Netflix vs HBO Max: price and which to choose
Quick verdict
In the US, Netflix and HBO Max answer three questions differently. HBO Max lets you pay every plan yearly and includes select NHL and MLB games on Standard and Premium; Netflix bills monthly only, and its sport comes as live events — NFL games, WWE Raw, boxing — on every plan. Netflix’s plan with ads still downloads; HBO Max’s doesn’t.
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 | Netflix | HBO Max |
|---|---|---|
| Plan with ads | Standard with ads | Basic with Ads |
| Screens at once | 2, 2 or 4 | 2, 2 or 4 (sports 2) |
| Downloads | 15 a month / up to 100 per device | None, 30 or 100 |
| Yearly billing | No | Yes, every plan |
| Live sports | Live events (NFL, WWE Raw), every plan | NHL and MLB, Standard and Premium |
| Share outside the home | Extra member (Standard/Premium) | Extra Member add-on |
Two big US streaming services with similar plan ladders: a plan with ads, a 1080p ad-free plan and a 4K Premium plan. The differences are in billing, sports, downloads and sharing.
If you don’t want to read further
Want to prepay a year or watch NHL and MLB games — HBO Max. Want downloads on the cheapest plan and a simple monthly plan — Netflix. Both offer a paid way to share with someone outside your home.
What really sets them apart
In each row, the last sentence matters most — what the difference means for you.
Can the cheapest plan download?
Netflix
Yes. Standard with ads downloads on two devices, up to 15 downloads per device per calendar month.
HBO Max
No. Basic with Ads has no downloads; Standard has 30 and Premium 100.
If you watch offline on a budget, Netflix’s plan with ads is the only one of the two that allows it.
Can I pay for a year?
Netflix
No. The Help Center says Netflix doesn’t offer annual, multi-month or lifetime plans.
HBO Max
Yes, every plan has a yearly option; HBO Max puts the saving at 16%.
Yearly billing exists only at HBO Max — choose it when you know you’ll stay all year.
Are sports included?
Netflix
Live events on every plan — NFL games, WWE Raw and boxing among them. Ad breaks can appear during the livestream even on ad-free plans.
HBO Max
Select live sports (NHL and MLB games) on Standard and Premium; on two devices at once, even on Premium.
For regular NHL and MLB games, HBO Max; for big one-off events and WWE Raw, Netflix — on any plan.
How many screens at once?
Netflix
Standard with ads 2, Standard 2, Premium 4.
HBO Max
Basic with Ads 2, Standard 2, Premium 4 (2 for sports).
Identical — except sports on HBO Max, which stop at two.
Top quality?
Netflix
1080p on both Standard plans, 4K with HDR and spatial audio on Premium.
HBO Max
1080p on Basic with Ads and Standard, 4K Ultra HD and Dolby Atmos (as available) on Premium.
For 4K you need Premium on either service.
Can I add someone outside my household?
Netflix
Yes, as an extra member with their own account; Standard 1, Premium 2, not on the plan with ads.
HBO Max
Yes, through the Extra Member add-on, for subscribers billed by WarnerMedia.
Both have a paid way to share; Netflix’s doesn’t work on the plan with ads.
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.
Same plan ladder
Both have a plan with ads, a 1080p ad-free plan with two screens and a 4K Premium plan with four.
Taxes on top
Netflix says taxes may be charged depending on where you live; HBO Max lists prices without applicable taxes.
Deleting the app doesn’t cancel
On both, payments continue until you cancel where you’re billed.
Which one fits whom
| Your situation | What to choose | On what condition |
|---|---|---|
| You watch offline on the cheapest plan | Netflix Standard with ads | Up to 15 downloads per device a month. |
| You want to prepay a year | HBO Max | Every plan has a yearly option. |
| You follow NHL or MLB | HBO Max Standard or Premium | Sports stream on two devices at a time. |
| You share with someone outside your home on an ad-free plan | Netflix Standard or Premium | Extra members get their own account. |
- HBO Max Basic with Ads has no downloads.
- HBO Max sports stream on two devices, even on Premium.
- Netflix bills monthly; there are no annual plans.
- Netflix’s plan with ads can’t add extra members.
- Netflix live events can have ad breaks on every plan while they’re live.
- If an app store or a provider bills you, cancel there.
Where the facts come from
Sources: the Netflix Help Center for the United States 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: Netflix 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 — what else is included: HBO Max Standard
Netflix Standard: 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 — app rating: HBO Max Standard
Netflix Standard: 4,7 out of 5 (4,7/5) · 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: