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MAX has rebranded back to HBO Max as of July 9, 2025 © 2025 Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. All rights reserved. HBO Max™ and all related marks are trademarks of Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.

HBO Max Is Back: Not With a Free Trial, But There Are Smart Ways To Get The Add-On and Find Discounts

By Hedy Phillips  |  Last updated Dec 9, 2025 8:34 PM ET
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  What You Need To Know About the HBO Max Free Trial     Free Trial and Offer Details  
 Is there an HBO Max Free Trial?   No official free trial directly from HBO Max
 December 2025 Promo & Access Options    Free sample episodes at Max.com; 7-day trial via Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, or YouTube TV (select users);

 Cricket Wireless unlimited plan includes Max with Ads; 

DoorDash DashPass annual members get Max with Ads free  
 Max Plans & Pricing (December 2025)   Basic With Ads: $10.99/month or $109.99/year

Standard: $18.49/month or $184.99/year 

Premium: $22.99/month or $229.99/year 

HBO Max continues to dominate the streaming throne for fantasy and sci-fi fans, delivering some of the most legendary blockbusters ever made. With the full Lord of the Rings saga (extended editions included), the complete Harry Potter library, and George R.R. Martin’s epic worlds (Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon), HBO Max remains the place where remotes, swords, and wands cross paths on the living room screen.

As of December 2025, HBO Max still doesn't provide a direct free trial through its website. However, the service does offer free sample episodes of new and fan-favorite original series (Peacemaker and Task) without requiring a subscription or sign-up. Trust us, once you try the HBO Max library, you'll be hooked. 

Be on the lookout for more news to come as a possible merger between a new company with HBO Max assets could be on the horizon

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  • Pricing starts at $10.99/month
  • 4K viewing options available
  • Free trial currently unavailable
Sign up here

How to get a HBO Max free trial when available: The Amazon Prime with HBO Max workaround for trying the platform for 7 days (Sometimes offered)

Please note that this workaround is only occasionally offered. Right now, it is unavailable to access.

While HBO Max doesn’t offer a free trial in 2025, sometimes there is a workaround to get a HBO Max free trial with Amazon Prime Video. Amazon Prime offers a 30-day free trial of its membership to new subscribers, which (if the offer is live) allows you access to their expedited shipping services and access to Prime Video for 30 days.

While using the 30-day free trial of Amazon Prime Video (when and if the HBO Max free trial is offered here), you can select to add HBO Max to Prime Video for free for 7 days when it is available.

Platforms and apps where HBO Max can be added or offered as an additional perk or bundle

While HBO Max doesn’t offer a free trial for standalone new subscribers, prospective customers can access the streaming service as a free perk or add-on in a few spots at no additional cost.

The DoorDash HBO Max add-on perk

If you have an annual subscription with DoorDash, you’re in luck; you’ll get HBO Max With Ads for free

DoorDash partnered with HBO Max in 2024 and offered an incredible perk: New and existing DoorDash annual subscribers can get ad-supported HBO Max (aka HBO Max With Ads, known as the Basic Plan) at no additional cost.

Also, if you're a DoorDash annual subscriber, you can upgrade to a HBO Max Ad-Free subscription (the Standard Plan) for just an additional $10.99 per month—a HBO Max Standard plan is usually $16.99 per month.

And yes, this will still be offered to DoorDash annual subscribers in 2025.

  • A DoorDash annual plan costs $96.00 for the year, which is a lowly $8.00 per month. You’ll get free access to an ads-supported HBO Max subscription.
  • You can upgrade to a HBO Max Without Ads (HBO Max Standard Plan) for only an additional $10.99 per month.

The unique Cricket Wireless Unlimited perk

Cricket Wireless will give you HBO Max as a free perk with it's unlimited plan

Cricket Wireless partnered with HBO Max and offers an exceptional deal: If you have an unlimited $60 per month Cricket Wireless, you’re given a HBO Max With Ads (Basic Plan) subscription at no additional cost. Existing Cricket subscribers can change their wireless plan to get the free HBO Max add-on perk, and new subscribers can also easily access the perk.

  • The Cricket Wireless unlimited plan is $60.00 and gives you free access to HBO Max With Ads while you’re subscribed to Cricket Unlimited.

An on-demand content library of epic proportions: The Disney Plus, Hulu, and HBO Max bundle

A new Hulu bundle with an outrageous library

A new bundle made its way to streaming platforms. The epic Disney Plus, Hulu, and HBO Max bundle gives you access to three libraries with thousands of TV shows and movies. And while it’s missing live TV streaming options, this package is built for you if you’re a cinephile who likes sifting through unlimited content. This bundle will get you HBO Max, and everything with the Hulu and Disney Plus on-demand content library.

  • The Disney Plus, Hulu, and HBO Max bundle is $16.99 per month with ads, or $29.99 per month without ads.

There is no HBO Max free trial in 2025, but there are plenty of streaming providers to choose from and ways to bundle

If a perk or bundle doesn’t appeal to you, DIRECTV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, Paramount Plus, and YouTube TV all offer free trials and are exceptional platforms for getting your streaming fix. Keep an eye out for a HBO Max free trial offer — just because one isn’t offered now doesn’t mean it’s set in stone.

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FAQ

Does HBO Max have a seven‑day free trial in 2025?

Unfortunately, as of December 2025, HBO Max (now officially back to its original name after rebranding) does not offer a 7‑day free trial, or any free trial, for new subscribers directly through its platform. The only exception was a limited spring promotion via Prime Video Channels that expired quite a long time ago on February 22, 2025.

Does HBO Max offer a free trial through Amazon Prime Video?

That seasonal Prime Video workaround is no longer available. Amazon Prime Video no longer offers a 7‑day free trial of HBO Max, and currently, no free‑trial option exists via Prime Channels.

Is HBO Max free for Hulu subscribers?

No, unfortunately. Hulu discontinued any free‑trial crossover deals with HBO Max. There is no longer a free HBO Max trial available through Hulu subscriptions.