HBO Max is a streaming catalog built around the HBO name, with The Last of Us, Succession, The White Lotus and House of the Dragon sitting beside DC, Adult Swim and A24 titles. Older favorites such as Friends, Rick and Morty and Looney Tunes are in the mix, along with documentaries, true crime and family viewing. Select live sports are offered too, though access depends on the plan and the subscription provider. The app is free to download, shows ads and offers in-app purchases. Netflix is the usual point of comparison.
Who the HBO Max catalog fits
The app suits viewers who want prestige drama and big franchises in one place. Its HBO Originals include The Last of Us, Succession, The White Lotus and House of the Dragon. Older comfort viewing is there too, including Friends, Rick and Morty, Gossip Girl and Looney Tunes.
Households with mixed tastes are covered as well, with family-friendly titles, documentaries and true crime series. Google Play gives the app a Teen content rating, so it is not aimed at young children.
Profiles, downloads and Multiview in practice
Profiles are the main household tool. Each one can carry customizable ratings and a PIN, and a kid-proof exit is included. Playback resumes where you left off across devices, and My Stuff gathers what you want to keep track of.
On select plans you can download titles for offline viewing, though download limits vary by plan. Simultaneous streaming on several devices is also limited by plan. Live sports are limited too: select leagues and teams are streamed, and availability depends on the plan and subscription provider. During select events, Multiview lets you watch up to 3 games at once.
Plan limits, regional gaps and ads
Much of what the app does depends on which plan you hold. Video quality and surround sound are available on select plans, not on all of them. Check plan prices inside the app.
Availability also varies by region. Some titles and features may be missing in your country, language support differs, and the service runs only in certain territories. You can manage or cancel a subscription under Settings > Subscriptions in your account.
HBO Max pros and cons
Pros
- Original HBO series such as The Last of Us and House of the Dragon are named in the listing
- Profiles with PIN protection and a kid-proof exit suit shared households
- Multiview streams up to 3 games at once during select events
- Downloads and resume-across-devices cover viewing on the go
- Rated 4.8 on Google Play from about 6 million ratings
Cons
- Downloads, multiple streams and high-quality video depend on the plan
- Live sports availability varies by plan and provider
- Titles, features and languages differ by country, and only certain territories are served
- Shows ads and offers in-app purchases
Is HBO Max safe?
HBO Max is published by WarnerMedia Global Digital Services, LLC, under the package ID com.wbd.stream, and it carries a Teen content rating. Because it has a sign-in and in-app purchases, read the permissions and terms on its store listing before you create an account or subscribe.
How to install HBO Max
- Press the Google Play button on this page.
- Check the listing in the Play Store and press Install.
- Open HBO Max when the install finishes. Updates arrive through Google Play.
