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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallHistorical guide: December 2025 promotions have ended. For that month, eligible students had the clearest ongoing discount at about $5.49 a month through UNiDAYS, while the Disney+, Hulu and HBO Max bundle was the strongest broad household value. A reported $2.99 Black Friday rate was cheaper, but only during November 24–December 1, 2025 and was not confirmed by an official promotion page.
December 2025 deal verdict
- Students: Basic With Ads for approximately $5.49 per month after UNiDAYS verification, described by UNiDAYS as 50% off. Check the student offer.
- Households using three services: Disney+, Hulu and HBO Max bundle, listed by Max at $19.99 per month with ads and $29.99 without ads in the referenced pricing snapshot. See Max’s bundle details.
- Long-term HBO Max viewers: The annual plan saved approximately 16% compared with 12 monthly payments at the official U.S. prices below.
- One-show or short-term viewers: Monthly billing avoided paying for unused months.
- Black Friday shoppers: A user-posted report described $2.99 per month for 12 months, November 24–December 1, 2025. Treat that as a reported, expired promotion rather than a verified December offer.
In December 2025, the service was transitioning its branding from Max back to HBO Max. The company said the app, programming, plans and pricing were unchanged; account and help pages could still use “Max.” Read the branding explanation.
Regular U.S. HBO Max plans
The official U.S. plan documentation retrieved for this guide lists the following prices and features. Taxes may apply, and availability can vary by title, device and territory.
| Plan | Monthly | Annual | Features | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic With Ads | $9.99 | $99.99 | Two simultaneous streams; Full HD; advertising | Lowest regular standalone price |
| Standard | $16.99 | $169.99 | Two streams; Full HD; 30 downloads; ad-free on-demand viewing | Most viewers wanting downloads without Premium pricing |
| Premium | $20.99 | $209.99 | Four streams; 4K where available; Dolby Atmos where available; 100 downloads | Families and 4K-capable setups |
These figures come from Max’s U.S. plan documentation. A December 9, 2025 third-party article displayed different prices—$10.99, $18.49 and $22.99—so historical articles should identify the date and source of every price rather than combine snapshots.
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- HD streaming made simple: With America’s number 1 TV streaming platform,* exploring popular apps—plus tons of free movies, shows, and live TV—is as easy as it is fun. *Based on hours streamed—Hypothesis Group
- Compact without compromises: The sleek design of Roku Streaming Stick won’t block neighboring HDMI ports, and it even powers from your TV alone, plugging into the back and staying out of sight. No wall outlet, no extra cords, no clutter.
- No more juggling remotes: Power up your TV, adjust the volume, and control your Roku device with one remote. Use your voice to quickly search, play entertainment, and more.
- Shows on the go: Take your TV to-go when traveling—without needing to log into someone else’s device.
- TV, simplified: With setup that only takes minutes, a simple-to-navigate Home Screen, and an uncluttered remote control that does all you need—Roku makes it easier to watch the TV you love.
When annual billing actually saves money
At the official prices, annual billing is about 16% cheaper than paying monthly for a full year:
| Plan | 12 monthly payments | Annual payment | Approximate saving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic With Ads | $119.88 | $99.99 | $19.89 |
| Standard | $203.88 | $169.99 | $33.89 |
| Premium | $251.88 | $209.99 | $41.89 |
Choose annual billing only if you expect to keep the service for roughly the year. A discounted monthly promotion, a seasonal subscription or rotating between services can cost less overall.
Best student deal: Basic With Ads for about $5.49
The UNiDAYS listing offered eligible students Basic With Ads for approximately $5.49 per month and described the price as 50% off. Verification through UNiDAYS is required, and the offer applies to the ad-supported tier—not Standard or Premium.
Rank #2
- Ultra-speedy streaming: Roku Ultra is 30% faster than any other Roku player, delivering a lightning-fast interface and apps that launch in a snap.
- Cinematic streaming: This TV streaming device brings the movie theater to your living room with spectacular 4K, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision picture alongside immersive Dolby Atmos audio.
- The ultimate Roku remote: The rechargeable Roku Voice Remote Pro offers backlit buttons, hands-free voice controls, and a lost remote finder.
- No more fumbling in the dark: See what you’re pressing with backlit buttons.
- Say goodbye to batteries: Keep your remote powered for months on a single charge.
- Open the HBO Max offer on UNiDAYS.
- Verify student status.
- Claim the Basic With Ads offer.
- Finish HBO Max account and payment setup.
- Review the recurring price, renewal and cancellation terms before confirming.
Students who need 4K, four simultaneous streams or ad-free viewing should compare the regular Standard or Premium prices instead. Existing subscribers billed through Apple, Google, Roku, Hulu or another partner may need to cancel through that provider and resubscribe, and could lose an old discount.
Best household value: Disney+, Hulu and HBO Max bundle
The bundle combines all three services at a discount to buying them separately. The Max help page lists $19.99 per month with ads and $29.99 per month without ads in the cited snapshot; Disney also describes it as a discounted three-service package. View Disney’s bundle page.
- With Ads ($19.99): Lowest combined price for households that regularly use Disney+, Hulu and HBO Max.
- Without Ads ($29.99): Suits viewers prioritizing ad-free Disney+ and Hulu, but confirm the exact HBO Max tier included at signup.
The bundle is poor value if you mainly watch HBO Max, rarely use the other catalogs, or would give up grandfathered or promotional Disney+ or Hulu pricing. Compare the bundle with your actual current bills before switching.
Rank #3
- Stunning 4K and Dolby Vision streaming made simple: With America’s number 1 TV streaming platform,* exploring popular apps—plus tons of free movies, shows, and live TV—is as easy as it is fun. *Based on hours streamed—Hypothesis Group
- Breathtaking picture quality: Stunningly sharp 4K picture brings out rich detail in your entertainment with four times the resolution of HD. Watch as colors pop off your screen and enjoy lifelike clarity with Dolby Vision and HDR10+.
- Seamless streaming for any room: With Roku Streaming Stick 4K, watch your favorite entertainment on any TV in the house, even in rooms farther from your router thanks to the long-range Wi-Fi receiver.
- Shows on the go: Take your TV to-go when traveling—without needing to log into someone else’s device.
- Compact without compromises: Our sleek design won’t block neighboring HDMI ports, so you can switch from streaming to gaming with ease. Plus, it’s designed to stay hidden behind your TV, keeping wires neatly out of sight
Hulu add-on: convenient billing, not automatically a discount
December 2025 coverage reported an HBO Max add-on through Hulu at approximately $9.99 per month for Basic With Ads or $16.99 for Standard. Those figures describe a Hulu billing route, not proof of a separate discount. Compare:
- Your Hulu bill plus the HBO Max add-on.
- The Disney+, Hulu and HBO Max bundle.
- A direct HBO Max annual plan.
An add-on may have different plan features, download rules, billing controls or promotion eligibility from a direct subscription. Confirm the current offer inside your Hulu account before changing anything. The reported pricing appears in this December 9, 2025 article.
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Reported Black Friday offer: $2.99, but expired
A Reddit post reported Basic With Ads at $2.99 per month for the first 12 months, with an offer window of November 24 through December 1, 2025 and renewal afterward at the then-current regular price, reported as $10.99. Because the accessible record is user-posted rather than an official HBO Max promotion page, it should be treated as a reported historical deal, not a guaranteed offer. See the reported terms.
Rank #4
- Advanced 4K streaming - Elevate your entertainment with the next generation of our best-selling 4K stick, with improved streaming performance optimized for 4K TVs.
- The newest Fire TV experience (2026) – Our biggest update to Fire TV has a new, modern design that gets you to your entertainment fast. Browse dedicated content categories, pin more of your favorite apps, and get personalized recommendations from Alexa+. Spend less time scrolling, and more time watching.
- Cloud gaming, no console required – Stream Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, Hogwarts Legacy, Outer Worlds 2, Ninja Gaiden 4, and hundreds of games on your Fire TV Stick 4K Select with Xbox Game Pass and Luna via cloud gaming. Xbox Game Pass subscription and compatible controller required. Each sold separately.
- Smarter picks with Alexa+ – Getting to what you love has never been easier. Press the voice remote button and talk naturally to find what to watch across your apps, manage your smart home, or dive into virtually any topic.
- Wi-Fi 6 support - Enjoy smooth 4K streaming, even when other devices are connected to your router.
Plans and features that affect the choice
- Streams: Basic and Standard allow two simultaneous streams; Premium allows four.
- Downloads: Standard includes 30 downloads; Premium includes 100. Downloads have title and device restrictions.
- Picture and sound: Basic and Standard are Full HD. Premium supports 4K and Dolby Atmos only where the title, device and connection support them.
- Sports: Standard and Premium include select live sports, including some MLB, NHL, NBA, NCAA men’s March Madness, U.S. Soccer and premier-cycling events. “Select” does not mean every game; rights, markets and blackouts apply.
- Advertising: Ad-free plans can still show advertising or promotional material around some live content.
Deals that were easy to misread
HBO Only
HBO Only was listed at $16.99 per month, the same as Max Standard in the cited snapshot, but offered only HBO content rather than the broader Max catalog. Unless its price was materially lower at checkout, Max Standard was the better value. Compare HBO Only and Max.
Generic “free trials”
Most providers did not offer a general free trial. A trial existed only when the signup page specifically displayed one, usually for eligible new subscribers with a payment method. It automatically renewed unless canceled before the trial ended. Review Max’s trial rules.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to subscribe or switch without creating a billing problem
Start a direct subscription
- Go to max.com/product.
- Choose a plan and monthly or annual billing.
- Sign in or create a Max account.
- Add a payment method and confirm the recurring price.
Do not create a second subscription before checking whether an existing one is still active.
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- Essential 4K streaming – Get everything you need to stream in brilliant 4K Ultra HD with High Dynamic Range 10+ (HDR10+).
- The newest Fire TV experience (2026) – Our biggest update to Fire TV has a new, modern design that gets you to your entertainment fast. Browse dedicated content categories, pin more of your favorite apps, and get personalized recommendations from Alexa+. Spend less time scrolling, and more time watching.
- Make your TV even smarter – Fire TV gives you instant access to a world of content, tailor-made recommendations, and Alexa, all backed by fast performance.
- All your favorite apps in one place – Experience endless entertainment with access to Prime Video, Netflix, YouTube, Disney+, Apple TV+, HBO Max, Hulu, Peacock, Paramount+, and thousands more. Easily discover what to watch from hundreds of thousands of movies and TV episodes (subscription fees may apply), including free, ad-supported content.
- Getting set up is easy – Plug in and connect to Wi-Fi for smooth streaming.
Find who bills your current account
- Open Max and select your profile.
- Choose Subscription; on a TV, open Settings, then Subscription.
- Read the billing provider shown at the top.
Use Max’s billing-provider instructions if the menu differs on your device.
Switch providers safely
Apple, Google, Roku, television providers, Hulu and other partners may control cancellation and plan changes. In many cases you must cancel, wait for the current term to expire, then resubscribe through the new provider. Check the expiry date first so you do not lose an annual plan, student rate or grandfathered price. See Max’s switching guidance.
Quick Recap
Choosing by situation
| Your situation | Most sensible option | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Eligible student | UNiDAYS Basic With Ads | Lowest established ongoing price, about $5.49 monthly |
| Uses Disney+, Hulu and HBO Max | Three-service bundle | One payment and lower combined price |
| Wants HBO Max alone for most of a year | Annual Basic, Standard or Premium | About 16% below 12 monthly payments |
| Needs four streams or 4K | Premium | Four streams, 4K where available and 100 downloads |
| Needs two streams, downloads and live sports | Standard | Lower cost than Premium with 30 downloads |
| Watching one series or event | Monthly billing | Avoids an unused annual commitment |
| Already pays Hulu | Compare Hulu add-on with the bundle | Convenience is not necessarily a lower total price |
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
