For a long time, Netflix was the only major streaming service around and attracted a lot of fans and subscribers. But now, there are many more options out there, including HBO Max. So, how do these two platforms compare, and which one comes out on top in HBO Max vs Netflix?
In this guide, we’ll look at HBO Max and Netflix side by side. We’ll compare them based on several key factors, such as pricing, content, devices and simultaneous streams. By the end of this guide, you’ll have a clearer picture of which is the best service for you.
Quick Overview HBO Max vs Netflix
HBO Max is a streaming service which started in 2020. Owned by WarnerMedia, this service offers a wide range of HBO programming, including critically-acclaimed shows like Game of Thrones and The Wire. It also offers brand new WB cinematic releases like The Batman ready to stream mere weeks after they hit theaters.
Netflix is a streaming service with history dating back to 1997. It started as a DVD rental service and grew into an online streaming platform. Netflix offers a huge selection of original content, with shows like Squid Game and Stranger Things, as well as licensed films, movies, and documentaries from various studios and networks.
Best Pricing: HBO Max vs Netflix
Price is a very important factor for many people, especially when there are so many streaming services out there, and you need to pick and choose the platforms that fit your budget. Here’s how Netflix and HBO Max compare in the pricing stakes.
- HBO Max – HBO Max subscribers can choose from two main plan types: ads and ad-free. The ads-supported plan costs $10 a month or $100 a year and is the most affordable option of the two. The ad-free plan, meanwhile, costs $15 per month of $150 a year.
- Netflix – Netflix doesn’t have any ads, but it still offers three different plans for users to choose from. The Basic plan is cheapest, costing just $9.99 per month. The Standard plan is $15.49 per month and gives you more features, while the Premium plan is $19.99 per month and has the most features and Ultra HD content.
In terms of pricing, it’s a close call. If you want to pay the lowest amount, the annual ad-supported HBO Max plan, at $100 a year, is the cheapest. Netflix does offer good value for money with its Basic plan, but if you want all the features and functions, you’ll need to spend quite a lot of cash on a Premium subscription.
Best Original Content: HBO Max vs Netflix
Both HBO Max and Netflix offer original content to attract new subscribers and stand out in the increasingly competitive world of entertainment streaming. Each platform prides itself on its exclusive shows and movies, and here’s what you can find on each:
- HBO Max – HBO Max has a wide range of original shows for viewers to enjoy. This includes dramas like Gossip Girl and Station Eleven, comedies like The Flight Attendant and Peacemaker, and animation shows like Close Enough. There are also exclusive feature films on the platform like Zack Snyder’s Justice League.
- Netflix – Netflix also has a huge range of original content, including films, shows, stand-up specials, and documentaries. Some of the most popular original content on Netflix includes the South Korean dystopic thriller Squid Game, the 80s throwback Stranger Things, and the British royal drama The Crown.
In terms of original content, both HBO Max and Netflix have a good range of films and shows for users to enjoy. In terms of quantity, Netflix has more original programming and is currently investing more into its original content than HBO Max, but this could change in the future.
Best Other Content: HBO Max vs Netflix
Both Netflix and HBO Max also have a range of other content to complete their streaming libraries, giving users endless hours of laughs and thrills.
HBO Max, for example, has over 10,000 hours of on-demand content for its subscribers. This includes all of the past HBO classics like The Wire and True Detective. The service also has some of the most popular comedy shows on-demand, including Friends and The Big Bang Theory.
In comparison, Netflix boasts over 35,000 hours of on-demand content. So it has a bigger library than HBO Max, and it offers a wide range of popular shows from the past and from more recent times, including The West Wing, Schitt’s Creek, Parks and Recreation, The Great British Baking Show, and Star Trek: The Next Generation. There are also hundreds of movies on Netflix.
The best option for you will depend on your personal preferences. Netflix has more content, so is more likely to have shows and films you like. However, HBO Max may have the better quality shows that fit your tastes.
Best Devices and Compatibility: HBO Max vs Netflix
Compatibility is one area in which HBO Max and Netflix are more or less equal. They both run on a huge range of devices, including the following:
- Living room devices – Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, Roku
- Smart TVs – Including brands like LG, Samsung, and Sony
- Mobile devices – Android and iOS phones and tablets
- Browsers – All major internet browsers
- Video game consoles – Xbox and PlayStation
No matter what kind of device you want to stream on, you shouldn’t have any issues using either HBO Max or Netflix.
Best Video Quality: HBO Max vs Netflix
Video quality is one area in which some streaming services appear to be moving more quickly than others. Some services are offering a lot of 4K Ultra HD content, while others are lagging behind.
HBO Max is quite limited in terms of its 4K content at the moment. The only 4K content you can find on the platform is the latest WB movies, like The Batman and The Matrix Resurrections. In terms of shows, HBO Max’s programming is mostly limited to 1080p for now.
Netflix, on the other hand, has a lot of content available in 4K to entice subscribers to sign up for the Premium Plan. Many of the show’s latest releases and most popular programs, like Russian Doll, Stranger Things, Mindhunter, and Money Heist, are all available in 4K.
If you have a 4K display and want to watch shows and films in the best quality, Netflix may be slightly more appealing to you right now.
Best Simultaneous Streams: HBO Max vs Netflix
Both HBO Max and Netflix allow users to stream on different devices at the same time, but they have different approaches in terms of how this feature is provided.
On HBO Max, you can watch on up to three devices simultaneously. This is true for all subscribers. So it doesn’t matter if you’re on the basic $10/month plan or the ad-free $15/month plan.
Netflix does things differently. On the Basic plan, you only get to stream on one device at a time. You’ll get two devices on the Standard plan. If you want the most simultaneous streams – 4 – you need to pay for the Premium plan.
Netflix’s Premium plan offers the most simultaneous streams. However, in terms of value for money, HBO Max is arguably the better choice. It gives subscribers three streams for just $10 a month.
Best Interface and User Experience: HBO Max vs Netflix
The best streaming platforms need to have clean and modern user interfaces. This is an area in which both HBO Max and Netflix excel. Both of these platforms provide great user experiences.
They both have easy-to-understand categories, simple menus, and effective search bars. They also both allow you to create your own watch lists and get recommendations based on your viewing history.
Which Is Better: HBO Max vs Netflix in 2022?
Both HBO Max and Netflix have their own pros and cons, and both of them are highly recommendable. The right service for you will depend on various factors, including your budget and your viewing preferences.
HBO Max has the advantage of being a new and rapidly-growing service with some great exclusives. Being able to stream brand new WB movies is a huge plus point of this platform. It also offers great value for money.
Netflix is more expensive but offers more content, at the moment. It’s one of the leaders of the streaming industry and continues to set the standard with its popular original content.
