HBO Max is actually getting cheaper for Verizon subscribers

Think of it as a holiday surprise from Verizon: a rare streaming TV price drop, with the wireless and home-internet carrier serving up discounts for ad-free upgrades to its HBO Max perk.

Verizon MyPlan and MyHome subscribers on Reddit posted screenshots of emails announcing the lower HBO Max ad-free upgrade rates, which are options for the carrier’s HBO Max and Netflix with-ads streaming bundle. The discounts are slated to take effect for new and existing subscribers on December 16.  

Reached for comment, a Verizon spokesperson confirmed the news. 

The new HBO Max ad-free upgrade rates though Verizon are as follows: $7.50 a month to upgrade HBO Max with ads to HBO Max’s ad-free Standard plan, a $3.50-a-month savings compared to Verizon’s previous upgrade price, and $12/month to upgrade from HBO Max with ads to HBO Max’s 4K-enabled Premium tier, good for a $3-a-month discount versus the former Verizon upgrade price. 

If you already have the HBO Max ad-free upgrade on your Verizon plan, the savings will automatically be applied to your account. 

It’s pretty unusual to see streaming TV rate cuts outside of holiday discounts; instead, price hikes tend to be the rule. 

Indeed, HBO Max raised its rates for regular subscribers just a couple of months ago. The price of HBO Max Premium is now $22.99, up $2 a month, while the step-down HBO Max Standard plan got a price hike to $18.49 a month, up $1.50/month. Finally, HBO Max Basic with Ads is now $10.99. 

Despite HBO Max’s price hikes, Verizon’s Netflix and HBO Max with ads bundle will remain at its current $10 a month rate, a Verizon rep said.

Updated shortly after publication with clarifications from Verizon about its HBO Max ad-free upgrade pricing, and to note that the price for Verizon’s Netflix/HBO Max with-ads bundle isn’t changing.