/Using Philo

HBO Max and discovery+ included with $33 Philo Core

We’re thrilled to share that as of September 30, 2025, Philo Core will include access to the HBO Max Basic With Ads Plan and discovery+.

This is the latest installment in our efforts toward making Philo your one-stop shop for all things entertainment, at a great value.

With the HBO Max Basic With Ads Plan, you’ll get access to top HBO Max shows including The Pitt, The Last of Us, The White Lotus, Hacks, and House of the Dragon. You can also watch upcoming show premieres including IT: Welcome to Derry and have access to comfort TV like Friends, Rick and Morty, and The Big Bang Theory. HBO Max is also home to tons of movies from the worlds of the DC Universe, Harry Potter, and more!

discovery+ offers even more content from HGTV, Food Network, TLC, ID, OWN, Animal Planet, and Discovery—with Philo fan-favorites like 90 Day Fiancé, Chopped, Gold Rush, and more.

HBO Max and discovery+ content will only be available through their respective apps (not within the Philo app). Learn how to activate the HBO Max Basic with Ads Plan and discovery+ here.

For assistance with the HBO Max or discovery+ apps, you’ll need to reach out to the respective service directly.

You can reach out to HBO Max Support through their Help Center here.

You can reach out to discovery+ Support through their Help Center here.

Billing

If you’re a brand new Philo customer who signs up for Philo Core on philo.com on or after September 30, 2025, you’ll be charged $33 (+ taxes where applicable) per month for your subscription.

If you sign up for Philo Core through an external biller, you’ll be charged $38 (+ taxes where applicable) per month for your subscription.

If you signed up for Philo Core before September 30, 2025, the new price will be reflected on your first bill on or after October 30, 2025.

Philo Legacy customers

If you’re on our Legacy plan, you’ll need to upgrade to Philo Core in order to gain access to your HBO Max Basic With Ads Plan and discovery+.

You can upgrade to Philo Core by following the steps here.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do I do if I already have an HBO Max or discovery+ account (directly through HBO Max or discovery+)?

If you already have an HBO Max or discovery+ subscription directly through HBO Max/discovery+—that’s okay! When you activate your Philo HBO Max Basic With Ads Plan/discovery+ subscription through Philo, you’ll be asked to create an account with an email address. If you enter the same email address associated with your existing HBO Max/discovery+ account, you’ll see a pop-up asking if you’d like to link that account to Philo.

If you link the accounts, nothing will change except for your biller (it’ll now be Philo, rather than HBO Max or discovery+). You’ll retain your settings, recommended content, and algorithm.

If you don’t link the accounts, you’ll be charged for your existing HBO Max/discovery+ account PLUS your Philo Core subscription that includes the HBO Max Basic With Ads Plan and a discovery+ subscription.

What do I do if I already have an HBO Max or discovery+ account (through another provider)?

If you already have an HBO Max or discovery+ subscription through another provider—that’s not a problem! When you activate your HBO Max Basic With Ads Plan/discovery+ subscription through Philo, you’ll be asked to create an account with an email address. If you enter the same email address associated with your existing HBO Max/discovery+ account, you’ll see a pop-up asking if you’d like to link that account to Philo.

If you link the accounts, your algorithm and preferences from your existing HBO Max/discovery+ account will be transferred to your new HBO Max/discovery+ account through Philo. You’ll just need to cancel your previous subscription with your other provider to avoid being double billed.

If you don’t link the accounts, you’ll still be able to activate your Philo HBO Max Basic With Ads Plan/discovery+ subscription in the future—either by linking it to your existing account or by creating a fully new account with a new email address.

How can I transfer my existing HBO Max account’s settings, recommendations, and algorithm to my HBO Max account through Philo?

If you activate your the HBO Max Basic With Ads Plan (following the steps above) through Philo using the same email address associated with your existing HBO Max account. You’ll see a pop-up asking if you’d like link that account to Philo.

If you link the accounts, you’ll retain your settings, recommended content, and algorithm.

If you’ve already activated the HBO Max Basic With Ads Plan through Philo using a different email address from the one associated with your existing HBO Max account, reach out to our Support team for assistance.

Why am I still being billed for HBO Max even though I have HBO Max through Philo now?

Oh no! If you’re still being billed by HBO Max, it’s likely that you didn’t cancel your previous subscription that you had before activating the HBO Max Basic With Ads Plan through Philo. You’ll need to reach out HBO Max Support directly through their Help Center here.

Can I upgrade to an ad-free version of HBO Max or discovery+?

We don’t currently offer an ad-free HBO Max plan or discovery+. However, we’re actively working on making those versions available in the coming months! Keep an eye on our Help Center and blog for updates.

Can I just keep my Philo subscription as it is? I don’t want HBO Max or discovery+.

There’s no option to avoid the upgrade to the latest version of our Philo Core subscription which includes the HBO Max Basic With Ads Plan and discovery+. You’ll automatically be upgraded to the new price point. That said, you aren’t required to activate those subscriptions through HBO Max or discovery+. If you’d prefer to cancel your subscription, you can do so following the steps here.

I’m trying to sign up for HBO Max but it’s telling me I need to pay! What should I do?

Not to worry! Just follow the steps above to activate your HBO Max Basic With Ads Plan through Philo.