HBO Max's ad-supported plan is now available. It saves you $5 per month but you will have to give up on 4K HDR and Dolby Atmos, offline viewing, and movie premieres.

HBO Max with ads
HBO Max launched in late May 2020. One year later, the company is adding a cheaper plan with ads for $10 per month or $100 per year as opposed to $15 and $150 without ads.

- "Advertising is a time-tested way to reduce the cost of great entertainment and reach a wider audience," said EVP & General Manager, HBO Max, Andy Forssell. "We’ve worked hard to create an elegant, tasteful ad experience that is respectful of great storytelling for those users who choose it, and which we’re confident will deliver for our advertising partners as well."

That is not the only difference. The company confirms that its ad-supported plan also lacks 4K HDR10 and Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos audio, and download functionality for offline viewing.

In addition, Warner Bros 2021 movie premieres like Dune and The Matrix 4 will be available only on the ad-free plan.

It is not uncommon to see streaming services reserve features for a more expensive plan. Netflix and Peacock follow a similar strategy, but new entrants like Apple TV+ and Disney+ put pressure on the model as they include everything, including 4K, in their standard plan.

HBO Max with ads is available now on hbomax.com.


 Graphic: HBO Max