HBO Max focuses on premium HBO content and blockbuster films with a $16/month ad-free tier, while Hulu offers broader general entertainment with next-day TV access and costs $8/month with ads. HBO Max wins for cinephiles; Hulu wins for TV binge-watchers.
HBO Max vs Hulu — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Premium streaming service featuring HBO originals, Warner Bros films, and DC content.
Subscription video-on-demand streaming service with licensed TV shows, films, and original programming.
Monthly Cost (Ad-Free Tier). Original Series Count (2024). 4K Content Library. Live TV Access. Same-Day TV Episodes. Films Released Theatrically (Annual). Simultaneous Streaming Accounts
Choose HBO Max if you prioritize cinematic quality, premium HBO content, and Warner Bros theatrical releases—it's ideal for movie enthusiasts and prestige drama fans. Choose Hulu if you want comprehensive television coverage, next-day network TV episodes, live TV options, and broader entertainment variety at a lower cost.
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: 4 (Premium) | Hulu: 2 (ad-free plan)
HBO Max: Discovery+ integration only | Hulu: Disney+, ESPN+, FX content
HBO Max: Hacks S5, Euphoria S3 | Hulu: Tell Me Lies (7.2 rating)
HBO Max: None | Hulu: ESPN+ with premium sports
HBO Max: All Warner Bros. theatrical | Hulu: Limited
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 | Hulu: N/A
HBO Max: Limited to select titles only | Hulu: All tiers
HBO Max: All plans | Hulu: Premium plan only
HBO Max: 0 channels | Hulu: 500+ (Live TV tier)
HBO Max: ~4,500 titles | Hulu: ~2,500 titles
HBO Max: 40+ prestige originals | Hulu: 25+ diverse originals
HBO Max: Not available | Hulu: ABC, Fox, NBC shows included
Original Series Critical Quality (Avg Rotten Tomatoes)
HBO Max: 220+ originals | Hulu: 80+ originals
HBO Max: 68 originals | Hulu: 42 originals
HBO Max: 800+ titles | Hulu: 200+ titles
HBO Max: 0 (not included) | Hulu: 50+ channels
HBO Max: Limited HBO only | Hulu: 500+ shows
HBO Max: $21+ (HBO only bundle) | Hulu: $14.99 (Disney+/ESPN+ bundle)
HBO Max: $9.99 (4K included) | Hulu: N/A
HBO Max: 4K UltraHD (2160p) on all tiers | Hulu: 1080p Full HD (Premium)
Recommended Bundle Price (All Services, No Ads)
HBO Max: N/A | 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+, 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: Yes ($14.99/month with Disney+/ESPN+)
HBO Max: N/A | Hulu: 30 days (varies by plan)
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: $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)
Monthly Subscription Cost (Standard Tier)
HBO Max: N/A | 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 vs Hulu — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for HBO Max vs Hulu. Contains 222 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
HBO Max vs Hulu — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for HBO Max vs Hulu.
Can I watch current TV shows the day after they air?
Hulu offers next-day access to 500+ shows from ABC, NBC, FOX, and cable networks. HBO Max only provides same/next-day access to HBO-owned shows (like Game of Thrones spinoffs), not broadcast network TV.
Which service has better movie selection?
HBO Max has significantly better movie content with 40-50 Warner Bros theatrical releases annually, 800+ 4K titles, and premium film libraries. Hulu focuses on TV content and has minimal theatrical film releases.
Only Hulu includes live TV across its $8+ subscription tiers, offering 50+ channels including ESPN, Disney Channel, and FX. HBO Max does not offer any live TV access.
What's the best deal if I want multiple Disney/Warner services?
Hulu's bundle with Disney+ and ESPN+ costs $14.99/month for all three. HBO Max has no comparable bundle advantage—you'd pay $16.99+ for HBO Max alone, making Hulu's ecosystem a better value if you want multiple services.
How many people can watch at the same time?
HBO Max Premium allows 4 simultaneous streams on different devices. Hulu's standard plan allows only 2 screens at once, though Hulu+ with ads supports 2 screens and Hulu (No Ads) supports 2 screens—HBO Max provides more flexibility for families.
Monthly Cost (Ad-Free Tier): HBO Max has $16.99/month, while Hulu has $14.99/month.
Original Series Count (2024): HBO Max has 68 originals annually, while Hulu has 42 originals annually.
4K Content Library: HBO Max has 800+ titles, while Hulu has 200+ titles.
Live TV Access: HBO Max has Not included, while Hulu has Included in $8+ tiers.
Same-Day TV Episodes: HBO Max has Limited HBO shows only, while Hulu has Next-day access to 500+ shows.
Consider: Films Released Theatrically (Annual)
Films Released Theatrically (Annual): HBO Max has 40-50 Warner Bros films, while Hulu has 0-5 theatrical films.
Consider: Simultaneous Streaming Accounts
Simultaneous Streaming Accounts: HBO Max has 4 screens (Premium tier), while Hulu has 2 screens (standard).