Is HBO Max or Jellyfin better?

Neither clearly leads. HBO Max starts at $9.99/month and Jellyfin at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.

Which is cheaper, HBO Max or Jellyfin?

Jellyfin has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $9.99/month for HBO Max and Free for Jellyfin.

Does HBO Max or Jellyfin run on more platforms?

HBO Max runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles. Jellyfin runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Desktop, Docker.

Can I use Jellyfin for free?

Yes. Jellyfin has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. HBO Max starts at $9.99/month.

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 Jellyfin is typically brought in for.

What can HBO Max do that Jellyfin cannot?

HBO Max covers Downloads, Profiles, HBO content, Max Originals. Jellyfin covers Media server, Library management, Open source, Self-hosted. Both handle Streaming, Smart TVs, Mobile devices, Web support.

Software · head to head

HBO Max vs Jellyfin

HBO Max

Software

Stream iconic series, movies, and Max Originals

From: $9.99/month
Rated: -

Full review Website

Jellyfin

Software

The free software media system

From: Free
Rated: -

Full review Website

The short version

Only Jellyfin has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
Each has a real cost: 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; Jellyfin jellyfin is free open source software under the GNU GPL with no paid tier or vendor support contract available
They diverge on capability: HBO Max covers Downloads, Jellyfin covers Media server.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where HBO Max and Jellyfin differ
Attribute	HBO Max	Jellyfin
Starting price	$9.99/month	Free
Pricing model	subscription	free
Free tier	No	Yes
Platforms	Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles	Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Desktop, Docker
Founded	2020	2018

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

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

Downloads
Profiles
HBO content
Max Originals
Gaming consoles
Profile locks
Parental controls
PIN protection

Only in Jellyfin

Media server
Library management
Open source
Self-hosted
Streaming devices
Open source audit
Self-hosted security
User management

Both cover

Streaming
Smart TVs
Mobile devices
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.

HBO Max

Premium streamingnot Jellyfin
HBO contentnot Jellyfin
Original seriesnot Jellyfin

Jellyfin

Open-source media streamingnot HBO Max
Self-hosted librarynot HBO Max

Where each one falls short

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

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

Jellyfin

Jellyfin is free open source software under the GNU GPL with no paid tier or vendor support contract available

Pricing, plan by plan

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

Jellyfin

Free

FreeFree
- Unlimited streaming
- Open source
- No ads

Which should you pick?

Choose HBO Max if

You need downloads.
You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles.
You also want profiles.

HBO Max review

Choose Jellyfin if

You need media server.
You want to start without paying.
You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Desktop, Docker.
You also want library management.

Jellyfin review

Questions people ask

Is HBO Max or Jellyfin better?: Neither clearly leads. HBO Max starts at $9.99/month and Jellyfin at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, HBO Max or Jellyfin?: Jellyfin has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $9.99/month for HBO Max and Free for Jellyfin.
Does HBO Max or Jellyfin run on more platforms?: HBO Max runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles. Jellyfin runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Desktop, Docker.
Can I use Jellyfin for free?: Yes. Jellyfin has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. HBO Max starts at $9.99/month.
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 Jellyfin is typically brought in for.
What can HBO Max do that Jellyfin cannot?: HBO Max covers Downloads, Profiles, HBO content, Max Originals. Jellyfin covers Media server, Library management, Open source, Self-hosted. Both handle Streaming, Smart TVs, Mobile devices, Web support.

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HBO Max vs Jellyfin

HBO Max

Jellyfin

The short version

Where they differ

What each one covers

Only in HBO Max

Only in Jellyfin

Both cover

What people use each for

HBO Max

Jellyfin

Where each one falls short

HBO Max

Jellyfin

Pricing, plan by plan

HBO Max

Jellyfin

Which should you pick?

Choose HBO Max if

Choose Jellyfin if

Questions people ask

Related pages

More on HBO Max

More on Jellyfin

Keep looking

Other head to heads