Max free trial: is there one, when did the HBO Max 7-day free trial end, and more

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Is a 7 day trial still there for you?

New Max logo on wall mounted TV with bowl of popcorn on table in front
Can you still sign up to a free trial for Max, aka HBO Max's streaming successor? (Image credit: Shutterstock)
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In an era where the world's best streaming services are becoming more expensive, the offer of a free trial – no matter how long it lasts for – is a godsend to anyone who wants to try one or more of them before paying a dime.

So, is Max among those that allows you to watch its content for free before deciding if you want to start spending your hard-earned cash on it? After all, some of its rivals, including Prime Video, Apple TV Plus, and Hulu allow you to try before you buy.

Is HBO Max's super-streamer successor among that contingent, then? In this guide, we'll tell you if a free Max trial is available and, if so, how long you can use it for. You'll also find other worthwhile information in this guide, too, including what movies and TV shows are part of Max's back catalog and what the streaming titan's cheapest subscription tier is. Without further ado, then, here's all you need to know about free trials on Max.

Max free trial: is one available?

Oz Cobb squinting at something off-screen in The Penguin

Don't tell anyone, Oz, but a free trial isn't available on Max right now (Image credit: Macall Polay/HBO)

Unfortunately, a Max free trial doesn't exist. Warner Bros. Discover (WBD) revived it for a very brief period in mid-2024 but, other than that, it's not been seen since WBD's primary streamer – then called HBO Max – initially launched in the US way back in May 2020.

At the time, HBO Max's free trial was available for seven days. Many took advantage of this offer to determine whether the streaming giant was worth it. Despite Max's recent launch in numerous European, Nordic, and Asian nations, however, there's been no sign of Max's free trial returning, even if it's for another seven-day period or a shorter time frame.

Are there other ways to get a Max free trial?

Furiosa stands with a gun slung over her shoulder with three other people behind her blurred out

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is one of many movies you can stream on Max (Image credit: Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.)

US reader, rejoice, for you can secure access to Max for free if you sign up to one of Cricket Wireless' $60 unlimited plans. Indeed, the ad-supported plan is thrown in at no extra cost, so you can technically stream some of the best Max shows and best Max movies to your heart's content with this option.

There was a time when you could also get a Max free trial by way of your Hulu plan. However, one of the best streaming deals is no more, so the aforementioned Cricket Wireless deal is the only way to watch Max for 'free'.

What's the cheapest way to get Max without a free trial?

Rick Flag Sr leads his supervillain team out of a plane in Creature Commandos

Creature Commandos, the first project to arrive as part of James Gunn's DC Cinematic Universe reboot, is out now on Max (Image credit: Max/DC Studios)

You can save up to 20% by committing to an annual plan across any of Max's three subscription tiers. Starting at $99.99 a year for its ad-supported plan, go ad free and pay $149.99 annually, or check out Max's Ultimate Ad-Free plan – i.e. the only way to get 4K streams – that'll set you back $199.99 a year.

While the HBO Max free trial has gone for customers in the US, customers can still check out some of their biggest shows for nothing. Indeed, by visiting the Free Episodes section of the Max website, you can watch the premiere episodes of hit shows including The Last of Us, Euphoria, House of the Dragon, and True Detective: Night Country to sample what's on offer before you decide whether to purchase a plan.

What can I watch on Max?

batman

The Dark Knight is one of many Batman movies you can stream on Max (Image credit: Warner Bros.)

Some of the finest films and TV series ever created, that's what. Indeed, Max is home to everything that acclaimed studio HBO has ever produced, as well as a seemingly infinite number of classic and more recent moneymaking movies. Here's just a snippet of what you can stream if you sign up today:

For more Max-based coverage, check out our guides on The Last of Us season 2, The White Lotus season 3, House of the Dragon season 3, and Peacemaker season 2.

Daniel Pateman
Daniel Pateman

Daniel Pateman is a freelance writer, producing articles across the cultural spectrum for magazines like Aesthetica, Photomonitor, The Brooklyn Rail and This is Tomorrow. He also provides text-writing services to individual curators and artists worldwide, and has had work published internationally. His favourite film genre is horror (bring on Scream 5!) and he never tires of listening to Absolute 80s on the radio.

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