Is Jellyfin or HBO Max better?

Neither clearly leads. Jellyfin starts at Free and HBO Max at $9.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.

Which is cheaper, Jellyfin or HBO Max?

Jellyfin has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Jellyfin and $9.99/month for HBO Max.

Does Jellyfin or HBO Max run on more platforms?

Jellyfin runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Desktop, Docker. HBO Max runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles.

Can I use Jellyfin for free?

Yes. Jellyfin has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. HBO Max starts at $9.99/month.

What is Jellyfin best used for?

Jellyfin is most often used for open-source media streaming, self-hosted library. Of those, open-source media streaming and self-hosted library are not what HBO Max is typically brought in for.

What can Jellyfin do that HBO Max cannot?

Jellyfin covers Media server, Library management, Open source, Self-hosted. HBO Max covers Downloads, Profiles, HBO content, Max Originals. Both handle Streaming, Smart TVs, Mobile devices, Web support.

Software · head to head

Jellyfin vs HBO Max

Jellyfin

Software

The free software media system

From: Free
Rated: -

Full review Website

HBO Max

Software

Stream iconic series, movies, and Max Originals

From: $9.99/month
Rated: -

Full review Website

The short version

Only Jellyfin has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
Each has a real cost: Jellyfin jellyfin is free open source software under the GNU GPL with no paid tier or vendor support contract available; 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
They diverge on capability: Jellyfin covers Media server, HBO Max covers Downloads.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Jellyfin and HBO Max differ
Attribute	Jellyfin	HBO Max
Starting price	Free	$9.99/month
Pricing model	free	subscription
Free tier	Yes	No
Platforms	Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Desktop, Docker	Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles
Founded	2018	2020

Identical on both: 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 Jellyfin

Media server
Library management
Open source
Self-hosted
Streaming devices
Open source audit
Self-hosted security
User management

Only in HBO Max

Downloads
Profiles
HBO content
Max Originals
Gaming consoles
Profile locks
Parental controls
PIN protection

Both cover

Streaming
Smart TVs
Mobile devices
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.

Jellyfin

Open-source media streamingnot HBO Max
Self-hosted librarynot HBO Max

HBO Max

Premium streamingnot Jellyfin
HBO contentnot Jellyfin
Original seriesnot Jellyfin

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Jellyfin

Jellyfin is free open source software under the GNU GPL with no paid tier or vendor support contract available

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

Pricing, plan by plan

Jellyfin

Free

FreeFree
- Unlimited streaming
- Open source
- No ads

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Jellyfin if

You need media server.
You want to start without paying.
You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Desktop, Docker.
You also want library management.

Jellyfin review

Choose HBO Max if

You need downloads.
You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles.
You also want profiles.

HBO Max review

Questions people ask

Is Jellyfin or HBO Max better?: Neither clearly leads. Jellyfin starts at Free and HBO Max at $9.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Jellyfin or HBO Max?: Jellyfin has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Jellyfin and $9.99/month for HBO Max.
Does Jellyfin or HBO Max run on more platforms?: Jellyfin runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Desktop, Docker. HBO Max runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles.
Can I use Jellyfin for free?: Yes. Jellyfin has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. HBO Max starts at $9.99/month.
What is Jellyfin best used for?: Jellyfin is most often used for open-source media streaming, self-hosted library. Of those, open-source media streaming and self-hosted library are not what HBO Max is typically brought in for.
What can Jellyfin do that HBO Max cannot?: Jellyfin covers Media server, Library management, Open source, Self-hosted. HBO Max covers Downloads, Profiles, HBO content, Max Originals. Both handle Streaming, Smart TVs, Mobile devices, Web support.

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Jellyfin vs HBO Max

Jellyfin

HBO Max

The short version

Where they differ

What each one covers

Only in Jellyfin

Only in HBO Max

Both cover

What people use each for

Jellyfin

HBO Max

Where each one falls short

Jellyfin

HBO Max

Pricing, plan by plan

Jellyfin

HBO Max

Which should you pick?

Choose Jellyfin if

Choose HBO Max if

Questions people ask

Related pages

More on Jellyfin

More on HBO Max

Keep looking

Other head to heads