Customer Reviews (250)

NoOneDesigner • 2025-09-28T19:12:54-07:00

Everyone has been saying for years now that you guys need a better UI/UX designer. There are so many problems. 1. There is not next episode option. 2. There is no restart episode option. 3. There are way too many steps to go back and pick a different episode from a series. 4. Does not seem to have a user engagement designer—there is no sort of recommendation pool. I am usually recommended things that I would never ever watch.

briC98! • 2025-09-28T17:17:05-07:00

I love an app that doesn’t spam me with ads

CircePigDestroyer • 2025-09-28T17:15:34-07:00

App is super glitchy. It won’t save my spot no matter what I try. Have to watch at least 7 ads to find where I left off in a show it’s extremely annoying. Also when you click on a show it just starts it instead of taking you to the title screen so you can try to circumvent the problem. Horrible design

HBO Max App Review Analysis

1. Summary of Key Insights

HBO Max receives mixed reviews, with a significant number of users experiencing technical issues and dissatisfaction with the app's functionality and content availability. While some users praise the content library and user experience, a substantial portion report frequent crashes, buffering, and problems with ad delivery. The overall sentiment is lukewarm, reflected in the average rating skewed downward by a high volume of 1-star reviews. Key strengths lie in the quality of content, while weaknesses are rooted in app stability, user interface/experience, and ad implementation. Password sharing restrictions and content removal are also major points of concern.

  • Overall Rating: Heavily skewed by negative reviews.
  • Key Strengths: Content library (HBO Originals, movies), some users find it easy to navigate.
  • Key Weaknesses: App stability (crashing, freezing, buffering), excessive ads, UI/UX issues (navigation, episode selection), content removal, password sharing restrictions, login issues.

2. Data & Methodology Overview

  • Data Sample Size: 250 reviews
  • Time Frame: Not explicitly stated, but assumed to be recent based on the content of the reviews (mentions of recent app changes, content removals, etc.).
  • Analysis Methods:
    • Sentiment Analysis: Qualitative assessment based on review text.
    • Keyword Extraction: Identification of frequently mentioned issues and features.
    • Frequency Analysis: Counting occurrences of specific complaints and requests.

3. Key User Pain Points

  • App Instability (Crashing, Freezing, Buffering): This is the most frequently reported issue. Users experience crashes during playback, freezing, and excessive buffering, making the app unreliable and frustrating to use.
  • Excessive and Repetitive Ads: Many users complain about the number and frequency of ads, even on "ad-free" plans, and the repetition of the same ads. This significantly detracts from the viewing experience.
  • UI/UX Issues:
    • Lack of "Next Episode" and "Restart Episode" options.
    • Difficult navigation and episode selection.
    • Poor recommendation algorithm.
    • Inability to easily access or manage watchlist.
  • Content Removal: Users are upset about the removal of specific shows and movies, impacting their perceived value of the subscription.
  • Password Sharing Restrictions: New restrictions on password sharing are a major source of frustration, leading to account cancellations.
  • Login Issues: Users frequently report being logged out unexpectedly and having difficulty logging back in, especially when using a TV provider.
  • Progress Saving Problems: The app often fails to save viewing progress accurately, forcing users to rewatch content and endure more ads.
  • Audio/Video Sync Issues: Some users experience audio being out of sync with the video, requiring a TV restart.
  • Lack of Download Button: Users are reporting the inability to download content on certain devices.
  • Inability to Force Resolution: Users are reporting the inability to force the app to stream in a higher resolution.

4. Frequently Requested Features

  • "Next Episode" and "Restart Episode" Buttons: These are basic features that users expect in a streaming app.
  • Improved Navigation and Episode Selection: Users want a more intuitive way to browse and select episodes.
  • Personalized Recommendations: Users desire recommendations that are relevant to their viewing history.
  • Ability to Manage Watchlist: Users want to easily access, organize, and remove items from their watchlist.
  • User Ratings (Thumbs Up/Down): Users want to be able to rate content to improve recommendations.
  • Ability to Restart a Series: Users want a button to completely reset a series progress.
  • 2x Playback Speed: Users want the ability to watch content at an increased playback speed.

5. Strengths and Positive Aspects

  • Content Library: Users appreciate the wide selection of HBO Originals, movies, and DC content.
  • Ease of Navigation: Some users find the app easy to navigate (though this is contradicted by many other reviews).
  • New Releases: Users like that new releases are often available on HBO Max soon after they are in theaters.
  • Student Discount: Users appreciate the student discount ability.
  • Original HBO Logo: Some users are happy that the original HBO logo was brought back.

6. Prioritized Action Recommendations

PriorityIssueRecommendation
HighApp InstabilityInvest heavily in bug fixes and performance improvements to address crashing, freezing, and buffering. Implement more robust testing procedures before releasing updates.
HighExcessive and Repetitive AdsRe-evaluate ad strategy. Reduce the frequency and length of ads, especially on "ad-free" plans. Ensure ad delivery doesn't disrupt the viewing experience. Consider pre-roll only ads.
HighLogin IssuesInvestigate and resolve the recurring login problems, especially those related to TV provider authentication. Provide clearer error messages and troubleshooting steps.
MediumUI/UX ImprovementsImplement "Next Episode" and "Restart Episode" buttons. Improve navigation and episode selection. Enhance the recommendation algorithm. Provide easy access to manage the watchlist.
MediumProgress Saving ProblemsFix the issue where the app fails to save viewing progress accurately.
MediumAudio/Video Sync IssuesInvestigate and resolve audio/video synchronization problems.
MediumContent RemovalCommunicate content removal decisions more transparently. Consider offering alternative ways to access removed content.
LowPassword Sharing RestrictionsRe-evaluate the impact of password sharing restrictions on user satisfaction. Consider alternative models that balance revenue generation with user convenience.
LowLack of Download ButtonEnsure download functionality is working correctly on all devices.

7. Opportunities for Startup Ideas

  • AI-Powered Content Recommendation Engine: A startup could develop an AI-powered recommendation engine that learns user preferences from multiple streaming services and provides highly personalized recommendations, addressing the common complaint about irrelevant suggestions.
  • Streaming App Optimization Service: A service that analyzes streaming app performance and identifies areas for improvement (e.g., code optimization, server infrastructure) to reduce buffering and crashes.
  • Content Aggregation Platform: A platform that aggregates content from multiple streaming services into a single interface, allowing users to easily search and discover shows and movies without switching between apps.

8. Trends and Observations

  • Negative Sentiment Trend: A significant portion of recent reviews are negative, indicating a decline in user satisfaction.
  • Focus on Technical Issues: The majority of complaints revolve around technical problems, suggesting a need for improved app stability and performance.
  • Ad-Related Frustration: Users are increasingly frustrated with the number and intrusiveness of ads, even on paid plans.
  • Content Removal Impact: Content removal decisions have a significant negative impact on user perception and subscription value.
  • Roku and Apple TV Issues: A number of reviews mention problems with the app on Roku and Apple TV devices.
  • Spanish Language Preference: Several reviews are written in Spanish, indicating a user base that prefers Spanish language content.

9. Conclusion

HBO Max faces significant challenges related to app stability, ad delivery, and user experience. While the content library remains a strong draw, the technical issues and frustrating UI are driving users away. Addressing these pain points is crucial for improving user satisfaction and retaining subscribers. A focus on bug fixes, performance improvements, and a more user-friendly interface should be prioritized. The company should also carefully consider the impact of content removal and password sharing restrictions on its customer base.

Overall Recommendation: HBO Max needs to prioritize fixing the technical issues and improving the user experience to retain subscribers and compete effectively in the streaming market.

10. Original App Link

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/hbo-max-stream-movies-tv/id1666653815?uo=4