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HBO Max vs Patreon

HBO Max logo

HBO Max

Software

Stream iconic series, movies, and Max Originals

From
$9.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Patreon logo

Patreon

Software

Membership platform for creators

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Patreon 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; Patreon takes 10% of the income a creator earns on the platform
  • They diverge on capability: HBO Max covers Streaming, Patreon covers Membership tiers.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where HBO Max and Patreon differ
AttributeHBO MaxPatreon
Starting price$9.99/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consolesWeb, Ios, Android
Founded20202013

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

  • Streaming
  • Downloads
  • Profiles
  • HBO content
  • Max Originals
  • Smart TVs
  • Gaming consoles
  • Mobile devices

Only in Patreon

  • Membership tiers
  • Exclusive content
  • Private podcast feeds
  • Community features
  • Analytics
  • Payment processing
  • Discord
  • Podcast apps

Both cover

  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

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

HBO Max

  • Premium streamingnot Patreon
  • HBO contentnot Patreon
  • Original seriesnot Patreon

Patreon

  • Running a paid membership for fans of a creator or podcastnot HBO Max
  • Selling recurring access to exclusive content and communitynot 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

Patreon

  • Takes 10% of the income a creator earns on the platform
  • Payment processing, currency conversion and payout fees are charged on top of that 10% and are not quantified on the pricing page
  • The total deduction is therefore not calculable from the pricing page alone, and requires reading a separate support article

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

Patreon

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Free membership page
    • Basic features
    • Community tools
  • ProFree
    • All free features
    • Analytics dashboard
    • Priority support
  • PremiumFree
    • All Pro features
    • Dedicated partner manager
    • Custom onboarding

Which should you pick?

Choose HBO Max if

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

Choose Patreon if

  • You need membership tiers.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want exclusive content.
Patreon review

Questions people ask

Is HBO Max or Patreon better?
Neither clearly leads. HBO Max starts at $9.99/month and Patreon at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, HBO Max or Patreon?
Patreon has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $9.99/month for HBO Max and Free for Patreon.
Does HBO Max or Patreon run on more platforms?
HBO Max runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles. Patreon runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use Patreon for free?
Yes. Patreon 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 Patreon is typically brought in for.
What can HBO Max do that Patreon cannot?
HBO Max covers Streaming, Downloads, Profiles, HBO content. Patreon covers Membership tiers, Exclusive content, Private podcast feeds, Community features. Both handle Web support, Ios support, Android support.
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