HBO Max has become one of those streaming subscriptions that can feel worth it right up until the monthly bills arrive. The service brings together HBO originals, Warner Bros. movies, DC titles, documentaries, family programming, and more. Select live sports are also available with higher-priced plans.
But paying for HBO Max on its own isn’t always the cheapest option. Students can get a discount, some wireless customers can add it alongside Netflix for less, and live TV services now bundle HBO Max with other streaming apps.
Paying annually is another way to save if you plan to keep the service all year. Here are the HBO Max offers and bundles worth checking before your next bill arrives.
What Does HBO Max Cost?
HBO Max offers three subscription plans, with different options for advertisements, downloads, streaming quality and simultaneous streams. According to HBO Max’s current plan information, annual billing saves up to $45 compared with paying monthly for a full year.
- Basic With Ads: $10.99 per month or $109.99 per year. Includes Full HD streaming on two devices at once.
- Standard: $18.49 per month or $184.99 per year. Includes Full HD streaming on two devices, up to 30 offline downloads, and select live sports.
- Premium: $22.99 per month or $229.99 per year. Includes 4K Ultra HD and Dolby Atmos on supported content, up to 100 downloads and streaming on four devices at once. Select live sports are also included, with a two-device limit for sports.
The annual plans save about $21, $36, and $45 over 12 months, respectively, based on the current monthly prices.
If you don’t need the higher video quality or extra downloads, Basic With Ads is the least expensive regular plan. However, the discounts below could offer better value, particularly if you already pay for other services.
1. HBO Max Student: $5.49 Per Month
College students have one of the simplest ways to cut their HBO Max bill in half. The HBO Max student discount brings the Basic With Ads plan down to $5.49 per month, a 50% discount from its regular $10.99 monthly price. The offer is available for up to 12 months to students aged 18 or older whose enrollment at an accredited U.S. college or university is verified through UNiDAYS.
Students get the same Basic With Ads features, including Full HD streaming on two devices at once. The offer doesn’t include the ad-free experience, offline downloads, or the additional features found in the higher-priced plans.
How to sign up: Visit the student offer page, create or sign in to a free UNiDAYS account, and verify your student status. Find the HBO Max offer, reveal the promotional code, and redeem it through HBO Max.
You’ll need to verify your enrollment again each year to maintain the discount. If you already pay for HBO Max through another provider, review that subscription before signing up so you don’t end up with two bills.
2. Bundle Disney+, Hulu and HBO Max for $21.99 Per Month
If you already subscribe to Disney+ or Hulu, adding HBO Max through the Disney+, Hulu and HBO Max Bundle could be a better deal than paying for each service separately.
The current bundle prices are:
- With Ads: $21.99 per month. Includes the ad-supported versions of all three services and saves 38% compared with their regular individual monthly prices.
- No Ads: $34.99 per month. Includes Disney+ Premium, Hulu Premium and HBO Max Standard, saving 43% compared with purchasing the services separately. Ads may still appear in select live and linear content.
Each service retains its own app, so you can watch Disney+, Hulu and HBO Max separately. You’ll have access to all three libraries without managing three full-price subscriptions.
How to sign up: Visit the bundle signup page and select the version that matches your preferences. The offer is intended for eligible direct-billed subscriptions, and you’ll need to follow the account setup instructions for the individual services.
This is a good option for households that watch Disney movies and family programming, Hulu originals, and HBO series throughout the month. If you only watch HBO Max, however, the bundle may cost more than you need to spend.
Wireless and Internet Perks That Include HBO Max
Before paying for another streaming subscription, check whether your phone or home internet provider offers HBO Max as an add-on or subscription perk. These offers are often most valuable when you’re already paying for the qualifying service.
3. Verizon: Netflix and HBO Max for $13 Per Month
Verizon offers a combined Netflix and HBO Max perk for $13 per month on eligible wireless and home internet plans.
The bundle includes Netflix Standard With Ads and HBO Max Basic With Ads. Purchased separately at their current monthly prices, the two subscriptions cost $19.98, so the Verizon perk saves $6.98 per month.
If you watch both services, this can cut down your monthly costs with one of Verizon’s eligible plans. The offer is available on select wireless options, such as Unlimited Ultimate, Unlimited Plus, Unlimited Welcome and the Simplicity Plan, along with qualifying home internet plans.
Verizon previously charged $10 per month for this bundle before raising the price to $13 in 2026, as Cord Cutters News reported earlier this year. Even at the higher price, it costs less than buying the two ad-supported subscriptions separately.
How to sign up: Check your eligibility through Verizon’s Netflix and HBO Max perk page. Eligible customers can add the perk through My Verizon and then activate each streaming service.
You can link an existing Netflix account during activation. However, an existing HBO Max subscription billed directly through HBO Max must be replaced during the activation process. If either service is billed through another third party, check that subscription separately to avoid duplicate charges.
The key is to use both services. If you only want HBO Max, the $13 bundle won’t be the cheapest choice.
4. US Mobile: Get Up to $15 Per Month Toward HBO Max
US Mobile offers a streaming perk that can help offset your HBO Max subscription, but there’s an important eligibility requirement.
Customers with at least three monthly Unlimited Premium lines can choose one qualifying streaming, music, or gaming subscription as a perk for 12 months. HBO Max is among the available options, and US Mobile offers a service credit of up to $15 per month toward the qualifying subscription’s cost.
The perk isn’t an automatic free HBO Max subscription. You’ll initially pay for the streaming service yourself, then submit proof of your subscription to US Mobile. The company applies an eligible credit toward the bill for the qualifying phone line.
You’ll also need AutoPay enabled and must verify the subscription every three months. The credit is limited to the cost of the chosen subscription, up to $15 per month.
Right now, US Mobile is offering Unlimited plans for as low as $15/month.
How to sign up: Start with US Mobile’s unlimited-plan perks, make sure your account has three or more eligible monthly Unlimited Premium lines, and select your perk. Follow the verification instructions to submit your subscription receipts and receive the service credit.
This offer makes the most sense for families or households that already need three qualifying lines. Switching to a more expensive phone plan solely to get an HBO Max credit may erase the savings.
5. Optimum: HBO Max, SecureWiFi+ and Internet for $35 Per Month
If you’re shopping for home internet, Optimum has an offer that includes HBO Max Basic With Ads and SecureWiFi+ alongside an internet plan starting at $35 per month.
The package includes:
- HBO Max Basic With Ads
- SecureWiFi+ security features and protected Wi-Fi throughout the home
- Internet service with a three-year internet price lock
The advertised starting price requires an eligible $10 Auto Pay and paperless billing discount. Taxes and fees are extra, and availability depends on your location and qualifying offer.
For someone who already needs home internet, having HBO Max included can make the package more appealing than buying internet and the streaming subscription separately. It isn’t a standalone HBO Max discount, though, so compare Optimum’s total internet cost against other available providers before switching.
How to sign up: Visit Optimum’s internet and streaming offer, check availability at your address, and review the complete pricing terms before ordering.
Already Paying for Live TV? These Bundles Include HBO Max, Too
Some households pay for a live TV service, HBO Max and several other streaming apps separately. Combining those subscriptions can be a better way to manage the monthly bill, particularly if you watch live cable channels as well as on-demand shows.
6. Philo Bundle+: Live TV and HBO Max for $33 Per Month
Philo’s Bundle+ plan combines live TV with several streaming subscriptions for $33 per month.
The package includes:
- More than 70 live TV channels
- More than 100 free, ad-supported channels
- Unlimited DVR storage for up to one year
- An expanded on-demand library
- HBO Max Basic With Ads
- AMC+, discovery+ and All Reality
Philo is geared toward entertainment, lifestyle, reality and documentary programming rather than a full lineup of local broadcast channels and major sports networks. Consider the Bundle+ plan if you’re already paying for an entertainment-focused live TV service and several streaming apps.
Philo says Bundle+ saves $22 per month compared with buying its included apps separately. The plan also provides a way to combine your entertainment channels and several streaming libraries under one monthly subscription.
How to sign up: Choose Philo Bundle+ on Philo’s website. After subscribing, visit your Philo account page, select “Get started” and follow the instructions to activate HBO Max. You can then use the HBO Max app with the account you created during activation.
If you’d rather watch HBO Max without ads, Philo also offers an upgrade to HBO Max Standard for an additional $13 per month. That brings the combined monthly cost to $46. Philo subscribers can find more details in this Cord Cutters News guide to upgrading HBO Max.
7. DIRECTV MyEntertainment: Live TV and Four Streaming Apps
DIRECTV’s MyEntertainment Genre Pack is another option for people who want live TV alongside their streaming subscriptions.
The plan includes more than 60 live entertainment channels, unlimited cloud DVR storage and four streaming services:
- Disney+
- Hulu
- HBO Max Basic With Ads
- AMC+
DIRECTV’s current MyEntertainment page lists a five-day free trial followed by a price of $34.99 per month for the first two months. The plan renews monthly at the then-current rate, which the page currently lists as $42.99 per month. Taxes may apply, and channel availability varies by location.
This is a better fit for households that still want a traditional live TV lineup but don’t want to purchase every streaming app separately. It also gives subscribers a combination of live entertainment channels and on-demand libraries without a long-term annual contract.
The price is higher than Philo’s Bundle+, but DIRECTV’s channel lineup and included apps may be a better match for households that prefer a more traditional TV experience.
How to sign up: Visit DIRECTV MyEntertainment, start the five-day trial, and review the offer terms before confirming your subscription. HBO Max can be accessed through its own app or website using your DIRECTV login credentials.
Always remember, included streaming access doesn’t automatically cancel existing subscriptions. Review your current billing arrangements and cancel any duplicate subscriptions you no longer need.
The Best Way to Save on HBO Max Depends on What You Already Pay For
For students, the $5.49 HBO Max offer is the cheapest option listed here. For households that use Disney+ and Hulu, the three-service bundle provides another way to cut costs. Verizon customers who watch Netflix can get both services for less than their combined standalone price.
US Mobile’s credit is worth investigating if you already have three qualifying phone lines, while Optimum’s package may make sense if you’re shopping for home internet. For households paying for live TV and multiple streaming apps, Philo’s Bundle+ and DIRECTV’s MyEntertainment package bring several services together under one subscription.
Before signing up, compare the total monthly bill rather than focusing on the advertised HBO Max savings alone. A bundle is only a bargain when you use enough of the included services to justify the price.
