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No new HBO Max price increase is established for August 16, 2026. The “up to $20” increase refers to the annual Premium plan: new subscribers began paying updated U.S. rates on October 21, 2025, and existing subscribers moved to them at eligible renewals on or after November 20, 2025. The current published direct-subscription rates are $10.99 to $22.99 per month, depending on plan, before tax. HBO Max’s price-change notice gives the dates and amounts.
HBO Max’s current U.S. direct-subscription prices
The figures below compare the former prices with the published rates after the 2025 increase. Annual-plan monthly equivalents divide the annual charge by 12; they are not monthly billing amounts. Prices exclude applicable taxes.
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| Plan | Old monthly | Current monthly | Monthly increase | Old annual | Current annual | Annual increase | Annual plan equivalent per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic with Ads | $9.99 | $10.99 | $1 | $99.99 | $109.99 | $10 | About $9.17 |
| Standard | $16.99 | $18.49 | $1.50 | $169.99 | $184.99 | $15 | About $15.42 |
| Premium | $20.99 | $22.99 | $2 | $209.99 | $229.99 | $20 | About $19.17 |
The “up to $20” figure is the increase for one year of Premium annual billing, not an extra $20 each month. For monthly subscribers, the largest listed increase is $2 per month on Premium. HBO Max’s earlier pricing information lists the former rates; its price-change notice lists the updated rates.
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- October 21, 2025: updated prices began for new subscribers.
- November 20, 2025, onward: existing subscribers began moving to the new price at their first monthly or annual billing cycle on or after that date.
- August 16, 2026: the date in the headline is not identified as a new effective date in the official price-change notice. The published information supports the 2025 increase, not a separate hike today.
That timing matters if a higher charge appeared later than the announcement: an annual subscriber, for example, would typically encounter the change at an eligible annual renewal, not immediately in October 2025. Customers billed through a provider may have different notice and billing schedules.
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How to check your plan and next payment
- Sign in to HBO Max.
- On a phone, tablet, or computer, open your profile menu and choose Subscription. On a supported TV device, open Settings → Subscription.
- Check the plan name, billing provider, next payment date, and renewal amount. Only adult profiles can manage a subscription.
- If a company such as Apple, Google Play, Roku, Amazon, Samsung, a TV provider, or a mobile or internet provider bills you, check that provider’s account page or bill for the amount and renewal details.
These account steps are described in HBO Max’s support notice. The amount shown at checkout or by your billing provider is the better guide to your own renewal than a general standalone price table.
Why your bill may not match the table
The listed rates apply to the published U.S. direct-subscription plans; they are not a promise that every account will show exactly those totals. Check for:
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- No returns and no refunds on gift cards.
- Third-party billing: an app store, cable company, mobile or internet provider, or TV platform may manage the subscription and its timing.
- Taxes: listed prices exclude applicable taxes.
- A promotion ending: an introductory or limited-time offer can renew at the then-current standard rate. HBO Max’s 2026 promotion terms, for example, described a limited offer period and renewal at then-current pricing.
- A different plan or billing interval: a tier change or shift between monthly and annual billing changes the charge.
- A legacy plan: older HBO Max or Max subscriptions may have different names or terms.
- A bundle: a Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max charge is not necessarily the same as a standalone HBO Max plan. The price-change notice says bundle prices also changed, but its standalone plan table does not establish every bundle’s price.
If the account page identifies a provider, contact that provider about its notice, renewal date, or cancellation process. For bundles, compare the complete current bundle terms with what you actually use rather than assuming the standalone increase applies to your bill.
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At the published rates, paying monthly for 12 months costs $131.88 for Basic with Ads, $221.88 for Standard, and $275.88 for Premium. The corresponding annual plans cost $109.99, $184.99, and $229.99. That is a difference of $21.89, $36.89, and $45.89, respectively, before tax or promotions. HBO Max describes its annual plans as approximately 16% savings compared with 12 monthly payments.
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The annual option is cheaper if you keep the same plan for the whole year, but it requires paying upfront and offers less flexibility. Choose it only if the likely savings outweigh the value of being able to stop or change plans month to month.
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- Keep the plan if your household regularly watches HBO programming, Warner Bros. films, or other included content and considers that use worth the renewal price.
- Consider a lower tier if you mainly watch occasionally and are comfortable with the lower-cost plan’s trade-offs. Check the current plan comparison before switching; the 2025 price notice says there were no feature changes related to that increase, but it does not establish that every plan’s features remain unchanged indefinitely.
- Choose annual billing only if you expect to use the service throughout the year and accept the upfront commitment.
- Cancel or pause your spending if you subscribed for a finished series or event, no longer use the service, or found that you already pay for access through another package. Cancel before the next billing date to avoid another renewal.
- Compare a bundle carefully if you already pay for Disney+ or Hulu. A bundle may suit your household, but it is not automatically a saving if you would not otherwise pay for the other services.
Manage a direct subscription through HBO Max’s account settings. If another company bills you, use that company’s account tools and cancellation instructions; stopping the app itself may not stop billing.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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