Source-cited · Updated Sep 2026
HBO Max vs Peacock Price History
Since 2021, HBO Max has risen +23% versus Peacock at +160%. HBO Max has been the more price-stable choice. Every HBO Max and Peacock tier tracked, 2021–2026, with every price change sourced.
HBO Max
Better value3 plans · default: Standard (Ad-Free)
Peacock
2 plans + 1 retired · default: Premium (with ads)
Verdict
Better value: HBO Max
Since 2021, HBO Max has risen +23% versus Peacock at +160%. HBO Max has been the more price-stable choice.
Scorecard
The numbers behind the verdict
Standard (Ad-Free) vs Premium (with ads) — the default tier of each service, 2021–2026. A green tick marks the better number in each row. Note: Peacock’s default tier includes ads while HBO Max’s is ad-free, so this isn’t a like-for-like matchup — the tier table below lines up every plan.
| Metric | HBO Max Standard (Ad-Free) | Peacock Premium (with ads) |
|---|---|---|
| Current Price (2026) | $18.49 | $12.99 (better) |
| Total Change | +23% (better) | +160% |
| Number of Hikes | 3 (better) | 4 |
| Hike Frequency | Every 1.7 yrs (better) | Every 1.3 yrs |
| Avg Annual Change | $0.70/yr (better) | $1.60/yr |
Every tier
Which tier costs what today
Every HBO Max and Peacock plan in one list, cheapest first. First Tracked is each plan’s price when our tracking began — 2021, or its debut year if it arrived later. Retired tiers sit at the bottom with their final price.
| Service | Plan | Price Now | First Tracked | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MHBO Max | Basic with AdsAds | $10.99 | $9.99 (2021) | +10% |
| PPeacock | Premium (with ads)DefaultAds | $12.99 | $4.99 (2021) | +160% |
| MHBO Max | Standard (Ad-Free)Default | $18.49 | $14.99 (2021) | +23% |
| PPeacock | Premium Plus (mostly ad-free) | $19.99 | $9.99 (2021) | +100% |
| MHBO Max | Premium (Ultimate 4K) | $22.99 | $19.99 (2023) | +15% |
| PPeacock | Free (ad-supported)AdsRetired | $0.00 final (2023) | $0.00 (2021) | NaN% |