Max vs. Hulu - Which Streaming Service is Better Value?

If you’re looking for a great streaming service, Max and Hulu both offer wonderful entertainment options. Which one is right for you?

Price

Max is $9.99/month with ads, $15.99/month ad-free, and $19.99/month if you want 4K.

Hulu is $7.99/month with ads or $17.99/month to remove ads. You also have the option to add Disney+ and/or ESPN+. The trio is $24.99/month. Another option is to make Hulu your live TV provider. If you do that, Hulu is $76.99, and you get Hulu on-demand, Disney+, and ESPN+ at no additional cost.

Movies

Movie lovers will find a lot to enjoy with Max. Subscribers will see hits like “Barbie,” “Dune,” and “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy. Max often hosts the big-screen adventures of DC Comics superheroes like Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman.

The Max lineup also includes dozens of critical darlings, like those from the Criterion Collection, Roger Ebert’s Great Movies, and the British Film Institute’s Sight and Sound Critics’ Poll. Max features the landmark works of directors like Kubrick, Fellini, Truffaut, Miyazaki, and Kurosawa. A deal with distributor A24 ensures critical favorites will continue on the service for a long time.

The Hulu movie library is lackluster, compared to many of its competitors. Most films from parent company Disney end up on Disney+. Hulu’s lineup may change, but it can feature hits like “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” “Alien,” “Predator,” “The Notebook,” “Heat,” “Pretty Woman,” “Jumanji,” and “Crazy Rich Asians.” Hulu does feature one of the best documentary libraries of any streaming service.

TV

Almost no streaming service can match the quality of the Max TV library. You’ll see all-time greats like “The Sopranos,” “The Wire,” “The Last of Us,” “Game of Thrones,” “Succession,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “Sex and the City,” and “Deadwood.” Subscribers can watch popular TV like “Friends,” “South Park,” and “The Big Bang Theory.”

Hulu has a fantastic TV library, packed with great shows from the past several decades. Standout originals include “Only Murders in the Building” and “The Handmaid’s Tale.” You’ll get FX hits like “Fargo,” “The Bear,” “Welcome to Wrexham,” “The Americans,” and “What We Do in the Shadows.” Other great shows on Hulu include “Abbott Elementary,” “Schitt’s Creek,” “Modern Family,” “Rick and Morty,” “Family Guy,” “Lost,” “Community,” “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Cheers,” “Frasier,” “MASH,” and “Scandal.”

Sports

If you have Max, you can access the B/R Sports section. Users can see events from NBA, MLB, NHL, and March Madness games, along with matches from the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team and U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team.

Hulu offers no sports unless you upgrade to the live TV package.

Bottom Line

Because of the stronger movie and sports offerings, Max is likely the best choice for most people. However, if you’re looking for “comfort food TV,” Hulu could be the best streamer available. If you choose Hulu’s live TV package or the full bundle with Disney+ and ESPN+, Hulu becomes a more compelling value, especially for families with children.

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