HBO Max Ad-Free Prices Rise Just Days Before ‘House of the Dragon’ Season 2 Premiere

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Max subscription costs have increased again. Ad-free plan subscribers will pay an additional $10 to $20 yearly. Find out more. [[{“value”:”

I dislike being the bearer of bad news — but another streaming service just announced a price hike. Max, formerly known as HBO Max, announced price changes for its ad-free plans. New subscribers will pay the increased rates, while existing subscribers will have some time to adjust to the changes.

If you’ve been considering joining in time for the ‘House of the Dragon’ season 2 premiere, you’ll want to review the latest rates and assess your budget. Here’s what you need to know.

Ad-free plan subscribers will pay an extra $10 to $20 yearly

First, recent subscription price hikes only apply to ad-free plans. If you subscribe to an ad-supported plan, you’ll continue to pay $9.99 monthly or $99.99 yearly to stream Max content. However, those who prefer to stream content without ads can expect to pay more.

The ad-free plan will increase from $15.99 to $16.99 monthly, and the yearly subscription will increase from $149.99 to $169.99. That’s an additional $12 to $20 per year.

The ultimate ad-free plan, which allows up to four devices to stream content simultaneously, 4K video quality, and more downloads, will increase from $19.99 to $20.99 monthly, and the yearly subscription will increase from $199.99 to $209.99. That’s an extra $10 to $12 per year.

This is timely news, considering season two of the popular ‘Game of Thrones’ prequel, ‘House of the Dragon’, will be released on June 16. However, this announcement comes only days before the premiere date, and fans of the show will likely be disappointed by the price hikes.

Here’s how soon Max subscribers will be impacted

How soon will your checking account or credit card statement feel the sting? New subscribers who signed up on or after June 4, 2024, will pay the increased rates.

Current subscribers won’t see an immediate impact. How you subscribe to your plan will determine when the new price hikes will be applied to your account as an existing subscriber.

Customers who subscribe directly through Max or an app store like Google Play or Apple will see a price increase on their first billing date on or after July 4, 2024.

Those who subscribe through an internet, mobile, or TV provider like Xfinity or Cox may be contacted by their provider to discuss any impact, if applicable. If you’re an existing customer, keep alert to such correspondences to remain aware of the situation.

How to deal with rising streaming subscription costs

No one likes price increases, but price hikes are becoming the norm for streaming services. One option is to adjust your budget to afford the increased expense.

You can use one of the best budgeting apps to track your recent purchases and set spending goals. Making minor adjustments to your spending can free up more income for entertainment costs. Another option is to downgrade your plan to an ad-supported plan to save money.

Finally, another option is to cancel your plan altogether. Since Max offers monthly plans, you can always sign back up for a short time if you want to watch a specific show or movie. You can then cancel again when you’re no longer using the service. This strategy allows you to stream the content you love without paying hundreds of dollars per year.

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