HBO GO

Some service providers (such as Xfinity and DirecTV) are now offering Max directly to their customers. This means all the Max content is available through your set-top box, and that you can log into Max on a different device using your service provider account. If your provider is one that is not yet on-board with HBO Max you can still subscribe to it, but you’ll have to manage the two separately (e.g. viewing HBO Max to one of your screens via Chromecast instead of using a set-top box).

HBO Max vs. HBO Go: What’s The Difference?

Aaron Peters is a writer with Lifewire who has 20+ years experience troubleshooting and writing about consumer and business technology. His work appears in Linux Journal, MakeUseOf, and others.

Updated on January 27, 2021
Reviewed by

• Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College

Jessica Kormos is a writer and editor with 15 years’ experience writing articles, copy, and UX content for Tecca.com, Rosenfeld Media, and many others.

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HBO Go is HBO’s legacy streaming service. HBO Go is still around, but only sort of. In fact, HBO Go is now just called HBO. HBO Max is HBO’s main streaming service now. Let’s tune in to see what the differences are.

Overall Findings

HBO Max Overall Findings

• Includes exclusive content
• Available to both video service subscribers and streamers
• Still absent on some key streaming platforms

HBO Go Overall Findings

• Previously included with traditional cable channels
• Now only available where HBO Max is not
• Contains HBO content, but not other properties

The above findings, as well as those in the below sections, are largely hypothetical. In practice, if you’re new to HBO streaming services, you’ll almost certainly need to go with HBO Max (but, as shown in the Final Verdict below, this isn’t a bad thing). HBO Go was discontinued as a standalone service in July 2020, instead re-branded to simply “HBO.” The only way you can use the HBO app (previously HBO Go) now is if you were an existing customer, and/or you’re using a device or service provider that doesn’t support HBO Max yet.

That said, HBO has really done their work in loading up Max with all their best stuff. There are reasons to consider it even if you do have the premium channel through your service provider. With a selection of content from other Warner properties (notably Turner-related channels such as Cartoon Network and Turner Classic Movies) in addition to all the great stuff from HBO, you should only use “vanilla” HBO if you have to.

Content: Max Has, Well, the Max

• Includes HBO Movies & Series
• Exclusive Warner Brothers content (e.g. DC Comics)
• Expansive access to other content such as Sesame Street and Crunchyroll

• Includes HBO Movies & Series
• Mirrors what’s available on traditional cable
• Non-HBO “channels” such as Cartoon Network missing

The primary difference between HBO (Go) and Max is the latter’s exclusive content. Both services will give you a great selection of movies, original scripted series, and documentaries. But Max also includes a number of “channels” including the following:

• DC Comics, including both live movies, original shows, and animated features
• Sesame Workshop
• Turner Classic Movies
• Anime from Studio Ghibli and Crunchyroll
• Cartoon Network programming, including Adult Swim
• Turner Classic Movies

On top of all this, there are also a growing number of titles branded as “Max Originals,” suggesting that the divide in content between Max and its sibling is only going to grow over time.

Cost and Availability: While Max is Still Missing in Places, Go Will Eventually Go

• Available to anyone
• Many service providers offer it directly
• Some service providers don’t enable access

• Available on platforms/through service providers not supporting Max
• Possibly cheaper than Max depending on cable provider bundles
• Can be more expensive than Max without a discounted bundle

From the cost perspective, the two services are similar. HBO Max is $14.99 per month (plus tax), where HBO can range in price depending on your video service provider. It’s likely that HBO on its own will be as much, or perhaps slightly more, than Max. But you may be able to get HBO for cheaper than HBO Max if your service provider has bundles of premium packages available.

Some service providers (such as Xfinity and DirecTV) are now offering Max directly to their customers. This means all the Max content is available through your set-top box, and that you can log into Max on a different device using your service provider account. If your provider is one that is not yet on-board with HBO Max you can still subscribe to it, but you’ll have to manage the two separately (e.g. viewing HBO Max to one of your screens via Chromecast instead of using a set-top box).

Compatibility: Both Are On Most Platforms, But HBO Will Fade

• Available on most major streaming platforms
• Not compatible with some key streaming devices
• In some cases, HBO Go accounts are “upgraded” to Max

• Compatible with most major streaming platforms
• But only available where Max is not yet
• In some cases, HBO Go accounts are “upgraded” to Max

Now that HBO’s prior (and admittedly confusing) streaming services are being folded into HBO Max, it’s no surprise that it’s available on most of the important platforms, including:

• Desktop OSes via the web (Windows and macOS are officially supported)
• Android devices, including Android TV (running version 5 and above)
• iOS devices (iOS 12.2+)
• Apple TVs 4th generation and later
• Chromebooks and Chromecast devices
• Playstation 4 and Xbox One consoles
• Samsung TVs released after 2016

Notably absent from this list is Roku devices. Roku and HBO have been in a well-publicized disagreement over who can sell HBO Max subscriptions, and as a result the HBO Max app isn’t available on any Roku devices. While the two may iron out their differences in time, if you’re an all-Roku household (as I am), you’ll be relegated to the older HBO Go-based app on those devices.

Final Verdict: Unless You Have a Great Reason, Go With Max

As mentioned above, as of late July HBO Max is the only game in town. But even if HBO Go was still around, there would have been few reasons to use it over Max. With an expanded catalog including exclusive content and the ability to use it in conjunction with your cable TV’s HBO premium channel service, HBO Max is the way to go for most people. The only drawback is if some or all of your streaming devices don’t yet have access to the new Max app. But otherwise, go for HBO Max, confident you’re getting the best the service has to offer.

HBO GO

Sometimes, movies are seen because people believe they will find inspiration to build a better life. But, some other watches movies just to kill time. Whichever your reason is, looking at the movie is one of the activities everyone loves doing. One of TV channels that are famous for its blockbuster movies is HBO. It is an entertainment universe with original hit TV shows. Now, HBO is available on Android. You just have to download the HBO GO latest APK 28.0.1.273 (3800273) from which you can stream hit movies that are also showing on HBO original. By using this app, you can select a bunch of movies on the go on your devices.

HBO GO File Information

Last updated: April 2, 2020
Developer: Home Box Office Inc.
Version: 28.0.1.273 (3800273)
Requirement: Android 4.1 and up
File size: 60.8 MB
Uploaded: April 2, 2020 at 10:03AM GMT+07
MD5: 2c040748f7c2be2ac2aa84613137a095
SHA1: 78c1914555e2ec18e4ccd7c6bf9906ef71a2964d
Available on Google Play: Install from Google Play

HBO GO app review

As its name “GO,” HBO enthusiasts can stream HBO movies which aired in the past or present while on the go in their devices. However, in order to stream the movies, you have to subscribe to HBO. Therefore, to stream the movies, you have to have TV cable. Sadly, HBO does not come with the selection of classic movies or TV shows and cable shows like “The big Bang Theory,” because HBO only specializes in blockbuster films. Here are the upside and downside of HBO GO that you may want to consider before using HBO GO for Android.

Pros:

• You can watch movies and documentaries just as like your favorite HBO shows on TV. You have full access to watch every single of your favorite movies at anytime and anywhere because you just have to download the app and stream the movies from the app.

Cons:

• In order to enjoy the movies from your phone or smart devices, you must subscribe to HBO TV. It means that you still have to pay for the service, even though the app is free.
• Watching movies On TV and Smartphone is a different experience. The difference can also be seen in the quality of the movies or videos. The Android quality is less than perfect; this is probably because of the phone screen resolution capacity and internet connection. However, the app doesn’t provide option or configuration on those two setting. So there is nothing that can be done, but to enjoy the quality provided.

How to Use

Open the app and input your HBO subscription through a participating TV provider. To know whether your TV provider is listed on the app, you can stream movies, but if it is not there on the list, you are much recommended to contact your TV provider to provide you with HBO GO service. The HBO service is not available for every Android phone, and there is some version that does not support this app because the app requires a resolution 480×320 for the videos to play. So, it requires you to use at least Android version 4.1.

ChangeLog

• Bug fixes