the Max Ultimate ad-free plan.
In addition to whether or not your plan has advertisements, the different plans carry various simultaneous streaming limits. Here are the subscription options:
- Max base plan: $9.99/month or $99.99/year for 2 devices streaming at a time
- Max ad-free plan: $15.99/month or $149.99/year for 2 devices streaming at a time
- Max Ultimate ad-free plan: $19.99/month or $199.99/year for 4 devices streaming at a time
NOTE: You can get Max as an add-on to your Hulu subscription, but only the ad-free plan — and there’s no discount. (If you want to know more about Hulu, here is every Hulu hack you should know.)
Are there any Max coupons or discounts?
The biggest discount you can get on a regular basis is the annual subscription discount for the ad-free plan. Instead of paying $15.99/month, you’d pay just $149.99/year, which offers the best discount (more than 20% off). The other plans are cheaper, too, with an annual payment, but only 16% off.
We expect Max will follow the patterns of HBO Max, with big promo discounts throughout the year. For example, in January and September/October 2022, you could get 40% off an HBO Max subscription if you paid for the entire year. They’ve even cut their ad-free subscription by 50% for six months in March 2022 and June 2021.
How do I use Max promo codes?
If you’ve got a Max promo code, you’ll be able to redeem it by using the Max promo code website. Getting a promo code is rare, but they can get you discounts of up to 20% a month for a year if you can get one.
Is there a Max free trial?
There’s no Max free trial, and although you used to be able to enjoy some of HBO Max’s content without a subscription, it appears they’ve done away with that feature with Max.
But if you’re looking for free access to streaming services, you have a ton of other options these days.
Can I get Max with my cable provider?
If you have HBO through your cable provider, you might have a free subscription to Max. All you need to do is install the Max app on your device or TV, select “Sign in with a Provider,” and enter your information.
Here are all the companies that can give you a Max account with your monthly cable subscription:
- AT&T
- Cox
- DIRECTV
- DISH
- Optimum
- Optimum TV
- Spectrum
- Verizon Fios
- WOW!
- Xfinity (provided by Comcast)
What happens if I was a Discovery Plus subscriber?
Well, you may want to cancel your Discovery Plus subscription. Discovery Plus will continue as a standalone service for those who want it — and so if you’re a Max subscriber, you won’t need to pay for both.
We’ve got lots to say about whether Discovery Plus is worth it. But if you’re only here for reality TV, you might skip Max and just pay the $4.99 (with ads) or $6.99 (no ads) monthly subscription fee for Discovery Plus.
What exclusive content is available on Max?
Is Max worth it? If you’re a big-time Friends fanatic, the fact that they’re the home to Ross, Monica, Rachel, Joey, Chandler, and Phoebe is probably reason enough to subscribe.
Since Max is owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, there are tons of shows and exclusive content that you can only watch on Max. Here are a few of the more popular shows that you can watch on Max:
- Game of Thrones
- House of Dragons
- Friends
- Succession
- Euphoria
- Peacemaker
- Barry
- Westworld
Does Max still get same-day movie releases?
In 2021, HBO Max allowed you to watch movies that were released in theaters through their platform. This included movies like The Matrix 4, Space Jam: A New Legacy, Mortal Kombat, and Dune.
While Max isn’t doing this simultaneous release anymore, you don’t have to wait very long for Warner Bros. movies to hit Max. We used to wait MONTHS to watch movies at home, and now, all Warner Bros. movies will hit Max just 45 days after they premiere in theaters.
What content is available on Max for kids and teens?
Max is the exclusive home to Cartoon Network, Sesame Street, Studio Ghibli, and DC, so there are lots of fandoms represented in their content channels. Here are some of the best shows and movies you can watch on Max:
- Adventure Time
- Steven Universe
- Over the Garden Wall
- We Bare Bears & We Baby Bears
- Teen Titans Go!
- Craig of the Creek
- Chowder
- Spirited Away
- Scooby-Doo
- Kung Fu Panda
- Young Justice
- The Harry Potter movie series
How do I find all the new content on Max?
Max promises to add an average of more than 40 new titles and seasons every month, so that can be a LOT. The easiest way to find all the new content on Max is by going to their “New & Notable” page.
What devices can I stream Max on?
You can stream Max on all your favorite devices. Here are all the devices that’ll let you watch your favorite Max shows:
- Amazon Fire Tablets, Sticks, Cubes, and Smart TVs
- Android phones, tablets, and TVs
- Apple TV and devices (iPhone, iPad, and Macs)
- Chromebooks
- Chromecast
- LG Smart TVs
- PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5
- Roku streaming devices
- Samsung TVs
- VIZIO Smart TVs
- Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S
NOTE: You can easily connect your Max account to your TV by using the Max TV Sign In. When you open the Max app on your TV, you’ll get a code that you can enter onto your computer and automatically sign into your Max account.
How can you watch Max offline?
If you’re going on a long trip without Wi-Fi for a few hours, you can download some of your favorite content on Max by hitting the download button (an open box with an arrow pointing down) on the show or movie you want to watch.
Content that you download will be available on your device for 30 days if you haven’t started watching, and once you start watching, you’ll have 48 hours to watch.
NOTE: The Max Ultimate ad-free plan ($19.99/month or $199.99/year) lets you keep up to 100 downloads on your devices for offline viewing.
Can you watch live TV on Max?
Max has lots of TV shows, but there are no live TV channels that are part of the service. But any current shows will be available on Max within 24 hours of being broadcast on cable.
For shows that premiere first on cable channels, Max promises that they’ll be on the streaming service within 24 hours.
But if you’re looking for ways to watch TV for free, there are plenty of other options out there.
Are there any extras you can get with Max?
Some shows and movies have extras — kind of like you’d expect to see on DVD or Blu-Ray discs back in the day. Just find the piece of content that you want to watch and head over to the “Extras” page to find things like trailers or behind-the-scenes videos.
Not every piece of content has extras, so keep a lookout for the tab if you’re looking for more content.
How do I cancel my Max subscription?
Max will auto-renew until you cancel it, so if you’ve decided that it’s not worth it, you can shut it down. The cancellation process is a little different depending on whether you’re using the web or the Max app.
How to cancel Max on the web:
- Sign in to Max
- Click your name in the upper right-hand corner
- Click Settings > Manage Subscription
- Choose “Cancel Subscription”
How to cancel Max on the app:
- Sign in to Max
- Click the circle with a letter in it in the upper right-hand corner
- Click the gear icon in the upper right corner
- Tap Subscription > Manage Subscription
- Choose “Cancel Subscription”
To change your subscription type from ad-free to basic or basic to ad-free, you’ll go to the same menu, but instead of “Cancel Subscription,” you’re going to switch your subscription to your preferred type. You can upgrade or downgrade your subscription when you’d like, but your subscription type will change at the end of your billing period.
TIP: Cancel two days before your subscription renewal date to make sure you aren’t charged for another month. And no, deleting the app from your phone won’t cancel your subscription.
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