Apple TV+
$12.99 per mo
HBO Max
Ads $10.99 / Ad-free $18.49 / Premium $22.99 per mo
Apple TV+ is a small, ad-free catalog of acclaimed originals at a flat $12.99. HBO Max is a deeper prestige library with HBO dramas, Max Originals, and recent Warner films. Apple TV+ wins on value and no ads; HBO Max wins on library depth and recent movies.
Pick Apple TV+ if you want a cheap, ad-free home for prestige originals and do not need a deep back catalog. It is great as a second service.
Pick HBO Max if you want a deeper prestige library with HBO dramas, Max Originals, and recent Warner movies.
Apple TV+ and HBO Max both chase prestige, but at very different scales. Apple TV+ is deliberately small: a curated set of expensive, often acclaimed originals like Severance and Slow Horses, with no ads and no licensed back catalog. HBO Max is the deeper prestige library, with HBO's dramas, Max Originals, and Warner Bros. films after their theatrical run.
On price, Apple TV+ is a flat $12.99 a month with everything in 4K and no ads. HBO Max is $10.99 with ads, $18.49 ad-free, and $22.99 for 4K Premium. So Apple TV+ undercuts HBO Max's ad-free tiers, but you get far less content. The choice is mostly value and no ads (Apple TV+) versus library depth and recent films (HBO Max).
We compare price, library size, originals, ads, and value.
| Quick facts | Apple TV+ | HBO Max |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $12.99/mo (flat) | Ads $10.99 to Premium $22.99 |
| Ads | None | On the $10.99 plan |
| Library size | Small, originals-only | Deep, prestige |
| Recent theatrical films | Rare | Warner films |
| Best for | Value + no ads | Depth + recent movies |
Each row reflects the feature on each product's current public release.
| Feature | A Apple TV+ | H HBO Max |
|---|---|---|
| Ad-free at every tier | Yes | Only paid tiers |
| 4K HDR included | Yes | Premium only |
| Large back catalog | No | Yes |
| Prestige originals | Few, high-budget | Best-in-class |
| Recent theatrical films | Rare | Warner films |
| Offline downloads | Yes | Yes |
| Lowest flat price | Yes | No |
| Library breadth | Small | Deep |
Pricing and features change often. Always verify the current details on each product's official site. Last reviewed 2026-06-23.
Things neither product's marketing page leads with.
Apple TV+ is cheap and ad-free but tiny, so you can exhaust what you want to watch quickly.
HBO Max has far more prestige content and recent films, but its ad-free and 4K tiers cost more.
Apple TV+ works well as an inexpensive add-on alongside a deeper library like HBO Max.
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