Launched in 2025, HBO Max is still a relatively new player in the Australian streaming landscape, but with high-quality originals, like IT: Welcome to Derry and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, it has already proven to be a worth competitor for the likes of Netflix and Disney Plus.
We've compiled almost everything there is to know about streaming HBO Max in Australia so you can decide whether it's worth taking for a spin or not.
- Watch in full HD on two devices at once
- Save $119.88 per year
- Watch HBO Max Original content from Warner Bros., Discovery, Harry Potter, and DCs
What is HBO Max?
HBO Max is the new home of HBO content in Australia. HBO Max is owned by Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), which owns HBO content, Discovery, the DC Universe, Harry Potter, TLC and so more.
HBO Max launched in the US market back in 2020 and started expanding overseas from 2021. When Warner Media and Discovery, Inc. merged in 2022 to become WBD, HBO Max was combined with Discovery's own Discovery Plus service and the branding was simplified to just Max.
Max launched in Australia in early 2025 but the new, simplified name didn't last long and by the following July the service was renamed HBO Max once again.
As of 2026, HBO Max has been sold to Paramount Plus with the rest of Warner Bros Discovery. So the HBO Max app may not be standalone for much longer.
How much does HBO Max cost in Australia?
HBO Max subscriptions start at $11.99 per month (Basic) in Australia, but this includes those pesky ads. For ad-free content, you're looking at a minimum of $15.99 per month for HBO Max's Standard tier. Either way, both plans offer HD 1080p streaming on two devices at once.
HBO Max Premium costs $21.99 per month. It offers ad-free 4K Ultra HD streaming on four devices at once, as well as Dolby Atmos audio on devices that support it.
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HBO Max
From
$11.99/mth
or $119.99/yr
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HBO Max
From
$15.99/mth
or $159.99/yr
|
|
HBO Max
From
$21.99/mth
or $219.99/yr
|
For comparison, Netflix's top plan costs $28.99 per month for the same benefits. By comparison, HBO Max is a cheaper option. Although it's still more expensive then Apple TV, Prime Video or Binge.
If you want to save money on HBO Max, you can commit to a whole year upfront for a discounted price. HBO Basic with Ads costs $119.99 per year (saving $23.90), Standard costs $159.99 per year (saving $31.89) and Premium costs $219.99 per year (saving $43.89 per year).
The best way to save money on HBO Max, however, is to get it for free. Foxtel customers get 12 months of HBO Max Basic (valued at $119.99) included with every iQ plan.
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| Foxtel  |
LIMITED OFFER - 40% OFF
| View PlanDeal ends June 30. |
| Foxtel |
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To check out how HBO Max prices compare to the other major streaming services on the Australian market, see our table below:
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AMC+ Bundle
TV7-day free trial
From
$8.99/mth
or $83.88/yr
|
|
Disney+
From
$9.99/mth
or $179.99/yr
|
|
Amazon Prime Video
TV + movies + more30-day free trial
From
$9.99/mth
or $79/yr
|
|
Netflix
From
$9.99/mth
|
|
Binge
TV + movies + sport7-day free trial
From
$10.00/mth
or $79/yr
|
|
Crunchyroll
TV + movies7-day free trial
From
$11.99/mth
or $119.99/yr
|
|
Apple TV
TV + movies7-day free trial
From
$15.99/mth
or $129/yr
|
|
Kayo Sports
Sport7-day free trial
From
$29.99/mth
|
|
DAZN
From
$31.99/mth
or $149.99/yr
|
|
Foxtel Now
TV + movies + sport10-day free trial
From
$35/mth
|
|
Paramount+
TV + movies + sport7-day free trial
From
$7.99/mth
or $70.99/yr
Link not supplied
|
|
Stan.
TV + movies + sport
From
$9.99/mth
Link not supplied
|
|
HBO Max
TV + movies
From
$11.99/mth
or $119.99yr
Link not supplied
|
|
BritBox
TV7-day free trial
From
$13.99/mth
or $139.99/yr
Link not supplied
|
|
MUBI
Movies7-day free trial
From
$14.99/mth
or $119.88/yr
Link not supplied
|
What can I watch on HBO Max in Australia?
You can think of HBO Max as a studio-specific streamer, much like Disney Plus, and expect to find plenty of content from the wider Warner Bros. Library.
HBO Max is home to iconic TV series like House Of The Dragon, The Pitt ,The White Lotus and Euphoria You'll also find iconic series like Friends, Rick and Morty, The Big Bang Theory, The Sopranos and blockbusters like The Batman, Barbie, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice and Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga at home on HBO Max.
The heavily anticipated new Harry Potter series from HBO will also debut on HBO Max.
- Read more: The best TV shows on HBO Max
- Read more: The best movies on HBO Max
Best internet plans for HBO Max
When it comes to streaming HBO Max, it's not a matter of data (most internet plans come with unlimited data these days) but one of capacity. Most internet plans have a maximum download speed, which is a shared resource between all the devices on your network.
We recommend signing up for at least an NBN 50 plan for households of between two and three people.
On an NBN 50 plan, you have enough bandwidth for a few people in the household to stream different shows separately or use the internet for other tasks.
Here are the cheapest NBN 50 plans in WhistleOut's database:
|
#1
|
Belong
All Fixed Line nbn®
NBN Standard Plus – Unlimited
$55/mth
Min. cost $55
|
|
#2
|
Dodo
All Fixed Line nbn®
Editor's Pick
nbn50 Unlimited Plan
$57.99/mth
Min. cost $57.99
|
|
#3
|
Moose NBN
All Fixed Line nbn®
nbn 50/20 Premium
$59.80/mth
Min. cost $59.80
Link not supplied
|
|
#4
|
Tangerine Telecom
All Fixed Line nbn®
Value Plus NBN 50/20
$64.90/mth
Min. cost $64.90
|
|
#5
|
Flip
All Fixed Line nbn®
Unlimited Family nbn50
$68/mth
Min. cost $68
|
|
#6
|
Swoop
All Fixed Line nbn®
nbn® Home Everyday
$69/mth
Min. cost $69
Link not supplied
|
|
#7
|
Superloop
All Fixed Line nbn®
Extra-value nbn50/20
$69/mth
Min. cost $69
|
|
#8
|
Kogan Internet
All Fixed Line nbn®
Silver Unlimited
$69.90/mth
Min. cost $69.90
|
|
#9
|
TPG
All Fixed Line nbn®
nbn50 Unlimited Plan
$69.99/mth
Min. cost $69.99
Link not supplied
|
|
#10
|
iiNet
All Fixed Line nbn®
nbn50 Liimitless
$69.99/mth
+ $10 Upfront
Min. cost $79.99
Link not supplied
|
These are the most popular NBN 50 plans with WhistleOut users this week:
|
#1
|
Dodo
All Fixed Line nbn®
Editor's Pick
nbn50 Unlimited Plan
$57.99/mth
Min. cost $57.99
|
|
#2
|
amaysim
All Fixed Line nbn®
NBN50
$75/mth
Min. cost $75
|
|
#3
|
Belong
All Fixed Line nbn®
NBN Standard Plus – Unlimited
$55/mth
Min. cost $55
|
|
#4
|
Tangerine Telecom
All Fixed Line nbn®
Value Plus NBN 50/20
$64.90/mth
Min. cost $64.90
|
|
#5
|
Superloop
All Fixed Line nbn®
Extra-value nbn50/20
$69/mth
Min. cost $69
|
|
#6
|
TPG
All Fixed Line nbn®
nbn50 Unlimited Plan
$69.99/mth
Min. cost $69.99
Link not supplied
|
|
#7
|
iiNet
All Fixed Line nbn®
nbn50 Liimitless
$69.99/mth
+ $10 Upfront
Min. cost $79.99
Link not supplied
|
|
#8
|
Kogan Internet
All Fixed Line nbn®
Silver Unlimited
$69.90/mth
Min. cost $69.90
|
|
#9
|
Flip
All Fixed Line nbn®
Unlimited Family nbn50
$68/mth
Min. cost $68
|
|
#10
|
Vodafone
All Fixed Line nbn®
Essential+ nbn®
$94/mth
Min. cost $94
Link not supplied
|
HBO Max FAQs
Yes, HBO Max has ads if you subscribe to the Basic with Ads plan. Presuming HBO Max follows the same pattern in Australia as it has in other markets, on this plan, you can expect ads before and during content at a rate of about six minutes of ads per hour of viewing.
If you want an ad-free experience, you'll need to sign up for the Standard or Premium plans.
For now, it's a grey area; most HBO content has moved over to HBO Max. Shows such as The White Lotus, which started their current run on Binge, will conclude their season on Binge. The first big HBO debut on Max will be The Last of Us season 2 in April.
Yes, all HBO Max subscriptions support two simultaneous streams at a minimum, with up to four simultaneous streams on the Premium plan.
HBO Max, like other streamers, has made a point of cracking down on password sharing.
According to HBO Max's Terms and Conditions, "You are responsible for all activity by each Authorised User and for any other activity under your HBO Max Account, including the devices that are used to access the Platform.
You are solely responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your HBO Max Account email, password, Profile PIN and Parent Code, as applicable.
In addition, to prevent unauthorised access to your HBO Max Account or the Platform, you and each Authorised User must maintain control over the devices used to access the Platform.
Do not permit any unauthorised user to access your HBO Max Account, and do not reveal your email, password or Payment Method to anyone."
More streaming deals
Looking for something to stream tonight but don't want to pay full price? We've rounded up the best deals from Australia's major streaming services.
- Apple TV Plus deals: Get 30% off
- Binge deals:Stream Binge from less than $7 per month
- Disney Plus deals: Get 12 months for the price of 10
- Foxtel packages and deals: Save up to $55 per month
- Kayo deals: 50% off Kayo Premium for six months with Optus SubHub
- Netflix deals: Free Netflix with Foxtel
- Paramount Plus deals: Save over $40 per year
- Prime Video deals: Score a 30-day free trial
Dylan Crismale
Digital Content Editor
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