AT&T recently launched an ad-supported version of its HBO Max streaming service. Normally priced at $10 per month, it will now be available for free to certain Cricket Wireless subscribers. Starting today, August 20th, Cricket Wireless users on its $60 per month Unlimited plan will be able to stream HBO Max at no additional cost, but with ads. It’s one HBO Max subscription per account though, not per line. The offer is available to both new and existing customers.
The ad-supported version of HBO Max gives you access to the service’s original content but not Warner Bros. 2021 movie premieres. So while eligible Cricket Wireless users will be able to stream shows like The Flight Attendant, Gossip Girl, and Titans, movies like The Suicide Squad and Reminiscence will not be available to them for free. These are reserved for the ad-free version initially, which costs $15 per month.
And if you’re hoping to pay the $5 difference every month to access the ad-free tier, you’re out of luck. Cnetreports Cricket Wireless will not subsidize the higher-end option with your free ad-supported plan. You’ll have to shell out the full $15 every month if you want to stream HBO Max ad-free.
The pricier tier also comes with added perks though. You get to download movies and shows for offline watching, something that is not available to users of the ad-supported version. HBO Max also limits streaming quality to HD-only for those users. On the other hand, those paying $15 every month for the service can stream content in 4K UHD resolution whenever available.
Features like parental controls, kids’ experience, and personalized streaming for multiple profiles are available to users of both HBO Max tiers.
The war of free add-ons with wireless plans is heating up
Wireless carriers have been beefing up their priciest cellular plans with free add-ons. AT&T already bundles the ad-free version of HBO Max with its Unlimited Elite plan. Likewise, Verizon offers a Disney Bundle that includes Disney Plus, Hulu, and ESPN Plus with its top two unlimited plans. T-Mobile also bundles Netflix with its two priciest plans.
But the competition doesn’t end there. These carriers operate prepaid services as well and offer such free add-ons to make their service more appealing to customers. Metro by T-Mobile bundles Amazon Prime and 100GB of Google One storage with its $60 per month unlimited plan. Cricket Wireless, which is an AT&T-owned prepaid service, is now joining the fun by offering ad-supported HBO Max with its similarly-priced plan.