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 | Starz | HBO Max |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Award-winning originals | |
| Base price | $10.99/mo | $10.99/mo |
| Channels | — | 1+ |
| Free trial | None | None |
| Subscribers | 28,900,000 | 73,000,000 |
| Our rating | 9/10 | 8/10 |
| Try Starz | Try HBO Max |
| Starz 1 plan | HBO Max 3 plans | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheapest Starz | Cheapest Basic With Ads | Standard | Premium | |
| Price / month | $10.99 | $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
0 channels are available on both services. HBO Max has 1 exclusive channels not on Starz.
| Channel | Starz | HBO Max |
|---|---|---|
| CNN | — | ✓ |
Both services support most major devices. Here’s a full breakdown of where you can watch each one.
| Device / Platform | Starz | HBO Max |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon Fire TV | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android TV | ✓ | ✓ |
| Apple TV | ✓ | ✓ |
| Google TV Streamer | — | ✓ |
| LG TV | ✓ | — |
| PlayStation | — | ✓ |
| Roku | ✓ | ✓ |
| Samsung TV | ✓ | ✓ |
| Xbox | ✓ | ✓ |
| iOS | ✓ | — |
HBO Max has 73,000,000M subscribers compared to 28,900,000M for Starz. That makes HBO Max 153% more popular by subscriber count.
Both Starz and HBO Max start at $10.99/month for their base plan, so price alone won’t decide this comparison. Look at channel selection and features to make your call.
Is Starz the same price as HBO Max?
Yes. Both Starz and HBO Max start at $10.99/month for their base plan.
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.
What channels does HBO Max have that Starz doesn't?
HBO Max has 1 channels not available on Starz, including: CNN.
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.
<p>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. </p> <p>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.</p>
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