HBO Max announces a surprise price hike, starting now

If you currently subscribe to HBO Max, be on the lookout for some bad news in your inbox. Warner Bros. Discovery, the streaming giant’s owner, just shared that all three subscription tiers will increase in price. According to Variety, the change is effective immediately for new plans, and existing users will see the price hike reflected on their next renewal following November 20, at the latest.

An unfortunate (if predictable) change

What goes up doesn’t always come down

The price hike follows over a year after a similar report from Variety in June 2024, but this time, it’s even more pronounced. Starting today, all three tiers will see an increase of about 10%, leading to the following new prices:

The new prices are already live for new signups. If you currently have a monthly HBO Max subscription, you’ll get an email outlining the increase and its application to your next bill on or after November 20. Yearly subscribers can expect to receive notice of the new rate 30 days before their accounts are due for renewal. Those taking advantage of student discounts will also see a 10% increase on their next bill, for a total of $5.49.

HBO’s long-running reputation for quality original content continues to give it an edge over many competitors. HBO Max is the only place to find critically acclaimed shows such as The White Lotus and The Gilded Age, and well-known classics like The Wire and Succession.

While potentially upsetting, the move isn’t particularly surprising. In fact, the timing is conspicuous, as it’s not even the only streaming service to jack up prices today. Disney+ has noted its own October 21 price increase for weeks, as has Hulu. The ever-rising costs of in-home entertainment have left consumers with frustrating options such as regularly rotating between streaming services to binge on exclusive content, which drastically reduces the overall convenience that online streaming was meant to provide. Ultra-affordable services have also started popping up, with Roku’s $3/month Howdy platform offering a better experience than you might expect at that price point.

The price hike has already left social media users feeling the squeeze, with subscribers taking to Reddit to voice their displeasure with endless fee increases. If you’re among those unsatisfied with rising prices on HBO’s platform, consider switching to an alternative, less costly streaming service for a while. After all, HBO Max will still be there if you want to come back for its exclusive content later.