HBO Max with ads is better than I thought it would be

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

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A week ago, I wrote on this very blog that I thought HBO Max's ad-supported tier didn't make sense. Having used it? Well, I'm not prepare to change my account to ad-supported, but I am ready to admit I was wrong.

HBO Max's $9.99 per month ad-supported tier, which costs $5 less than its $xiv.99 advertizement-free tier, came out on Midweek, June 2. And and then I made a brand new account at that toll, just to come across what if WarnerMedia actually delivered on its promise of an excellent ad-supported feel.

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For context, HBO Max — the service that adds a lot to the Home Box Office we know already — is trying to compete in a world where ad-supported content has become in vogue again. Yes, Netflix and Disney Plus are ad-complimentary, but the likes of Hulu and Peacock and Paramount Plus all accept advertizement-supported paid rates.

Right at present, each advertizing-free tier saves you the same amount of money: $5 per month. Paramount Plus only saved you lot $4 at ane betoken, but information technology'southward moving to the same $4.99 vs $nine.99 per month structure on June 7.

While Hulu gives you the same content whether or non you buy ads, it's the only service similar that. If y'all move from advertising-free to ad-supported, Paramount Plus cuts out live CBS stations, Peacock greatly reduces the number of movies and Boob tube show episodes available to yous and HBO Max stops you from seeing the big Warner Pictures movies that stream on the aforementioned day as in theaters.

HBO Max too (smartly) decided it would non put ads on HBO-branded content. So while I worried that The Sopranos would take ad-breaks inserted where they weren't meant to exist, WarnerMedia decided that wouldn't be the instance. Tenet, a movie currently airing on HBO, also has no ads (which should satisfy HBO Max critic Christopher Nolan).

HBO Max vs Hulu, Peacock and Paramount Plus: Pricing

Service	Monthly ad-supported toll	Monthly ad-free toll	Bonus for ad-gratuitous tier
HBO Max	$9.99	$14.99	New Warner Pictures movies
Hulu	$5.99	$11.99	North/A
Peacock (complimentary option available)	$iv.99	$9.99	Northward/A (free tier has less content)
Paramount Plus	$4.99 (starting June 7)	$9.99	Live CBS stations

What are HBO Max'due south ads like?

Early on, I was pretty impressed by how minimalist HBO Max's ads were. Watching Aquaman, I was greeted by subtle, un-confusing Volkswagen ads that lasted perhaps 8 seconds at about. Mid-motion-picture show ads were a little longer, with ane suspension comprised of a 30-second prune for Aflac and a 15-2nd Dairy Queen spot. I also found 45-2d long ad-breaks in other films, including Twister and Rush Hr.

Notably, if I'd watched an advertizing recently, and skimmed to another part of the movie where an advert-break was supposed to be (yous tin can see the little gaps in the timeline), HBO Max didn't show some other ad. This is probably their smartest play — non penalizing people who are trying to jump to a sure moment.

I saw longer ads during Telly shows, where about thirty seconds (max) of clips preceded episodes of Rick and Morty (once again), with minute-long advert-breaks — for wellness insurance and Airbnb — mid show. The side by side ad break was shorter, at just 30 seconds total, promoting a car rental service and then Pizza Hut.

Starting a South Park episode I got another xv-second clip for The Hut, followed by a 30 second prune for a medical service called Lilly. The break ended with a 15-second AT&T advertising.

The overall message is clear. HBO knows that ads make more sense for TV shows, and less in movies. Minute-long advertisement breaks may exist abrasive, but I would learn they were actually on the better side of things.

HBO Max with ads vs Hulu with ads

The HBO Max experience plays in stark dissimilarity to the opening ads of Sorry For Bothering You on Hulu, where a three-second Taco Bell pre-advert (announcing they were the advertiser) was followed by a 30-2d Taco Bell advertizement filled with loud, brash men and women of yesteryear, in caked on makeup and large wigs.

When I tried to start Vice, I was greeted with over xl seconds of ads, promoting the new Dreamworks movie Spirit Untamed and so a local politician (who I already get enough snail mail service ads from).

Hulu has ads — (Image credit: Shutterstock)

Booting upward an episode of It'south E'er Sunny in Philadelphia, I was bellyaching to get a infinitesimal and 5 seconds of pre-roll promotion. The clips highlighted M.O.D.O.K. and Run The World, and while neither show seems bad, a minute of ads before the evidence were annoying to run into. And then right after Sunny's opening credits (which are pretty shut to the start of the testify) I got a minute-plus of commercials, promoting voting in the upcoming local election, Progressive automobile insurance and the Caviar food commitment service.

Of course, Hulu's habits notwithstanding seem thin compared to the minutes of commercials between shows and during breaks. Simply HBO Max's experience beats them cleanly.

HBO Max with ads vs Paramount Plus with ads

Next, I checked out Paramount Plus, where (oddly) ads didn't play during movies. But when I began an episode of MTV'due south The Claiming, it started off with a 30-second ad for Bounty newspaper towels. Nil terrible heed you, and notwithstanding better than Hulu for running not running ads on both sides of the opening credits.

That said, I got annoyed with Paramount Plus at the first ad-break. That same thirty-2nd Bounty ad played again, and it wasn't alone. Another 30 second advertisement for Kia cars aired, followed by another 30-2d clip for Popeye'due south Chicken, and another 30-2nd clip for Geico.

Paramount Plus has ads too — (Image credit: Paramount Plus)

At the next advertizing-break, I got virtually ii minutes of ads promoting Canva, Sunglasses Hut, Guinness, Hotels.com, Peloton and the Marker Wahlberg movie Infinite. The only upside of this was that the Peloton clip had my favorite Gorillaz vocal (D.A.R.E.). Just I cartel Paramount Plus to have shorter ad-breaks.

This was probably the worst of the bunch.

A peculiar Peacock trouble

When I went to Peacock, and found that — just similar HBO Max — it too has ad-free feature films. And the improve news, friends, is that Fast 5 (one of the all-time activeness movies of its generation) is one of those advertising-gratis movies. Aforementioned for The Matrix. Each movie had a small notation at the front that information technology was running advertizing-free, and I got a little excited each time.

But equally I poked around, I constitute that other programming that was seemingly supposed to have ads was ad-free. Sure, I used to have information technology set to advertising-free, only I haven't paid that actress $5 since Apr. Seems like a (lucky) bug for at present, I doubtfulness it will proceed.

Outlook: HBO Max with ads' cost isn't that bad

Overall, my experiment has shown me that HBO Max'due south corporeality of ads is definitely amend than Hulu and Paramount Plus'. I wonder where Peacock volition state, once this weird bug I'm experiencing is over. And so that's a win for Warner on ads.

But the bigger question — posed to me past multiple coworkers — is simply "You're paying how much to watch ads?" To which I replied "cable TV's always been similar this." As The Mandalorian (whose show has naught ads) would put information technology, "this is the way."

HBO Max review — (Epitome credit: Tom'south Guide)

Merely looking at all these ad-supported services, and seeing how the disbelieve for watching ads is the aforementioned, the $9.99 price isn't as glaring. HBO Max's base rate of $14.99 explains why you're paying so much more for an ad-supported feel. And I was already paying that much for HBO Max, and so I already believe in its quality, and I'm non as irked past the idea of the $9.99 price.

I might even consider ad-supported HBO Max for myself. But not until 2022, when HBO Max won't become the large Warner Pictures movies at the same day as theaters.

While you're here cheque out how to watch Euphoria season 2 episode iv online.

Be certain to check out my guides to the best streaming devices (and best streaming services ) for more than recommendations. Email me at henry.casey@futurenet.com or leave a comment below with annihilation you'd like to encounter me cover in the streaming globe — I might just accost it in a future installment.

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Henry is a senior editor at Tom'south Guide covering streaming media, laptops and all things Apple tree, reviewing devices and services for the past six-plus years. Prior to joining Tom'due south Guide, he reviewed software and hardware for TechRadar Pro, and interviewed artists for Patek Philippe International Mag. He's as well covered the wild world of professional wrestling for Cageside Seats, interviewing athletes and other industry veterans.