Is HBO Max Free if You Have HBO, HBO Go, or HBO Now?

Today’s the day: HBO Max has officially launched, meaning that HBO will never be the same. WarnerMedia’s new streaming service not only includes all the content that HBO subscribers would normally get, but a vast library containing everything from Friends and Rick & Morty to popular films like Wonder Woman and The Wizard of Oz, and even HBO Max originals like Love Life and Legendary. However, the question persists: Do HBO subscribers get HBO Max for free? And if you already have HBO Go or HBO Now, does that mean you automatically get HBO Max for free?

Eh…it’s a little complicated.

Because HBO started off as a premium cable service and later added the HBO Go streaming add-on as well as the OTT HBO Now streaming service, which HBO subscribers will get HBO Max “for free” at launch is a complicated question. This is all even further muddled by the various different devices people stream HBO Now or HBO Go on and the fact that both Hulu and Amazon’s Prime Video offer users an HBO add-on.

So which HBO subscribers will be able to login to HBO Max for free upon launch and which are out of luck? Here’s everything you need to know about streaming HBO Max with an HBO subscription.

IS HBO MAX FREE?

Alas, nothing in this life is free, save for happiness and dreams. However, HBO Max is sort of “free”…for some HBO subscribers.

HBO Max costs subscribers $14.99/month, which is the same price point as HBO’s OTT streaming service, HBO Now. That said, many HBO subscribers, as well as folks who subscribe to HBO Now and HBO Go, should be able to login to HBO Max at no extra cost. Let’s break it down…

IS HBO MAX FREE FOR HBO SUBSCRIBERS?

Theoretically if you are already paying for HBO via your cable provider, you should be eligible to log into HBO Max at no additional cost. Much like how you would use your cable company login credentials to log into and/or authenticate your HBO Go service, you should be able to do the same for HBO Max upon launch.

The only hiccup? HBO has a myriad of different deals with cable providers all over the country. While HBO’s parent company AT&T Time Warner was able to secure a ton of distribution deals that would seamlessly grandfather HBO subscribers into HBO Max, they didn’t nail them all down. That said, there is a lot of rush behind the scenes to broker these deals ASAP, even if they aren’t around on May 27, HBO Max’s launch date.

If you get HBO through AT&T TV, DIRECTV, AT&T U-Verse, Spectrum, Altice, Suddenlink, Optimum, Cox Contour, Verizon Fios TV and other select independent cable and broadband providers, you will automatically have complimentary access to HBO Max. You will have to authenticate it, but you have it.

As of 12:56 PM, May 27, HBO Max announced they had struck a deal with Comcast to allow existing Xfinity HBO customers to have access to the HBO Max app at no extra charge starting today. The companies will be working to expedite the HBO Max app’s arrival on the XFinity X1 and XFinity Flex platforms. Also, new HBO customers will be able to purchase HBO Mac via XFinity “in the coming days.”

Keep in mind that HBO Max could announce additional partnerships with cable and broadband subscribers at anytime, so check your proverbial local listings for updates.

IF YOU HAVE HBO GO IS HBO MAX FREE?

Because HBO Go is the complimentary streaming service attached to HBO subscriptions bought via a cable or broadband provider, the answer to the question above — “Is HBO Max Free for HBO Subscribers?” — applies.

If you subscribe to HBO through one of the cable providers that HBO has a locked down deal with, you should be able to login to HBO Max the same way you log into HBO Go now. Of course, there could be hiccups with the rollout, but theoretically, you should be able to login to HBO Max.

IS HBO MAX FREE FOR HBO NOW SUBSCRIBERS?

Yes! HBO Now subscribers should be able to log into HBO Max with their HBO Now login and password starting Wednesday, May 27.

In fact, if you use Apple TV, a Samsung smart TV, Google Play or another supported device to watch HBO Now, the HBO Now app will be replaced by the HBO Max app on Wednesday morning. You won’t have to do anything! Customers who subscribe to HBO Now via HBO directly, or through Apple, Google Play, Samsung, Verizon Fios internet, Optimum, and Consolidated Communications and Liberty Cablevision of Puerto Rico should see a seamless, instant transition. (That is if you have the device set to automatic updates!)

The one big hiccup? HBO Now on Roku. If you use Roku to access HBO Now, you will not see HBO Max on your homepage because a deal has not yet been struck. You will still, however, be able to access HBO Now with your HBO Now subscription. Moreover, as long as you didn’t subscribe to HBO Now via your Roku account, you should be able to use your HBO Now login credentials to access HBO Max on other devices. (Think laptop, tablet, or if you have an Apple TV in another room in the house.) That said, don’t be shocked if Roku and AT&T Time Warner broker a deal for HBO Max sooner rather than later.

IS HBO MAX FREE IF YOU HAVE THE HBO HULU ADD-ON?

Good news! If you subscribe to HBO as a Hulu add-on, you should have no problem logging into HBO Max. Hulu is lumped into that group of cable providers with whom AT&T Time Warner was able to lock down a deal to transition customers to HBO Max. You will be redirected to a screen where you’ll log in the same way you’ve already been logging into HBO. There should be no change to billing, login, or anything.

So if you stream HBO through Hulu, you’re all set to enjoy HBO Max “for free”!

IS HBO MAX FREE IF YOU HAVE THE HBO CHANNEL ADD-ON ON AMAZON PRIME VIDEO?

Bad news! Last time we checked in with HBO Max’s reps, they had not yet finalized a similar deal for customers who subscribe to HBO via Amazon’s Prime Video channels. So while you’ll still be able to access the wealth of HBO’s traditional streaming library through the HBO channel on Prime Video, you will not be able to watch Friends, The Big Bang Theory, Rick & Morty, or any of the HBO Max originals that will be available at launch.

Amazon has also reached out to Decider to confirm that they have not yet nailed down a deal with AT&T Time Warner to give HBO Prime Video Channel subscribers access to HBO Max content or to make the Amazon Fire Stick compatible with HBO Max. Decider has learned that Amazon would like the deal to ensure that current HBO Prime Video Channel subscribers get the full suite of HBO Max content and they want HBO Max to be available as a Prime Video Channel.

According to an Amazon spokesperson: “With a seamless customer experience, nearly 5 million HBO streamers currently access their subscription through Amazon’s Prime Video Channels. Unfortunately, with the launch of HBO Max, AT&T is choosing to deny these loyal HBO customers access to the expanded catalog. We believe that if you’re paying for HBO, you’re entitled to the new programming through the method you’re already using. That’s just good customer service and that’s a priority for us.”

Furthermore, Amazon’s customers are out of luck as a long-term licensing deal with HBO came to an end last Wednesday. Though the timing is ironic, that means that Prime Video users no longer can watch HBO favorites like The Sopranos or The Wire for free. They can watch them with an HBO channel add-on — which won’t give you HBO Max, yet — or buy/rent them on Prime Video.

Any questions? (Heh.)