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Showtime vs HBO Max

S

Showtime

Software

Signature entertainment and sports

From
$10.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
HBO Max logo

HBO Max

Software

Stream iconic series, movies, and Max Originals

From
$9.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Showtime showtime is now offered only as part of Paramount+'s Premium plan, per the App Store listing (Paramount+ by CBS Mobile); 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: Showtime covers Original series, HBO Max covers Downloads.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Showtime and HBO Max differ
AttributeShowtimeHBO Max
Starting price$10.99/month$9.99/month
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tvWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles
Founded19832020

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 Showtime

  • Original series
  • Movies
  • Sports
  • Live events
  • Streaming devices
  • Account security
  • Content filtering

Only in HBO Max

  • Downloads
  • Profiles
  • HBO content
  • Max Originals
  • Gaming consoles
  • Mobile devices
  • Profile locks
  • Parental controls

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.

Showtime

  • Premium streaming
  • Sports watchingnot HBO Max

HBO Max

  • Premium streaming
  • HBO contentnot Showtime
  • Original seriesnot Showtime

Both are used for premium streaming, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.

Where each one falls short

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

Showtime

  • Showtime is now offered only as part of Paramount+'s Premium plan, per the App Store listing (Paramount+ by CBS Mobile)
  • Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current subscription period rather than immediately, with continued access through the paid period, per the App Store listing

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

Showtime

$10.99/month
  • Showtime Standalone$10.99/month
    • Original content
    • Ad-free

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 Showtime if

  • You need original series.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv.
  • You also want movies.
Showtime 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 Showtime or HBO Max better?
Neither clearly leads. Showtime starts at $10.99/month 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, Showtime or HBO Max?
Showtime starts at $10.99/month and HBO Max at $9.99/month.
Does Showtime or HBO Max run on more platforms?
Showtime runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv. HBO Max runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles.
What is Showtime best used for?
Showtime is most often used for premium streaming, sports watching. Of those, sports watching is not what HBO Max is typically brought in for.
What can Showtime do that HBO Max cannot?
Showtime covers Original series, Movies, Sports, Live events. HBO Max covers Downloads, Profiles, HBO content, Max Originals. Both handle Streaming, Smart TVs, Web support, Ios support.
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