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HBO Max vs Shudder

HBO Max logo

HBO Max

Software

Stream iconic series, movies, and Max Originals

From
$9.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Shudder logo

Shudder

Software

Horror and thriller streaming

From
$5.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • 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; Shudder subscription auto-renews unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period, per the App Store listing
  • They diverge on capability: HBO Max covers Streaming, Shudder covers Horror content.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where HBO Max and Shudder differ
AttributeHBO MaxShudder
Starting price$9.99/month$5.99/month
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consolesWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv
Founded20202015

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), 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
  • Gaming consoles
  • Mobile devices
  • Profile locks

Only in Shudder

  • Horror content
  • Thrillers
  • Original series
  • Exclusive films
  • Watchlist
  • Streaming devices
  • Account security
  • Roku support

Both cover

  • Smart TVs
  • 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 Shudder
  • HBO contentnot Shudder
  • Original seriesnot Shudder

Shudder

  • Horror streamingnot HBO Max
  • Thriller watchingnot 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

Shudder

  • Subscription auto-renews unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period, per the App Store listing
  • Default subscription length is 1 month, billed and renewed on a rolling monthly basis, per the App Store listing

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

Shudder

$5.99/month
  • Basic$5.99/month
    • HD
    • 1 device
  • Premium$8.99/month
    • 4K
    • 4 devices

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 Shudder if

  • You need horror content.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv.
  • You also want thrillers.
Shudder review

Questions people ask

Is HBO Max or Shudder better?
Neither clearly leads. HBO Max starts at $9.99/month and Shudder 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 Shudder?
HBO Max starts at $9.99/month and Shudder at $5.99/month.
Does HBO Max or Shudder run on more platforms?
HBO Max runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles. Shudder runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-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 Shudder is typically brought in for.
What can HBO Max do that Shudder cannot?
HBO Max covers Streaming, Downloads, Profiles, HBO content. Shudder covers Horror content, Thrillers, Original series, Exclusive films. Both handle Smart TVs, Parental controls, Web support, Ios support.
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