HBO Max offers superior content depth with 10,000+ titles and stronger HBO/Warner Bros exclusives, while Peacock provides better value at its entry-level tier ($5.99/month with ads) and includes live sports from NBC/Premier League. HBO Max costs more but delivers premium cinema and prestige TV, whereas Peacock balances entertainment with live programming at lower price points.
HBO Max vs Peacock — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Premium streaming service owned by Warner Bros Discovery featuring HBO, DC, Warner Bros, and original content.
NBC Universal's streaming platform with NBC content, live sports, and original programming at competitive pricing.
Monthly Cost (Ad-Supported Tier). Monthly Cost (Ad-Free Tier). Total Content Library. Live Sports Coverage. Exclusive HBO/Max Originals per Year. 4K Content Available. Simultaneous Streams
Choose HBO Max if you prioritize premium films, prestige dramas like Succession and The Last of Us, and don't care about live sports—the deeper content catalog justifies the premium price. Choose Peacock if you want the best overall value, enjoy live sports (Premier League, NBC events), need budget flexibility with a $5.99 entry tier, and appreciate access to NBC's library and Peacock originals like The Office spinoffs.
HBO Max: Allowed with flexibility | Peacock: N/A
HBO Max: Available on premium plans | Peacock: N/A
HBO Max: Yes (Warner Bros. films) | Peacock: N/A
HBO Max: Yes (via Max Sports add-on) | Peacock: N/A
HBO Max: Strong European focus | Peacock: N/A
HBO Max: 4K HDR + Dolby Atmos | Peacock: 4K HDR on select content
HBO Max: 4 (Premium) | Peacock: 4 (Premium)
HBO Max: Discovery+ integration only | Peacock: N/A
HBO Max: Hacks S5, Euphoria S3 | Peacock: N/A
HBO Max: All Warner Bros. theatrical | Peacock: N/A
HBO Max: 4K (2160p) with Dolby Vision | Peacock: 1080p HD
HBO Max: Dolby Atmos (5.1.4 surround) | Peacock: N/A
HBO Max: Minimal (occasional boxing/WWE) | Peacock: Premier League, Olympics, WWE, NFL, PGA Tour
HBO Max: 150+ devices including Fire, Roku, gaming consoles, smart TVs | Peacock: N/A
HBO Max: Limited to select titles only | Peacock: N/A
HBO Max: 40+ prestige originals | Peacock: N/A
Original Series Critical Quality (Avg Rotten Tomatoes)
HBO Max: None | Peacock: Premier League, NBC events, WWE, Olympics
HBO Max: N/A | Peacock: Top 5 among streamers
HBO Max: N/A | Peacock: Premier (WWE, Olympics, NFL)
HBO Max: N/A | Peacock: Yes (premium tier)
HBO Max: N/A | Peacock: 45 days exclusive
HBO Max: N/A | Peacock: NBA, NFL, Winter Olympics, Summer Olympics
HBO Max: N/A | Peacock: Strong NBC franchises
HBO Max: N/A | Peacock: Vertical video for sports, gaming integration
HBO Max: N/A | Peacock: 25% more content engagement vs traditional TV
HBO Max: N/A | Peacock: Regular updates, weekly sports
HBO Max: N/A | Peacock: Sports-focused limited
HBO Max: N/A | Peacock: 25% more than NBC viewers
HBO Max: N/A | Peacock: Limited to NBC/Comcast
HBO Max: N/A | Peacock: NBA, Olympics, select NFL
HBO Max: N/A | Peacock: Vertical video format
HBO Max: N/A | Peacock: $169.99 (estimated)
HBO Max: N/A | Peacock: No (not available)
HBO Max: N/A | Peacock: NFL, NBA, NHL, Olympics
HBO Max: N/A | Peacock: Courtside Live, Rinkside Live, Multiview
HBO Max: N/A | Peacock: 18+ (sports, adult content)
HBO Max: N/A | Peacock: Limited (basic PIN protection)
HBO Max: N/A | Peacock: Yes (limited, with ads)
HBO Max: N/A | Peacock: 4+ (NFL, Premier League, WWE, Olympics)
HBO Max: N/A | Peacock: NFL, Premier League, WWE, PGA, Olympics
HBO Max: N/A | Peacock: Free with ads ($5.99 ad-free)
HBO Max: N/A | Peacock: Yes (NBC, Bravo, Universal networks)
HBO Max: N/A | Peacock: 4 concurrent streams (Premium+)
HBO Max: N/A | Peacock: $0 (Ad-supported) / $5.99 (Premium)
HBO Max: N/A | Peacock: 4-6 minutes (Free tier)
HBO Max: N/A | Peacock: 4K (Premium tier)
HBO Max: N/A | Peacock: 4 (Premium plan)
HBO Max: N/A | Peacock: Yes (Premium tier)
HBO Max: N/A | Peacock: $7.99/month (Peacock Premium)
HBO Max: N/A | Peacock: $13.99/month (Peacock Premium Plus)
HBO Max: N/A | Peacock: Yes — Peacock Free (ads, limited)
HBO Max: N/A | Peacock: Yes — exclusive NBA streaming rights
HBO Max: N/A | Peacock: NFL Sunday Night Football (exclusive)
HBO Max: N/A | Peacock: $5.99 (with ads)
HBO Max: N/A | Peacock: NFL, NBA, NHL, Premier League, WWE
HBO Max: N/A | Peacock: 18 new originals
HBO Max: N/A | Peacock: Yes (7,000+ hours)
HBO Max: N/A | Peacock: All tiers (extensive)
HBO Max: N/A | Peacock: Comprehensive (Premier League, WWE, NHL, NFL)
HBO Max: N/A | Peacock: 40+ (included Premium)
HBO Max: N/A | Peacock: NFL, Premier League, WWE, Olympics
HBO Max: N/A | Peacock: 4 (Premium tier)
HBO Max: N/A | Peacock: 100+ NFL games, Premier League, WWE
How to choose between HBO Max and Peacock
HBO Max vs Peacock — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for HBO Max vs Peacock. Contains 184 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
HBO Max vs Peacock — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for HBO Max vs Peacock.
Which streaming service is cheaper overall?
Peacock is $2/month cheaper at the ad-supported tier ($5.99 vs $7.99) and $4/month cheaper at the ad-free tier ($11.99 vs $15.99). Over one year, choosing Peacock saves $24-48 depending on tier selection.
Does HBO Max or Peacock have better sports coverage?
Peacock has significantly better sports coverage, offering live Premier League soccer (175 matches per season), WWE wrestling, NBC sporting events, and Olympic Games streaming. HBO Max does not offer any live sports programming.
HBO Max has approximately 1,000 more titles (10,000+ vs 9,000+). However, Peacock's 9,000+ library is still substantial and includes the entire NBC back catalog including iconic shows like The Office and Parks & Recreation.
Yes, both support 4K streaming on premium tiers. HBO Max offers 500+ 4K titles compared to Peacock's 300+, giving HBO Max a stronger 4K library for movie enthusiasts seeking highest quality visuals.
Which service has better original shows?
HBO Max produces 150+ original series annually versus Peacock's 35+, including prestige dramas like Succession, True Detective, and The Last of Us. Peacock focuses more on reality/competition shows and comedy series rather than dramatic prestige content.
How to Choose Between HBO Max and Peacock
Consider: Monthly Cost (Ad-Supported Tier)
Monthly Cost (Ad-Supported Tier): HBO Max has $7.99, while Peacock has $5.99.
Monthly Cost (Ad-Free Tier): HBO Max has $15.99, while Peacock has $11.99.
Total Content Library: HBO Max has 10,000+ titles, while Peacock has 9,000+ titles.
Live Sports Coverage: HBO Max has None, while Peacock has NBC, Premier League, WWE, Olympics.
Consider: Exclusive HBO/Max Originals per Year
Exclusive HBO/Max Originals per Year: HBO Max has 150+, while Peacock has 0.
4K Content Available: HBO Max has 500+, while Peacock has 300+.
Simultaneous Streams: HBO Max has 4 (premium tier), while Peacock has 4 (premium tier).