Hulu offers live TV access with 75+ channels plus Disney+ and ESPN+ bundled, making it ideal for traditional TV viewers, while HBO Max focuses on premium HBO series and theatrical releases with a content-first approach. Both compete on price, originals quality, and library depth, with Hulu excelling in sports/live content and HBO Max in prestige drama.
Hulu vs HBO Max — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
On-demand streaming service with original content, movies, and optional live TV add-on.
Premium streaming service featuring HBO programming, Warner Bros. films, and exclusive originals.
Live TV Access. Bundle Inclusions. Base Monthly Price. Premium Monthly Price. Prestige HBO Original Series. Sports Coverage. 2026 Original Revival Focus. Best For Cord-Cutters
Hulu is superior for viewers seeking live TV, sports, and bundled family content at competitive prices, while HBO Max excels for those prioritizing prestige dramas and premium movie content. The choice depends on whether you value traditional television access (Hulu) or curated premium storytelling (HBO Max), with both platforms delivering strong 2026 original content.
Recommended Bundle Price (All Services, No Ads)
Hulu: $44.99 (with ESPN Unlimited) | HBO Max: N/A
Hulu: 8 participants (Watch Party) | HBO Max: N/A
Hulu: Available with bundles | HBO Max: N/A
Hulu: Limited (select events only) | HBO Max: N/A
Hulu: Top 3 among streamers | HBO Max: N/A
Hulu: Disney+, ESPN+, FX content | HBO Max: Discovery+ integration only
Hulu: Tell Me Lies (7.2 rating) | HBO Max: Hacks S5, Euphoria S3
Hulu: ESPN+ with premium sports | HBO Max: None
Hulu: Limited | HBO Max: All Warner Bros. theatrical
Hulu: Disney+, ESPN+, Hulu | HBO Max: N/A
Hulu: Via ESPN+ partnership | HBO Max: N/A
Hulu: Standard mobile app | HBO Max: N/A
Hulu: Included (Hulu Watch Party) | HBO Max: N/A
Hulu: Easier to browse and find content | HBO Max: N/A
Hulu: $19.99/month (included) | HBO Max: N/A
Hulu: Next-day episodes of current shows | HBO Max: N/A
Hulu: Standalone app ending, merging into Disney+ | HBO Max: N/A
Hulu: Yes (ABC, NBC, Fox, FX) | HBO Max: N/A
Hulu: Same-day/next-day (typically 8-24 hours) | HBO Max: N/A
Hulu: $119.99 (with ads, includes Disney+ & ESPN+) | HBO Max: N/A
Hulu: 4K HDR, Dolby Atmos | HBO Max: N/A
Hulu: Yes (add-on: $14.99/mo) | HBO Max: N/A
Hulu: 2 screens (ad tier) / 4 screens (ad-free) | HBO Max: 4 (Premium)
Hulu: Yes ($14.99/month with Disney+/ESPN+) | HBO Max: N/A
Hulu: Next-day (24 hours) | HBO Max: N/A
Hulu: Available ($76.99/month add-on) | HBO Max: N/A
Hulu: Premium plan only | HBO Max: All plans
Hulu: 0 (base plan) | HBO Max: 0 channels
Hulu: ~2,500 titles | HBO Max: ~4,500 titles
Hulu: 25+ diverse originals | HBO Max: 40+ prestige originals
Hulu: ABC, Fox, NBC shows included | HBO Max: Not available
Hulu: $14.99 (with Disney+, ESPN+) | HBO Max: N/A
Hulu: Same-day or next-day | HBO Max: N/A
Hulu: Limited (requires add-ons) | HBO Max: N/A
Hulu: 65+ (Hulu+Live TV $76.99/mo) | HBO Max: N/A
Monthly Subscription Cost (Standard Tier)
Hulu: $7.99/month (with ads) | HBO Max: N/A
Hulu: ~15% of library in 4K | HBO Max: N/A
Hulu: 90+ channels (Live TV add-on) | HBO Max: N/A
Hulu: ~24 hours (next day) | HBO Max: N/A
Hulu: 0 games (requires ESPN+ add-on) | HBO Max: N/A
Hulu: Full (most networks) | HBO Max: N/A
Hulu: 42 originals | HBO Max: 68 originals
Hulu: 200+ titles | HBO Max: 800+ titles
Hulu: 500+ shows | HBO Max: Limited HBO only
Hulu: $14.99 (Disney+/ESPN+ bundle) | HBO Max: $21+ (HBO only bundle)
Hulu: All tiers | HBO Max: Limited to select titles only
Maximum Simultaneous Screens (Base Plan)
Hulu: 95+ (with Hulu + Live TV) | HBO Max: 0 (not included)
Hulu: 1080p (Standard/Premium) | HBO Max: 4K UltraHD (2160p) on all tiers
Hulu: Limited (select events) | HBO Max: N/A
Hulu: Yes (Disney+, ESPN+, Hulu) | HBO Max: N/A
Hulu: 40% of titles | HBO Max: 45% of library
Hulu: TV-MA to TV-Y (all ratings) | HBO Max: N/A
Hulu: 2 screens | HBO Max: 4 simultaneous
Hulu: N/A | HBO Max: Allowed with flexibility
Hulu: N/A | HBO Max: Available on premium plans
Hulu: N/A | HBO Max: Yes (Warner Bros. films)
Hulu: N/A | HBO Max: Yes (via Max Sports add-on)
Hulu: N/A | HBO Max: Strong European focus
Hulu: N/A | HBO Max: 4K HDR + Dolby Atmos
Hulu: N/A | HBO Max: Dolby Atmos (5.1.4 surround)
Hulu: N/A | HBO Max: Minimal (occasional boxing/WWE)
Hulu: N/A | HBO Max: 150+ devices including Fire, Roku, gaming consoles, smart TVs
Original Series Critical Quality (Avg Rotten Tomatoes)
Hulu: N/A | HBO Max: NFL, NCAA, MLB, NBA
Hulu: N/A | HBO Max: $9.99 (4K included)
Maximum Simultaneous Streams (Standard Tier)
Hulu: N/A | HBO Max: Available (select titles)
Hulu vs HBO Max — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for Hulu vs HBO Max. Contains 254 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
Hulu vs HBO Max — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Hulu vs HBO Max.
It depends on viewing preferences. Max is better for: HBO prestige dramas (The White Lotus, House of the Dragon, Succession, Euphoria, The Wire, The Sopranos), Warner Bros. theatrical films, DC content, and users who prioritize depth of critically acclaimed television. Hulu is better for: broad entertainment variety (next-day ABC, NBC, Fox network shows), FX originals (The Bear, Shogun, What We Do in the Shadows), adult animation, live TV (Hulu + Live TV replaces cable), and family-accessible content. Max is the choice for serious drama viewers; Hulu is the choice for households that want broader entertainment access and cord-cutting.
Yes. Warner Bros. Discovery rebranded HBO Max as simply "Max" in May 2023. The rebrand added Discovery+ content (reality TV, nature documentaries, food network programming) to the platform alongside the existing HBO, Warner Bros., DC, and CNN content. The "Max" branding reflects the expanded content scope beyond HBO originals, though HBO remains the platform's prestige flagship. The Max app replaced HBO Max on all devices; previous HBO Max subscribers automatically transitioned to Max. The new name caused some confusion among subscribers, but the core HBO catalog and original content remain unchanged.
No. HBO content (Succession, The Wire, The Sopranos, House of the Dragon, Euphoria, Chernobyl, Game of Thrones, The White Lotus) is exclusive to Max in the United States. Hulu does not carry HBO series — this is one of the primary reasons to subscribe to Max specifically. Warner Bros. Discovery licenses HBO content to international streaming platforms in some markets, but in the U.S., Max is the only streaming home for HBO programming. Hulu carries FX content (both entities are Disney-owned), which is a different premium cable network brand.
No. Max does not offer a live television package — it is an on-demand streaming service only. For live TV, Hulu + Live TV ($82.99/month) is the major streaming bundle option that includes 95+ live channels (ESPN, ABC, NBC, Fox News, CNN, local stations, sports networks). If you need both HBO content (from Max) and live TV, you would need to subscribe to Max separately and Hulu + Live TV — though Hulu + Live TV already includes Disney+ and ESPN+ in the bundle. YouTube TV and DirecTV Stream are also live TV streaming alternatives if you want live channels without Hulu.
Max plans: With Ads $5.99/month, Ad-Free $15.99/month, Ultimate Ad-Free (4K, 4 streams) $19.99/month. Hulu plans: With Ads $7.99/month, No Ads $17.99/month. Max's ad-supported tier ($5.99) is the cheapest major streaming ad-supported option in 2026. Hulu's ad-supported plan ($7.99) is slightly higher. For ad-free access, both are similarly priced ($15.99 Max vs $17.99 Hulu). For 4K streaming, Max Ultimate ($19.99) includes it; Hulu does not offer 4K at any tier. The best combined value is the Disney Bundle: $14.99/month with ads covers Disney+, Hulu (with ads), and ESPN+ — though Max requires a separate subscription.
Live TV Access: Hulu has Yes - 75+ channels included, while HBO Max has No - streaming only.
Bundle Inclusions: Hulu has Disney+, ESPN+, FX content, while HBO Max has HBO content only.
Base Monthly Price: Hulu has $7.99 (ad-supported), while HBO Max has $5.99 (ad-supported).
Premium Monthly Price: Hulu has $14.99 (ad-free), while HBO Max has $19.99 (ad-free).
Prestige HBO Original Series: Hulu has Access via FX content, while HBO Max has Hacks, Euphoria, Full HBO Library.
Sports Coverage: Hulu has ESPN+ included (premium sports), while HBO Max has No sports programming.
2026 Original Revival Focus: Hulu has Malcolm in the Middle reboot, while HBO Max has Hacks S5, Euphoria new season.
Best For Cord-Cutters: Hulu has Partial (live TV replacement), while HBO Max has Full streaming alternative.
Hulu offers live TV access with 75+ channels plus Disney+ and ESPN+ bundled, making it ideal for traditional TV viewers, while HBO Max focuses on premium HBO series and theatrical releases with a content-first approach. Both compete on price, originals quality, and library depth, with Hulu excelling