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Entertainment · head to head

HBO Max vs Paramount+

HBO Max logo

HBO Max

Entertainment

Stream iconic series, movies, and Max Originals

From
$10.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Paramount+ logo

Paramount+

Entertainment

A mountain of entertainment

From
$5.99/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; Paramount+ the App Store listing states Paramount+ gates all of SHOWTIME behind the Premium plan only, and separately caps household profiles at six, without stating either plan price in the visible description.
  • They diverge on capability: HBO Max covers Downloads, Paramount+ covers Live sports.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where HBO Max and Paramount+ differ
AttributeHBO MaxParamount+
Starting price$10.99/month$5.99/month
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consolesWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv
Founded20202021

Identical on both: 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 HBO Max

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

Only in Paramount+

  • Live sports
  • CBS shows
  • Nickelodeon
  • Profile management

Both cover

  • Streaming
  • Smart TVs
  • Gaming consoles
  • 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.

HBO Max

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

Paramount+

  • TV streamingnot HBO Max
  • Sportsnot HBO Max
  • Kids contentnot 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

Paramount+

  • The App Store listing states Paramount+ gates all of SHOWTIME behind the Premium plan only, and separately caps household profiles at six, without stating either plan price in the visible description.
  • The App Store listing states the base Paramount+ plan carries ads and does not include ad-free viewing, offline downloads, or a local CBS station live stream, which are reserved for the Premium plan.

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

Paramount+

$5.99/month
  • Essential$5.99/month
    • Limited ads
    • Full library
  • With Showtime$11.99/month
    • Ad-free
    • Showtime
    • Downloads

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 Paramount+ if

  • You need live sports.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv.
  • You also want cbs shows.
Paramount+ review

Questions people ask

Is HBO Max or Paramount+ better?
Neither clearly leads. HBO Max starts at $10.99/month and Paramount+ at $5.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, HBO Max or Paramount+?
HBO Max starts at $10.99/month and Paramount+ at $5.99/month.
Does HBO Max or Paramount+ run on more platforms?
HBO Max runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles. Paramount+ runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv.
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 Paramount+ is typically brought in for.
What can HBO Max do that Paramount+ cannot?
HBO Max covers Downloads, Profiles, HBO content, Max Originals. Paramount+ covers Live sports, CBS shows, Nickelodeon, Profile management. Both handle Streaming, Smart TVs, Gaming consoles, Parental controls.

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
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
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