The HBO Max price just rose; what are some cheaper alternatives?
The HBO Max price just rose; what are some cheaper alternatives?
HBO Max customers were rudely woken up on Tuesday morning with news that the streamer had raised prices on all plans, effective immediately for new subscribers and beginning on Nov. 20 for existing customers. The streamer’s cheapest plan is now $11 per month, and the cheapest ad-free option on HBO Max costs $18.50 per month.
While HBO Max still has a strong content library, audiences can be forgiven for wondering if there are any cheaper options out there to replace the platform. Whether you want to watch prestige TV, stand-up comedy, or the other types of content that HBO Max specializes in, we’ve found a cheaper option for you if you’re ready to cancel.
Which streaming services to use to replace HBO Max
How to replace HBO Max if you love prestige TV: Apple TV
Apple TV just executed its own price increase, jumping from $10 per month to $13 in August. But it provides a fantastic selection of original TV shows and movies, and it’s one of the few streaming services whose prestige TV titles can compete with HBO Max. From sci-fi epics like “Foundation” to layered, complex comedies bursting with big-name stars like “Shrinking,” Apple TV’s library is comprised of TV and films that are made with quality in mind.
Fans of “Succession” will definitely want to check out “The Morning Show,” and Apple TV’s “The Studio” is a comedy series that would fit right in alongside the finest funny shows HBO Max has to offer. You can save more than $5 per month by going from an HBO Max ad-free plan to Apple TV and watch a ton of great prestige TV.
Apple TV
Apple TV (formerly known as Apple TV+) is a subscription video streaming service for $14.99 per month, offering a growing slate of original series, films, documentaries, and specials. Unlike other platforms that combine licensed titles with originals, Apple TV is built entirely around exclusive programming, making it the home of critically acclaimed hits such as “Ted Lasso,” “Severance,” “The Morning Show,” and “Silo.” Its lineup continues to expand with award-winning dramas, comedies, family-friendly shows, and blockbuster original films like “CODA,” which won the Academy Award for Best Picture.
How to replace HBO Max if you love blockbuster movies: Paramount+
Warner Bros. is one of the oldest and most prestigious movie theaters in Hollywood, but Paramount has been in business for quite a few years itself. Some of the hottest movie franchises available, such as the “Mission: Impossible” canon, “Top Gun” movies, the “Terminator” and “Gladiator” films, and much more.
If you’re worried about missing out on action-packed titles like DC movies on HBO Max, Paramount+ is a great replacement. This service costs $8 per month with ads or $13 per month without — a savings of $3 or $5.50 per month over corresponding HBO Max plans.
Paramount Plus
Paramount+ is a subscription video streaming service that includes on-demand access to 40,000+ TV show episodes from BET, CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., and more. Get free access with a Walmart+ subscription.
Paramount+ includes “1883,” “Tulsa King,” “Star Trek: Discovery,” “SpongeBob SquarePants,” and “PAW Patrol.” Subscribers can watch the NFL, college football, The Masters, college basketball, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, Serie A, and NWSL. The service also offers the option to watch your live CBS affiliate. The upgraded ad-free package includes premium movies and shows from Showtime.
How to replace HBO Max if you love stand-up comedy: Netflix
HBO Max has a great inventory of stand-up comedy specials, hearkening back to the pay-per-view days of old on linear HBO. The streamer still puts out new specials frequently, but the good news is that many of the same comedians have also done specials for Netflix. The Netflix catalog has specials by Nate Bargatze, Ronny Chieng, Shane Gillis, Jim Jeffries, Jordan Jensen, John Mulaney, Ali Wong, and many more, and you can save a decent amount with a Netflix subscription, too.
Netflix’s ad-supported plan is now $3 cheaper than HBO Max’s at $8 per month, and you can save $1.50 off an ad-free plan by making the switch as well.
Netflix
Netflix is a leading subscription-based video streaming service that offers on-demand access to an extensive library of over 3,000 movies, 2,000+ TV shows, and a growing collection of acclaimed Netflix originals. Renowned for producing groundbreaking content, Netflix has become a cultural powerhouse with hit originals like “Stranger Things,” “Wednesday,” “Squid Game,” “The Crown,” “Tiger King,” “Bridgerton,” “The Witcher,” and “Black Mirror.”
An HBO Max replacement with a great horror selection: Tubi
The horror selection on HBO Max is prodigious, and especially at this time of year, having access to spooky movies is a must. The good news is, Tubi has a huge catalog of top horror films, independent thrillers, and more.
You can browse the Tubi library to see the best horror titles the service has to offer, and the best news is that Tubi is completely free to stream. You don’t even need to create an account to watch TV and movies on Tubi, though if you do, you can use features like saving your viewing history and watchlist.
Tubi
Tubi is a free video streaming service that includes on-demand access to 200,000+ movies and TV episodes - more than any other streaming service. Its ad breaks are shorter and less frequent than most free services. Fox executives have called their service “TV on steroids.”
Stream WBD cable favorites at no cost: MyFree DIRECTV
HBO Max incorporated streams of titles from Warner Bros. Discovery-owned cable channels like Food Network and HGTV in 2023, and they’ve become an integral part of its library. If you love watching these shows on HBO Max, but the price is too high, you should check out MyFree DIRECTV. Like Tubi, MyFree DIRECTV is completely free to stream, and you don’t need to have ever been a paid DIRECTV subscriber to use it.
MyFree DIRECTV added more than 15 free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) channels from WBD this year, and while that won’t get you the same level of access to shows from the company’s cable channels, you will get a great selection of the same titles completely free.
MyFree DIRECTV
MyFree DIRECTV is a free ad-supported TV service from the satellite and streaming company behind DIRECTV. It offers over 50 free from popular studios, including Tastemade, The Design Network, Alien Nation, Dove TV, Court TV, and MovieSphere.