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Entertainment · head to head

HBO Max vs Tubi

HBO Max logo

HBO Max

Entertainment

Stream iconic series, movies, and Max Originals

From
$10.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Tubi logo

Tubi

Entertainment

Watch movies and TV shows for free

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Tubi 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; Tubi website redirect issues prevent full pricing page access
  • They diverge on capability: HBO Max covers Downloads, Tubi covers Full catalog.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where HBO Max and Tubi differ
AttributeHBO MaxTubi
Starting price$10.99/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consolesWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv
Founded20202014

Identical on both: 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 Tubi

  • Full catalog
  • Search
  • Recommendations
  • Watchlist
  • Streaming devices
  • Content filtering
  • Account management
  • Roku support

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 streamingnot Tubi
  • HBO contentnot Tubi
  • Original seriesnot Tubi

Tubi

  • Free ad-supported streaming video on demandnot HBO Max
  • Movie and TV content consumptionnot 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

Tubi

  • Website redirect issues prevent full pricing page access
  • Ad-supported model details not fully available

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

Tubi

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full catalog
    • Ad-supported

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 Tubi if

  • You need full catalog.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv.
  • You also want search.
Tubi review

Questions people ask

Is HBO Max or Tubi better?
Neither clearly leads. HBO Max starts at $10.99/month and Tubi at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, HBO Max or Tubi?
Tubi has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $10.99/month for HBO Max and Free for Tubi.
Does HBO Max or Tubi run on more platforms?
HBO Max runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles. Tubi runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv.
Can I use Tubi for free?
Yes. Tubi 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 Tubi is typically brought in for.
What can HBO Max do that Tubi cannot?
HBO Max covers Downloads, Profiles, HBO content, Max Originals. Tubi covers Full catalog, Search, Recommendations, Watchlist. 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
Tubi: Is Tubi free to use?

Tubi appears to be a free, ad-supported streaming service. The pricing page redirects to a GDPR compliance page, but Tubi is known as a free SVOD platform.

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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