HBO Max vs. HBO Go vs. HBO Now: The key differences explained
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HBO
- WarnerMedia's new streaming service, HBO Max, launched in May 2020.
- HBO previously operated two older streaming platforms, HBO Go and HBO Now.
- On July 31, HBO discontinued the HBO Go app and rebranded HBO Now as just "HBO."
- In many cases, HBO Max is being offered as a free upgrade and replacement for those older services.
First, the bad news: "Friends" has left Netflix, and it's not coming back any time soon.
Turns out there's a good reason for that - it has a new home with HBO's new streaming service alongside "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," "Rick and Morty," and a mess of other stuff. That new service is named HBO Max, and it's intended to serve as a deluxe version of HBO's older streaming options, HBO Go and HBO Now.
So, what makes HBO Max different from HBO's past streaming options? Well, HBO Max offers way more shows and movies beyond HBO's usual cable library, allowing it to compete better with rival services like Netflix. Starting with the release of "Wonder Woman 1984" on December 25, Warner Bros. plans to release all of its upcoming movies on HBO Max the same day they hit theaters, bringing even more value.
HBO Max is available for $15 per month, and if you already have HBO through your cable provider, you can probably use HBO Max right now without paying extra. Meanwhile, HBO's older streaming services, HBO Now and HBO Go, are basically being phased out.
In fact, the HBO Go app was removed from most devices on July 31 in an effort to help transition users to HBO Max. HBO Now has been branded as just "HBO," but in most cases, HBO Now members can use the same account to access more shows on HBO Max at no extra cost.
To help further dispel some of the confusion surrounding all three services, we've broken down all of the key differences below.
Updated on 12/17/2020 by Kevin Webb: We've revised this article to include new details about upcoming movies on HBO Max, as well new devices that HBO Max is available on.
What is HBO Max?
NBC
HBO Max is a standalone streaming service you don't need a cable subscription to use. It costs $14.99 per month and includes all of HBO's standard offerings, plus a ton of new stuff from various WarnerMedia properties, like DC Comics, CNN, TNT, TBS, and Cartoon Network.
HBO Max also produces original shows and movies, just like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video. The service launched with more than 1,300 movies and over 10,000 hours worth of programming. For detailed impressions, you can read our full review of HBO Max here.
The service is available on most connected-devices, including Roku, Fire TV, Chromecast, Android TV, Apple TV, PlayStation, Xbox, smartphones, and Samsung smart TVs.
In most cases, people who were previously using HBO Go or HBO Now can now access HBO Max with their existing account details for no extra cost. There are some exceptions, but for most HBO users, HBO Max is being offered as a free upgrade and replacement for those older services. You can check the HBO Max website to see if your HBO subscription is eligible for HBO Max.
What makes HBO Max different from HBO Now? Additional content.
YouTube
HBO Max is the same price as the standard HBO streaming service, which was previously known as HBO Now. HBO Max currently offers all of HBO's streaming content plus a ton of new stuff from a variety of WarnerMedia brands - all for the same $14.99 a month price.
Most HBO cable subscribers can watch HBO Max with their HBO Now account or cable login at no extra cost. In other words, HBO Max is basically an automatic upgrade to the older HBO Now service. With that in mind, the HBO Now app has been rebranded to just "HBO."
Since HBO Max offers a larger streaming library than HBO (formerly HBO Now), it's clearly the better choice for subscribers. Though both still exist, it's likely that WarnerMedia will eventually remove the standard HBO streaming service as an option entirely.
What is HBO Go? And what happens to subscribers now that the app has been discontinued?
HBO
In the past, if you had a cable TV subscription to HBO, you could also use the HBO Go app, a freebie streaming option that came as a bonus. Plug in your cable TV login details, and you got access to a vast library of HBO content on-demand. It cost nothing extra, and worked on everything from your smartphone to your Apple TV/Roku/etc. to your computer.
On July 31, the HBO Go app was removed from most connected devices. Thankfully, AT&T has brokered deals that give most HBO cable subscribers access to HBO Max instead. If you subscribe to HBO through any of the cable providers below, you can get access to HBO Max at no extra cost. Simply go to the HBO Max website and choose your provider to login.
- Altice One
- Atlantic Broadband
- Apple TV Channels
- AT&T/AT&T U-verse
- Cox
- DIRECTV
- Optimum
- RCN
- Spectrum
- Suddenlink
- Verizon Fios
- WOW!
- Xfinity
The addition of other WarnerMedia networks' content to HBO's existing library makes HBO Max an enticing proposition.
HBO Max
Adding Adult Swim's content to HBO Max means adding "Rick & Morty." Adding CNN's content to HBO Max means adding "Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown." Adding TBS' content to HBO Max means adding "Full Frontal with Samantha Bee" and "Conan."
All of which is to say that adding content from all these places adds up to a ton of really good stuff.
Even better, Warner Bros. recently announced plans to release all of its 2021 movies on HBO Max at the same time they debut in theaters. This means that you'll be able to stream films like "The Matrix 4" and "Dune" from the comfort of your couch as soon as they premiere.
HBO Max's lineup also features new original series, including "Love Life," a comedy show starring Anna Kendrick, "Looney Tunes Cartoons," a new animated series featuring Bugs Bunny and company, and "Raised by Wolves," a science fiction show from producer Ridley Scott.
Beyond original HBO programs, the HBO Max catalog features a wide range of TV series, including "Friends," "Doctor Who," "Rick and Morty," "The Big Bang Theory," "Sesame Street" and "Anthony Bourdain's Parts Unknown." The full library incorporates TV and movie offerings from DC, CNN, TNT, TBS, truTV, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Rooster Teeth, Looney Tunes, Criterion, Studio Ghibli, and Warner Bros.
You can learn more about the HBO Max platform and its content lineup in our full HBO Max guide.
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