By: Dipin Sehdev
For the third time in as many years, HBO Max is raising its subscription prices — and the changes are effective immediately. Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) announced that as of October 21, 2025, all HBO Max plans are increasing between $1 and $2 per month, marking yet another blow to subscribers already weary from constant streaming inflation.
The timing couldn’t be worse. The hikes arrive amid persistent rumors that Warner Bros. Discovery may be preparing for a sale, potentially to a tech giant or rival media conglomerate. While those talks remain speculative, the optics of a sudden, unannounced price increase do little to inspire confidence — especially from a brand with “HBO” in its name, long associated with premium storytelling and audience trust.
Let’s unpack what’s changing, why it matters, and how HBO Max’s new pricing compares to the competition.
The New HBO Max Pricing
Starting immediately, HBO Max’s pricing tiers are as follows:
| Plan | Features | Old Price (Monthly) | New Price (Monthly) | Annual Price | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic with Ads | 2 streams, HD, ads | $9.99 | $10.99 | $109.99 | +$1/mo or +$10/yr |
| Standard (Ad-Free) | 2 streams, Full HD | $16.99 | $18.49 | $184.99 | +$1.50/mo or +$15/yr |
| Premium (Ad-Free + 4K HDR + 4 streams) | 4 streams, 4K Dolby Vision + Atmos | $20.99 | $22.99 | $229.99 | +$2/mo or +$20/yr |
For new subscribers, these prices apply immediately.
Existing users will see the new rates reflected in their billing cycles starting November 20, 2025, with annual subscribers facing the hike at renewal time.
This marks HBO Max’s third consecutive annual price increase — following earlier hikes in January 2023 and June 2024.
The Content Remains Top-Tier
HBO Max still delivers some of the most critically acclaimed shows and films in streaming. The platform houses all of HBO’s legacy series, from The Sopranos and Game of Thrones to newer hits like Succession, The White Lotus, and The Last of Us.
It also includes Warner Bros. blockbusters, DC titles, and licensed favorites such as Friends, Abbott Elementary, and The Big Bang Theory.
Upcoming exclusives like IT: Welcome to Derry, The Chair Company, and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms are positioned to keep HBO Max a prestige platform — but prestige alone may no longer justify the ever-rising costs.
How HBO Max Stacks Up Against Rivals
Here’s how HBO Max compares to other major streaming platforms following the latest wave of price adjustments across the industry:
| Service | Ad-Supported Price (Monthly) | Ad-Free Price (Monthly) | Premium / 4K Tier | Simultaneous Streams | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HBO Max | $10.99 | $18.49 | $22.99 (4K, Atmos, 4 streams) | 2–4 | Prestige HBO Originals, 4K, DC, WB films |
| Disney+ | $11.99 | $18.99 | N/A | 4 | Disney, Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar |
| Apple TV | N/A | $12.99 | N/A | 6 | 4K HDR, Dolby Vision, originals only |
| Netflix | $7.99 | $17.99 | $24.99 (4K, HDR) | 2–4 | Global content library, games, downloads |
| Hulu | $11.99 | $18.99 | N/A | 2 | Live next-day network TV, FX originals |
| Paramount+ | $7.99 | $12.99 | N/A | 3 | CBS shows, live sports, Showtime content |
| YouTube TV | N/A | $72.99 | N/A | 3 | 100+ live channels, cloud DVR |
| Prime Video | $8.99 (standalone) | $11.98 (with Prime) | N/A | 3 | 4K HDR, Amazon Originals, Channels |
| Peacock | $7.99 | $13.99 | $16.99 (4K, downloads) | 3 | NBCU library, sports, next-day NBC shows |
HBO Max now finds itself among the most expensive streaming services on the market — second only to Netflix’s Premium tier and live-TV options like YouTube TV.
What’s notable is that while HBO Max delivers high-quality original programming, it lags behind in simultaneous streams and 4K availability, both of which are locked behind its most expensive $22.99/month plan.
By contrast, Apple TV offers 4K HDR across all plans, and Netflix allows 4K HDR with Dolby Atmos at a slightly higher price point but with a broader global library.
The Streaming Squeeze
HBO Max isn’t alone in pushing prices upward. The entire streaming landscape is experiencing a “post-growth” correction — the phase after the subscriber gold rush, where profitability finally takes priority.
Disney+, Hulu, Netflix, and Apple TV all raised prices earlier this year, citing rising production costs and declining ad revenues. But while consumers have learned to expect incremental hikes, the frustration now lies in the frequency and lack of added value.
Unlike in 2023, when HBO Max merged Discovery+ content and rebranded (briefly) as Max, this latest price jump comes with no new features, no additional content tier, and no improved streaming capabilities.
Bad Optics Amid Rumored Sale
Adding to the unease are persistent rumors that Warner Bros. Discovery may be exploring a sale or merger. Industry analysts have speculated for months that the company could become a target for Comcast, Paramount Global, or even Apple, which has been quietly expanding its entertainment footprint.
If those rumors prove true, the optics of a price hike in the midst of corporate uncertainty could sour subscriber trust. For long-time HBO loyalists, this move feels tone-deaf — especially for a brand that built its reputation on quality, not nickel-and-diming customers.
It’s not just bad PR; it’s bad form.
The Consumer Backlash
Online, subscribers are venting frustration at what feels like death by a thousand cuts. The return to the “HBO Max” name earlier this year was widely welcomed — a reversal of the confusing 2023 “Max” rebrand — but the goodwill didn’t last long.
Now, fans are left asking: what’s next? A fourth price increase in 2026? Fewer shows? Tiered 4K access?
For consumers juggling multiple subscriptions, it’s increasingly difficult to justify maintaining more than two or three premium platforms at once. HBO Max’s strength remains its exclusive catalog — but even prestige has its price ceiling.
The Bottom Line
HBO Max’s latest price hike might make short-term financial sense for Warner Bros. Discovery, but it risks alienating its most loyal subscribers — the very audience that has sustained HBO’s reputation for more than four decades.
And if the rumors of a potential sale prove true, these new prices may be less about profitability and more about making the service look more attractive on a balance sheet.
Either way, HBO Max is testing how much “premium” its audience is willing to pay for prestige television — and this time, even loyal fans might be tempted to hit “Cancel Subscription.”
