Rated 7+ IMDb · 70%+ RT Little-known finds Curated by humans
Rated 7+ IMDb · 70%+ RT Little-known finds Curated by humans
Starz may not enjoy the same recognition as Max, but you could argue that both are great go-to services for quality titles, especially TV shows. Starz has Power, Outlander, Party Down, and Sweetpea, while Max, well, Max has HBO powerhouse shows like Game of Thrones, The Last of Us, Succession, and White Lotus. It’s also cheaper than Starz by a dollar. Which is better? That will come down to preference, price, and accessibility – all of which we explore down below.
| Feature | StarzOur pick | HBO Max |
|---|---|---|
| Ideal for | Award-winning originals | |
| Base price | $11.99/mo | $10.99/mo |
| Free trial | None | None |
| Subscribers | 29 million | 125 million |
| Titles that pass our 7.0 IMDb / 70% RT bar | 32 | 306 |
| Try Starz | Try HBO Max |
We only recommend movies and shows rated at least 7.0 on IMDb and 70% on Rotten Tomatoes. By that standard, HBO Max currently streams 306 qualifying titles, compared to 32 on Starz. Here are the picks our readers are watching most on each right now.
If you just want the lowest possible bill, here is exactly what each service’s cheapest plan gets you.
| Feature | Starz Starz | HBO Max Basic With Ads |
|---|---|---|
| Price / month | $11.99 | $10.99 |
| Annual Price | $69.99 | $109.99 |
| New User Deal | 73% off 1st month | – |
| Streams at Home | 4 | 2 |
| Streams Outside Home | 4 | 1, with Extra Member Add-on |
| Profiles | 5 | 5 |
| Max Quality | 1080p | 1080p |
| Audio | 5.1 surround sound | Standard stereo |
| Min. Speed | 6 Mbps | 5 Mbps |
| Get Starz → | Get Basic With Ads → |
| Starz 1 plan | HBO Max 3 plans | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheapest Starz | Cheapest Basic With Ads | Standard | Premium | |
| Price / month | $11.99 | $10.99 | $18.49 | $22.99 |
| Annual Price | $69.99 | $109.99 | $184.99 | $229.99 |
| New User Deal | 73% off 1st month | – | – | – |
| Streams at Home | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Streams Outside Home | 4 | 1, with Extra Member Add-on | 1, with Extra Member Add-on | 1, with Extra Member Add-on |
| Profiles | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Max Quality | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p |
| 4K Support | – | – | – | ✓ Yes |
| Audio | 5.1 surround sound | Standard stereo | Standard stereo | 5.1 |
| Dolby Digital | – | – | – | ✓ Yes |
| Dolby Atmos | – | – | – | ✓ Yes |
| Min. Speed | 6 Mbps | 5 Mbps | 5 Mbps | 5 Mbps |
| Get plan → | Get plan → | Get plan → | Get plan → | |
Also available as an add-on on Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and Roku
Both services support most major devices. Here’s a breakdown based on the device apps each service lists.
| Device / Platform | Starz | HBO Max |
|---|---|---|
| Airplay | ✓ | ✓ |
| Amazon Fire TV | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android TV | ✓ | ✓ |
| Apple TV | ✓ | ✓ |
| Google TV Streamer | Not listed | ✓ |
| LG TV | ✓ | Not listed |
| PlayStation | Not listed | ✓ |
| Roku | ✓ | ✓ |
| Samsung TV | ✓ | ✓ |
| Xbox | ✓ | ✓ |
| iOS | ✓ | Not listed |
“Not listed” means the service doesn’t list an app for that device; it may still work via casting or a browser.
HBO Max has 125 million subscribers compared to 29 million for Starz. That makes HBO Max 333% more popular by subscriber count.
HBO Max starts at $10.99/month, while Starz starts at $11.99/month. That’s $1.00 more per month for Starz, or $12.00 more per year.
Before you pick either one, here is the drawback of each service, plainly stated.
Starz is a movie-first channel with a small originals slate; if its film library does not appeal to you, there is not much else here.
HBO Max has a habit of quietly removing even its own originals, and its ad-free tiers are among the priciest in streaming.
Is HBO Max cheaper than Starz?
Yes. HBO Max starts at $10.99/month, while Starz starts at $11.99/month. That's a difference of $1.00/month, or $12.00 per year.
Do Starz or HBO Max offer a free trial?
Starz does not currently offer a free trial. HBO Max does not currently offer a free trial.
Are Starz and HBO Max the same company?
No. Starz is owned by Starz Entertainment, a separate company spun off from Lionsgate, while HBO Max is owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. They are separate, competing subscriptions.
Is Starz included with HBO Max?
No. Neither service includes the other: a HBO Max subscription does not give you Starz content, and vice versa. You need a separate subscription for each.
Which has more highly-rated titles, Starz or HBO Max?
By our curation standard (at least 7.0 on IMDb and 70% on Rotten Tomatoes), HBO Max currently streams 306 qualifying titles, compared to 32 on Starz.
Can I cancel Starz or HBO Max anytime?
Yes. Both Starz and HBO Max are month-to-month subscriptions with no long-term contracts. You can cancel either service at any time.
Original programming: While Starz doesn't have as many original shows and movies as Netflix or HBO, it does produce some acclaimed entertainment, including movies like Ash Evil Dead and shows such as American Gods, Power, to name but a few.
Sharing devices: Starz lets you have four simultaneous streams per account, for about $7 less than Netflix's most expensive Premium plan which allows the same.
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