HBO GO

Name: HBO GO
Rating: 4.2

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4.2

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88 User Reviews

4.9

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4.2

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88 User Reviews

4.9

Overall Score

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Monthly Price

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Cable Provider

Minimum Contract Length

Monthly

Number of Reviews 88

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Author: Kaitlyn Short

LAST UPDATED: June 1st, 2024

HBO GO falls under the realm of HBO services. HBO GO is different than HBO NOW, the stand-alone streaming service offered by HBO. HBO NOW is available to anyone who wishes to purchase the subscription. HBO GO is a service designed for those who currently pay a TV provider for cable or satellite services. While there are differences between the streaming services, the content and user experience is almost identical.

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The Good

Over 125 exclusive series
No commercials or ads
Available on many devices

Unlimited Access

HBO has set it up so both HBO GO and HBO NOW subscribers can enjoy the exact same content. This includes all movies and television programs found in their content library. HBO GO subscribers have unlimited access to any and all HBO shows. There are no limitations on episodes or seasons. Unlimited access is also extended to hit movies, sports, documentaries, and comedy specials. Not only is access unlimited, it is also instant. Subscribers do not have to wait until the next episode or season is out before they can enjoy their favorite HBO programs. HBO has over 125 exclusive shows available to their subscribers. Additionally, subscribers also have access to over 650 movies in their content library. With all of the content to choose from, subscribers can also rest assured that they will not have to sit through long commercial breaks since the service provides an ad-free experience.

Device Availability

HBO GO is available on the following devices:

Apple iPad, iPhone, and Apple TV
Android phones, tablets, and Android TV
Amazon FireTablets, Amazon Fire TV and Fire Stick
Computers via web browser
Chromecast
PlayStation 3 and Playstation 4
Roku
Samsung Smart TV
Xbox 360 and Xbox One

With so many compatible devices, it is nice that there is no restriction on the number of devices a customer can sign into. Subscribers will need to "activate" each device the first time they use HBO GO, but after that, the device is all set up. The interfaces for both HBO GO and HBO NOW are almost identical. Simultaneous streaming is also available with both HBO GO and HBO Now. That means that members of your household can sign into several devices and watch different content at the same time without getting locked out.

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The Bad

Advertised as free
Must have a cable or satellite subscription
Authentication through provider

Advertised as Free

While HBO GO is advertised as "free," that is a little bit deceiving. HBO GO is not a typical streaming service, so it can be branded as free, but there are still associated costs. HBO GO users have to already have a cable or satellite service. These services often times cost a great deal each month. Additionally, subscribers have to also be paying a monthly subscription fee for HBO alone. That subscription fee typically ranges from $10-$20 each month. There are deals where HBO is free to new TV customers, but those trials usually expire after 30-90 days. So while downloading and signing into HBO GO is "free," subscribers are already paying for the service in other ways making HBO GO a conveniently added "perk."

Must have a Cable or Satellite Subscription

Unlike most streaming services, HBO GO limits who can access the service. Consumers who want the HBO subscription will have to utilize HBO NOW. HBO GO is specifically designed for those who have an HBO subscription with their cable or satellite television provider.

Authentication Through Provider

Authentication on each new device can be somewhat of a time-consuming process. HBO GO subscribers will have to authenticate their services through their cable or satellite provider. HBO NOW edges out HBO GO in the following areas:

No authentication required
No cable/satellite services necessary
No limitations to subscriber-base

Streaming Restrictions

While there is no cap on the number of devices subscribers can sign into, there are restrictions associated with simultaneous streaming. If multiple devices are simultaneously streaming the same movie/episode, they will likely not run into a problem. However, if the devices are watching different content, restrictions can apply.

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The Bottom Line

Deciding between HBO GO and HBO NOW has appeared to create the most confusion for streaming enthusiasts. However, HBO has made it relatively simple. HBO GO is strictly for those who have a satellite/cable provider with an HBO subscription, while HBO NOW can be enjoyed by anyone for a monthly subscription fee. For those who want to enjoy HBO content and are already paying a cable or satellite provider for television services, HBO GO is an excellent option. With HBO GO, subscribers can expect:

Unlimited access to HBO content
Instant viewing capabilities
Unlimited activated devices
Simultaneous streaming
Cable/Satellite provider necessary

We recommend reviewing the top rated companies before making a final decision.

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User Reviews

Star Rating

4.2

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88 Reviews

Review Breakdown

5 grade

55%

4 grade

23%

3 grade

11%

2 grade

1 grade

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Alex

I've been using HBO Go for a few years, and it's been a amazing streaming service. The content library is extensive, featuring HBO's renowned original series, movies, documentaries, and specials. The streaming quality is top-notch, with video and clear audio, and I rarely experience buffering or technical issues. The interface is user-friendly, making it easy for me to stream it. One of my favorite area of HBO Go is the ability to watch on my multiple devices. Whether I'm on my TV, tablet, or phone, and I can pick up right where I left off. Customer service has been reliable. The subscription price is a bit higher than some other streaming services, but considering the exclusive content and best quality, I find it worth the investment. I would recommend it to anyone looking for high-quality shows and movies.

6 months ago

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Nyla C. Edison, NJ

HBO GO has an elite option of shows and movies. They have old classics such as Friends, Fresh Prince (which I am currently binging on this platform), The Nanny, etc. HBO GO also offers their own originals such as Insecure and Game of Thrones that are my absolute favorite from this streaming platform. They show and release new movies that haven't even gotten out of theater yet, which comes in handy when you want to watch a new movie in the comfort of your own home.

3 years ago

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Cade Boudreaux , FL

HBOGo is a great streaming service. You’re able to get hundreds of exclusive TV shows like Game of Thrones and movies you wouldn’t be able to get on other streaming apps. The only thing i don’t like is that you have to have a cable subscription before you can even access the app. This can be upsetting for those who want to watch HBO but don’t have cable.

4 years ago

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Zac Cannon Long Beach, MS

I used HBO GO when I was on my parents Dish Network plan. I was able to keep up with Game of Thrones and Boardwalk Empire, which was a major plus. I also had access to many hit films that you couldn't get access to on Netflix or Hulu. If I could afford it, I would love to get HBO GO for myself, but until then I will be glad to recommend it to everyone!

4 years ago

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Zayden Dumas

I used to think HBO had high-quality content, but my recent experience with the network is poor. Why are there now so many lame Christmas-themed rom-com movies that are shown year-round, instead of just around Christmas? I'm prepared to put up with a certain amount of holiday schmaltz, but this year-round business makes me want to avoid HBO movies entirely.

6 months ago

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Hope Miami, FL

HBO GO its astreaming services used international market fo TV. My family enjoy on TV films, farming programs. I also prefer movies so it work for me very well.

10 months ago

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Peter Fidelis Lagos, LA

I enjoyed every single moment using this service +i could watch anytime, anywhere and also enjoy the big screen experience on my smart TV or watch on my smartphone. All i needed was to subscribe..

1 year ago

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Teresa Bills

I had HBO GO for a little while it was a good streaming service on my phone when I needed something to watch while waiting and all the TV's in the house were occupied. I would pull it up and watch some great movies. I've always like HBO since I was younger and appreciate some good content.

1 year ago

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Natalia Jayy Piscataway, NJ

I absolutely love the original shows offered on HBO, especially “We Are Who We Are”. The shows are more for a mature audience, yet I love the messages and connections we can make with the content.

2 years ago

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MY Woodmere, NY

so I actually just canceled my subscription after having it for a year, I got a little board of the content but i think i watch way to much TV. The quality is good the content is vast but i was ready to take a break and come back later.

2 years ago

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seanth57 Columbus, GA

I have used HBO GO for steaming, they have a large selection of shows that current, when I'm on the good, I can watch my favorite shows, the price for the service is very affordable

3 years ago

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Lauren Maitland, FL

My experience with HBO GO has been completely awful. It's almost impossible to watch anything on it at all. I have been using it on a Samsung TV, on which every other streaming service works just fine. For some reason HBO GO will not load 85% of the time. I have to go back to the home screen and then back into the show anywhere from 3 to 25 times for the show to play and sometimes it just won't play at all. If I do get HBO GO to work, but then need to pause it, it will rarely start playing again. It also has this issue when the show transitions from one episode to the next. When the show does play, the sound cuts out for a few seconds every minute or so, and it is constantly freezing. Again, every other streaming service works just fine, so I know it is not the internet. My biggest complaint is the mostly non-existant customer service. There is no number to call for help. You can only contact them by email. This is absolutely ridiculous for a company as big as HBO. The only reason they get 2 stars rather than one, is because of the quality of content. HBO does make some very entertaining television. However, their streaming service and customer service both need major improvements. Just a side note, the TV I have been watching HBO GO on is my room mate's and is logged into her account. I do however have my own HBO service through my Amazon prime account which I have significantly less issues with.

5 years ago

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Martha E Perkins Athens, GA

I only bought HBO GO only to watch the Neverland documentary. I am so impressed with the programming I am keeping it. $14.99 is a good amount of money to me and I think it is well worth it.

5 years ago

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Brandon San Diego, CA

My roommate has HBO Go, so I've very much been enjoying using it and experiencing everything that HBO has to offer. Would I pay for it? Probably not, but they do have access to some very engaging content that is worth the price.

4 years ago

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Matthew Carbaugh Herndon, VA

Watch Game of Thrones, Crashing, insecure and Silicon valley all on my laptop. I really appreciate that the shows are available for viewing immediately when the show airs. There is no delay from when you can view online unlike other streaming services.

6 years ago

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Starski Cene Vienna, VA

The best premium cable channel! Pros: Original content (John Oliver, Bill Maher, Game of Thrones, etc.) Price ($5 w/ Directv Now) Access to older shows (Sopranos, The Wire, Rome) Cons: The menu is not as easy to navigate as Netflix

6 years ago

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TC B Florissant, CO

This streaming service can literally be accessed on your phone! So convenient when traveling and stuck somewhere for hours with no other form of entertainment!

1 year ago

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Brian P

Such a pain to use. I feel like I constantly have to prove my subscription. Whenever I want to watch something, I feel like I have to waste 10 minutes with security checks...etc. Selection sucks. Way over priced for what you get. Last decent show was GOT.

1 year ago

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Amanda George IL

I had this service for about 6 weeks and cancelled it. It kept logging me out and then telling me my log in couldn't be found. I have had the hardest time getting a hold of their customer service departments as it's mostly automated and robotic calls to get a hold of an actual person. But once you do they are nice and helpful. They also have a lot of surcharges and things for their service too. They tried to charge my debit card on file multiple times a month so I cancelled.

1 year ago

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Keaton W Copperas Cove, TX

This site slaps. It's got the old whose line is it anyways. It's got impractical jokers. It's got dune. Like why don't you have HBO?? There's something for everyone on here

1 year ago

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Gina Donofrio

HBOGo is great. I get to watch it everywhere I go. Downloading it was easy and didn't take much time at all. Anything I wanted to watch on HBO was available on HBoGo.

2 years ago

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J Bell St Louis, MO

The content is good, but it is not easy to find. The main reason for 2 stars is the continuous prompts to activate/login. Setup/activation/login should be a one-time event, but it is required frequently. This is incredibly inconvenient when activation is setup through my spouse's account/phone and we aren't watching tv together. When this happens I usually give up and just watch Netflix, Amazon, or YouTube.

5 years ago

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jkenny90 , TX

I love that I can keep up with all my favorite HBO shows and watch them whenever I want. HBO has the best shows of any network. Price is a little steep though compared to other streaming services

4 years ago

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Robert Wilson Bethesda, MD

Used HBO Go for about three years as part of my cable HBO service. The content is for the most part real good there is just not enough of it. The shows and movies also tend to come in waves and once you are done with it you have to wait for the next wave. Still, shows like Game of Thrones and Real Time make it worth the while to get.

4 years ago

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Don Boren American Fork, UT

I love the shows on HBO, like Game of Thrones, Chernobyl, Silicon Valley. They have some of the best content around. I never have to wait for buffering. I like I can download shows to watch offline.

5 years ago

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Reese Pleasant Grove, UT

I have used HBO Go for streaming and they have a great selection of shows that are current and easy to catch up on when I am on the go. They are also priced well and easy to access and navigate through.

5 years ago

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Katie Young Charlottesville, VA

I love HBO and the content they put out. The app isn't great though and I always have trouble connecting to Chromecast which is annoying every time. Other than the connection issues, I have absolutely no complaints and love being subscribed to HBO.

5 years ago

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Erika American Fork, UT

We really like HBO GO. Our TV had stopped working and we were in the middle of watching the game of thrones series at night once our little kiddos were off to bed. It was great that we could still watch our HBO shows through the APP that we downloaded. Love that they are using other options for watching premuim channel shows.

5 years ago

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Katie Kearney Vienna, VA

All of my favorite shows seem to be HBO series (GOT, Westworld, etc) and I absolutely loving streaming them on HBO GO and watching them when we travel. The app is great and rarely have any issues!

6 years ago

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Eric San Diego, CA

Game of Thrones on your mobile device! We all love our phones and anyone who enjoys quality TV loves GOT so the answer is clear. Get HBO GO. HBO GO is a great and easy to use application.

6 years ago

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Rinji Tanimu Abuja, FC

They have a vast variety of Movies and at affordable rates. With HBO I can watch lots of movies from around the world.

11 months ago

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Robert Horn II Pahrump, NV

We love watch the feature movies we get with the HBO GO subscription. We watch it primarily since regular TV has little to offer.

1 year ago

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Chrissy Lang Bellevue, WA

if you ever looked at a movie network like 'man'! I wish I could get that they have all the new movies. Well look no further and its affordable

1 year ago

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Noa Ranoa Vista, CA

HBO GO has been great. I have the app loaded on my phone and it really comes in handy when I want to watch a program when traveling.

2 years ago

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Ashley Nicole Jacksonville, FL

With this app I'm able to access so many programs that can't be found anywhere else. It's very convenient and really is on the go.

3 years ago

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Deirdre Clearwater, FL

Their documentaries are not vetted for truth. They present data that is full of inaccuracies and outright lies. For example, the documentary on Scientology-- the management obviously did not check into Scientology beliefs or activities before they let that documentary get aired. Documentaries are supposed to present an truth about a topic, not the opinions and scathing accusations of one person. Since I have seen this happen on HBO with multiple "documentaries" at this point, I have lost all respect for what they have to present. Can't trust it.

5 years ago

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Myken Salt Lake City, UT

We love HBO GO and the ability it gives us to watch some of our favorite movies and series anytime anywhere. The monthly subscription is well worth the service.

4 years ago

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Rischelle Mikkelson American Fork, UT

We love HBO Go for streaming movies. It sometimes takes a while for a movie to load, but once it is going, I never have buffering issues. Sometimes it kicks me out of my account and I have to re-verify it.

5 years ago

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Anonymous

Enjoy having HBO go one of the few extra channels we pay for. Enjoy the fact that you don’t have to have a 200 plan with the cable company just to watch showed we love.

5 years ago

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Magaly De Avila Provo, UT

Super easy app to use on the go! I never have a difficult time streaming my favorite movies and they also have a lot of different kinds of movies and tv shows that other streaming devices don't offer.

5 years ago

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Jennifer Costa

HBO is a great streaming service. I like the movie options I have.

7 months ago

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Michelle Thomas Anaheim, CA

I used this for.only a month I had issues with my phone or the site. I never figured it out. I guess would say try it for yourself and hopefully you have better luck.

1 year ago

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Elisa Miami, FL

Great selection! I just wish you didn't have to pay an extra $5 a month for no ads. There are a ton of ads and they are super repetitive.

1 year ago

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Jason Atlanta, GA

I really like HBO. They consistently have some of the best shows and movies out of any streaming service.

1 year ago

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Luke Swierczynski Troy, MI

Get it for free but they have some super note worth shows to watch that you can't get anywhere else.

3 years ago

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E Ramey Charleston, WV

It's impossible to watch due to constant buffering or freezing. It's not my internet, I can switch immediately to Netflix or Amazon instant video and stream all day with no problems, you tube always works great too. HBO - never works - I hate it

7 years ago

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Zac Marx Brighton, CO

I dont love HBO Go, but it does have the random shows and movies that netflix and amazon prime dont have. It is great for when you dont know what to watch and need something random.

5 years ago

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Nicole Garrett Lehi, UT

I love the HBO shows that at available. The streaming gets bogged down when the site is busy and it can be very frustrating to use this service at that time.

5 years ago

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Hailey Nilson Salt Lake City, UT

HBO go is amazing! The connection is great and customer service is amazing. I had an issue with my account and they fixed it immediately.

5 years ago

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Aaron Anderson

Extensive content library, reliable streaming, excellent service. Top choice for entertainment!

1 year ago Edited November 20, 2023