How to Watch HBO Max in Australia

Which is the best option to get HBO Max in Australia?

We have discussed five options to watch HBO Max in Australia. These include:

1. Foxtel IQ
2. Foxtel Now
3. Binge
4. Stan
5. HBO Max using a VPN

Which is the best option out of these five?

An ideal option would be the one that would be cheap, easy to set up, smooth in performance, and one that would give access to full HBO Max content. So evaluating the given options, here are our summarized findings:

As you can see in the above chart, no single option checks all the boxes. The fifth option, however, is better compared to others when it comes to streaming HBO Max in Australia.

Therefore, it won’t be wrong to say that if you want to watch HBO Max shows and movies in Australia, HBO Max is your best option. Still, everyone has their preferences, so you can choose whichever option suits you best.

How to watch HBO Max in Australia on Foxtel IQ

Get HBO Max on Foxtel IQ

Have a Foxtel IQ subscription and wondering whether HBO Max is on Foxtel?

Foxtel is a leading Australian media company that houses exclusive rights to show HBO Max first runs and on-demand HBO Max content in Australia.

It offers a premium cable/satellite TV service, Foxtel IQ, which you can easily subscribe to and get access to almost all HBO Max titles—including Westworld, Game of Thrones, The Sopranos, and more—starting from 49 USD per month or 65.68 AUD per month. It’s the simplest and easiest way to watch HBO Max content in Australia.

The set-up for Foxtel IQ involves the installation of a set-top box at your home. This set-top box functions as a receiver as well as a digital video recorder.

That means you can download your favourite HBO Max shows and movies on your set-top box hard drive and watch them later without worrying about buffering issues.

Foxtel IQ bundles to watch HBO Max in Australia

To get Foxtel IQ on your TV, you need to buy one of Foxtel IQ’s bundles. These bundles can be purchased on either 12-month or no lock-in payment plans.

• Foxtel Plus bundle: It is the most basic Foxtel IQ bundle on offer if you want to watch HBO Max on TV in Australia. It features 50+ channels, 130 complete drama series, and various lifestyle, reality, and music programs. It does not include support for HD broadcasts though and costs 49 USD per month or 65.68 AUD per month, whichever payment plan you may choose.
• Foxtel Plus with HD bundle (only 12-month plan available): It is the HD-support version of Foxtel Plus. It costs 59 USD per month or 75.09 AUD per month and offers all the same features as the Foxtel Plus bundle.
• Movies HD & Kids bundle: It is the upgraded version of Foxtel Plus, containing 50+ channels, a Kids pack, and a huge library of HD movies. Its 12-month payment plan costs 55 USD per month (73.72 AUD per month), while its no lock-in payment plan costs 74 USD per month (99.19 AUD per month).
  

• Sports HD bundle: It is the sports-packaged version of Foxtel Plus and features an additional 12 live HD sports channels and a Kids pack. You can get its 12-month plan for 55 USD per month (73.72 AUD per month) and no lock-in plan for 74 USD per month (99.19 AUD per month).
  
• Sports HD & Netflix bundle: It includes the Australian Netflix standard plan in addition to Foxtel Plus and Sports HD packs. Its 12-month plan costs 59 USD per month (79.09 AUD per month), while its no lock-in plan costs 86 USD per month.
• Movies HD, Kids & Netflix bundle: It includes the Australian Netflix standard plan in addition to Foxtel Plus, Movies HD, and Kids pack. You can get its 12-month plan for 59 USD per month (79.09 AUD per month) and no lock-in plan for 86 USD per month (115.25 AUD per month).
• Foxtel Plus & Netflix bundle: It is the Netflix-packaged version of Foxtel Plus and costs 61 USD per month (81.75 AUD per month), whichever payment plan you may choose.
• Premium bundle: It includes Foxtel Plus, Sports HD, and Movies HD & Kids pack. Its 12-month plan costs 79 USD per month, while its no lock-in plan costs 99 USD per month (132.68 AUD per month).
• Premium & Netflix bundle: It combines all Premium bundle offerings (except for Sports HD) with the Australian Netflix standard plan. You can get its 12-month plan for 84 USD per month (112.57 AUD per month) and no lock-in plan for 111 USD per month.
• Platinum Plus bundle: It has got everything Foxtel IQ has to offer, including Foxtel Plus, Sports HD, Australian Netflix, and Movies HD & Kids pack. Its 12-month plan costs 99 USD per month (132.68 AUD per month), while its no lock-in plan costs 139 USD per month (186.28 AUD per month).
  
  

Foxtel IQ bundles

Do I need to pay for the satellite dish or set-top box when subscribing to a Foxtel IQ bundle?

If you opt for a 12-month payment plan, you don’t need to pay anything for the installation of the satellite dish or set-top box. In case of no lock-in contracts, however, Foxtel does require you to pay 225 USD or 301.53 AUD in installation charges.

What Foxtel channel is HBO Max on in Australia?

Most of the HBO Max content is screened on Foxtel’s Fox Showcase channel in Australia. At the same time, a couple of popular comedy shows like Last Week Tonight with John Oliver and Silicon Valley can be found over on the Comedy Channel. Both these channels are available under the Foxtel Plus bundle.

What devices can I watch Foxtel IQ on? 

Foxtel IQ is compatible with various platforms and devices including:

• PC and Mac
• iOS mobile devices (iOS 9.3.5 or above)
• Android mobile devices (Android 5 and above)
• Google Chromecast (via casting)
• Smart TVs (via casting)
• Apple TV (via AirPlay)

Foxtel GO app for Foxtel IQ customers

Foxtel provides a free streaming app, Foxtel GO, for its TV customers to watch HBO Max content on the go, from anywhere in Australia. The app is compatible with PC, Mac, Android, and iOS mobile devices.

Foxtel IQ positive(s)

• Easy access to HBO Max shows or movies
• Trouble-free viewing experience
• A convenient option since you can bundle multiple TV packs together, as well as your current phone (or internet) plan, if you’ve subscribed to the service through Telstra

Foxtel IQ negative(s)

• You may have to switch your existing TV service provider
• Some HBO Max titles, especially those released for HBO Max, are not available on Foxtel IQ
• No support for Apple TV without AirPlay
• Can be expensive
• No trial period
• Installation can be a hassle

How to subscribe to Foxtel IQ

You can subscribe to Foxtel IQ TV service by visiting Foxtel’s online shopping page. Alternatively, you can call their customer service at 1300 130 799, any day of the week, between 8 am and 8 pm.

How to watch HBO Max in Australia on Foxtel Now

Get HBO Max on Foxtel 

Can you get HBO Max Australia? Well, if you don’t want to go through the hassle of installing a new TV connection just to get access to HBO Max content in Australia, you may want to consider Foxtel Now.

Foxtel Now is one of the stand-alone streaming services offered by Foxtel. It houses all the HBO Max titles as Foxtel IQ – and that too in HD.

With Foxtel Now, you can live stream HBO Max shows as they get aired, request for content on-demand, or simply watch what’s already out there in the library.

Foxtel Now bundles to watch HBO Max within Australia

• Essentials pack: It is the base pack and includes Fox Showcase and the Comedy Channel, along with 25+ other channels in lifestyle, drama, news, entertainment, reality, and music categories. It costs 25 USD per month (33.50 AUD per month).
  
• Essentials + Drama extra pack: It is an upgraded version of the Essentials pack and includes additional channels like Universal, BBC, FOX One, FOX Sleuth, FOX Crime, FOX Sci-fi, and more. It costs 35 USD per month (46.90 AUD per month).
  
• Essentials + Movies pack: It includes all the regular Essentials pack channels, plus 30 more channels for watching the latest movies, kid’s shows, and premium drama and documentaries. It costs 45 USD per month (60.30 AUD per month).
  
• Essentials + Sports Pack: It is the sports-packaged version of the Essentials pack and allows live streaming of AFL, NRL, Formula 1, NBA, baseball, and V8 Supercars, in addition to access to HBO Max content.  It costs 54 USD per month (72.36 AUD per month).
• Essentials + Movies + Sports Pack: It combines Essential, Movies, and Sports packs all into one and costs 74 USD per month (99.16 AUD per month).
• All Packs: It is the ultimate Foxtel Now bundle, featuring Essential, Drama, Movies, and Sports packs. It costs 104 USD per month (139.36 AUD per month). 

Foxtel Now bundles

What devices are compatible with Foxtel Now?

Foxtel Now supports different operating systems and devices such as:

• PC and Mac
• iOS
• Android
• Google Chromecast
• Apple TV (via Airplay)
• Xbox One and Xbox 360
• PS4 and PS3
• LG, Samsung, and Sony smart TVs

How do I set up Foxtel Now on my standard TV to watch HBO Max in Australia? 

You can enjoy HBO Max shows and movies on your big TV screen through Foxtel Now by using a set-top streaming box or a compatible gaming console.

If you’re planning to use a set-top box, make sure to buy one from Foxtel Now’s website as these are custom-built for stream support. The box is available for 99USD (132.68 AUD). Now, you don’t have to worry about when will HBO Max come to Australia. 

Foxtel Now positive(s)

• Convenient set-up
• Less expensive than Foxtel IQ
• HD support included in all Foxtel Now bundles (free of charge)
• 10-day free trial period
• No lengthy contracts to serve

Foxtel Now negative(s)

• Can’t run on Apple TV without AirPlay
• Missing HBO Max titles, especially those released for HBO Max

How to subscribe to Foxtel Now

You can subscribe to Foxtel Now by going to its website and sign up for your package of choice. Follow these below-described steps to subscribe to Foxtel Now:

• Once you visit the official site, click ‘Start free trial’
•  Click Add next to the pack(s) you wish to subscribe to
• Click ‘Start free trial”, provide your personal information and click ‘Sign Up’
• Enter the verification code, which you will receive on your mobile phone, and click ‘validate’
• Click ‘Continue’
• Provide your payment information
• Click ‘I agree checkbox to continue the sign-up process
• Click ‘Sign me up’ and start watching Foxtel Now instantly  

How to Stream HBO Max in Australia on Binge

Get HBO Max on Binge 

Binge is a newly launched local streaming service owned by none other than Foxtel group. It is the cheapest way to watch HBO Max shows and movies in Australia. You don’t have to navigate through complex bundles to subscribe to the service either.

There is plenty of HBO Max content available on Binge, with new titles added daily. You can find some pretty cool HBO Max exclusives too in its library. Additionally, there are shows from the BBC, Sony Pictures Television, Paramount, Discovery, NBCU, FX, and more.

Available Binge plans

Binge offers three subscription plans to viewers:

1. Basic subscription: It supports SD stream and single-screen viewing and costs only 10 USD per month (13.40 AUD per month).
   
2. Standard subscription: It supports HD stream and double-screen viewing and costs 14 USD per month (18.76 AUD per month).
3. Premium subscription: It features an HD stream and allows the option to watch the stream on four screens at once. You can get it for 18 USD per month (24.12 AUD per month).

Binge plans

What devices can I stream Binge on?

You can watch Binge on different platforms and devices like:

• PC and Mac
• iOS
  
• Android
  
• Google Chromecast
  
• Smart TVs (including Apple, Android, and Telstra TV) 

Binge positive(s)

• The cheapest option
• Access HBO Max exclusive titles
• Easy to set-up
• 14-day free trial period
• No contract lock-ins

Binge negative(s) 

• Limited content library compared to Foxtel IQ, Foxtel Now, and HBO Max
• Limited device support

How to subscribe to Binge

You can subscribe to Binge by visiting binge.com.au and choosing a plan of your choice. Moreover, you can follow these below-mentioned steps to subscribe to your desired Binge package hassle-free:

• Through the homepage, you can select your preferred plan such as Basic, Standard, and Premium
• Provide your personal information, enter the verification code that you will receive on your mobile phone via Streamotion to continue the subscription process
• Enter your payment information to complete the subscription process
• In case you have chosen a free trial, you still have to enter your payment details
• Congrats, you have successfully created your account
• Start streaming whatever you want

How to get HBO Max in Australia on Stan

Get HBO Max on Stan

Stan is another home-grown streaming service that has become increasingly popular among Australian audiences in the last few years. It is owned by Nine Network and is a direct competitor to Foxtel’s SVOD services, Foxtel Now, and Binge.

Stan houses a healthy amount of Australian content as well as international content, including shows and movies from MGM, Showtime, BBC, CBS, Lionsgate – and, of course, HBO Max.  Its HBO Max library is infinitely small, though, with Deadwood as the only major HBO Max series currently available on the streaming platform.

However, recently, Stan was able to snap up deals for two HBO Max originals, Station Eleven and Made for Love, and will be exclusively airing them in Australia once the two shows go live.

Available Stan plans

Like Binge, Stan offers three subscription plans to viewers:

1. Basic subscription: It offers SD stream and single-screen viewing for just 10 USD per month (13.40 AUD per month).
2. Standard subscription: It offers HD stream and three simultaneous screen views for just 14 per month (18.76 AUD per month).
3. Premium subscription: It offers HD (and 4K) streams and up to four simultaneous screen views for just 17 USD per month (22.77 AUD per month).

Stan subscription plans

How many devices are compatible with Stan?

Stan is compatible with a wide range of operating systems and devices including:

• PC and Mac
• iOS
• Android
• Google Chromecast
• Xbox One and Xbox 360
• PS4 and PS3
• Apple TV
• Smart TVs

Stan positive(s)

• Easy to set-up
• Pocket-friendly
• 30-day free trial period
• No contracts

Stan negative(s)

• Only a handful of HBO Max titles are available for viewing

How to subscribe to Stan

You can subscribe to Stan by visiting stan.com.au and choose a plan of your choice. Follow these simple steps as described below to subscribe to Stan:

• Visit the official website, enter your email address and click ‘Start your free trial’ option
• Select your desired package, click ‘Continue’
• Provide your personal information like password, credit card details, etc.
• Click ‘Start Watching’ to begin streaming shows or movies

How to watch HBO Max content in Australia on HBO Max (using a VPN)

So far, we have discussed options that involved using a local TV or streaming service to watch HBO Max Australia. 

But, what if you could get HBO Max shows and movies in Australia directly from HBO Max without having to rely on third-party service providers?

Let’s take a look at how we can do that.

How to get HBO Max in Australia, then?

To get HBO Max in Australia, you’ll need to use a premium VPN service like ExpressVPN, Surfshark, NordVPN, or PureVPN. A VPN will mask your physical location and re-route your internet traffic through a remote server based in the US. This will give you access to HBO Max Australia.  

What is a VPN?

A VPN is a piece of software that helps you browse the internet anonymously by hiding your IP address. Furthermore, it keeps your online data safe from hackers, while you surf the internet, by channelling your web traffic through an encrypted tunnel.

How does a VPN unblock HBO Max in Australia?

Streaming sites like HBO Max use IP addresses to identify and track the sign-in location of users. Each country has a different set of IPs exclusive to it. So, for example,  Australia has a specific range of IP addresses, while the US is assigned a different set of IPs.

When you connect to a VPN, you basically connect to a remote server located in a country of your choice. In this case, our country of choice is the USA.

All your traffic must now pass through the remote USA server that you are connected to. In the process, your Australian IP address is replaced with the IP address of the remote USA server.

Now that you have an American IP address on you, HBO Max servers are tricked into thinking that you’re trying to connect to the service from within the US. As a result, they let you in without any restrictions.

4 Best VPNs to Watch HBO Max in Australia (April 2022 Tested)

It’s worth mentioning here that not all VPNs unblock HBO Max from Australia. For instance, Free Australian VPNs along with some premium VPN services don’t unblock HBO Max in Australia. Therefore, you need to make sure that you’re using the right VPN service for the purpose.

To help you out, we have compiled a list of the best VPNs that consistently connect to HBO Max in Australia. These VPNs have been thoroughly tested, with their best-performing servers highlighted for your reference. Oh, and they all come with money-back guarantees and free trials. 

1) ExpressVPN (#1 VPN to watch HBO Max in Australia)

With ExpressVPN you can watch HBO Max in Australia

ExpressVPN is the best VPN service to unblock HBO Max in Australia. The service is based in the British Virgin Islands and has more than 3000 servers in 94 countries and servers in 160 locations with 25 server locations in USA.

Like NordVPN, it uses a number of advanced tunneling protocols to keep your online privacy intact. These include Lightway, OpenVPN, IKEv2, and IPsec.

ExpressVPN maintains a strict no-log policy and offers fast speed, IP and DNS leak protection, and an automatic kill switch. You can get ExpressVPN for $6.67/mo on a 1-year + 3 free months plan, with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Test the service for one full month, and if you don’t like it, get a quick refund.

2) Surfshark (Another top-rated VPN service to watch HBO Max in Australia)

With Surfshark you can watch HBO Max in Australia

Like ExpressVPN, Surfshark is also based in the British Virgin Islands and has more than 3200 servers in 64 countries and 600+ servers in 23+ US cities. It uses the latest tunneling protocols such as WireGuard, Shadowshocks, OpenVPN, IKEv2, and IPSec to protect your online communications.

Surfshark observes an uncompromising zero-log policy and offers nifty features like unlimited simultaneous connections, Cleanweb, Whitelister, and an internet kill switch. You can get its 2-year + 2 months free plan for  $2.30/mo . That’s one of the cheapest VPN plans on the market. Overall, Surfshark is an excellent VPN service you can use to access HBO Max media content under your budget. 

3) NordVPN (Optimized servers for streaming HBO Max)

With NordVPN you can watch HBO Max in Australia

NordVPN is a Panama-based VPN service. It operates more than 5200 servers in 59 countries, 1970+ servers in the US. Furthermore, it employs advanced tunneling protocols such as NordLynx, IKEv2, OpenVPN, and IPsec to ensure your online privacy and anonymity always remain intact.

The best thing about NordVPN is its massive server spread in the US that allows you to connect to any US server of your choice while residing in Australia. This way, you can unblock HBO Max within Australian territory securely on multiple devices.

Moreover, NordVPN is a 100% no-log VPN service, meaning it does keep any record of your online activities. It offers unlimited bandwidth support, robust security features, and full-proof IP leak protection. You can get NordVPN on a 2-year plan for  $3.49/mo . All NordVPN purchases are secured by a 30-day money-back guarantee.

4) PureVPN (Get HBO Max in Australia on all your streaming devices)

With PureVPN you can watch HBO Max in Australia

PureVPN hails from Hong Kong and has more than 6500 servers in 140 countries and 450+ servers across fourteen cities in the U.S. It offers a whole host of tunneling protocols to choose from, including PPTP, IPsec, SSTP, IKEv2, and OpenVPN.

Besides, PureVPN lets you watch HBO Max exclusive shows or movies on a wide range of devices like desktops, laptops, mobile phones, smart TVs, and many more. 

Located away from 5 Eyes, 9 Eyes, and 14 Eyes countries, PureVPN practices a zero-log policy. It provides several robust security features, including an automatic kill switch, 256-bit encryption, IP leak protection, and more.

It also features a dedicated streaming mode that allows users to unblock HBO Max content at just a click of a button. You can subscribe to PureVPN’s 2-year plan for just USD 3.33 per month.

That said, you can rely on other streaming services like Foxtel IQ, Foxtel Now, and Binge to watch some exclusive HBO Max shows, movies, and documentaries like The Suicide Squad or Villeneuve’s Dune.

You can also use a premium VPN service that has a US IP address to access HBO Max on your desired devices without any hassle.

If you want to know which option works best for you from the above-mentioned options to watch Dune, The Suicide Squad, and a bunch of other exclusive titles right now in Australia, continue reading this extensive guide.