As the streaming wars progress into 2021, two new streaming services have entered the arena. WarnerMedia’s HBO Max and Disney’s Disney+ are fighting for streaming champion.
Both Warner Bros. and Disney have made risky business decisions that will help their services during COVID-19. Disney+ is experimenting with ‘Premier Access’, which allows their latest films to release on the service for an additional fee. Warner Bros.’ is releasing their entire 2021 slate on HBO Max and in theaters simultaneously. As both companies are prioritizing streaming, which one should you invest in?
Prices
When you first think of paying a subscription to anything, you think of the price. As a consumer, you want to find a service that’s within your budget. Disney+ is available for $7 a month, while HBO Max is available for $15. HBO Max is incredibly expensive, while you can get more bang for your buck with Disney+. Luckily, both don’t contain ads. This saves you from not having an annoying commercial popping up as things start to get interesting.
Content
HBO Max has a lot more variety when it comes to content. Max has everything that was already a part of the HBO catalog such as Game of Thrones and Curb Your Enthusiasm. HBO Max is also home to many of Warner Bros’s beloved franchises such as Rick and Morty and The Lego Movie. HBO Max has more than 10,000 hours of content that you could watch. The service also has hubs dedicated to DC Comics, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Studio Ghibli, and Criterion Collection fans.
Cnet states, “HBO Max offers fantastic content such as Friends, The Big Bang Theory, and South Park. It also has full sets of movies such as Lord of the Rings, The Matrix trilogies, and Joker.”
Disney+ isn’t as diverse, although they have The Mandalorian which seems to hit audiences well. Disney+ focuses on kids and family content with iconic films like Moana to Snow White. If you’re a Marvel and Star Wars fan, Disney caters to you as well. Disney has both the MCU and Skywalker Saga available on the service. In fact, they have plenty of originals coming out in 2021. If you’re a fan of The Simpsons, Disney+ has 31 seasons of the popular sitcom.
Availability
As you’re thinking about paying a subscription to one of these services, consider the availability. HBO Max is available on Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, PlayStation 4, Samsung TV, and Xbox. HBO Max’s problem is that it is not yet available on Roku. That’s a big problem for many families who own a Roku, and they could be missing out on fantastic content. Disney+ is available everywhere and can be easily accessed through any device.
