HBO Max, reviewed

Since March 2026 HBO has had its own front door in Ireland. HBO Max sells itself directly here, and its ad-free Standard plan is priced well under Netflix’s.

What it is

HBO Max is Warner Bros. Discovery’s streaming service, launched in the UK and Ireland on 26 March 2026. It’s a straight subscription app: HBO’s series, Warner Bros. films and the rest of the Warner catalogue, sold directly at hbomax.com and through partners, Sky and Prime Video among them. One thing it isn’t, in Ireland: a sports service. The UK version carries TNT Sports; HBO Max’s own Irish help page says TNT Sports isn’t available through HBO Max here.

What you get

Four plans on HBO Max’s Irish help page. Basic with Ads is two streams in Full HD with adverts and no downloads, and it leaves out films that come to HBO Max after their cinema run. Standard with Ads adds up to 30 downloads. Standard drops the adverts. Premium is four streams in 4K with Dolby Atmos where available, and up to 100 downloads. Basic customers can add the Standard with Ads upgrade for €1 a month.

The bundles matter more than the plans for a lot of houses. HBO Max Basic with Ads is included in Sky Ultimate TV, and NOW sells an Entertainment and HBO Max membership. The films and series guide shows where it fits, and the app runs on the usual streaming sticks.

What it costs

Prices checked 2026-11-10 on the service's Irish pricing page.

The cheapest plan is Basic with Ads, priced on HBO Max’s Irish help page. HBO Max also mentions “Saver” plans billed over twelve months. The Irish help page doesn’t price them, so look on the sign-up page if paying for a year up front suits you HBO Max plans (official source, opens in a new tab).

The small print

The catch

No sport, which surprises people who’ve read about the UK version. The cheapest plan skips the new cinema releases, which are half the reason to want it in the first place. And if you’re a Sky Ultimate customer you may be about to pay for something you already have. Check before you sign up.

When to have it, when to cancel

• Sky Ultimate household: you’ve got Basic with Ads already. Log in and use it.
• One HBO series: a month of Standard with Ads the week the finale drops, then cancel.
• The big telly: Premium only if you’d notice the 4K. Most won’t.
• Cancelling: do it any time in the month; you keep the rest of what you’ve paid for.

Verdict

HBO Max pays us nothing. It’s a good library at a fair price, and the Basic plan is one of the cheapest ways into prestige drama in the country. But it’s a month-at-a-time service for most people, not a keeper, and if you’re after the fights or the snooker you’re in the wrong app. Run the finder first: if you’re heading for Sky Ultimate anyway, it comes included.