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HBO Max vs YouTube TV

HBO Max logo

HBO Max

Software

Stream iconic series, movies, and Max Originals

From
$9.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Y

YouTube TV

Software

Cable reimagined: live TV streaming with unlimited cloud DVR storage

From
On request
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; YouTube TV base Plan streams to only 3 devices simultaneously; the 4K Plus add-on is required for unlimited concurrent streams, per tv.youtube.com pricing page (Aug 2026)

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which HBO Max and YouTube TV actually diverge.

Attributes where HBO Max and YouTube TV differ
AttributeHBO MaxYouTube TV
Starting price$9.99/monthOn request
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consolesWeb
Founded2020Unknown

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
  • Smart TVs
  • Gaming consoles
  • Mobile devices

Only in YouTube TV

Nothing recorded that HBO Max does not also cover.

What people use each for

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

HBO Max

  • Premium streamingnot YouTube TV
  • HBO contentnot YouTube TV
  • Original seriesnot YouTube TV

YouTube TV

No use cases recorded yet. See the YouTube TV review.

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

YouTube TV

  • Base Plan streams to only 3 devices simultaneously; the 4K Plus add-on is required for unlimited concurrent streams, per tv.youtube.com pricing page (Aug 2026)
  • Base Plan is priced at $82.99 per month as of August 2026 per YouTube TV's own pricing page, with a discounted $67.99 rate only for the first 3 months

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

YouTube TV

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the YouTube TV review.

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 YouTube TV if

Nothing in the data separates YouTube TV from HBO Max on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

YouTube TV review

Questions people ask

Is HBO Max or YouTube TV better?
Neither clearly leads. HBO Max starts at $9.99/month and YouTube TV at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, HBO Max or YouTube TV?
HBO Max starts at $9.99/month and YouTube TV at On request.
Does HBO Max or YouTube TV run on more platforms?
HBO Max runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles. YouTube TV runs on Web.
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 YouTube TV is typically brought in for.
What can HBO Max do that YouTube TV cannot?
HBO Max covers Streaming, Downloads, Profiles, HBO content.
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