Best Streaming Video · head-to-head
Hulu vs HBO Max
A sourced, side-by-side comparison for streaming video. HBO Max has the lower entry price. Every figure links to the public page it was captured from — the vendor's own wherever the vendor publishes the number, otherwise the named public source — with the date we captured it.
HBO Max has the lower entry price — Hulu starts at $11.99/mo, HBO Max at $10.99/mo. Free tier: Hulu No, HBO Max No. HIPAA: Hulu —, HBO Max —.
As of 2026-09-05 · figures link to their source below STALE
Side by side
Hulu
$11.99/mo entryHBO Max
$10.99/mo entrySources — Hulu: dealnews.com (verified 2026-09-05) STALE · 2026-06-13 · HBO Max: hbomax.com (verified 2026-09-05)
Key features
Hulu: Unlimited Cloud DVR with 9-month retention (Live TV plans); 95+ live channels including local ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX affiliates (Live TV plans); Next-day access to current-season network programming; Hulu Originals library; Disney+ and ESPN content accessible within Hulu app (Live TV bundle); Add-on channel packages (HBO, Showtime, Starz) available; Student discount — $1.99/mo on With Ads plan
HBO Max: 4K Ultra HD + Dolby Atmos (Premium only); 35,000+ hours of content including HBO originals, Warner Bros. films, DC Universe, Discovery content; 300+ live sports games — NHL, MLB, NBA, U.S. Soccer, March Madness (Standard and Premium); Offline downloads (30 titles on Standard; 100 titles on Premium); Parental controls; Content from HBO, Max Originals, Warner Bros., DC, Discovery, CNN, TNT, TBS