When it comes to originals, Hulu and Max are battling on equal ground, more or less. Hulu’s FX chapter has produced groundbreaking shows like Atlanta, Shogun, The Bear, and The Great. Meanwhile, HBO practically invented “prestige TV” with shows like The Sopranos and, more recently, Succession, White Lotus, The Leftovers, Barry, and Game of Thrones. But who’s better? Max may be more expensive by $2, but we think it gives you more bang for your buck. Not only does it offer the entire HBO catalog, it also has titles from the wider Warner Bros. franchise. That includes CNN, Discovery, TCM, TLC, DC Comics, and Harry Potter. Then again, Hulu has many add-ons to choose from, plus it has a generous 30-day free trial (Max has never offered a trial). If you wanted to, you could just bundle the two together for a reasonable price, but if it’s just one or the other, then you better read our detailed breakdown of Hulu vs Max below.
| Feature | Hulu | HBO Max |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Award-winning originals | |
| Base price | $11.99/mo | $10.99/mo |
| Channels | — | 1+ |
| Free trial | 30 days | None |
| Subscribers | 43,000,000 | 73,000,000 |
| Our rating | 9/10 | 8/10 |
| Try Hulu — 30 days free | Try HBO Max |
| Hulu 3 plans | HBO Max 3 plans | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheapest Hulu Student | With Ads | No Ads | Cheapest Basic With Ads | Standard | Premium | |
| Price / month | $1.99 | $11.99 | $18.99 | $10.99 | $18.49 | $22.99 |
| Annual Price | — | $119.99 | — | $109.99 | $184.99 | $229.99 |
| Streams at Home | 2 at the same time, unlimited device log-ins | 2 at the same time, unlimited device log-ins | 2 at the same time, unlimited device log-ins | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Streams Outside Home | 3 | 3, more with Extra Member add-on | 3, more with Extra Member add-on | 1, with Extra Member Add-on | 1, with Extra Member Add-on | 1, with Extra Member Add-on |
| Profiles | 7 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Max Quality | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p |
| 4K Support | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | — | — | ✓ Yes |
| Audio | 5.1 audio | 5.1 audio | 5.1 audio | Standard stereo | Standard stereo | 5.1 |
| Dolby Digital | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | — | — | ✓ Yes |
| Dolby Atmos | — | — | — | — | — | ✓ Yes |
| Min. Speed | 3 Mbps | 3 Mbps | 3 Mbps | 5 Mbps | 5 Mbps | 5 Mbps |
| Get plan → | Get plan → | Get plan → | Get plan → | Get plan → | Get plan → | |
Only available for the standalone plan or the Hulu-Spotify bundle
0 channels are available on both services. HBO Max has 1 exclusive channels not on Hulu.
| Channel | Hulu | HBO Max |
|---|---|---|
| CNN | — | ✓ |
Both services support most major devices. Here’s a full breakdown of where you can watch each one.
| Device / Platform | Hulu | HBO Max |
|---|---|---|
| Airplay | ✓ | ✓ |
| Amazon Fire TV | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | ✓ | — |
| Android TV | ✓ | ✓ |
| Apple TV | ✓ | ✓ |
| Chromecast | ✓ | — |
| Google TV Streamer | ✓ | ✓ |
| LG TV | ✓ | — |
| Nintendo Switch | ✓ | — |
| PlayStation | — | ✓ |
| Roku | ✓ | ✓ |
| Samsung TV | ✓ | ✓ |
| Xbox | ✓ | ✓ |
| iOS | ✓ | — |
HBO Max has 73,000,000M subscribers compared to 43,000,000M for Hulu. That makes HBO Max 70% more popular by subscriber count.
HBO Max starts at $10.99/month, while Hulu starts at $11.99/month. That’s $1.00 more per month for Hulu, or $12.00 more per year.
Is HBO Max cheaper than Hulu?
Yes. HBO Max starts at $10.99/month, while Hulu starts at $11.99/month. That's a difference of $1.00/month, or $12.00 per year.
Do Hulu or HBO Max offer a free trial?
Hulu offers a 30-day free trial. HBO Max does not currently offer a free trial.
What channels does HBO Max have that Hulu doesn't?
HBO Max has 1 channels not available on Hulu, including: CNN.
Can I cancel Hulu or HBO Max anytime?
Yes. Both Hulu and HBO Max are month-to-month subscriptions with no long-term contracts. You can cancel either service at any time.
<p>If you're a fan of TV shows, then Hulu has a lot to offer, with a pretty comprehensive list of popular shows from major networks, including classic sitcoms, as well as children's programs like Sesame Street. Hulu is also acclaimed for its ace original programming, with hit shows from comedies like The Mindy Project to dystopian dramas like Handmaid's Tale.</p>
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