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
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.
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.
Structured comparison data for Apple TV+ vs HBO Max with 204 attributes.
Monthly Subscription Cost (Standard Plan)
Average Rotten Tomatoes Score (Originals Only)
Monthly Subscription Cost (Standard Tier)
Original Series Critical Quality (Avg Rotten Tomatoes)
Original Series & Films (Emmy Nominations 2023-2024)
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.