Max and Apple TV+ are two very popular streaming services. Both offer a lot of content, including films, shows, and documentaries, but how do they compare when placed side by side? And which service should you choose?
Well, there are pros and cons to both of these services. In this guide, we’ll take a close look at each one, covering seven key things you need to know about Apple TV+ vs Max to help you choose which service is right for you.
Apple TV+ is far cheaper than Max
Source: Apple TV+
One of the most important factors of all when it comes to streaming services is price, and there’s a big difference between Max and Apple TV+ in this respect. Here’s how much you’ll need to pay for these two services:
When signing up to Max, customers can choose from three different plans: With Ads, Ad-Free, and Ultimate Ad-Free.
Apple TV+, meanwhile, offers just one plan, and it's one of the cheapest streaming services in the world. Apple TV+ has no ads.
AppleTV Plus
Try 7 days free
- On demand content
- No ads
- Stream on six screens
- Offline viewing
$9.99/month
In the pricing stakes, Apple TV+ is the clear winner. It’s almost half the price of Max’s cheapest plan, and you don’t need to worry about any ads whatsoever.
Both streamers offer great original content
Max and Apple TV+, just like other streaming services, aim to draw in more viewers and subscribers by offering exclusive original content you can’t find anywhere else. Here’s how these two streaming giants compare in terms of their original shows and movies.
Some of the biggest original shows on Max include Gossip Girl, The Flight Attendant, Peacemaker, Made for Love, Close Enough, and Looney Tunes Cartoons. Original feature films have also appeared on the platform, like Zack Snyder's Justice League.
Apple TV+ has invested a lot of money in original programming, offering such shows as The Morning Show, See, Servant, For All Mankind, Mythic Quest, and Ted Lasso. The service also has some original feature films like Hala, The Banker, CODA, and The Tragedy of Macbeth.
In terms of original content, both Max and Apple TV+ offer a nice mixture of dramas, comedies, family shows, animation, movies, and documentaries, too. The best option for you will depend on personal preferences.
Max has much more licensed content to offer
Many streaming platforms offer a wide range of extra content, like licensed movies and shows, in additional to their original programming. Max follows this trend. It provides many extra movies, shows, and documentaries, with over 30,000 hours of on-demand content for viewers to enjoy. This includes classic comedy shows like Friends, DC movies, HBO originals, and tons of reality TV.
Apple TV+, however, does not feature a library of old content or shows and movies from other studios and brands. Instead, it focuses entirely on new, original films and programming. This means that the amount of content available on Apple TV+ is quite limited when compared to other platforms.
Max offers Android support
Compatibility is another area in which Max and Apple TV+ have some differences, with one service working on many more devices than the other. Both services can work on the following platforms
- Amazon Fire TV
- Apple TV
- Google Chromecast
- Roku
- iPhone
- Mac
- Windows
- PlayStation
- Xbox
- Smart TVs from LG, Samsung, Sony, and others
However, the big difference is that Max works on Android phones and tablets, while Apple TV+ does not. Apple often limits functionality of its products and services on Android, and this is the case for Apple TV+, too. So, if you want to use Apple TV+, you’ll have to do so without the use of your Android device.
Apple TV+ is full of 4K content
Video quality is often an area in which streaming services differ, as some of them offer lots of UHD 4K content, while others are more limited. How do Max and Apple TV+ compare in this aspect?
Well, both of these streaming platforms support 4K content. On Max, you can watch the latest WB movie releases in 4K, as long as you’re signed up for the premium, ad-free subscription plan.
Apple TV+, meanwhile, produces all of its content in 4K, so you can watch a large range of shows, movies, and documentaries in 4K quality, as long as you have a compatible 4K screen. Overall, Apple TV+ has more 4K content than Max.
Watch on way more screens with Apple TV+
Both Max and Apple TV+ allow users to stream on different devices simultaneously. This allows one person in the home to watch a movie on their phone while someone else watches a show on the smart TV, for example.
However, there is a difference in the number of simultaneous streams each service offers. Max will let you stream on three devices simultaneously. Apple TV+ is much more generous, with up to six simultaneous streams, twice as many as Max.
Both services have easy-to-use interfaces
In terms of user experience and interface, both Max and Apple TV+ have relatively streamlined and simplistic interfaces, designed to make things easy for users. They both offer simple menus and categories you can use to look for certain types of programs, as well as search functions for accessing your favorite shows and films.
Apple TV+ has been criticized by some for its interface due to its basic nature, but recent updates have improved the service. There is still room for improvement though, and it’s arguable that the Max interface is the better and more user-friendly of the two, for the moment.
Our takeaway: Both services have their pros and cons
Both Max and Apple TV+ have their advantages and disadvantages. The right service for you will depend on your budget, your tastes, and the kinds of devices you like to use to watch movies and shows, too.
Max has the benefit of more content, a wider range of content, and the ability to use the most devices. Apple TV+, meanwhile, is far more affordable, offers lots of interesting original programming, and has other unique bonuses like six simultaneous streams.
For larger families, Apple device owners, and budget-conscious streaming fans, Apple TV+ may be the best option. For those who want the most shows and movies, Max is perhaps the best choice.
Khadija Bilal • Author
Khadija Bilal is an accomplished writer with over a decade of experience under her belt. Having developed a versatile writing style that allows her to tackle a wide range of topics, Khadija has several publications to her name. Khadija’s expertise includes in-depth guides and how-to articles.
Lisa Holden • Editor
Lisa Holden is an editor and creative based in Houston, TX. Lisa holds a BA in African-American Studies from Temple University and has spent her career working in news publications and magazines, even founding a magazine herself. She began working as an editor for Flixed in 2023. When she’s not editing or working on one of her many creative endeavors (whenever that is), she enjoys traveling to new places and biking on sunny days.
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