With so many streaming services available today, it can be tricky to know which one to choose. Hulu and HBO Max are two popular examples, both offering their own unique content libraries and original programs, but how do they compare?
In this guide, we’ll look at HBO Max vs Hulu, covering seven key areas to see which service comes out on top in terms of pricing, original content, features, and more. Read on to learn all you need to know about choosing between Hulu and HBO Max.
HBO Max now has the better pricing
To start off our comparison, let’s look at one of the most important factors for most people: price. If you want the best value for money, you need to pick and choose which subscription services you choose to pay for, as some offer much better value than others. Here’s how much you can expect to pay for HBO Max and Hulu:
HBO Max offers three different payment plans for its members. There’s Basic with Ads, Standard, and Premium.
HBO Max Basic with Ads
$109.99 per year with annual billing
- On demand content with ads
- Stream on two screens
- Full HD 1080p
$10.99/month
HBO Max Standard
$184.99 per year with annual billing
- No ads
- Stream on two screens
- Full HD 1080p
- 30 offline downloads
- Live sports included
$18.49/month
HBO Max Premium
$229.99 per year with annual billing
- No ads
- 4K Ultra HD and Dolby Atmos
- Stream on four screens
- 100 offline downloads
- Live sports included
$22.99/month
With Hulu, you can choose from two different plans, one with ads and one without. You can also subscribe to Hulu and get Disney+ and ESPN Select (formerly ESPN+) with the Disney bundle.
Hulu (With Ads)
- Stream on two screens
- Big movies
- Hit TV shows
- On demand content
$12.49/month
Hulu Premium (No Ads)
- No ads
- Stream on two screens
- Hit TV shows and movies
- Offline downloads
$21.49/month
Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Select Bundle
- Includes Disney+, Hulu and ESPN Select
- With ads
- On demand content
$21.99/month
There are also two Hulu + live TV plans, but for this comparison, we’re focusing on Hulu on-demand. With that in mind, HBO Max is now the more affordable option of the two. After Hulu’s 2026 price increases, both of Hulu’s plans cost more than the matching HBO Max plans.
Both services have great original content
Like many other streaming platforms, HBO Max and Hulu aim to attract new subscribers with their own original content. Here are some of the original shows and movies you can find on each of these services:
Some of the most popular original shows on HBO Max include The Flight Attendant, Peacemaker, Rap Sh!t, and Gossip Girl (2021). There are also various original feature films on the platform, like Unpregnant and Zack Snyder's Justice League.
Hulu has been producing original content since 2011, including shows like Battleground, 11.22.63, The Path, and The Handmaid's Tale. There are also original Hulu films like Little Monsters, Palm Springs, Run, and Mother/Android.
In terms of original content, both HBO Max and Hulu offer various shows and programs in different genres. Viewers can enjoy original dramas, thrillers, comedies, and documentaries on both platforms.
Both services also have great licensed content
Like other streaming platforms, HBO Max and Hulu also offer various other shows and films for subscribers.
Subscribers to HBO Max can watch all of the old HBO shows, like The Sopranos, The Wire, and Game of Thrones, in addition to Warner Bros. movies and many other famous shows, such as Friends and The Big Bang Theory.
Hulu has thousands of TV episodes for fans to watch, featuring shows like American Horror Story, Castle Rock, Fargo, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and What We Do in the Shadows.
Both of these platforms offer a wide range of shows and movies on-demand for users, spanning genres like comedy, horror, drama, and romance.
Hulu and HBO Max have similar device support
One of the areas in which HBO Max and Hulu are very similar is in terms of devices and compatibility. Both of these streaming services are available on a range of different platforms, including:
- Android phones and tablets
- Amazon Fire TV
- Apple TV
- Google Chromecast
- iOS phones and tablets
- Roku
- Mac
- Windows
- PlayStation
- Xbox
- Smart TVs from LG, Samsung, Sony, and others
Hulu takes the lead with video quality
Most modern streaming services offer at least some 4K content. HBO Max and Hulu are no different. Both of these services provide some 4K viewing experiences. HBO Max, for example, offers the latest Warner Bros. movies in 4K UHD quality. Hulu, meanwhile, offers most of its original films and programs in 4K, too.
When comparing the two, Hulu has the edge, with a wider variety of content available in 4K and is available in either plan. HBO Max’s 4K content can only be accessed at its most expensive plan.
HBO Max and Hulu have different methods for simultaneous streams
Both HBO Max and Hulu allow users to stream on different devices at the same time. However, they have different approaches and different limits for users to be aware of.
On HBO Max, you can stream on two different devices simultaneously for the Basic with Ads and Standard plans, and on four different devices with the Premium plan.
On Hulu, you’ll have just two simultaneous streams for both plans. However, you can pay an extra fee to access the “Unlimited Streams” add-on and stream as many different devices on your own home network as you want.
Both streamers share a simple interface and user experience
Hulu is well-known for its simplistic and easy-to-use interface which has improved and evolved over the years to remain fresh and modern. HBO Max also has a user-friendly interface, with categories, a search function, and a watch list for users to keep track of their favorite content.
Both of these services do a good job in terms of interface and user experience, and there isn’t much between them in this aspect. So, no matter which one you choose, you should be getting a user-friendly experience.
Our takeaway: Both services are great options
Both HBO Max and Hulu are well-rated and popular streaming services with large content libraries and a lot of original programming. They are both recommendable to various users, from families with children to older couples or solo subscribers.
The right choice for you may depend on which shows and films you prefer. HBO Max has the advantage of Warner Bros. and DC Universe films, as well as all of the newly added reality tv content from Discovery+. Meanwhile, Hulu has tons of other popular content from their original series to their licensed content.
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.
Kelsey Reynolds • Editor
Kelsey is a content strategist based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She holds a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from the University of Minnesota. Kelsey was drawn to working at Flixed because the team was so open, motivated, and curious. She most enjoys thinking about how to blend programmatic and editorial content to answer readers’ questions as completely and efficiently as possible. When she’s not at her computer, Kelsey can usually be found working in her garden or walking her two dogs in the park.
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