How many of you watched the hit TV series, Game of Thrones?
HBO has always been the go-to for quality movies and shows. You’ve got classic shows like Curb Your Enthusiasm which is still quoted and beloved to this day. The show has had such a lasting impact on our culture that its theme song is ubiquitous with meme culture.
With all these hits under their belt, HBO and HBO Max are great platforms to get your entertainment needs. But they don’t have to be your only choice.
HBO isn’t the only platform that churns out hit programming. These days, you have plenty of options like Disney+ where you can catch all the Star Wars and Marvel shows. Then there’s Netflix with crowd-favorite series like Stranger Things and Black Mirror.
You don’t have to limit yourself to HBO to get quality entertainment. There are numerous streaming platforms that will get you some grade-A programming.
To help you expand your horizons beyond HBO Max, we sample a collection of streaming platforms and their exclusive content.
Top 5 alternatives to HBO Max
Without a doubt, HBO Max is a powerhouse in the home entertainment market. You’ll get a diverse selection of shows that can keep you hooked for hours on end. But that doesn’t mean that it’s the only place to find great shows.
Here are some HBO alternatives that might pique your interest.
1. Netflix
It should come as no surprise that Netflix makes its way onto this list. The streaming giant has been going since 1997 and has become one of the go-to services for streaming content. In fact, it wouldn’t be a stretch to blame the fall of Blockbuster and the video rental stores on Netflix. You can even attribute the decline of cable to the platform.
As a giant in the industry, you can expect quality content on the platform. Aside from hit shows like Stranger Things and Black Mirror, there are more original shows like The Witcher and The Dragon Prince. But besides that, there are thousands of hours worth of on-demand content available on Netflix.
All in all, Netflix is one of the best alternatives you can find to HBO Max. For a more detailed head-to-head comparison, check out our guide to HBO Max vs. Netflix.
2. Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Prime Video is currently the 2nd-most subscribed streaming platform worldwide. This in itself is a testament to the quality of programming you can find on the platform. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that one of the biggest tech companies in the world would come up with an outstanding streaming platform.
On Amazon Prime Video, you can catch the compelling and often horrifying world of The Boys. Then, if there’s a hole in your heart after the end of A Game of Thrones, you can also watch the adaptation of the award-winning book series The Wheel of Time. There’s even the entertaining and hilarious animated show: The Legend of Vox Machina.
From just its original content, Amazon Prime Video is worth the watch. Thanks to the quality original content that just keeps getting better, it’s a great alternative to HBO Max.
3. Disney+
There is no other company as synonymous with entertainment as Disney. It goes without saying that Disney+ is chock-full of the best movies and shows that you’ll ever find.
On Disney+, you’ll get a headstart on catching the latest Disney shows and movies. These include the live-action Mulan movie which premiered on Disney+ before anywhere else. Besides that, you’ll also get to watch all the hit Marvel shows. Catch shows like Loki—which was one of the highlights of last year.
You can also stay tuned in on the latest and greatest entries into the beloved Star Wars franchise. Then, you can catch shows like The Mandalorian and The Book of Fett when you subscribe to Disney+.
4. Hulu
Hulu is another one of the giants of the streaming industry. Launched in 2007, it’s also one of the oldest platforms in the business. With that pedigree to its name, you can expect to find a great source of entertainment when you subscribe to Hulu.
When you watch Hulu, you’ll get to follow compelling shows like Wu-Tang: An American Saga, which chronicles the formation and early beginning of the famous Wu-Tang Clan. Other than that, you can also catch How I Met Your Father, a sequel to one of the most renowned sitcoms of recent memory.
5. Paramount+
While Paramount+ isn’t as big as some of the previous names on this list, it’s still a service that is worth noting and considering as an HBO Max alternative.
The biggest strength Paramount+ has is its diversity of content. The platform boasts a wide range of original shows and movies that the entire family can enjoy. First of all, you’ve got Yellowstone, which stars Kevin Costner starring as the head of a powerful family of ranchers. The show chronicles the trials and tribulations faced by the family as they tackle the difficulties that come with maintaining their ranch.
To further bolster its library of original content, you can find all the latest Star Trek shows on Paramount+. Take, for instance, the latest installment to the acclaimed sci-fi series: Star Trek: Picard. Besides that, there are shows that kids can enjoy like the reboot and live-action sequel to The Fairly OddParents.
All in all, with Paramount+ you’ll find a great service that can contend with the best that HBO Max has to offer.
Expand your horizons beyond HBO Max
It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that HBO Max is a quality product. After all, HBO has made quality shows for the better part of 3 decades by now. But that doesn’t mean that it’s the only streaming platform that you can enjoy.
From Netflix to Paramount+, you have endless options to choose from. You don’t need to lock yourself into HBO Max to find a platform that can fulfill your entertainment needs and watch your favorite TV classics.
Eric Liston is a content writer based in Columbus, Ohio. Since 2015, he’s been writing about technology, cord-cutting, and helping everyday people save money. He also has expertise writing about medicine, dentistry, insurance, and a variety of other industries. No matter what he’s writing, his focus is always on simplifying complex concepts and making them approachable for everyone. When he’s not slamming away on his keyboard at his home office, you’ll find Eric reading sci-fi novels, improving his disc golf game (he just hit his first 400-foot drive) and playing video games on his gaming PC.
