Netflix 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
Max is cheaper than Netflix at every ad-free tier: $18.49 versus $19.99 for the standard plan and $22.99 versus $26.99 for 4K. Netflix only wins with ads, $8.99 against $10.99. The bigger difference is release rhythm. HBO series drop weekly, which makes Max the textbook rotation service, while Netflix drops full seasons, which makes short binges cheap. Both raised prices in 2025, and Netflix again in March 2026.
Netflix is cheaper by $24 a year on its entry plan.
At a glance
| Netflix | Max (HBO Max) | |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest standard plan | Standard with Ads: $8.99/mo | With Ads: $10.99/mo |
| Cheapest plan per year | $107.88 | $131.88 |
| Most expensive plan | Premium: $26.99/mo | Premium: $22.99/mo |
| Price changes since 2023 | 3 | 2 |
| Latest price change | March 2026 | October 2025 |
| Free trial | Netflix no longer offers free trials in the US. | No standard free trial; occasional promos through partners. |
| Cancellation | 5 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 Netflix if…
Pick Netflix if you want the cheapest ad plan or watch enough volume that a full-year subscription beats rotating. It has no trial and no proration, so cancel right after a charge and use the full month.
Choose Max (HBO Max) if…
Pick Max if you pay ad-free, care about HBO prestige series and Warner films, or want 4K at $22.99. Check who bills you first: many Max plans run through Amazon, Apple or a cable provider and must be cancelled there.
Every current plan
Netflix plans
| Plan | Current price |
|---|---|
| Standard with Ads | $8.99/mo |
| Standard | $19.99/mo |
| Premium | $26.99/mo |
| Extra Member (ad-free)Now costs more than a whole Standard-with-Ads account. | $9.99/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
March 2026 · Netflix
Second hike in under two years: Standard with Ads $7.99 → $8.99, Standard $17.99 → $19.99, Premium $24.99 → $26.99.
October 2025 · Max (HBO Max)
All tiers rose: With Ads $9.99 → $10.99, Standard $15.99 → $18.49, Premium $19.99 → $22.99.
January 2025 · Netflix
US prices rose to $7.99 (ads), $17.99 (Standard) and $24.99 (Premium).
July 2023 · Netflix
The ad-free Basic plan was retired for new members.
May 2023 · Max (HBO Max)
HBO Max relaunched as Max; legacy $14.99 ad-free price was grandfathered for a while.
November 2022 · Netflix
Ad-supported tier launched at $6.99/month.
How to run both without paying for both
Subscribe to Max for the one or two months a year when a season you care about has finished airing, then cancel. Keep Netflix if you watch weekly; otherwise treat it the same way and pay for neither during the summer.
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper, Netflix or Max (HBO Max)?
Netflix. Its cheapest standard plan works out to $8.99 a month ($107.88 a year) versus $10.99 a month ($131.88 a year) for Max (HBO Max), a difference of $24 a year. Bundles, promotions, and app-store billing can change the final price.
Is Max or Netflix cheaper without ads?
Max. Its Standard plan is $18.49 and Premium is $22.99, versus $19.99 and $26.99 for Netflix Standard and Premium. That is $18 to $48 a year less for comparable tiers.
Does Max have a free trial like Netflix used to?
No. Neither Max nor Netflix offers a standing free trial in the US. Max occasionally runs partner promotions, and both services sometimes show a retention discount inside the cancellation flow.
Full guides
Netflix price & cancellation guide
The biggest streaming service, and one of the most frequent price raisers, with two US hikes in under two years.
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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