How to Get Max 2023

Find out which providers have Max and how you can get Max on the cheap

Chantel Buchi
Sr. Staff Writer, TV & Streaming
May 19, 2023
4 min read

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You’re probably wondering how you can get your Max fix without worrying about the pesky internet giving away spoilers of The Last of Us.

We’ll go over which providers offer Max, how to access Max deals, and how you can get Max for free. (Yeah, you heard us. Free.)

Which providers allow you to add Max as an add-on subscription?

Most TV providers offer Max as an add-on, and most times, this also comes with the Max channels. Besides getting a Max subscription through the Max app, an add-on subscription is the way to watch The White Lotus because you'll have everything on one service.

So, the first step is finding the best service for you. Some services include HBO channels in specific packages. Some will give you Max for free for three months. But don't forget to look at the monthly price for the TV service itself.

Side note: If you’re unsure of what Max is, check out our full review with all the deets.

Which TV providers have Max?
Provider
Monthly price for service
Monthly price for Max
Monthly price for Max
Details
YouTube TV$72.99$489*

+$14.99/mo.

+$14.99/mo.

Hulu + Live TV$68.99$82.99*N/A +$14.99/mo.
DIRECTV streaming$64.99$154.99Included in PREMIER packageIncluded in PREMIER package or $14.99/mo.
DIRECTV satellite$64.99$154.99

Included in PREMIER package

Included in PREMIER package or $14.99/mo.
Xfinity TV$20$68.5^

N/A

$14.99/mo.

Spectrum TV$39.99$59.99°Included in TV Silver or TV Gold + any Internet plan

$15.00/mo.

Optimum TV$35$115

Included in Premier package

Included in Premier package or $14.99/mo.

Cox TV$56$139**Included in Preferred Plus and Ultimate TV packagesIncluded in Preferred Plus and Ultimate packages or $15/mo.
Data effective 11/11/21. Offers and availability vary by location and are subject to change.
Data as of 11/11/21. Offers and availability vary by location and are subject to change.
* Data as of 11/11/21. Offers and availability vary by location and are subject to change.
Plus taxes. Req's purchase of Device. New customers only.
All prices include $5 Autopay & Paperless Bill discount, which may take 1-3 bill cycles to begin (pay $5 more per month until discount begins). New approved residential customers only. 24-mo. agreement required. Offers may be discontinued at any time.
^ Pricing for some packages are for the first 12 months. Some packages require a 1-year contract.
° Limited time offer; subject to change; valid to qualified residential customers who have not subscribed to any services within the previous 30 days and who have no outstanding obligation to Charter.
** Prices exclude taxes, surcharges, usage-based charges, certain equipment, and other fees or charges, which are subject to change.
Find the best TV Providers in your area.

Which provider offers Max at the best price?

Every TV provider charges around $15 for Max, but there are a few that give you a temporary free subscription to Max in your channel lineup

As a new customer, DIRECTV's satellite service gives you Max free for three months with ENTERTAINMENT ($65/mo.), CHOICE ($85/mo.), and ULTIMATE ($110/mo.). And if you get the PREMIER package ($155/mo.), you get the HBO channels included in your lineup.

But we don’t recommend the $155/month package unless you want more than 340 channels, which is one of the highest channel counts you’ll find in the TV industry. Check out our full review on DIRECTV for more info on the dreaded second-year price hikes.

DIRECTV's streaming service gives you the same Max deals, but the prices of the plans are a little more expensive without the price hikes in year two.

Get Max free for three months with ENTERTAINMENT ($75/mo.), CHOICE ($100/mo.) and ULTIMATE ($110/mo.), or upgrade to PREMIER ($155/mo.) to get HBO channels and Max included in your service. 

Spectrum TV includes Max channels when you order TV Silver or TV Gold with any internet plan (200–Gig Mbps). You'll also get access to SHOWTIME and STARZ!

Check out our detailed Spectrum TV review to learn more about the packages and if it's available in your area.

Optimum TV gives you three free months of Max when you order one of their internet plans (so why not bundle TV and internet?). If you don't need internet, order Optimum's Premier plan ($115/mo.) for Max and HBO channels.

Our Optimum TV review goes over channels, fees, and DVR.

With Cox TV, you'll get HBO channels when you order either the Preferred Plus ($152/mo.) or Ultimate ($145/mo.) plan. Check out our Cox TV Review to find out if this is the personalized service is for you.

As for the average-priced Max package, these services offer your favorite premium channel:

And lastly, DISH, Sling TV, and fuboTV don’t have Max. So if you really need Max (which you probably do, because why would you be reading this right now?), don’t bother with these three services.

Which on-demand streaming services have Max?

Hulu is only on-demand service that lets you order Max within its service. But you won't find an on-demand streaming app that carries Max content other than Max itself.

Which on-demand services have Max?
Service
Monthly price for service
Monthly price for Max
Details
Hulu$7.99$14.99

+$14.99/mo.

Max$9.99$149.99N/A

*Data effective 2/01/2023.

What’s the cheapest way to get Max?

When Max first launched, we found many TV providers offering the service at no cost for three months or up to a year. Now, the most inexpensive way to get Max is to order directly from the streaming app.

  • Max: Pay $10 per month for ads or upgrade for $6 more for no interruptions.
  • Hulu: Order Hulu's cheapest plan and Max for a total of $22/mo.
  • DIRECTV satellite TV and DIRECTV streaming: You get Max for free for three months.

Recap: What’s the best way to get Max?

There are so many ways to answer this question.

If you’re already considering a specific cable TV or satellite service, then that makes the choice easier.

  • DIRECTV satellite: Get Max for free for three months with ENTERTAINMENT ($65/mo.), CHOICE ($85/mo.), or ULTIMATE ($110/mo.), or get Max and HBO channels included in your service with PREMIER ($155/mo.)
  • DIRECTV streaming: Same as DIRECTV, stream Max with CHOICE ($85/mo.) or ULTIMATE ($110/mo.), or get Max and HBO channels included in your service with PREMIER ($155/mo.).
  • Spectrum TV: You can get HBO included in your channel lineup when you order either TV Silver or TV Gold with any internet plan (200 Mbps–Gig) to reap the HBO (and Max) goodness.
  • Optimum TV: Enjoy Max for free for three months when you order an internet plan, or order Optimum TV's Premier plan ($115/mo.) for the Max service.
  • Cox TV: This cable TV provider gives you Max and HBO channels when you order the Preferred Plus ($152/mo.) or Ultimate ($145/mo.) plan.

If you want a live TV streaming service that offers Max, we suggest subscribing to YouTube TV as it is our number one pick.

If you’re on a budget and don’t care for live TV channels, Hulu, the on-demand service, will be your best option.

FAQs

Max has two plans to choose from:

  • Max (with ads): $9.99/mo.
  • Max (ad-free): $15.99/mo.
Chantel Buchi
Written by
Chantel Buchi
Chantel is all about finding the best tv or streaming service to watch as many football games as possible to keep her Fantasy Football team in check. Prior to being a TV and Streaming Tech Reporter for Reviews.org, she worked for NFL Network and The Alliance of American Football. Before that, she received a B.A. of Communication at the University of Utah and an M.S. in Sports Journalism at USC. Go Utes and Fight On. Contact her at chantel@reviews.org

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