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Entertainment · head to head

HBO Max vs Hulu

HBO Max logo

HBO Max

Entertainment

Stream iconic series, movies, and Max Originals

From
$10.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Hulu logo

Hulu

Entertainment

Stream TV and movies live and online

From
$7.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: HBO Max limited-time offer pricing of $6.58/month valid only for first year on annual plans; Hulu pricing page redirects to Disney+ bundle site rather than standalone Hulu pricing, preventing direct pricing lookup
  • They diverge on capability: HBO Max covers Streaming, Hulu covers On-demand streaming.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where HBO Max and Hulu differ
AttributeHBO MaxHulu
Starting price$10.99/month$7.99/month
Founded20202007

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), platforms (Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles), 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 HBO Max

  • Streaming
  • Profiles
  • HBO content
  • Max Originals
  • Profile locks
  • PIN protection

Only in Hulu

  • On-demand streaming
  • Live TV
  • Cloud DVR
  • Current episodes
  • Profile PINs
  • Account security

Both cover

  • Downloads
  • Smart TVs
  • Gaming consoles
  • Mobile devices
  • Parental controls
  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support
  • Smart-tv support
  • Gaming-consoles support

What people use each for

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

HBO Max

  • Premium streamingnot Hulu
  • HBO contentnot Hulu
  • Original seriesnot Hulu

Hulu

  • TV streamingnot HBO Max
  • Live TVnot HBO Max
  • Next-day episodesnot HBO Max
  • Sportsnot HBO Max

Where each one falls short

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

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

Hulu

  • Pricing page redirects to Disney+ bundle site rather than standalone Hulu pricing, preventing direct pricing lookup
  • No specific Hulu pricing details published on accessible landing pages; pricing information requires interaction with Disney+ ecosystem
  • Bundling with Disney+ through default redirects obscures Hulu standalone plan options and costs

Pricing, plan by plan

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

Hulu

$7.99/month
  • Hulu (With Ads)$7.99/month
    • Full library
    • Ad-supported
  • Hulu (No Ads)$17.99/month
    • Full library
    • Ad-free
    • Downloads
  • Hulu + Live TV$76.99/month
    • Live TV
    • On-demand
    • Cloud DVR

Which should you pick?

Choose HBO Max if

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

Choose Hulu if

  • You need on-demand streaming.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles.
  • You also want live tv.
Hulu review

Questions people ask

Is HBO Max or Hulu better?
Neither clearly leads. HBO Max starts at $10.99/month and Hulu at $7.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, HBO Max or Hulu?
HBO Max starts at $10.99/month and Hulu at $7.99/month.
Does HBO Max or Hulu run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
What is HBO Max best used for?
HBO Max is most often used for premium streaming, hbo content, original series. Of those, premium streaming and hbo content are not what Hulu is typically brought in for.
What can HBO Max do that Hulu cannot?
HBO Max covers Streaming, Profiles, HBO content, Max Originals. Hulu covers On-demand streaming, Live TV, Cloud DVR, Current episodes. Both handle Downloads, Smart TVs, Gaming consoles, Mobile devices.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
Hulu: What is Hulu's pricing?

Hulu pricing details are not available on the standard pricing page due to redirect to Disney+ bundle offerings. Specific Hulu standalone plan costs require navigation through Disney+ site or direct contact with support.

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
Hulu: Does Hulu offer a free trial?

Free trial availability for Hulu is not disclosed on accessible pricing pages; details require checking Disney+ bundling options or contacting support directly.

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
Hulu: Can Hulu be purchased separately from Disney+?

Hulu pricing and availability as a standalone product is unclear from published pricing pages; Hulu appears bundled with Disney+ offerings without separate pricing disclosure.

Source
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