Hulu vs HBO Max: price and which to choose
Quick verdict
Hulu lists 4K on both of its plans; HBO Max keeps 4K and Dolby Atmos for Premium. HBO Max lets you prepay every plan and includes NHL and MLB games on Standard and Premium; Hulu prepays only the plan with ads. They can also come together in the Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max bundle.
Option A
Option B
We compare plans with a similar purpose, whose features may differ; prices before sales tax; prices for other plans and periods are in the reviews.
Feature comparison
| Criterion | Hulu | HBO Max |
|---|---|---|
| Plans | With Ads, Premium | Basic with Ads, Standard, Premium |
| 4K | Both plans | Premium |
| Yearly billing | Plan with ads | Every plan |
| Downloads | Premium | None / 30 / 100 |
| Live sports | ESPN bundles, Live TV | NHL, MLB (Standard, Premium) |
| Screens at once | 2 | 2 / 2 / 4 |
Hulu is a US library of current TV series and originals; HBO Max carries HBO, Warner Bros. films and series and, on its upper plans, live sports.
If you don’t want to read further
4K without paying for the top plan — Hulu. Prepaying a year, HBO originals or NHL and MLB games — HBO Max.
What really sets them apart
In each row, the last sentence matters most — what the difference means for you.
Where is 4K?
Hulu
Up to 4K UHD on both plans, including the one with ads.
HBO Max
Premium only, with Dolby Atmos as available; the other plans are 1080p.
For 4K on a budget, Hulu (With Ads).
Yearly billing?
Hulu
Only Hulu (With Ads).
HBO Max
Every plan; HBO Max puts the saving at 16%.
If you’ll stay all year without ads, only HBO Max lets you prepay.
Downloads?
Hulu
Hulu Premium, select shows and movies.
HBO Max
None on Basic with Ads, 30 on Standard, 100 on Premium.
Neither plan with ads downloads; HBO Max Standard is the cheaper ad-free way to download.
Live sports?
Hulu
Through ESPN bundles or Hulu + Live TV — separate plans.
HBO Max
Select NHL and MLB games on Standard and Premium, two devices at once.
For hockey or baseball without extra plans, HBO Max.
Screens at once?
Hulu
Two.
HBO Max
Two on Basic with Ads and Standard, four on Premium (two for sports).
Larger households need HBO Max Premium.
Where they don’t differ, even though it seems they should
This part is often more useful than the list of differences — it saves money for anyone who was about to pay for an imaginary advantage.
Extra Member add-on
Both sell an add-on for someone outside your household.
A plan with ads
Hulu (With Ads) and HBO Max Basic with Ads are the entry points.
In one bundle
Disney sells a Disney+, Hulu and HBO Max bundle.
Which one fits whom
| Your situation | What to choose | On what condition |
|---|---|---|
| You want 4K but not the top plan | Hulu (With Ads) | Up to 4K UHD with ads. |
| You’ll prepay a year without ads | HBO Max Standard or Premium | Every plan has a yearly option. |
| You follow NHL or MLB | HBO Max Standard or Premium | Select games, two devices at once. |
| You want Disney+ as well | The Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max bundle | All three on one bill. |
- Hulu requires being located in the US.
- HBO Max Basic with Ads has no downloads and no live sports.
- HBO Max lists prices without applicable taxes.
- Hulu Premium still has ads on a few shows.
Where the facts come from
Sources: the Hulu Help Center and the HBO Max Help Center for the US. Prices are in the price blocks on each service’s page.
Facts in the text checked: .
FAQ: Hulu or HBO Max
Other comparisons
The same products against other competitors, and other comparisons in the “Streaming services” category.
Where their scores differ
Only criteria we’ve checked for both services and where the scores differ. Equal criteria and criteria without data aren’t shown here, because they add nothing to the decision.
If what matters most is — maximum resolution: Hulu Premium
Hulu Premium: 4K UHD (HDR not for all content) (4,0/5) · HBO Max Standard: 1080p Full HD (3,0/5)
If what matters most is — what else is included: HBO Max Standard
Hulu Premium: the catalog only (2,0/5) · HBO Max Standard: 1 extra content type at no extra cost (3,0/5)
If what matters most is — profiles: Hulu Premium
Hulu Premium: up to 7 (5,0/5) · HBO Max Standard: up to 5 (4,0/5)
If what matters most is — app rating: HBO Max Standard
Hulu Premium: 4,6 out of 5 (4,6/5) · HBO Max Standard: 4,9 out of 5 (4,9/5)
The scores and their weights are the same as in the reviews of both services. How we calculate
Comparison text updated: