Ever since the advent of on-demand online content streaming services, HBO Max vs. Netflix has been a common debate among cord-cutters, especially when they’re trying to make an informed decision about which entertainment option to invest in.
As of the second quarter of 2021, Netflix had around 209 million global paid memberships. HBO Max, on the other hand (as reported by Hollywood Reporter in April 2021), boasted around 63.9 million worldwide subscribers.
Considering that HBO Max is a much newer service as compared to Netflix (HBO Max launched in 2020 while the latter started offering streaming services in 2007), and also considering that HBO Max is geo-restricted due to which you can’t watch HBO Max in Australia or anywhere outside of the US, HBO Max seems to have gained immense popularity among streamers.
Therefore, it is natural if you cannot decide which of these is best for you. Read our HBO Max vs. Netflix comparison — based on four distinct factors — to understand which best suits your needs:
Variety of Content
One of the first things a streaming enthusiast cares about is the amount and variety of content that will be available on a streaming platform. Let’s take a look at which streaming service is better in terms of content variety.
In addition to Max Originals (such as Love Life, the rebooted Gossip Girl, The Flight Attendant, etc.) that are not accessible to normal HBO subscribers, HBO Max has everything that is on HBO, including not just Game of Thrones but every new HBO show such as Insecure, the series premieres of I May Destroy You and Perry Mason. season finales of Westworld, and We’re Here.
Netflix, on the other hand, is popular for the Originals it keeps churning out (most popular Netflix Originals include 13 Reasons Why, Queer Eye, The Queen’s Gambit, You, etc. In 2019 alone, Netflix produced 371 original content titles.
The good thing about Netflix is that its titles are all shot before the release dates, so the release dates are not affected due to production delays, unlike most other companies.
While Netflix has garnered the global market’s attention through its Originals, HBO heavily relies on popular, iconic shows like Doctor, Friends, and South Park that audiences like to watch ads. Moreover, with titles like A Star is Born, Crazy Rich Asians, and The Wizard of Oz, HBO boasts a deeper movie list as compared to Netflix too.
So, Netflix has plenty of originals to flaunt along with well-known movies and TV shows, and HBO Max banks mainly on classics. If you cannot afford both, you must choose which one to invest in based on the sort of content you’re fond of consuming.
Pricing
Simple as it may sound, pricing is a little complicated because you decide which one is more cost-effective based on a couple of factors including the variety of packages offered, the number of devices allowed on a single account, and the amount of content present on the streaming site.
With one flat price, i.e. $14.99 for all of it, HBO Max may sound a little expensive. And that’s also the exact price users pay for HBO Now. The good news is that, in June 2021, HBO Max’s ad-supported version was launched. Priced at 9.99 USD a month, the new option sounds more affordable, allowing users to save 5 USD while getting the same content — with a few annoying ads.
On the other hand, Netflix offers three price tiers that automatically appeals to a larger audience as they can choose according to their affordability:
Basic ($8.99 per month)
Standard ($12.99 per month) – full HD streams
Premium ($15.99 per month) – 4K
Lastly, HBO Max users can watch HBO Max on three devices simultaneously, while Netflix subscribers can watch it on four devices (on its premium plan).
User Experience
A streaming service is not just limited to the content it consists of, but what contributes to the overall user experience of a streaming service is also the content it recommends and suggests based on how smartly its algorithm manages to understand your choice and predict your preferences.
Netflix’s algorithmic recommendations are quite cool, and its homepage layout is user-friendly with watch lists and profiles that are very easy to manage. There is also a localized curated list that shows you what people in your country are watching most, which can help you keep up with the most popular content in your social circles.
HBO Max, too, has had profiles and watch lists from the beginning. The search function works decently, and you can also create kids’ profiles on it easily.
The homepage consists of an ‘Editor’s Picks’ section along with Featured Series and Featured Movies. So far, it seems that both offer a good, trouble-free user experience.
4K and HDR
How can we not consider 4k and HDR when considering which streaming service to invest in? We all want to watch our favorite content with full clarity and colors.
If you want 4K HDR content on Netflix, the things you’ll need comprise an internet connection of minimum 25Mbps, and a 4K TV, and/or a 4K HDR-compatible device that supports Netflix. To get the best picture quality, make sure your devices are compatible with HDR10 or Dolby Vision HDR; and come with a High streaming quality.
As per HBO Max itself, “HBO Max supports 4K content and a selection of 4K-compatible devices. If your device doesn’t support 4K, HBO Max will play the highest quality audio and video available.”
However, when HBO Max launched, it did not have apps for Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices. Thankfully, the streaming giant understood that Roku and Amazon Fire TV streaming devices and smart TVs have been incredibly popular among streaming enthusiasts, and caught on later.
To conclude, while HBO Max aggregates content from HBO’s iconic brands (HBO, DC, and Warner Bros), making it a great alternative to Netflix. Netflix — on the other hand — stands as the global pioneer of online streaming with a huge library of not only intriguing originals but thousands of licensed TV shows and movies.
Both streaming services have an impressive amount of content to offer, and it is up to you to decide — based on the above-mentioned factors — which one is good enough for you.
