A Step-by-Step Guide to HBO Max: Here’s What to Watch & How to Get the Streaming Service for Free

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With popular TV series, hit movies, award-winning documentaries, hilarious comedy specials, hot music programming and live sports, HBO Max is one of the best streaming services for just about everyone.

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However, while it has loads of great originals, like House of the Dragon, Euphoria, The Pitt, Hacks and others, HBO Max doesn’t offer a free trial anymore.

How to Get a HBO Max Free Trial

If you’re looking to test it out before committing monthly, a subscription to DirecTV and Prime Video offer HBO Max and a free trial for new subscribers.

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DirecTV

DirecTV is offering a five-day free trial for new subscribers.

The streaming service DirecTV comes with free access to HBO Max with its “Premier” package, which goes for $129.99 for the first month of service ($169.99 per month afterward). It features more than 185 channels, like NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX, ESPN, FOX Sports, AMC, FX, HGTV, CNN, Food Network and more, as well as access to ESPN Unlimited, Paramount+, Disney+, Hulu and other streaming services, unlimited DVR storage and the ability to stream on three devices simultaneously.

Once the five days is up you’ll be charged the subscription price based on what package you choose at checkout.

Free TriAl Available

HBO Max on Prime Video

HBO Max is available as an add-on channel for Prime Video too.

Right now, Prime Video is one of the few place on the internet that offers a seven-day free trial for HBO Max, as an add-on channel. This means you have to be a Prime Video or Amazon Prime subscriber to get the free trial.

Not a member? Sign up for a 30-day free trial to take advantage of all that Amazon Prime has to offer, including access to Prime Video, Prime Gaming and Amazon Photos; fast free shipping in less than two days with Prime Delivery; in-store discounts at Whole Foods Market; access to exclusive shopping events — such as Black Friday in November — and other perks. Learn more about Amazon Prime and its benefits here.

What Is HBO Max?

Formerly known as Max, HBO Max has evolved into a huge streaming service that combines HBO, Warner Bros. and Discovery networks, including Max Originals, B/R Sports, CNN, DC, ID Network, TNT, TCM, TLC, Discovery Channel, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, OWN, Food Network, HGTV and Travel Channel.

How Much Does HBO Max Cost?

HBO Max

Subscriptions start at $10.99 per month.

HBO Max has multiple subscription tiers: Ad-supported, commercial-free and ultimate ad-free. Max’s paid subscriptions start at $10.99 per month (or $109.99 per year) for ad-supported streaming, or $18.49 per month (or $184.99 per year) to watch ad-free.

In addition, the HBO Max Premium ad-free package is $22.99 per month (or $229.99 per year) and includes 4K Ultra HD picture quality, 100 downloads to watch on the go and you can stream on up to four devices at once.

Best HBO Max Bundle Deal

HBO Max’s bundle deal with Hulu and Disney+ allows subscribers to stream from all three platforms for one base price. On their own, each streamer starts between $7.99 per month to $10.99 per month, but the HBO Max bundle gets you all three ad-supported plans starting at $19.99 per month — a 31% savings.

What to Watch on HBO Max: TV Shows, Movies

Whether you love TV, movies, live sports or music originals, HBO Max has a wide streaming library that features some of the most popular titles, including The Pitt, House of the Dragon, Industry, Hacks, Task, True Detective, Euphoria, Succession, The Last of Us, The White Lotus, The Gilded Age and other series.

The service also has hit movies, such as Sinners, Weapons, Superman (2025), One Battle After Another, Quiet on Set, Wonka, Priscilla, Aquaman: And the Lost Kingdom, The Color Purple, Barbie and more.

It has music programming, like Gaga Chromatica Ball, The Weeknd: Live at Sofi Stadium, Love, Lizzo, Dionne Warwick: Don’t Make Me Over and many others.

Meanwhile, the streaming service has access to live sports from MLB, NHL, NASCAR, NCAA March Madness, U.S. Soccer and other leagues. Learn more about HBO Max and everything it has to offer here.