How to Cancel Max (HBO Max) in 2026 — The Binge-and-Cancel Strategy

Updated 2026-02-15 · 5 min read

Max (formerly HBO Max, formerly HBO Go, formerly HBO Now) costs $9.99-20.99/month. That's $120-252/year for a streaming service that releases maybe 2-3 must-watch shows per quarter. HBO has the best content-per-show ratio in streaming — but that doesn't mean you need to pay year-round.

💡 The HBO Strategy

HBO drops prestige shows in batches — The Last of Us, White Lotus, Succession, House of the Dragon. Subscribe when a show you want premieres, binge the back catalog, cancel when it ends. 2-3 months per year costs $30-63 vs. $120-252 year-round. That's 75% savings.

How to Cancel Max

Cancel on max.com

Go to max.com/settings/subscription
Sign in to your account
Click Manage Subscription
Click Cancel Subscription
Confirm — access continues until billing period ends

⚠️ Check Where You Subscribed

Max can be billed through 8+ different platforms: direct, Apple, Google Play, Amazon, Roku, cable provider (Spectrum, Xfinity, DirecTV), Samsung TV+, or your internet provider. You must cancel through the SAME platform you signed up on. Check your bank statement to see who's charging you.

Cancel Through Apple

Settings → tap your name → Subscriptions
Find Max or HBO Max
Tap Cancel Subscription

Cancel Through Amazon

Go to amazon.com/gp/video/offers
Find Max under Your Channels
Click Cancel Channel

Cancel Through Cable

If Max is bundled with your cable package (Spectrum, Xfinity, DirecTV), call your cable provider. Some bundles include it "free" — if so, removing it doesn't save you money unless you downgrade your entire cable package.

Max Plans (2026)

Plan	Monthly	Annual	Key Difference
With Ads	$9.99	$99.99	Ads, 2 streams, 1080p
Ad-Free	$16.99	$169.99	No ads, 2 streams, 1080p, 30 downloads
Ultimate Ad-Free	$20.99	$209.99	4K Dolby Atmos, 4 streams, 100 downloads

The Annual Plan Trap

Max pushes annual plans hard — they save ~17%. But if you're using the binge strategy, annual plans cost MORE. Three months of monthly Ad-Free: $50.97. A full year of annual Ad-Free: $169.99. The monthly binger saves $119/year.

Max's Best Content (What to Binge Before Canceling)

HBO Originals: The Last of Us, House of the Dragon, The White Lotus, Succession, Euphoria, The Penguin
Movies: Warner Bros. films hit Max 45 days after theater. Dune, Barbie, Oppenheimer all here
Discovery+ content: 90 Day Fiancé, Fixer Upper, Deadliest Catch (merger added all Discovery content)
Classic HBO: The Sopranos, The Wire, Game of Thrones, Curb Your Enthusiasm

🎯 The Optimal Max Schedule

Subscribe: When a show you want premieres (check HBO's release calendar)
Binge: Watch the new show + whatever back catalog interests you
Cancel: When you run out of things to watch (usually 4-6 weeks)
Repeat: Next premiere season

The Discovery+ Double-Pay Check

After the Warner-Discovery merger, all Discovery+ content is now on Max. If you're paying for both Max AND Discovery+, you're getting the same content twice. Cancel Discovery+ immediately — check Apple Subscriptions, Amazon Channels, and your cable bill.

✅ Bottom Line

Max has the best prestige TV in streaming, but it releases in waves. Don't pay year-round — subscribe for 2-3 months during peak show season, binge everything, and cancel. You'll watch the same amount of content and save $120+/year. And check for Discovery+ double-pay.

How many streaming services are you paying for?

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Quick Cancel Guide: Max Hbo

Direct cancel link + step-by-step instructions