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Podcast & Audio Publishing · head to head

Auphonic vs HBO Max

Auphonic logo

Auphonic

Podcast & Audio Publishing

Automated audio mastering and loudness processing

From
Free
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

  • Only Auphonic has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Auphonic the free tier covers 2 hours of processed audio a 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: Auphonic covers Automatic loudness optimization, HBO Max covers Streaming.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Auphonic and HBO Max actually diverge.

Attributes where Auphonic and HBO Max differ
AttributeAuphonicHBO Max
Starting priceFree$9.99/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles
CategoryPodcast & Audio PublishingMedia & Entertainment
Founded20102020

Identical on both: 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 Auphonic

  • Automatic loudness optimization
  • Noise reduction
  • Audio restoration
  • Intelligent processing
  • API integration
  • Auto-upload
  • Podcast hosts
  • Dropbox

Only in HBO Max

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

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Auphonic

  • Automatic loudness levelling and noise reduction on podcast audionot HBO Max
  • Batch processing an archive of recordingsnot HBO Max
  • Generating transcripts and chapters from an episodenot HBO Max
  • Producing consistent output across multiple formats from one uploadnot HBO Max

HBO Max

  • Premium streamingnot Auphonic
  • HBO contentnot Auphonic
  • Original seriesnot Auphonic

Where each one falls short

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

Auphonic

  • The free tier covers 2 hours of processed audio a month
  • Billing is by audio duration with a 3 minute minimum per production, so many short clips cost more than the running time suggests
  • Multilingual speech recognition, automatic chapters and show notes all require a paid plan
  • Watch folders, batch productions and team accounts are paid features
  • Free output carries an Auphonic jingle

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

Auphonic

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 2 hours/month processing
    • Basic mastering
    • Download files
  • Personal$10/month
    • 50 hours/month
    • Advanced mastering
    • API access

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 Auphonic if

  • You need automatic loudness optimization.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want noise reduction.
Auphonic 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 Auphonic or HBO Max better?
Neither clearly leads. Auphonic starts at Free 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, Auphonic or HBO Max?
Auphonic has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Auphonic and $9.99/month for HBO Max.
Does Auphonic or HBO Max run on more platforms?
Auphonic runs on Web. HBO Max runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles.
Can I use Auphonic for free?
Yes. Auphonic has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. HBO Max starts at $9.99/month.
What is Auphonic best used for?
Auphonic is most often used for automatic loudness levelling and noise reduction on podcast audio, batch processing an archive of recordings, generating transcripts and chapters from an episode, producing consistent output across multiple formats from one upload. Of those, automatic loudness levelling and noise reduction on podcast audio and batch processing an archive of recordings are not what HBO Max is typically brought in for.
What can Auphonic do that HBO Max cannot?
Auphonic covers Automatic loudness optimization, Noise reduction, Audio restoration, Intelligent processing. HBO Max covers Streaming, Downloads, Profiles, HBO content. Both handle Web support.
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