Since its launch, HBO Max has offered a 7 day free trial before charging $14.99 per month for a subscription. Now, the streaming service has removed the option for a free trial.
The move comes just before the premiere of Wonder Woman 1984, which will land on HBO Max on Christmas Day, the same day that the film premieres in theaters.
Disney+ made the same decision to remove its free trial just two weeks before the highly anticipated premiere of Hamilton on the streaming service. Disney didn’t specifically point to the Hamilton premiere as the reason for eliminating the free trial but commented that “We continue to test and evaluate different marketing, offers, and promotions to grow Disney+. The service was set at an attractive price-to-value proposition that we believe delivers a compelling entertainment offering on its own” when asked about the decision.
HBO Max has likewise not offered an official announcement with specifics. The free trial page in the service’s Help Center says:
Most HBO Max providers no longer offer a free trial to new subscribers. If a subscription or promotional offer includes a free trial, you’ll see mention of the free trial when you sign up.
When you subscribe to HBO Max, you can immediately stream HBO series, exclusive Max Originals, and hit movies all in one place–for just $14.99/month (plus applicable tax). There are no long-term commitments, so you can try HBO Max for as long as you’d like. If you decide HBO Max isn’t for you, you can cancel anytime.
While the free trial isn’t available for those who sign up directly through HBO Max, those who subscribe as an add-on to live TV streaming services, including Hulu and YouTube TV, can still start with a free trial for now.