HBO Max offers significantly more content (10,000+ titles vs 2,500+) and lower pricing ($7/month ad-supported vs $9.99/month), while Apple TV+ excels in original prestige programming with higher production budgets and exclusive award-winning shows like Severance and Ted Lasso.
Apple TV+ vs HBO Max — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Premium streaming service focused on original films, series, and documentaries.
Comprehensive streaming platform with 10,000+ titles including HBO originals, Warner Bros films, DC content, and live sports.
Content Library Size. Monthly Cost (Ad-Supported). Original Series Production Budget. Emmy Awards Won (2024). Live Sports Content. Simultaneous Streams (Standard Tier). Free Trial Period
Choose HBO Max if you want maximum variety, live sports, lower cost, and DC Universe content—it's better for broad entertainment needs. Choose Apple TV+ if you prioritize prestige original dramas, consistent award-winning quality, and seamless ecosystem integration with Apple devices—it's better for quality-over-quantity viewers.
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 | HBO Max: 4 simultaneous
Apple TV+: Yes (standard) | HBO Max: N/A
Apple TV+: 25 Emmy awards | HBO Max: 31 Emmys
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 (all tiers) | 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+: 2,500+ titles (est. 5,000 hours) | HBO Max: 10,000+
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+: 75% of originals | HBO Max: 45% of library
Apple TV+: 110+ nominations | HBO Max: N/A
Original Series & Films (Emmy Nominations 2023-2024)
Apple TV+: 23 nominations | HBO Max: N/A
Apple TV+: 170+ countries | HBO Max: N/A
Apple TV+: Yes (select titles) | HBO Max: N/A
Apple TV+: None (no Marvel, Star Wars, or major franchises) | HBO Max: N/A
Apple TV+: $15 million | HBO Max: $10 million
Apple TV+: None | HBO Max: NFL, NCAA, MLB, NBA
Apple TV+: 6 devices | HBO Max: 4 screens
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 204 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 shows?
Apple TV+ produces higher-budget prestige dramas (Severance, The Morning Show, Ted Lasso) with $15M per episode average, winning 25 Emmys in 2024. HBO Max offers more variety across genres with 47 total Emmy wins, including acclaimed series like The Last of Us and True Detective. Apple TV+ prioritizes quality; HBO Max prioritizes quantity and variety.
HBO Max's ad-supported tier costs $7.99/month (33% cheaper), while Apple TV+ costs $9.99/month ad-supported. However, Apple TV+ is cheaper for ad-free viewing at $11.99/month vs HBO Max at $20.99/month. Apple TV+ also frequently bundles with Apple One subscriptions for additional savings.
Can I watch live sports on these services?
Only HBO Max offers live sports, including NFL Sunday games, NCAA basketball/football, and MLB. Apple TV+ does not carry any live sports content. If sports are essential, HBO Max is the only option between these two.
HBO Max has 10,000+ titles vs Apple TV+'s 2,500+ titles. HBO Max includes the entire Warner Bros film library, HBO series catalog, DC Universe content, and decades of back catalog. Apple TV+ focuses exclusively on original programming, making HBO Max 4x larger.
Is Apple TV+ worth it if I own Apple devices?
Yes, if you value prestige originals and ecosystem integration. Apple TV+ offers seamless AirPlay to Apple TV, Siri voice control, iCloud library sync, and can bundle with Apple One (Music, Fitness+, iCloud+) for $24.99/month total. However, if you want maximum content variety, HBO Max offers more value standalone.
How to Choose Between Apple TV+ and HBO Max
Content Library Size: Apple TV+ has 2,500+ titles, while HBO Max has 10,000+ titles.
Monthly Cost (Ad-Supported): Apple TV+ has $9.99/month, while HBO Max has $7.99/month.
Consider: Original Series Production Budget
Original Series Production Budget: Apple TV+ has $15M per episode average, while HBO Max has $10M per episode average.
Emmy Awards Won (2024): Apple TV+ has 25 Emmys, while HBO Max has 47 Emmys.
Live Sports Content: Apple TV+ has None, while HBO Max has NFL Sunday, NCAA, MLB.
Consider: Simultaneous Streams (Standard Tier)
Simultaneous Streams (Standard Tier): Apple TV+ has 6 simultaneous streams, while HBO Max has 4 simultaneous streams.
Free Trial Period: Apple TV+ has 7 days, while HBO Max has 7 days.