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Entertainment · head to head

HBO Max vs Showtime

HBO Max logo

HBO Max

Entertainment

Stream iconic series, movies, and Max Originals

From
$10.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Showtime logo

Showtime

Entertainment

Signature entertainment and sports

From
$10.99/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; Showtime showtime is now offered only as part of Paramount+'s Premium plan, per the App Store listing (Paramount+ by CBS Mobile)
  • They diverge on capability: HBO Max covers Downloads, Showtime covers Original series.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where HBO Max and Showtime differ
AttributeHBO MaxShowtime
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consolesWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv
Founded20201983

Identical on both: starting price ($10.99/month), 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
  • Gaming consoles
  • Mobile devices
  • Profile locks
  • Parental controls

Only in Showtime

  • Original series
  • Movies
  • Sports
  • Live events
  • Streaming devices
  • Account security
  • Content filtering

Both cover

  • Streaming
  • Smart TVs
  • 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 streaming
  • HBO contentnot Showtime
  • Original seriesnot Showtime

Showtime

  • Premium streaming
  • Sports watchingnot HBO Max

Both are used for premium streaming, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.

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

Showtime

  • Showtime is now offered only as part of Paramount+'s Premium plan, per the App Store listing (Paramount+ by CBS Mobile)
  • Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current subscription period rather than immediately, with continued access through the paid period, per the App Store listing

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

Showtime

$10.99/month
  • Showtime Standalone$10.99/month
    • Original content
    • Ad-free

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 Showtime if

  • You need original series.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv.
  • You also want movies.
Showtime review

Questions people ask

Is HBO Max or Showtime better?
Neither clearly leads. HBO Max starts at $10.99/month and Showtime at $10.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, HBO Max or Showtime?
HBO Max starts at $10.99/month and Showtime at $10.99/month.
Does HBO Max or Showtime run on more platforms?
HBO Max runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles. Showtime 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, hbo content and original series are not what Showtime is typically brought in for.
What can HBO Max do that Showtime cannot?
HBO Max covers Downloads, Profiles, HBO content, Max Originals. Showtime covers Original series, Movies, Sports, Live events. Both handle Streaming, Smart TVs, Web support, Ios support.

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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