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Entertainment · head to head

HBO Max vs Uscreen

HBO Max logo

HBO Max

Entertainment

Stream iconic series, movies, and Max Originals

From
$10.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Uscreen logo

Uscreen

Video Production

Membership video platform with branded mobile and TV apps for independent creators

From
$49/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; Uscreen the per-subscriber fee means the bill grows with the audience, so a creator with several thousand members pays far more in subscriber charges than in plan fees, and the published plan price badly understates the real monthly cost.
  • They diverge on capability: HBO Max covers Streaming, Uscreen covers Branded apps.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where HBO Max and Uscreen differ
AttributeHBO MaxUscreen
Starting price$10.99/month$49/month
Pricing modelsubscriptionPer month plus a per-subscriber fee
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consolesWeb, iOS, Android, Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV
CategoryEntertainmentVideo Production
Founded2020Unknown

Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Uscreen

  • Branded apps
  • Membership paywall
  • Live streaming
  • Community
  • Marketing site
  • Email and automation
  • Analytics
  • App store submission

What people use each for

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

HBO Max

  • Premium streamingnot Uscreen
  • HBO contentnot Uscreen
  • Original seriesnot Uscreen

Uscreen

  • A fitness or yoga instructor with a paying membership who needs an Apple TV and Roku app because members watch on a television, not a laptop.not HBO Max
  • A niche documentary or enthusiast channel moving off advertising revenue to a direct subscription because the platform algorithm stopped delivering.not HBO Max
  • A dance or martial arts studio selling on-demand classes plus scheduled live sessions to the same members under one login.not HBO Max
  • A faith organisation or membership body distributing recorded talks to a paying congregation with its own branded app rather than a public video channel.not 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

Uscreen

  • The per-subscriber fee means the bill grows with the audience, so a creator with several thousand members pays far more in subscriber charges than in plan fees, and the published plan price badly understates the real monthly cost.
  • Video storage is capped in hours, 20 on Starter and 100 above it, which a creator with a large back catalogue exhausts quickly and then pays to extend.
  • Branded apps only appear on the 449 dollar plan and above, so the tier that makes the product distinct from a generic video host is out of reach for a small membership.
  • One-off sales carry a transaction fee of 10 per cent on Starter and 5 per cent on higher plans, on top of payment processing, which materially changes the maths for creators selling courses rather than subscriptions.
  • PSG Equity took a majority investment in 2025, so the platform whose revenue already scales with your subscriber count is now controlled by an investor with a return horizon, and pricing structure changes should be planned for rather than assumed away.

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

Uscreen

$49/month
  • Starter$49/month
    • Up to 100 subscribers
    • 20 hours of video storage
    • 1 admin seat
  • Growth$149/month
    • Unlimited subscribers
    • 1.99 USD per subscriber per month
    • 100 hours of video storage
  • App Essentials$449/month
    • Unlimited subscribers
    • 0.99 USD per subscriber per month
    • Two branded mobile apps for iOS and Android
  • Custom$undefined/month
    • 0.99 USD per subscriber per month
    • Five TV apps
    • Community features

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 Uscreen if

  • You need branded apps.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV.
  • You also want membership paywall.
Uscreen review

Questions people ask

Is HBO Max or Uscreen better?
Neither clearly leads. HBO Max starts at $10.99/month and Uscreen at $49/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, HBO Max or Uscreen?
HBO Max starts at $10.99/month and Uscreen at $49/month.
Does HBO Max or Uscreen run on more platforms?
HBO Max runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles. Uscreen runs on Web, iOS, Android, Roku, Apple TV, 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 Uscreen is typically brought in for.
What can HBO Max do that Uscreen cannot?
HBO Max covers Streaming, Downloads, Profiles, HBO content. Uscreen covers Branded apps, Membership paywall, Live streaming, Community.

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
Uscreen: What does Uscreen actually cost per month?

The plan price plus a per-subscriber fee: 1.99 US dollars per subscriber on Growth, 0.99 on App Essentials and Custom. Budget on your member count, not the tier.

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
Uscreen: Do I get real apps in the app stores?

Yes, branded apps published under your own name, with Uscreen handling submission. They start on the App Essentials plan at 449 US dollars per month.

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
Uscreen: Is there a storage limit?

Yes, 20 hours on Starter and 100 hours on Growth and App Essentials, with more available on request.

Uscreen: Is there a transaction fee?

Yes on one-off sales: 10 per cent on Starter, 5 per cent on higher plans, separate from payment processing charges.

Uscreen: Who owns Uscreen?

PSG Equity took a 150 million dollar majority investment in 2025, so it is private-equity controlled.

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