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Discovery+ vs HBO Max

Discovery+ logo

Discovery+

Entertainment

Unscripted content at your fingertips

From
$4.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
HBO Max logo

HBO Max

Entertainment

Stream iconic series, movies, and Max Originals

From
$10.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Discovery+ standard plan starts at 5.99 USD per month but includes ads; an ad-free tier costs 9.99 USD per month; HBO Max limited-time offer pricing of $6.58/month valid only for first year on annual plans
  • They diverge on capability: Discovery+ covers Unscripted content, HBO Max covers Profiles.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Discovery+ and HBO Max actually diverge.

Attributes where Discovery+ and HBO Max differ
AttributeDiscovery+HBO Max
Starting price$4.99/month$10.99/month
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tvWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Entertainment), founded (2020).

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 Discovery+

  • Unscripted content
  • Reality TV
  • Originals
  • Streaming devices
  • Account security
  • Roku support
  • Fire-tv support

Only in HBO Max

  • Profiles
  • HBO content
  • Max Originals
  • Gaming consoles
  • Mobile devices
  • Profile locks
  • PIN protection
  • Gaming-consoles support

Both cover

  • Streaming
  • Downloads
  • Smart TVs
  • Parental controls
  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support
  • Smart-tv support

What people use each for

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

Discovery+

  • Unscripted streamingnot HBO Max
  • Reality TV watchingnot HBO Max

HBO Max

  • Premium streamingnot Discovery+
  • HBO contentnot Discovery+
  • Original seriesnot Discovery+

Where each one falls short

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

Discovery+

  • Standard plan starts at 5.99 USD per month but includes ads; an ad-free tier costs 9.99 USD per month

HBO Max

  • Limited-time offer pricing of $6.58/month valid only for first year on annual plans
  • Student discount available but terms not specified

Pricing, plan by plan

Discovery+

$4.99/month
  • Standard$4.99/month
    • HD
    • Ad-supported
  • Premium$8.99/month
    • 4K
    • Ad-free

HBO Max

$10.99/month
  • HBO Max Basic With Ads$10.99/month
    • Stream on 2 devices
    • Full HD video
    • Live Sports
  • HBO Max Standard$18.49/month
    • Stream on 2 devices
    • Full HD video
    • 30 downloads
  • HBO Max Premium$22.99/month
    • Stream on 4 devices (2 for Sports)
    • 4K Ultra HD
    • Dolby Atmos

Which should you pick?

Choose Discovery+ if

  • You need unscripted content.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv.
  • You also want reality tv.
Discovery+ review

Choose HBO Max if

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

Questions people ask

Is Discovery+ or HBO Max better?
Neither clearly leads. Discovery+ starts at $4.99/month and HBO Max at $10.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Discovery+ or HBO Max?
Discovery+ starts at $4.99/month and HBO Max at $10.99/month.
Does Discovery+ or HBO Max run on more platforms?
Discovery+ runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv. HBO Max runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles.
What is Discovery+ best used for?
Discovery+ is most often used for unscripted streaming, reality tv watching. Of those, unscripted streaming and reality tv watching are not what HBO Max is typically brought in for.
What can Discovery+ do that HBO Max cannot?
Discovery+ covers Unscripted content, Reality TV, Originals, Streaming devices. HBO Max covers Profiles, HBO content, Max Originals, Gaming consoles. Both handle Streaming, Downloads, Smart TVs, Parental controls.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Discovery+: How much does Discovery+ cost?

Discovery+ offers two tiers: Standard at $5.99/month with 4 simultaneous streams in Full HD, and Ad-Free at $9.99/month with the same streaming capability plus 100 downloads for offline viewing.

Source
HBO Max: How much does HBO Max cost?

HBO Max starts at $10.99/month for Basic With Ads, $18.49/month for Standard, and $22.99/month for Premium.

Source
Discovery+: Is there a free trial for Discovery+?

Yes, both Standard and Ad-Free plans offer a 7-day free trial for new subscribers. Trial access is complimentary, but terms apply.

Source
HBO Max: What is the difference between HBO Max plans?

Basic With Ads costs $10.99/month with 2-device streaming and Full HD. Standard at $18.49/month adds 30 downloads. Premium at $22.99/month offers 4-device streaming, 4K Ultra HD, and 100 downloads.

Source
Discovery+: Can I cancel Discovery+ anytime?

Yes. Your subscription automatically renews monthly, and you can cancel anytime without mentioned fees or penalties.

Source
HBO Max: Does HBO Max offer annual billing discounts?

Yes, annual options start at $109.99/year (Basic), $184.99/year (Standard), and $229.99/year (Premium), providing savings of $21-$45 annually.

Source
Discovery+: What content is included with Discovery+ plans?

Both Standard and Ad-Free plans grant unlimited access to all 70,000+ episodes with new content added weekly. Ad-Free members can download 100 episodes to watch offline.

Source
Discovery+: How many devices can stream Discovery+ at once?

Both Standard and Ad-Free plans allow 4 simultaneous streams across devices.

Source
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