Disney+ offers family-friendly content with Marvel, Star Wars, and Pixar for $7.99/month with ads, while HBO Max provides premium HBO series, Warner Bros films, and adult content for $9.99/month with ads or $19.99 ad-free. The choice depends on whether you prioritize Disney franchises or prestige drama and blockbuster films.
Disney+ vs HBO Max — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Streaming service focused on Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic content.
Premium streaming service featuring HBO originals, Warner Bros films, and DC content.
Monthly Cost (Ad-Supported). Monthly Cost (Ad-Free). Original Series Count. Movie Library Size. 4K Content Available. Simultaneous Streams (Standard). Offline Download Support
Choose Disney+ if you prioritize affordability ($7.99/month with ads), family content, and Marvel/Star Wars franchises—it's ideal for households with children. Choose HBO Max if you want premium HBO series (Game of Thrones, Succession, The Last of Us), expansive movie library (2,000+ titles), and are willing to pay more for ad-free viewing with extensive 4K content.
Recommended Bundle Price (All Services, No Ads)
Disney+: $44.99 (with ESPN Unlimited) | HBO Max: N/A
Disney+: Extensive on select titles | HBO Max: N/A
Disney+: 4 participants (GroupWatch) | HBO Max: N/A
Disney+: Not available standalone | HBO Max: N/A
Disney+: $10.4 billion (2024) | HBO Max: N/A
Disney+: Franchise library + originals | HBO Max: N/A
Disney+: Cross-platform universal access | HBO Max: N/A
Disney+: More difficult navigation | HBO Max: N/A
Disney+: $19.99/month (with Hulu integrated) | HBO Max: N/A
Disney+: Limited current TV availability | HBO Max: N/A
Disney+: Becoming primary unified platform | HBO Max: N/A
Disney+: Yes, on 4K content | HBO Max: N/A
Disney+: Via ESPN+ bundle | HBO Max: N/A
Disney+: Hulu/ESPN+ bundle options | HBO Max: N/A
Disney+: 4 simultaneous streams | HBO Max: N/A
Disney+: Yes (launching 2026) | HBO Max: N/A
Disney+: Standard support | HBO Max: N/A
Disney+: Yes (Premium tier) | HBO Max: N/A
Disney+: None (ESPN+ separate) | HBO Max: N/A
Disney+: Short-form mobile videos (announced) | HBO Max: N/A
Disney+: All ages (family-focused) | HBO Max: N/A
Disney+: Yes (Kids Profile included) | HBO Max: N/A
Disney+: 4K Ultra HD (2160p) | HBO Max: N/A
Monthly Subscription Cost (Standard Plan)
Disney+: 38 Emmy nominations | HBO Max: N/A
Disney+: Full exclusive access | HBO Max: N/A
Disney+: 4K HDR Dolby Atmos | HBO Max: 4K HDR + Dolby Atmos
Disney+: Yes, on Premium+ | HBO Max: N/A
Disney+: Limited to Disney/ABC | HBO Max: N/A
Disney+: 150.2 million | HBO Max: 60 million
Disney+: 32 original series | HBO Max: N/A
Disney+: $8 savings (vs separate subscriptions) | HBO Max: N/A
Disney+: 28 exclusive originals | HBO Max: N/A
Disney+: $15.99/year (Disney Bundle) | HBO Max: N/A
Disney+: 180+ originals | HBO Max: 220+ originals
Disney+: 4 devices | HBO Max: 4 (Premium)
Disney+: 45 original series | HBO Max: N/A
Disney+: $7.98 (Disney Bundle) | HBO Max: N/A
Disney+: 700+ films | HBO Max: 2,500+ films
Disney+: Families & children ages 4-14 | HBO Max: Adults ages 18+
Disney+: N/A | HBO Max: Allowed with flexibility
Disney+: N/A | HBO Max: Available on premium plans
Disney+: N/A | HBO Max: Yes (Warner Bros. films)
Disney+: N/A | HBO Max: Yes (via Max Sports add-on)
Disney+: N/A | HBO Max: Strong European focus
Disney+: N/A | HBO Max: Discovery+ integration only
Disney+: N/A | HBO Max: Hacks S5, Euphoria S3
Disney+: N/A | HBO Max: All Warner Bros. theatrical
Disney+: N/A | HBO Max: Dolby Atmos (5.1.4 surround)
Disney+: N/A | HBO Max: Minimal (occasional boxing/WWE)
Disney+: N/A | HBO Max: 150+ devices including Fire, Roku, gaming consoles, smart TVs
Disney+: N/A | HBO Max: Limited to select titles only
Disney+: N/A | HBO Max: 40+ prestige originals
Original Series Critical Quality (Avg Rotten Tomatoes)
Disney+: N/A | HBO Max: 0 (not included)
Disney+: N/A | HBO Max: Limited HBO only
Disney+: N/A | HBO Max: $21+ (HBO only bundle)
Disney+: N/A | HBO Max: $9.99 (4K included)
Disney+: N/A | HBO Max: 4K UltraHD (2160p) on all tiers
Disney+: N/A | HBO Max: 140+ nominations
Disney+: N/A | HBO Max: Same-day (0 days)
How to choose between Disney+ and HBO Max
Disney+ vs HBO Max — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for Disney+ vs HBO Max. Contains 204 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
Disney+ vs HBO Max — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Disney+ vs HBO Max.
Disney+ is significantly cheaper at $7.99/month with ads versus HBO Max's $9.99/month. For ad-free viewing, Disney+ costs $13.99/month compared to HBO Max's $19.99/month—a $6/month difference. This makes Disney+ the more budget-friendly option by 25-43% depending on tier.
Does HBO Max have better movies than Disney+?
Yes, HBO Max has a substantially larger movie library with 2,000+ titles versus Disney+'s 900+. HBO Max includes the entire Warner Bros film catalog plus prestige releases, while Disney+ focuses on family films, Marvel, and Star Wars. HBO Max has 122% more movies overall.
HBO Max leads with 450+ original series including Game of Thrones prequel, Succession, The Last of Us, and True Detective—all prestige Emmy-winners. Disney+ has 250+ originals that skew family-friendly and franchise-focused. HBO Max offers more critically acclaimed dramas for adult audiences.
Both offer 4K content, but HBO Max is superior with 450+ titles in 4K Ultra HD with Dolby Atmos support, versus Disney+'s 200+ 4K titles. If you have a 4K TV and premium audio setup, HBO Max provides significantly more premium format options (125% more 4K content).
Disney+ is purpose-built for families with Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar, and Disney animated content plus parental controls. HBO Max is adult-oriented with prestige dramas containing mature content, requiring strict parental controls. For households with young children, Disney+ is the obvious choice; HBO Max requires more content filtering.
How to Choose Between Disney+ and HBO Max
Monthly Cost (Ad-Supported): Disney+ has $7.99, while HBO Max has $9.99.
Monthly Cost (Ad-Free): Disney+ has $13.99, while HBO Max has $19.99.
Original Series Count: Disney+ has 250+, while HBO Max has 450+.
Movie Library Size: Disney+ has 900+, while HBO Max has 2,000+.
4K Content Available: Disney+ has Yes (limited), while HBO Max has Yes (extensive).
Consider: Simultaneous Streams (Standard)
Simultaneous Streams (Standard): Disney+ has 4, while HBO Max has 4.
Offline Download Support: Disney+ has Yes (7 days), while HBO Max has Yes (30 days).