Once upon a time, otherwise known as 2020, there was an HBO Max free trial that gave users a taste of the streaming service for a full week at no cost to them. That HBO Max deal is long gone, but you can now sign up for the site's ad-supported plan for just $9.99 per month. The ad-free version is obviously still around, and there are a few other ways to save some cash if you're willing to get creative. To learn more, keep reading.
Can you try HBO Max for free?
If you're looking for an HBO Max free trial though, we have good news and bad news. Sadly, HBO stopped running this option quite some time ago and it doesn't look like it's coming back. On the plus side, you do have cheaper sign-up options than before thanks to that aforementioned ad-supported plan that exists on a rolling contract that you can cancel at any time.
For just five more bucks a month, however, you get resplendent 4K UHD and ad-free streaming, plus the ability to download content for offline viewing (for a limited time). Check out HBOMax.com to learn more about both of those HBO Max prices.
If you're still not convinced or you'd like a taste of the great TV content available on the service, there is a completely free "Watch for Free" section on HBO Max that you don't even need an account to stream. You'll only get one episode of a select few shows, but as samplers go, it's very generous.
HBO Max is quickly becoming an essential service for streamers and cord-cutters. Along with a myriad of popular films and HBO shows such as Succession, Sex and the City, Euphoria, and Game of Thrones, the service brings in content from brands like Crunchyroll, DC Comics, Studio Ghibli, Sesame Workshop, TCM, Cartoon Network, and Adult Swim. There's also a wide selection of HBO Max originals to discover, including House of the Dragon, And Just Like That..., Westworld, and Peacemaker.
One of the most significant benefits of being an HBO Max subscriber is the chance to stream new movies just 45 days after their theatrical debut. However, these releases also seem to be why the option to sign up for an HBO Max free trial is no longer offered.
Will there be another HBO Max free trial?
HBO Max originally offered a free 7-day trial for new members on its website between its launch in May 2020 and the release of Wonder Woman 1984 in December 2020. It's unlikely we'll see another free trial pop up on its website unless, of course, subscriber numbers don't continue to grow in line with the services' expectations — then anything can happen.
It's worth pointing out that there's still an exception for Hulu subscribers, who can sign up for a free 7-day HBO Max trial by adding HBO Max as a premium add-on channel to their Hulu subscription.
Signing up for HBO Max and other channels through Hulu helps you consolidate monthly bills, so you only worry about one payment rather than several. This is available for members on both the base plans as well as Hulu with Live TV. After the free trial, HBO Max will renew at its regular price of $15.99 per month unless you decide to cancel your subscription. Unfortunately, you can't opt to join the cheaper $9.99 tier of HBO Max via Hulu.
Another way to get into HBO Max for free is through AT&T. Specifically, AT&T gives subscribers a free year of HBO Max when you sign up for a selection of their wireless, internet, and TV plans. These include the AT&T Unlimited Elite wireless plan, the AT&T Fiber Internet 1000 plan, and the DirecTV Stream Premier and Max plans.
What movies are streaming exclusively on HBO Max?
At the end of 2021, HBO Max and Warner Bros. announced that they would no longer be releasing new films on the same day as their theatrical debut. Instead, viewers will have to wait 45 days for the new movies to appear on HBO Max. Here's a list of some of the blockbuster movies that are available to watch now on the streaming service. Be sure to also take a look at the best shows and best movies streaming on HBO Max right now.
- Elvis
- The Batman
- Don't Worry Darling
- Barbarian
- Moonfall
- The Matrix: Resurrections
- Godzilla vs. Kong
- Mortal Kombat
- The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It
- In The Heights
- Space Jam: A New Legacy
- The Suicide Squad
- Malignant
- The Many Saints of Newark
- Dune
- King Richard
