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Yes—Cricket currently includes HBO Max Basic with Ads with its Supreme Unlimited plan, listed at $60 for a single line at the point of sale. The streaming subscription has no separate charge while you keep an eligible Cricket plan, but the wireless service itself is not free. Cricket and HBO Max also list several eligible legacy plan names, so check your account rather than relying on the price alone.
The included tier has ads and is not HBO Max Standard or Premium. Here is what it includes, how to link your accounts, and what to check before changing plans or an existing streaming subscription. Status checked August 16, 2026.
What does Cricket include?
Cricket’s current plan information describes the benefit as HBO Max Basic with Ads. HBO Max’s plan comparison lists two simultaneous streams and Full HD (1080p) for this tier. Ads can appear before and during eligible shows and movies; live events can also contain advertising. These are plan capabilities, not a guarantee that every title is available in 1080p.
Basic with Ads is not the ad-free Standard or Premium tier. HBO Max’s comparison associates 4K Ultra HD and additional features, such as downloads and four simultaneous streams, with higher-tier plans, subject to current plan details and content availability. See HBO Max’s plan comparison and its advertising information.
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Which Cricket plans qualify?
HBO Max’s provider-eligibility page lists the following Cricket plan names. Cricket’s current plan page identifies Supreme Unlimited as the $60 plan that includes Basic with Ads.
| Cricket plan or status | What to do |
|---|---|
| Supreme Unlimited | Connect Cricket as your provider in HBO Max and authenticate with your Cricket account. |
| Unlimited More, Unlimited Extra, or Unlimited Max | HBO Max lists these as eligible plan names; check your Cricket account and use the provider connection flow. |
| Cricket customer on another plan | Check whether an eligible plan is available and compare its full wireless cost with your current plan before switching. |
| Not a Cricket customer | Compare the current plan price and service terms before signing up solely for the streaming benefit. |
Eligibility is tied to the plan, not just a $60 bill. Check the exact plan name in your Cricket account. See HBO Max’s Cricket eligibility and activation instructions and Cricket’s plan details.
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How to activate the included HBO Max account
- Sign in to Cricket and confirm that the account has an eligible plan.
- Open the HBO Max app on a supported device or visit HBOmax.com.
- Choose the option to sign in or connect through a provider, then select Cricket Wireless.
- Authenticate with your Cricket account credentials and complete the account-linking prompts.
- Use the linked HBO Max account to sign in and stream.
Your Cricket login verifies plan eligibility; it is distinct from the HBO Max account you use to stream. Cricket’s HBO Max benefit page and HBO Max’s provider instructions give the current connection path.
What does the $60 price mean?
Cricket lists Supreme Unlimited at $60 for a single line at the point of sale. Its terms describe a possible $5 monthly Auto Pay credit, subject to the applicable rules. The credit may begin on a later service charge rather than reducing the checkout price immediately. Cricket says multi-line accounts have separate discount rules and only one $5 Auto Pay credit may apply per account. Taxes, regulatory fees, device costs, activation charges, and other applicable Cricket charges may be extra. Review Cricket’s Auto Pay terms as well as its plan terms.
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HBO Max’s U.S. plan comparison listed Basic with Ads at $9.99 per month as of August 16, 2026. That is a dated standalone price, not a guaranteed dollar-for-dollar saving: the relevant comparison is the extra cost of choosing Supreme Unlimited over the wireless plan you would otherwise use, weighed against the streaming tier’s limits.
Already paying for HBO Max? Check billing first
Do not assume connecting Cricket will cancel a separately billed HBO Max subscription. Before linking, open the subscription or billing section of your HBO Max account and identify who charges you. Direct HBO Max subscriptions and subscriptions billed through Apple, Google Play, Roku, Amazon, a cable provider, or another distributor may have to be managed with that provider.
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- Elevate your entertainment experience with a powerful processor for lightning-fast app starts and fluid navigation.
- Cloud gaming, no console required – Stream Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, Hogwarts Legacy, Outer Worlds 2, Ninja Gaiden 4, and hundreds of games on your Fire TV Stick 4K Select with Xbox Game Pass and Luna via cloud gaming. Xbox Game Pass subscription and compatible controller required. Each sold separately.
- Smarter picks with Alexa+ – Getting to what you love has never been easier. Press the voice remote button and talk naturally to find what to watch across your apps, manage your smart home, or dive into virtually any topic.
- Enjoy the show in 4K Ultra HD, with support for Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and immersive Dolby Atmos audio.
- Use the existing HBO Max account if you want to keep its profile and account history, and follow the provider-linking prompts.
- Avoid creating a second account with another email unless you intentionally want separate accounts; that can complicate billing and account recovery.
- If an old subscription remains active, check its billing provider’s cancellation and refund rules. Linking Cricket does not guarantee automatic cancellation or a refund.
See HBO Max account and provider-management help.
What can end access?
Cricket’s plan terms say eligibility can be lost after leaving a qualifying plan or canceling Cricket service. Confirm the new plan’s eligibility before downgrading or switching. The benefit is limited to one HBO Max account per Cricket account, may not be combined with other HBO Max offers, credits, or discounts, and remains subject to Cricket’s and HBO Max’s terms. Current terms are on Cricket’s plan page.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is Cricket’s plan worth choosing for HBO Max?
The streaming perk is most useful when you already want Cricket’s qualifying unlimited wireless service and are happy with an ad-supported, Full HD tier. If you need wireless service anyway, include the streaming benefit in the plan comparison—but weigh it alongside the network and plan features that affect daily use.
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- Before switching, compare: the wireless price before and after any Auto Pay credit, taxes and fees, multi-line pricing, coverage where you use your phone, data prioritization during congestion, video-streaming management, hotspot allowance, international features, device rules, and unlock policies.
- If you want ad-free viewing, 4K, or downloads: compare the cost of a higher HBO Max tier with a lower-cost wireless plan. The Cricket-included tier does not provide the full Standard or Premium feature set.
- If you only want HBO Max: compare a direct subscription or another streaming option with the added wireless cost of choosing Cricket. Do not treat the benefit’s standalone price as money saved if it requires a more expensive plan than you need.
Cricket’s plans and network terms are described on its current plan page. The offer began in August 2021, but current eligibility and pricing should be judged by Cricket’s and HBO Max’s present terms, not the launch announcement.
If the provider connection does not work
- Confirm the exact plan name in your Cricket account.
- Sign out of both services, then retry the official provider connection flow and select Cricket Wireless.
- Update the HBO Max app or try a supported browser; an old session can retain stale account information.
- Check whether the HBO Max account is already linked to another provider and which provider currently bills it.
- If Cricket confirms eligibility but HBO Max still rejects the connection, contact Cricket for plan verification or HBO Max support for account-linking help.
A customer traveling outside the country where the subscription was established may also encounter provider or service limitations. Avoid making a second account the default fix; first resolve the existing account’s provider and billing status.
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