How to watch Game of Thrones online

Unless you’ve been living under the Wall for the past few years — you know, that 300-mile stretch of fortification that runs along the northern border of the Seven Kingdoms — you’re probably at least somewhat aware of . If you aren’t, you probably didn’t get that reference, in which case, this article will help you get in the know.

Adapted from the brooding, incestuous bloodbath that is George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series of books, the TV show was known for shocking new and old fans alike by introducing more and more characters before unceremoniously killing them off. Despite largely falling apart in the final season, the series is still considered one of HBO’s best and well worth a watch. It’s also chock-full of classic episodes that fans can revisit before House of the Dragon, the forthcoming prequel, lands in 2022.

If you don’t have a cable subscription, however, you’re probably wondering how to watch GoT online. Thankfully, finding a legal and affordable way to stream the show is easier than ever thanks to the recent, widespread adoption of HBO Max and the consolidation of HBO’s streaming platforms. Here’s what you need to know.

Watch on HBO

HBO Max may one day become HBO’s sole streaming service and the official home of Game of Thrones, but in the meantime, HBO still lets you stream Game of Thrones in high definition. Whether you already have an HBO subscription with your cable provider or you want to pay the $15/month fee to get it as an individual service, the HBO app provides unlimited access to all HBO’s original programming. This includes past seasons of Game of Thrones and behind-the-scenes footage with the cast — along with a wide variety of theatrically released films and television specials currently playing on the premium channel.

If you already have cable, you can expect an HBO subscription to cost $15 at the very least, with the exact rate fluctuating based on your region and the host of available promotions. The HBO app is free once you opt for a subscription through participating TV providers, and can be accessed using the HBO website or a slew of different platforms ranging from Android to iOS. For your convenience, we’ve listed the supported devices for both HBO and HBO Max below, but keep in mind that HBO availability is based on your service provider and may not be available for certain platforms within a specified area.

Watch on HBO Max

HBO Max may eventually usurp the HBO app entirely, although it will be far less shocking than the Red Wedding. If you’re a self-proclaimed cord-cutter, the stand-alone streaming service provides a ton of value for $15 per month, which is at least what you’d pay to add HBO to your cable package if you had one.

Once subscribed, you’ll have access to all of HBO’s on-demand content, plus a ton of additional shows from other networks, movies, Max Originals, and more. Like HBO, HBO Max will grant you access to all of the Game of Thrones content that’s currently available.

Watch on Hulu

For fans of network television, Hulu has been the go-to streaming platform for years. For $6 a month — or $12 if you want to eliminate commercials — you get unfettered access to dozens of TV shows across a multitude of channels, including series like Rick and Morty that aren’t available via any other streaming platform. With its massive repertoire of original programming, Netflix might have a bigger catalog overall, but Hulu still boasts a ton of exclusive content that’s typically reserved for those with a cable subscription.

Hulu has been filling out its offerings with a slew of premium add-ons — the company even has its own live TV streaming service. Showtime, Starz, and Cinemax are all currently available, and each will cost you around $10 a month on top of your Hulu subscription. The undeniable star of the show, however, is HBO. As with other services, forking over an extra $15 a month will net you access to HBO’s entire library, including shows, films, and behind-the-scenes content. Tacking on HBO will also grant you access to the HBO Now app, in case you use a device that’s not compatible with one of the devices listed below.

Hulu also recently introduced another app, which is integrated with the platform’s new, live-TV streaming service. Check out the table below for details.

Watch on Amazon

Amazon seems to have a hand in everything these days. The online shopping giant has found success with Amazon Prime Video — a service available to Prime members — and with its line of streaming devices, like the Fire TV Stick. On its own, Prime Video is rather robust, boasting a solid slate of programming. New offerings are added each month, too, and the service hosts content from a number of different sources, giving subscribers a lot of options to choose from.

If that’s not enough, the company’s Amazon Channels service also allows Prime members to subscribe to premium channels — HBO, for example — via Amazon. If you decide to go this route, you will be able to log into HBO with your Amazon credentials and watch the full range of HBO and HBO Max content via the Amazon Prime Video app on compatible devices (listed below). A subscription will cost you $15 a month on top of your Amazon Prime subscription, which costs $13 a month, or $120 annually. Needless to say, you will be able to watch the entirety of Game of Thrones in 4K with select Fire TV products and smart TVs.

Watch on the Roku Channel

The Roku Channel began life as a repository of free movies and TV shows for Roku hardware owners, but it’s gone through a number of changes over the past few months. At the beginning of 2019, Roku made the Roku Channel app available on Android and iOS, meaning that you no longer need to own a Roku device in order to use it. A few months later, the company introduced premium subscriptions to the service, letting you enjoy programming from Starz, Showtime, Epix, and more for an extra fee. Finally, a little over a week before Game of Thrones‘ final season began, the Roku Channel added HBO to its lineup, making it a one-stop-shop for all of your favorite premium channels.

Getting HBO through the Roku channel will cost you $15 a month, which is the same amount that you’d pay for an HBO Max subscription, although you get the added convenience of having all of your premium network subscriptions in one place. There’s also a free, one-week trial, if you’re hoping to catch a single episode. Right now, the Roku Channel isn’t supported by many devices, but if you use Roku hardware to handle your streaming needs — and lots of people do — it’s yet another alternative to consider. You can find the Roku Channel on the following hardware:

Watch on the Apple TV app

Apple’s TV app, which is different from the Apple TV hardware and the Apple TV+ streaming service, started rolling out to customers as part of Apple’s iOS 12.3 update. This means that, if you have a compatible device, you can now use the app to access all the channels you’d get through your cable provider or internet TV service, as well as the premium networks offered through the app’s Channels program.

Naturally, Channels now includes HBO Max, which you can subscribe to through the Apple TV app for a standard $15. If you have an HBO subscription, however, watch out — the HBO Max channel requires a Max subscription. As of May, the non-Max channel is no longer available through Apple’s TV app.

Fortunately, Apple offers a one-week free trial for new HBO Max customers, and despite its limited availability early on, the app is now available on a host of popular devices (see table below)

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