Softwr

Entertainment · head to head

Apple Music vs HBO Max

Apple Music logo

Apple Music

Entertainment

All the ways you love music. All in one place.

From
$10.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
HBO Max logo

HBO Max

Media & Entertainment

Stream iconic series, movies, and Max Originals

From
$9.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Apple Music individual plan discount pricing (3 months for $1.99) applies only to new subscribers, then rises to $11.99 per month; HBO Max three subscription tiers: Basic With Ads at 10.99 USD/month, Standard at 18.49 USD/month, Premium at 22.99 USD/month
  • They diverge on capability: Apple Music covers Music streaming, HBO Max covers Streaming.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Apple Music and HBO Max actually diverge.

Attributes where Apple Music and HBO Max differ
AttributeApple MusicHBO Max
Starting price$10.99/month$9.99/month
PlatformsIos, Macos, Windows, Android, WebWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles
CategoryEntertainmentMedia & Entertainment
Founded20152020

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Apple Music

  • Music streaming
  • Offline downloads
  • Spatial Audio
  • Lossless audio
  • Curated playlists
  • Radio stations
  • Music discovery
  • Cross-device sync

Only in HBO Max

  • Streaming
  • Downloads
  • Profiles
  • HBO content
  • Max Originals
  • Smart TVs
  • Gaming consoles
  • Mobile devices

Both cover

  • Ios support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Apple Music

  • Music listeningnot HBO Max
  • Music discoverynot HBO Max
  • Playlist creationnot HBO Max
  • Offline listeningnot HBO Max
  • Family entertainmentnot HBO Max

HBO Max

  • Premium streamingnot Apple Music
  • HBO contentnot Apple Music
  • Original seriesnot Apple Music

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Apple Music

  • Individual plan discount pricing (3 months for $1.99) applies only to new subscribers, then rises to $11.99 per month

HBO Max

  • Three subscription tiers: Basic With Ads at 10.99 USD/month, Standard at 18.49 USD/month, Premium at 22.99 USD/month
  • The cheapest tier is ad supported; ad-free viewing requires the Standard tier or above

Pricing, plan by plan

Apple Music

$10.99/month
  • Individual$10.99/month
    • 100+ million songs
    • Ad-free listening
    • Offline downloads
  • Family$16.99/month
    • Up to 6 accounts
    • Individual profiles
    • Parental controls

HBO Max

$9.99/month
  • With Ads$9.99/month
    • Full HD
    • Ad-supported
    • 2 devices
  • Ad-Free$15.99/month
    • Full HD
    • Ad-free
    • 2 devices
  • Ultimate Ad-Free$19.99/month
    • 4K UHD
    • Dolby Atmos
    • 4 devices

Which should you pick?

Choose Apple Music if

  • You need music streaming.
  • You work on Ios, Macos, Windows, Android, Web.
  • You also want offline downloads.
Apple Music review

Choose HBO Max if

  • You need streaming.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles.
  • You also want downloads.
HBO Max review

Questions people ask

Is Apple Music or HBO Max better?
Neither clearly leads. Apple Music starts at $10.99/month and HBO Max at $9.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Apple Music or HBO Max?
Apple Music starts at $10.99/month and HBO Max at $9.99/month.
Does Apple Music or HBO Max run on more platforms?
Apple Music runs on Ios, Macos, Windows, Android, Web. HBO Max runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles.
What is Apple Music best used for?
Apple Music is most often used for music listening, music discovery, playlist creation, offline listening. Of those, music listening and music discovery are not what HBO Max is typically brought in for.
What can Apple Music do that HBO Max cannot?
Apple Music covers Music streaming, Offline downloads, Spatial Audio, Lossless audio. HBO Max covers Streaming, Downloads, Profiles, HBO content. Both handle Ios support.
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on Apple Music

More on HBO Max

Keep looking

Other head to heads