HBO Max offers significantly more content (10,000+ titles vs 1,000+) and lower entry pricing ($7/month with ads), while Apple TV+ excels in original programming quality with a 62% higher Emmy win rate and seamless Apple ecosystem integration.
Apple TV+ vs HBO Max — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Premium streaming service focused on high-quality original films and series with consistent 4K/Dolby Vision support.
Premium streaming service featuring HBO originals, Warner Bros films, and DC content.
Total Content Library Size. Emmy Awards Won (2020-2024). Cheapest Monthly Plan Price. Original Series Released Annually. Offline Download Support. Apple Ecosystem Integration. Live Sports Content
Choose Apple TV+ if you own Apple devices, prioritize premium original content quality, want offline downloads, and appreciate a curated, ad-free experience. Choose HBO Max if you want maximum content variety (10x larger library), live sports/news, lower entry pricing with ads, and don't require Apple ecosystem benefits.
Apple TV+: ~140-149 million (2026 projection) | HBO Max: N/A
Apple TV+: Part of $28.75B Services (FY2025) | HBO Max: N/A
Apple TV+: 15% (Apple Services FY2025) | HBO Max: N/A
Apple TV+: Premium original programming | HBO Max: N/A
Apple TV+: Deep Apple device integration | HBO Max: N/A
Apple TV+: WiFi 6E (802.11ax) | HBO Max: N/A
Apple TV+: 6 simultaneous streams | HBO Max: N/A
Apple TV+: Yes (standard) | HBO Max: N/A
Apple TV+: 25 Emmy awards | HBO Max: 31 Emmys
Apple TV+: Up to 6 users (family sharing) | HBO Max: N/A
Apple TV+: iOS, macOS, tvOS, web, Android, Fire TV, Roku (all major platforms supported) | HBO Max: N/A
Apple TV+: All tiers included | HBO Max: N/A
Apple TV+: 6 streams | HBO Max: 4 (Premium)
Apple TV+: 92 nominations | HBO Max: N/A
Apple TV+: 4K HDR, Dolby Atmos | HBO Max: N/A
Apple TV+: No (weekly releases) | HBO Max: N/A
Monthly Subscription Cost (Standard Plan)
Apple TV+: 15 Emmy Awards | HBO Max: N/A
Apple TV+: None (limited original series) | HBO Max: N/A
Apple TV+: 4K HDR + Dolby Atmos | HBO Max: 4K HDR + Dolby Atmos
Apple TV+: $9.99/month | HBO Max: $7.99/month
Apple TV+: $9.99/month | HBO Max: $19.99/month
Apple TV+: 76 Emmy wins | HBO Max: 47 Emmy wins
Apple TV+: 25-30 series | HBO Max: 60-80 series
Apple TV+: Apple devices, web, select smart TVs | HBO Max: 150+ devices including Fire, Roku, gaming consoles, smart TVs
Apple TV+: Full library on all devices | HBO Max: Limited to select titles only
Apple TV+: 90 days (with Apple One) | HBO Max: 7 days
Apple TV+: 16 Emmy Awards | HBO Max: N/A
Apple TV+: 120+ originals | HBO Max: N/A
Apple TV+: 25 million (Q3 2024) | HBO Max: 60 million
Apple TV+: $20.88/year (Apple One) | HBO Max: N/A
Apple TV+: ~280 originals | HBO Max: N/A
Apple TV+: $9.99/month or free (Apple One) | HBO Max: N/A
Average Rotten Tomatoes Score (Originals Only)
Apple TV+: Yes (all plans) | HBO Max: N/A
Monthly Subscription Cost (Standard Tier)
Apple TV+: ~70% of originals in 4K | HBO Max: N/A
Apple TV+: $9.99/month (standard, no ads) | HBO Max: N/A
Original Series Critical Quality (Avg Rotten Tomatoes)
Apple TV+: 25 million | HBO Max: 52 million
Apple TV+: $9.99 | HBO Max: $16.99/month
Apple TV+: All original content (100% of originals) | HBO Max: N/A
Apple TV+: 110+ nominations | HBO Max: N/A
Apple TV+: 3 months free (with Apple device purchase) | HBO Max: N/A
Apple TV+: N/A | HBO Max: ~10,000 titles
Apple TV+: N/A | HBO Max: 200+ originals
Apple TV+: N/A | HBO Max: Allowed with flexibility
Apple TV+: N/A | HBO Max: Available on premium plans
Apple TV+: N/A | HBO Max: Yes (Warner Bros. films)
Apple TV+: N/A | HBO Max: Yes (via Max Sports add-on)
Apple TV+: N/A | HBO Max: Strong European focus
Apple TV+: N/A | HBO Max: Discovery+ integration only
Apple TV+: N/A | HBO Max: Hacks S5, Euphoria S3
Apple TV+: N/A | HBO Max: All Warner Bros. theatrical
Apple TV+: N/A | HBO Max: Dolby Atmos (5.1.4 surround)
Apple TV+: N/A | HBO Max: Minimal (occasional boxing/WWE)
Apple TV+: N/A | HBO Max: 40+ prestige originals
Apple TV+: N/A | HBO Max: 220+ originals
Apple TV+: N/A | HBO Max: Adults ages 18+
Apple TV+: N/A | HBO Max: 0 (not included)
Apple TV+: N/A | HBO Max: Limited HBO only
Apple TV+: N/A | HBO Max: $21+ (HBO only bundle)
Apple TV+: N/A | HBO Max: $9.99 (4K included)
Apple TV+: N/A | HBO Max: 4K UltraHD (2160p) on all tiers
Apple TV+: N/A | HBO Max: 140+ nominations
Apple TV+: N/A | HBO Max: Same-day (0 days)
How to choose between Apple TV+ and HBO Max
Apple TV+ vs HBO Max — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for Apple TV+ vs HBO Max. Contains 185 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
Apple TV+ vs HBO Max — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Apple TV+ vs HBO Max.
Which streaming service has better original content quality?
Apple TV+ has superior original content quality by Emmy metrics, winning 76 Emmys in 5 years vs HBO Max's 47. However, HBO Max releases 2.5x more original series annually (60-80 vs 25-30), offering more variety at potentially lower quality variance. For prestige content, Apple TV+ edges ahead; for breadth, HBO Max wins.
HBO Max's ad-supported tier at $7.99/month is cheapest entry point (26% cheaper than Apple TV+). However, Apple TV+ at $9.99/month ad-free is $10/month cheaper than HBO Max's ad-free tier ($19.99/month). For budget viewers tolerating ads, HBO Max wins; for ad-free preference, Apple TV+ is more affordable.
Apple TV+ offers full offline download capability across all devices—every title can be downloaded. HBO Max restricts offline downloads to select titles only (approximately 30-40% of library), making Apple TV+ significantly better for offline viewing flexibility and travel use.
HBO Max includes live sports (NBA, NFL, golf tournaments) and news channels (CNN, HBO Sports, Turner Sports), making it the clear choice for sports enthusiasts. Apple TV+ has limited sports content with MLS matches only, positioning it as an entertainment-first service without sports/news focus.
HBO Max is significantly better if you use non-Apple devices. It supports 150+ devices including Fire TV, Roku, Android phones, gaming consoles, and Windows/Android devices. Apple TV+ has limited non-Apple availability, requiring web browser access on Android/Windows (no native apps), making HBO Max the practical choice for Android/non-Apple users.
How to Choose Between Apple TV+ and HBO Max
Total Content Library Size: Apple TV+ has ~1,000 titles, while HBO Max has ~10,000 titles.
Emmy Awards Won (2020-2024): Apple TV+ has 76 Emmy wins, while HBO Max has 47 Emmy wins.
Cheapest Monthly Plan Price: Apple TV+ has $9.99/month (standard), while HBO Max has $7.99/month (with ads).
Consider: Original Series Released Annually
Original Series Released Annually: Apple TV+ has 25-30 originals/year, while HBO Max has 60-80 originals/year.
Offline Download Support: Apple TV+ has Yes, all devices, while HBO Max has Limited (select titles only).
Apple Ecosystem Integration: Apple TV+ has Native apps on all Apple devices, SharePlay support, while HBO Max has Standard web/app access only.
Live Sports Content: Apple TV+ has MLS matches (limited), while HBO Max has HBO Sports, CNN, Turner Sports.