HBO Max
Ads $10.99 / Ad-free $18.49 / Premium $22.99 per mo
Hulu
Ads $9.99 / No ads $18.99 per mo
HBO Max leans on prestige HBO series, Max Originals, and recent Warner films. Hulu leans on next-day network TV, FX, and a broad general library. They cost about the same. HBO Max wins on per-title quality; Hulu wins on current TV and breadth.
Pick HBO Max if you prioritize prestige TV and recent Warner movies and want a dedicated 4K tier.
Pick Hulu if you want next-day current-season network TV, FX shows, and a broader general-audience library.
HBO Max and Hulu are both mid-priced streamers, but they specialize in different things. HBO Max is about prestige and recency: HBO's acclaimed dramas, Max Originals, and Warner Bros. films after their theatrical run. Hulu is about current television and breadth: next-day episodes of network shows, FX series, and a deep library of mature, general-audience content.
Pricing is close. HBO Max is $10.99 with ads, $18.49 ad-free, and $22.99 for 4K Premium. Hulu is $9.99 with ads or $18.99 ad-free. So Hulu is slightly cheaper at the entry tier, while HBO Max offers a dedicated 4K Premium plan.
We compare content focus, price, originals, library breadth, and which one to keep.
| Quick facts | HBO Max | Hulu |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest plan | Ads $10.99/mo | Ads $9.99/mo |
| Ad-free plan | Ad-free $18.49/mo | No ads $18.99/mo |
| 4K tier | Premium $22.99/mo | Limited |
| Content focus | Prestige + Warner films | Current TV + general |
| Best for | Quality over volume | Current TV + breadth |
Each row reflects the feature on each product's current public release.
| Feature | H HBO Max | H Hulu |
|---|---|---|
| Ad-supported tier | Yes | Yes |
| Ad-free tier | Yes | Yes |
| 4K HDR tier | Premium | Limited |
| Next-day network TV | No | Yes |
| Prestige originals | Best-in-class | Good (FX) |
| Recent theatrical films | Warner films | Limited |
| Library breadth | Curated | Broad |
| Offline downloads | Yes | Yes |
Pricing and features change often. Always verify the current details on each product's official site. Last reviewed 2026-06-22.
Things neither product's marketing page leads with.
HBO Max wins on per-title quality and recent films; Hulu wins on current TV and sheer breadth.
Hulu is slightly cheaper at the entry tier, but HBO Max offers a true 4K Premium plan.
Both are owned within large media groups and frequently bundled, so check bundle deals before subscribing separately.
The average person juggles a dozen subscriptions and forgets at least one. Subkept is a privacy-first subscription tracker: add HBO Max, Hulu, and everything else, then get renewal reminders, price-hike alerts, and a clear monthly total, with no bank connection, ever. Free for up to 5 subscriptions, no time limit.
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