HBO Max Vs. HBO Now: Let Us Explain The Difference

HBO Now = everything HBO's ever made. HBO Max = all of that, *plus* a bunch of other streaming goodness you'll love.

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ICYMI, HBO Max recently launched, so it's totally understandable if you've been logging into HBO Now (or HBO Go) for a couple of years — or just haven't heard of the service — and have some questions. Change, although often good, can be confusing!!

HBO Max

Here's the main thing to know: HBO Now (and HBO Go, which you might get through your cable subscription) let you stream all of HBO's shows, old and new. And that includes new shows: the night of a new episode, you can start watching it at the same time it starts playing on HBO.

HBO

I have HBO Go and love it; it always has dozens of movies available (a small current selection: Crazy Rich Asians, Cast Away, and Downton Abbey) and I can rewatch any episode of Game of Thrones my heart desires. I never would've watched The Sopranos, Big Little Lies, Boardwalk Empire, Flight of the Concords, Watchmen, Girls, or The Deuce without it.

HBO Max is its own platform/streaming service that gives you ALL of that same content, PLUS A) tons of other shows and movies you know and love AND B) a bunch of new original series you're gonna love to binge.

instagram.com, HBO Max

It's basically all kinds of content from WarnerMedia’s characters and brands, aka a LOT of good stuff.

What exactly is in ~group A~, you ask? I'm talking classics like Friends, When Harry Met Sally, The Lord of the Rings, and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (and REAL classics, like Casablanca)...

NBC

...recent shows and movies you'd love to rewatch like Wonder Woman, Pretty Little Liars, and The Big Bang Theory...

Freeform

...quality kids stuff like Sesame Street and My Neighbor Totoro...

Studio Ghibli

...and excellent animation like Rick and Morty, Adventure Time, and Spirited Away.

Cartoon Network

As for ~group B~ — yes, it has lots of new original shows, too!

HBO Max

Anna Kendrick's in a romantic comedy series I can't wait to check out called Love Life. There's a voguing (and fashion??) competition called Legendary that looks INCREDIBLE (judged by Law Roach, Jameela Jamil, Leiomy Maldonado, and Megan Thee Stallion!), a celebrity talk show hosted by Elmo — yes, that Elmo! —, a new Adventure Time series, and a BUNCH more.

BTW, if you subscribe to HBO already, you just might have access to HBO Max through that subscription at no extra cost!

If you subscribe to HBO Now through HBONow.com, Apple, Google Play, Samsung TV, Hulu, YouTube TV, or select internet providers, you should be able to use your same login for HBO Max. (Right now you can't access if you subscribe to HBO through Amazon / with a Firestick or through Roku, but it's a work in progress.)

If you subscribe to HBO through a cable/TV provider, you might be able to use your TV provider login to access HBO Max; here's the full list of cable providers that it'll work with.

TL;DR, HBO Max = all of HBO's content basically ever, plus more excellent movies and shows. HBO Now = all of HBO's content basically ever.

HBO Max

Sign up for HBO Max for $14.99 a month and access countless TV shows and movies. Not sold yet? Test it out right now for free for a week (for new subscribers only).

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