Is ESPN+ or HBO Max better?

Neither clearly leads. ESPN+ starts at $10.99/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, ESPN+ or HBO Max?

ESPN+ starts at $10.99/month and HBO Max at $10.99/month.

Does ESPN+ or HBO Max run on more platforms?

ESPN+ runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv. HBO Max runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles.

What is ESPN+ best used for?

ESPN+ is most often used for sports streaming, live event watching. Of those, sports streaming and live event watching are not what HBO Max is typically brought in for.

What can ESPN+ do that HBO Max cannot?

ESPN+ covers Live sports, Original shows, Exclusive content, Replays. HBO Max covers Streaming, Downloads, Profiles, HBO content. Both handle Smart TVs, Parental controls, Web support, Ios support.

Entertainment · head to head

ESPN+ vs HBO Max

ESPN+

Entertainment

Stream live sports, original shows, and exclusive content

From: $10.99/month
Rated: -

Full review Website

HBO Max

Entertainment

Stream iconic series, movies, and Max Originals

From: $10.99/month
Rated: -

Full review Website

The short version

Each has a real cost: ESPN+ pricing page not publicly accessible; HBO Max limited-time offer pricing of $6.58/month valid only for first year on annual plans
They diverge on capability: ESPN+ covers Live sports, HBO Max covers Streaming.
Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where ESPN+ and HBO Max differ
Attribute	ESPN+	HBO Max
Platforms	Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv	Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles
Founded	2018	2020

Identical on both: starting price ($10.99/month), pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Entertainment).

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 ESPN+

Live sports
Original shows
Exclusive content
Replays
Analysis
Streaming devices
Account security
Roku support

Only in HBO Max

Streaming
Downloads
Profiles
HBO content
Max Originals
Gaming consoles
Mobile devices
Profile locks

Both cover

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.

ESPN+

Sports streamingnot HBO Max
Live event watchingnot HBO Max

HBO Max

Premium streamingnot ESPN+
HBO contentnot ESPN+
Original seriesnot ESPN+

Where each one falls short

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

ESPN+

Pricing page not publicly accessible

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

ESPN+

$10.99/month

ESPN+$10.99/month
- Live sports
- Exclusive content
- Original shows
Bundle$13.99/month
- ESPN+
- Disney+
- Hulu

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 ESPN+ if

You need live sports.
You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv.
You also want original shows.

ESPN+ 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 ESPN+ or HBO Max better?: Neither clearly leads. ESPN+ starts at $10.99/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, ESPN+ or HBO Max?: ESPN+ starts at $10.99/month and HBO Max at $10.99/month.
Does ESPN+ or HBO Max run on more platforms?: ESPN+ runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv. HBO Max runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles.
What is ESPN+ best used for?: ESPN+ is most often used for sports streaming, live event watching. Of those, sports streaming and live event watching are not what HBO Max is typically brought in for.
What can ESPN+ do that HBO Max cannot?: ESPN+ covers Live sports, Original shows, Exclusive content, Replays. HBO Max covers Streaming, Downloads, Profiles, HBO content. Both handle Smart TVs, Parental controls, Web support, Ios support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

ESPN+: How much does ESPN+ cost?

ESPN+ pricing information is not publicly accessible through standard browsing. Users must navigate the ESPN+ application or account page to view current subscription rates.

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

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

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

ESPN+ vs HBO Max

ESPN+

HBO Max

The short version

Where they differ

What each one covers

Only in ESPN+

Only in HBO Max

Both cover

What people use each for

ESPN+

HBO Max

Where each one falls short

ESPN+

HBO Max

Pricing, plan by plan

ESPN+

HBO Max

Which should you pick?

Choose ESPN+ if

Choose HBO Max if

Questions people ask

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Related pages

More on ESPN+

More on HBO Max

Keep looking

Other head to heads