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Entertainment · head to head

HBO Max vs Peacock

HBO Max logo

HBO Max

Entertainment

Stream iconic series, movies, and Max Originals

From
$10.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Peacock logo

Peacock

Entertainment

Stream iconic movies, shows, and live sports

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Peacock has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: HBO Max limited-time offer pricing of $6.58/month valid only for first year on annual plans; Peacock geographic restrictions prevent US access verification
  • They diverge on capability: HBO Max covers Downloads, Peacock 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 Peacock actually diverge.

Attributes where HBO Max and Peacock differ
AttributeHBO MaxPeacock
Starting price$10.99/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consolesWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Entertainment), founded (2020).

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
  • PIN protection
  • Gaming-consoles support

Only in Peacock

  • Live sports
  • News
  • Original content
  • Profile PINs

Both cover

  • Streaming
  • Smart TVs
  • Mobile devices
  • 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 Peacock
  • HBO contentnot Peacock
  • Original seriesnot Peacock

Peacock

  • Streamingnot HBO Max
  • Sportsnot HBO Max
  • Newsnot 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

Peacock

  • Geographic restrictions prevent US access verification

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

Peacock

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Limited content
    • Ads
  • Premium$5.99/month
    • Full library
    • Ads
  • Premium Plus$11.99/month
    • Ad-free
    • 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 Peacock if

  • You need live sports.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv.
  • You also want news.
Peacock review

Questions people ask

Is HBO Max or Peacock better?
Neither clearly leads. HBO Max starts at $10.99/month and Peacock at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, HBO Max or Peacock?
Peacock has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $10.99/month for HBO Max and Free for Peacock.
Does HBO Max or Peacock run on more platforms?
HBO Max runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles. Peacock runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv.
Can I use Peacock for free?
Yes. Peacock has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. HBO Max starts at $10.99/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 Peacock is typically brought in for.
What can HBO Max do that Peacock cannot?
HBO Max covers Downloads, Profiles, HBO content, Max Originals. Peacock covers Live sports, News, Original content, Profile PINs. Both handle Streaming, Smart TVs, Mobile devices, 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
Peacock: What is Peacock's pricing?

Peacock pricing information is not available. The website shows geographic restrictions and states the service requires US physical location for domestic customers.

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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