Max remains a popular streaming service, offering a wide array of entertainment and live sports
While a free trial may be elusive, it’s not impossible to find. Max, formerly known as HBO Max, has undergone a number of iterations since HBO first broke away from cable TV packages in April 2015.
When HBO Max launched in May 2020, there was a free 7-day trial. But the free trial option went away in an effort to maximize new subscribers before Wonder Woman 1984 was added to the service.
Max, as it stands today, is not offering a free trial when you subscribe directly to the service. A few streaming services will offer a free 7-day trial of Max, but if you want a longer one it is possible through a DIRECTV STREAM subscription.
This guide will help you navigate your options for getting a Max free trial, even without a cable subscription.
What is Max?
The new Max streaming service encompasses a variety of hubs including HBO, Max originals, CNN Max, DC, Turner Classic Movies, Discovery, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, TLC, Discovery ID, OWN, Food Network, HGTV, Travel Channel, Magnolia Network, Studio Ghibli, Sesame Workshop, Kids and Family, and Wizarding World.
You will find the same award-winning TV shows, movies and originals as you did on HBO Max, such as “Game of Thrones” and “True Detective.” More recent hits such as “The White Lotus”, “The Last of Us” are on Max as well.
The latest addition is the Bleacher Report (B/R Sports) add-on. B/R Sports brings live MLB, NHL and NBA games from cable networks under Warner Bros Discovery. Basically, all of the best TV shows and sports under Warner Bros Discovery streams through the Max app.
I currently have a Max subscription, and I have to say that I am impressed with the latest interface and addition of B/R Sports.
Max Subscription Plans
Max offers several subscription tiers to fit different needs and budgets. Not all of these plans are available as a free trial if you pick up a Max subscription from Amazon Prime Video or Hulu. But it’s important to know the plans that Max itself offers:
- With Ads: Enjoy all of Max’s content with occasional ads. The ad-supported plan is $9.99/month or opt for an annual subscription at $99.99/year, saving you 16%.
- Ad-Free: For an uninterrupted viewing experience, the ad-free plan is available at $15.99/month or $149.99/year, saving you over 20%.
- Ultimate Ad-Free: The ultimate ad-free plan includes additional features such as Ultra High Definition (UHD) streaming for $19.99/month or $199.99/year, offering a saving of over 16%.
Note: Prices do not include applicable taxes.
Max Free Trials and Bundled Subscriptions
My advice: I have been leveraging free trials for years, especially when it comes to HBO and its many streaming services over the years. Having two or more streaming services at once is quite common now.
In my experience, the best approach to getting a free trial of any premium channel is to see if it’s offered within your current subscriptions as an add-on. There may be a free trial that you are unaware of.
Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Prime Video members can add Max to their subscription, often with a free trial of Max’s ad-free plan. This allows seamless streaming of Max’s content within the Prime Video app.
A full Amazon Prime membership, which includes free shipping and other benefits, is $14.99 per month. You can get just Amazon Prime Video for $8.99 per month. Amazon Prime Video offers a 30-day free trial.
You can add Max and get a free 7-day trial through Amazon’s Prime Video Channels. You will be signed up to the ad-free plan of Max. This is one of the best free options to currently leverage, but keep in mind, you will only get one free trial.
Hulu
Hulu offers Max as an add-on to both its on-demand and live TV services, with free trials frequently available for new subscribers. A Hulu subscription starts at $7.99 per month after a 30-day free trial. Max costs an additional $15.99 per month if you keep the add-on after the trial ends.
DIRECTV STREAM
DIRECTV STREAM (formerly AT&T TV) offers the longest free trial of Max than any other streaming service at the moment.
You can get a three-month free trial of Max with the Entertainment, Choice or Ultimate plan. DIRECTV STREAM offers a 5-day free trial of its service, and it allows you to add on premium channels such as Max, STARZ, Cinemax, Showtime and MGM+.
The Entertainment package has more than 75 live TV channels, including AMC, Discovery, ESPN, TBS, and CNN. You get unlimited Cloud DVR and 40,000 on-demand shows and movies are included with any plan.
DIRECTV STREAM says you will get 7 live HBO channels added to your lineup, but you will need to use the Max app to get all the movies and TV shows from Max, the streaming service.
The Choice package has more than 100 channels, including regional sports networks for $108.99 per month.
The Ultimate package has more than 140 channels, including locals, and sports channels such as NHL Network. The Ultimate package is $119.99 per month. The Premier Package has over 150 channels, including premium channels such as Max, Cinemax and Showtime. A subscription is $164.99 per month.
You can subscribe month to month and cancel whenever you want. DIRECTV STREAM works on Roku, Android TV, Fire TV devices, Apple TV and smartphones and tablets. Subscribers can watch on an unlimited number of screens within your home.
DIRECTV STREAM does offer the longest free trial of Max, but you are probably better off just signing up for an ad-supported Hulu plan at $7.99 per month if your goal is to try out Max.
B/R Sports Add-on
Max is offering the B/R Sports Add-on, which allows you to watch select sports at no additional cost through February 29, 2024.
The new sports add-on, which includes all live games on TNT, TBS and TruTV. The add-on debuted on Oct. 5 to U.S. customers. The new sports add-on includes live NBA, MLB and NHL games.
After this promotional period, the B/R Sports Add-on will cost $9.99/month. A base subscription to Max will be required. Pricing and availability may vary by subscription provider.
How to Subscribe to Max
Subscribing to Max is straightforward:
- Visit the Max website or download the app.
- Choose your preferred subscription plan.
- Enter your personal and payment details.
- Start streaming your favorite shows, movies, and sports.
Which Streaming Devices and Smart TVs support Max?
Max is compatible with a wide range of devices, ensuring you can enjoy its content on your preferred platform. Here are the supported devices:
- Amazon Fire TV
- Android TV
- Apple TV
- Cox device
- LG Smart TV
- PlayStation
- Roku
- Samsung TV
- VIZIO Smart TV
- Xbox
- XClass TV/Xumo TV
- Xfinity X1 and Flex
Even though it’s not on the official list, I can tell you from experience that the Max app is available on Google TV, and any projectors or streaming device (such as Walmart’s Onn device) that runs on Android TV.
Getting a Max Free Trial FAQs
Does YouTube TV offer a free trial of Max?
No. YouTube TV subscribers do not currently get a free trial of Max. You can add Max to YouTube TV’s base plan. The base plan to YouTube TV costs $72.99 per month. A free trial of Max lasts for 7 days.
Is Max free with Amazon Prime?
Max (formerly HBO Max) is not free through Amazon Prime Video. But you can get a free trial of Max as part of Amazon Prime Channels.
Does The Roku Channel offer a free trial of Max?
No. The Roku Channel currently does not offer Max as a subscription through Roku devices.
How to get Max on a Smart TV?
LG, VIZIO, Samsung and Sony Smart TVs all support the Max app. You can sign up for Max online through its website, or you can use a streaming service that offers Max as an add-on.
Conclusion
Right now, Hulu and Amazon Prime are your two best options for getting a free trial of Max.
The Hulu ad-supported plan has a 30-day free trial on its own. Amazon Prime likewise has a 30-day free trial, and you can add Max through Prime Channels.
Max offers a comprehensive streaming experience with a variety of subscription options, and the latest bonus of live sports through the B/R Sports add-on. The sports add-on alone may have more people hunting for a free Max trial during the NBA and NHL season.
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Thanks for sharing these tips on how to get a max free trial! I’ve been struggling to get the most out of my free trials and this post really helped me understand how to do it effectively. I’m excited to try out the tricks you mentioned and get the most value out of my future free trials!
I’m so glad I stumbled upon this post! I’ve been looking for a way to get a free trial of Max without spending any money. Thanks for sharing these tips, I’ll definitely give them a try! 😊