Disney+ vs Max (HBO Max): price, plans, and which to keep
Current US prices, price history, trial terms, and cancellation friction side by side, built from our service guides. Last reviewed August 26, 2026.
The short answer
These two are priced within a dollar of each other at every tier, $11.99 versus $10.99 with ads and $18.99 versus $18.49 without, so price will not decide it. Catalogue rhythm will. Disney+ is a keep-all-year service for families with a $189.99 annual plan; Max is a rotate-in service built around weekly HBO releases and a $22.99 4K tier. And if you want both with ads, Disney sells the Disney+, Hulu and Max bundle for $16.99, less than the two standalone plans combined at $22.98.
Max (HBO Max) is cheaper by $12 a year on its entry plan.
At a glance
| Disney+ | Max (HBO Max) | |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest standard plan | Basic (with ads): $11.99/mo | With Ads: $10.99/mo |
| Cheapest plan per year | $143.88 | $131.88 |
| Most expensive plan | Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Select Trio (with ads): $19.99/mo | Premium: $22.99/mo |
| Price changes since 2023 | 3 | 2 |
| Latest price change | October 2025 | October 2025 |
| Free trial | No standard free trial in the US; occasional promos via partners (Verizon, etc.). | No standard free trial; occasional promos through partners. |
| Cancellation | 4 steps · app-store or partner billing caveat | 4 steps · app-store or partner billing caveat |
Cheapest and most expensive plans exclude add-ons, student, bundle, and per-seat plans. Price changes are counted from January 2023. US list prices, last reviewed August 26, 2026.
Which one should you pick?
Choose Disney+ if…
Pick Disney+ if it is for kids or a household that rewatches, or if you want to pay once a year and forget it. Cancelling online usually triggers a short retention discount, which is worth taking if you were on the fence.
Choose Max (HBO Max) if…
Pick Max if you watch HBO series, Warner films, or want 4K at $22.99. Confirm who bills you before relying on max.com to cancel: Amazon, Apple, Roku and cable bundles all bill separately.
Every current plan
Disney+ plans
| Plan | Current price |
|---|---|
| Basic (with ads) | $11.99/mo |
| Premium (no ads) | $18.99/mo |
| Premium (annual) | $189.99/yr |
| Extra Member (with ads)Add a member outside your household with ads (4,99 € in Spain/EU). | $6.99/mo |
| Extra Member (ad-free)Add an ad-free member outside your household (5,99 € in Spain/EU). | $9.99/mo |
| Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Select Trio (with ads)Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Select together. | $19.99/mo |
| Disney+, Hulu, Max Bundle (with ads)Disney+, Hulu, and Max (with ads) for ~35% combined savings. | $16.99/mo |
| Disney+, Hulu, Max Bundle (ad-free)Ad-free Disney+, Hulu, and Max. | $29.99/mo |
Max (HBO Max) plans
| Plan | Current price |
|---|---|
| With Ads | $10.99/mo |
| Standard (Ad-Free) | $18.49/mo |
| Premium | $22.99/mo |
US list prices; taxes, promotions, and app-store billing may differ. Last reviewed August 26, 2026.
Price history, both services
October 2025 · Disney+
The ad-supported plan rose from $9.99 to $11.99 and Premium rose from $15.99 to $18.99.
October 2025 · Max (HBO Max)
All tiers rose: With Ads $9.99 → $10.99, Standard $15.99 → $18.49, Premium $19.99 → $22.99.
October 2024 · Disney+
Previous hike took Basic to $9.99 and Premium to $15.99; Extra Member slots launched.
October 2023 · Disney+
Premium rose from $10.99 to $13.99 as ads tier held at $7.99.
May 2023 · Max (HBO Max)
HBO Max relaunched as Max; legacy $14.99 ad-free price was grandfathered for a while.
How to run both without paying for both
Keep Disney+ on the annual plan and add Max for a month whenever a season has finished airing. If the household wants both year-round with ads, the $16.99 bundle is the cheapest way and throws in Hulu.
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper, Disney+ or Max (HBO Max)?
Max (HBO Max). Its cheapest standard plan works out to $10.99 a month ($131.88 a year) versus $11.99 a month ($143.88 a year) for Disney+, a difference of $12 a year. Bundles, promotions, and app-store billing can change the final price.
Which is cheaper, Disney+ or Max?
Max, by a small margin: $10.99 versus $11.99 with ads and $18.49 versus $18.99 without. Disney+ is the only one of the two with an annual plan, $189.99, which works out cheaper than twelve months of either ad-free plan.
Can I get Max and Disney+ in the same bundle?
Yes. Disney sells a Disney+, Hulu and Max bundle at $16.99 with ads or $29.99 ad-free. It must be cancelled as a bundle from the Disney+ account.
Full guides
Disney+ price & cancellation guide
Disney+ costs $11.99 with ads or $18.99 without ads, while bundles can lower the combined cost with Hulu and ESPN.
View guideMax (HBO Max) price & cancellation guide
Warner's streamer raised every tier in late 2025, its ad-free Standard saw the steepest jump at 16%.
View guideMore comparisons
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