HBO Max offers substantially more content with 10,000+ titles compared to Apple TV+'s 2,500+ titles, making it better for variety, while Apple TV+ excels in award-winning original series and charges $9.99/month versus HBO Max's $16.99/month for ad-free access.
Apple TV+ vs HBO Max — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Apple's premium streaming service focused on high-quality original content.
Warner Bros. Discovery's comprehensive streaming platform with vast content library.
Total Content Library Size. Monthly Subscription Cost (Ad-Free). Emmy Awards Won (2024). Original Series Quality (Critical Score). Film Catalog Size. Maximum Simultaneous Streams. Subscriber Base (2024)
Choose Apple TV+ if you prioritize critically acclaimed original series, want the lowest price point, and need to share access across many devices in a household. Choose HBO Max if you need a massive content library with 4x more titles, prefer established franchises and films, and value access to DC Universe content and HBO's prestige catalog despite the higher cost.
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: N/A
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+: $9.99/month | HBO Max: $16.99/month
Apple TV+: 6 (Premium) | HBO Max: 4 (Ad-Free)
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 (with eligible payment method)
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: N/A
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+: 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: 4K (2160p) with Dolby Vision
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
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 149 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.
HBO Max costs $84 more per year but provides 4x the content library, 4,000+ films, DC Universe access, and HBO prestige programming. It's worth the extra cost if you enjoy diverse content, films, and established franchises. Apple TV+ is better if you primarily watch prestige originals and want the lowest price.
Which streaming service has better value for money?
Apple TV+ offers superior value at $9.99/month ($119.88 annually) versus HBO Max's $16.99/month ($203.88 annually). You save $84/year with Apple TV+. However, HBO Max's 10,000+ titles versus Apple TV+'s 2,500+ means HBO Max provides better value if you watch diverse content regularly, while Apple TV+ suits users focused on prestige originals.
Yes, Apple TV+ has 600+ films, but this is significantly smaller than HBO Max's 4,000+ film library. Apple TV+ focuses on original films and licensed indie/prestige titles, while HBO Max includes the entire Warner Bros. film catalog, classic cinema, and blockbuster releases, making it the clear winner for movie enthusiasts.
Can I share my Apple TV+ or HBO Max account across multiple devices?
Apple TV+ Premium tier supports 6 simultaneous streams, while HBO Max's ad-free tier supports only 4. Both services allow account sharing within a household. Apple TV+ is better for larger families or households with heavy concurrent viewing needs.
Apple TV+ has higher critical quality with an average 78% Rotten Tomatoes score for originals, with acclaimed shows like Severance, Ted Lasso, and The Morning Show. HBO Max received 156 Emmy nominations in 2024 for originals (6x more than Apple TV+'s 25), indicating greater breadth and industry recognition despite lower average critical scores.
How to Choose Between Apple TV+ and HBO Max
Total Content Library Size: Apple TV+ has 2,500+ titles, while HBO Max has 10,000+ titles.
Consider: Monthly Subscription Cost (Ad-Free)
Monthly Subscription Cost (Ad-Free): Apple TV+ has $9.99, while HBO Max has $16.99.
Emmy Awards Won (2024): Apple TV+ has 25 Emmy nominations for originals, while HBO Max has 156 Emmy nominations for originals.
Consider: Original Series Quality (Critical Score)
Original Series Quality (Critical Score): Apple TV+ has Average Rotten Tomatoes 78%, while HBO Max has Average Rotten Tomatoes 72%.
Film Catalog Size: Apple TV+ has 600+ films, while HBO Max has 4,000+ films.
Maximum Simultaneous Streams: Apple TV+ has 6 devices (Premium tier), while HBO Max has 4 devices (ad-free tier).
Subscriber Base (2024): Apple TV+ has 25 million, while HBO Max has 52 million.