Another streaming service has raised its subscription fee, with HBO Max’s price hike going live on Tuesday, October 21. The increase in plans is as follows: $10.99/month or $109.99/year (Basic with Ads), $18.49/month or $184.99/year (Standard), and $22.99/month or $229.99/year (Premium).
If that hit your wallet, you’re not alone, but there is good news. In the age of Cord Cutting, you don’t have to give up prestige dramas, big movies, live sports, adult animation, or hard-hitting documentaries to save money. More streaming services are out there than ever, and you can watch quality content without breaking the bank.
Below are 12 streaming services that deliver the type of content that HBO Max subscribers often enjoy and why they are worth considering switching to.
Prime Video
- Starting Price: $8.99 per month
- Free Trial: 30 Days. | 6-Months Free for Students
- Why Switch: Big-budget originals, live sports, prestige dramas, and theatrical movie premieres.
With 20,000+ titles available, Prime Video separates itself from HBO Max due to its sheer content volume in a single library. In addition to licensed movies and shows, Amazon has a large slate of critically-acclaimed originals you can watch on demand. The NFL, NBA, NASCAR, and WNBA are just a few of the notable sports available on the platform. But what sets Prime Video apart from other major streamers is its add-on channel marketplace. If there’s a show or movie that you want to watch on another streamer, you can add-on many popular streamers (Peacock, MGM+, Paramount+, etc.) to your subscription.
For those who want to watch for free, Prime Video offers free ad-supported streaming with hundreds of channels and titles. A basic Prime Video subscription includes ads but if you want to skip the commercial, can upgrade to ad-free.
Plus, you can unlock everything else Amazon has to offer and join more than 220 million members with an Amazon Prime subscription. A membership includes Prime Video and dozens of other benefits, including Grubhub+, same-day shipping, Prime Music, Prime Gaming, exclusive deals and savings and much more.
New subscribers can try Prime Video for 30 Days. Students and Young Adults (18-24) can enjoy the service for 6-months free.
STARZ
- Starting Price: $2.50 per month (when prepaying $29.99 annually) or $4.99 per month for three months (when billed monthly)
- Free Trial: No.
- Why Switch: With a focus on adult dramas, crime series, and recent theatrical releases, it’s a great, affordable HBO Max replacement.
If you prefer an ad-free service loaded with premium content without a hefty price tag, STARZ is the HBO Max replacement for you. The streamer features a constant slate of prestige-style dramas and rotating movie premieres. Plus, Starz packs a wide slate of original programming, including Power Book II: Ghost, Outlander, BMF, P-Valley, and Shining Vale.
Sports fans will have to look elsewhere, but STARZ brings a cheaper alternative to premium drama without the necessity of a big platform bundle. The current 55% discount won’t last long, lock in these low prices at the link below.
Fuse+
- Starting Price: $2.99 per month
- Free Trial: 7 Days
- Why Switch: Diverse culturally-driven content featuring documentaries, Fuse Originals, unique stories, and overlooked gems at a budget-friendly price.
Fuse+ is a lower-priced alternative for HBO Max subscribers who enjoy diverse stories and indie content. The streamer has a trove a content for viewers who enjoy youth-driven stories, pop-culture documentaries, reality TV, and niche programming.
Though it has a smaller library of titles compared to HBO Max, Fuse+ excels with its curated content, including originals like True Dating Stores, Big Freedia Means Business, and Made From Scratch. Additionally, sports fans can find sports documentaries and live events such as BKB Bare Knuckle Fighting, Combate Global MMA, Fight Factory, and more.
Stream 1500+ episodes, exclusives, 200+ documentaries, and more, for as low as $2.99 per month. Pay annually and get two months of Fuse+ free. Say goodbye to commercial interruption and upgrade to the Fuse+ ad-free plan for $3.99 per month.
New subscribers can try Fuse+ for 7 days free and cancel anytime, with no long-term commitment required.
Paramount+
- Starting Price: $5.00 (approximately when billed $59.99 annually) OR $7.99 per month with Essential plan.
- Free Trial: 7 Days. | Try Walmart+ and watch Paramount+ for 30 Days Free
- Why Switch: Huge library of titles, including linear classics and prestige dramas, SHOWTIME + live sports
SHOWTIME and HBO Max have battled for decades as two of the top brands viewers associate with premium entertainment. Cord cutters who want to stream prestige TV and movies without breaking the bank, Paramount+ is a quality HBO Max alternative.
With a large catalog of 40,000+ titles, Paramount+ has something the whole family can enjoy for far less than HBO Max. Even the base Paramount+ Essential plan offers some SHOWTIME titles, but you can always upgrade to Premium if you want everything the platform offers, including ad-free viewing and your live CBS feed.
Find titles from legacy networks such as MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, BET, CMT, and sports from top leagues, including the NFL, WNBA, UEFA, college football and basketball, and Serie A, with the UFC joining in 2026. The streamer also brings a steep library of original hits like Dexter, Tulsa King, Mobland, 1929, and other Yellowstone favorites
New subscribers can try Paramount+ for free for seven days. Walmart+ includes Paramount+, and you can try it for 30 days free. Are you a student or a veteran? Paramount+ offers a generous student discount and massive savings for active military and veterans.
MGM+
- Starting Price: $7.99 per month
- Free Trial: 7 Days.
- Why Switch: Low-cost movie-first alternative that is ad-free, with a large film library and original titles
Cord cutters who are looking to reduce their streaming costs after the HBO Max price hike but want to enjoy a deep collection of franchises and classic films, MGM+ is a steal. Although it is budget-friendly, it doesn’t skimp out on quality titles. Cinephiles who enjoy arthouse picks, crime dramas, or the adventures of James Bond in the 007 franchise, can find more than 1000 titles on MGM+.
The original slate features NFL Icons, Godfather of Harlem, FROM, Billy the Kid, Let the Devil In, Rogue Heroes, Beacon 23, and other acclaimed shows you can watch on demand. After your 7-day free trial, you enjoy commercial-free entertainment on MGM+ for only $7.99 per month, or you can save 35% by paying $61.99 annually ($5.17 per month).
Peacock
- Starting Price: $7.99 per month
- Free Trial: No. | Try Walmart+ and watch Peacock for 30 Days Free
- Why Switch: 80,000 hours of titles, live sports, and a lower price than HBO Max top plans.
Like HBO Max, Peacock has a little something for everyone. Though it has a strong focus on the NBCUniversal catalog, you can find a rotating movie slate, including recent releases and documentaries.
Highlights include Law & Order, The Office, Real Housewives, WWE library, NXT PLEs, NFL, NBA, Premier League, PGA Tour, and Love Island, with more than 50 always-on channels. Fan-favorite Peacock originals include The Paper, Twisted Metal, Bel-Air, Dr. Death, and The Continental: From the World of John Wick.
Beyond adult-oriented programming, Peacock also offers a section dedicated to kid-friendly content. Peacock has different tiers too, so you can choose what fits your budget. From the ad-supported and ad-light to premium ad-free tiers, it is an affordable alternative that doesn’t sacrifice quality programming.
Although Peacock doesn’t offer a free trial as a standalone subscription, you can enjoy the service for 30 days free with a Walmart+ subscription.
Apple TV
- Starting Price: $12.99 per month
- Free Trial: 7 Days
- Why Switch: Ad-free, critically-acclaimed originals, prestige films, and star-driven projects with some live sports.
In recent years, Apple TV has made a name for itself as the streamer for those who love to watch prestige original shows instead of legacy franchise titles. Original shows like Severance, Ted Lasso, and Slow Horses have become mainstream successes like many HBO titles at the turn of the century.
Cord cutters who love the live drama of sports can find MLS Season Pass on the platform. This year, Apple TV is providing subscribers free access to this year’s MLS postseason play. Additionally, it has aired live MLB games over the last few years during Friday Night Baseball.
The Basic with Ads HBO Max plan is cheaper than Apple TV, but for those who would rather enjoy award-winning programming without commercial interruptions, this is a switch worth making. If you’re on the fence, new subscribers can try it for 7 days free or buy an Apple device and get 3 months free. Bundle it with Apple One, and you can stream Apple TV+ for 1 month free.
Netflix
- Starting Price: $7.99 per month
- Free Trial: No.
- Why Switch: Global hits, live events, reality TV, award-winning series and a large library of binge-worthy favorites.
For those who enjoy a fresh, massive, constant pipeline of titles over a selective prestige focus, Netflix is an ideal HBO Max alternative. The streaming behemoth offers a broad range of content, including originals, licensed films and TV series, anime, reality TV, a foreign slate and gripping documentaries.
Additionally, Netflix has shifted to more live programming with weekly episodes of WWE Raw, and more wrestling events for international viewers, live NFL games on Christmas Day and boxing matches throughout the year. Its algorithmically driven recommendations makes finding what to watch next easier. Original programming like Stranger Things, Squid Game, and Wednesday regularly top viewing charts. Plus, you can find kids-friendly programs that use to stream on HBO Max, like Sesame Street on the platform.
Just like most streamers, if you want to enjoy an ad-free experience, you can upgrade your plan and unlock even more features.
Hallmark+
- Starting Price: $7.99 per month
- Free Trial: 7 Days.
- Why Switch: Focused on mood-lifting and lighter programming at a lower price.
Though Hallmark+ offers a smaller library of 1,000+ rotating titles in its catalog, it is an affordable alternative to HBO Max for subscribers who enjoy uplifting titles and rom-coms. Its PG-rated content is more family-oriented and provides comfort binges. True crime lovers can stream crime-solving series from the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries collection.
With the holiday season just weeks away, now is the perfect time to watch a curated collection of holiday specials, seasonal classics, and lifestyle content for under $10 per month. Hallmark+ also offers an annual plan ($79.99) for those who would rather pay up front and save even more. New subscribers can start their 7-day free trial to see if Hallmark+ is the right fit.
Crunchyroll
- Starting Price: $7.99 per month
- Free Trial: 7 Days
- Why Switch: Best alternative for anime lovers who want more than what HBO Max’s library offers.
HBO Max has a few anime titles, but Crunchyroll is the go-to streaming platform for anime fans seeking same-day or near-day releases from Japan. The platform offers simulcasts like Kaiju No. 8 S2 and an extensive catalog from classics like Dragon Ball and Cowboy Bebop to modern hits like Chainsaw Man. Crunchyroll features curated award-nominee playlists, manga chapters, and behind-the-scenes content for all types of anime fans.
You can choose which price point is right for you, with three different tiers that are ad-free. No matter which plan you choose, Crunchyroll offers a 7-day free trial.
AMC+
- Starting Price: $6.99 per month
- Free Trial: 7 Days
- Why Switch: Cable-style prestige dramas and curated indie films without splurging.
HBO Max subscribers who want prestigious dramas and curated favorites for less than $10 per month should give AMC+ a try. The streamer bundles over 3,000 titles across AMC’s catalog, with Shudder and Sundance Now included. Ad-free viewing is only $9.99 per month and that includes offline viewing, so you can download and watch on the go.
AMC+ packs 6 live TV channels, rotating titles, a slew of original series, and critically acclaimed dramas, horror, and indie cinema in one subscription. Fans of auteur TV, gritty cable dramas, and horror should give AMC+ a try for 7 days free, and if you decide to pay annually, you can save over 20%.
Discovery+
- Starting Price: $5.99 per month
- Free Trial: 7 Days
- Why Switch: High-quality documentaries, investigative nonfiction and reality TV programming.
Discovery+ programming overlaps with HBO Max, but if you prefer the thousands of hours of reality and lifestyle series, documentaries, and the library content from Discovery Channel, HGTV, Food Network, TLC, Animal Planet, ID, OWN, Travel Channel, and more, you can cut your monthly costs nearly in half.
The streamer has a vast catalog of nonfiction and reality content in one place, with a plethora of originals. Naked and Afraid of Love, Queen of Meth, The Haunted Museum, Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown, Sister Wives, and The Hunt With John Walsh are just some of the titles that appeal to those who enjoy information-driven entertainment.
Give it a try for 7 days free at the link below.
Mix & Match to Beat the HBO Max Price Hike
HBO Max’s new prices may push many viewers to rethink their setup and audit their current streaming lineup. There isn’t a single “drop-in” replacement that will give you everything HBO Max has to offer. However, the smartest approach is to match your viewing habits to the service you choose.
For prestigious originals, STARZ, Prime Video, and Apple TV will likely top your list. Paramount+ or Peacock have a large library of shows, movies, and live sports, while AMC+ and MGM+ are there for movie aficionados and premium cable-style drama.
Also, remember two low-cost options that many cord cutters overlook: FAST (free ad-supported streaming television) services and OTA antennas.
You don’t even have to open your wallet to watch thousands of films, older series and curated “channels” for free by using a FAST platform like Tubi, Philo Free Channels, Sling Freestream, The Roku Channel, Pluto, MyFree DIRECTV, Prime Video, Plex and Fubo Free. Using an OTA antenna gives you local network broadcasts and major live sports/events at no monthly cost. You can add a DVR to your setup and rewatch live broadcasts at your convenience for an even more personalized experience.
Pairing a focused paid streamer with FAST channels or an antenna can reproduce much of the HBO Max experience for a fraction of the price.