Binge vs HBO Max: Which is better?

When HBO Max launched in Australia early 2025, Binge lost the rights to HBO content, and with it, a big part of its draw. Since then, the local streaming service has been putting in the hard yards to win back some of its appeal. It has introduced sport, signed deals with Sony Pictures, shifted focus to more Australian content, and had sale after sale. But without HBO, is it still enough to justify a spot in your streaming lineup? 

Binge vs HBO Max: Quick comparison

Binge vs HBO Max: Content

As you might expect, HBO Max is the home of HBO content internationally. On top of the juggernauts of television like Game of Thrones, White Lotus, and Sex and the City, it also has a bunch of Warner Brothers flicks like Barbie, The Batman, and Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga. You'll also find an array of forgotten titles like 2 Broke Girls, animated content like Harley Quinn and Rick & Morty, and late-night hits such as Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. 

Out of the box. Binge subscribers get access to a range of TV shows, movies, sport, and 40 live channels simulcast from Foxtel. Some of our favourite picks on Binge include the likes of Mr Inbetween, The Day of the Jackal, and Please Like Me. They're don't have the high acclaim of HBO, but they're good watching. Across the board, categories you'll find premium content from the likes of NBCUniversal and Sony Pictures, plus content from the American ABC, CBS, and a growing collection of local Australian content.

Both Binge and HBO Max follow the same model - your subscription fee grants you access to the entire content library. As such, the two are a lot easier to compare side by side than say Binge and Foxtel Now.

Binge vs HBO Max: Price and packages

Both Binge and HBO Max have the same pricing structure - the more you pay, the more features you unlock, but the cheapest plan still gets you all the content. Each of these streamers start with an ad-supported tier, and move upward to a premium tier with more simultaneous streams and better video quality. We're not fans of ads in any streaming tier, but at least neither Binge nor HBO Max are cracking down on password sharing like some of the others.

Binge's ad-supported plan costs $10 per month, while HBO Max's Basic with Ads is $11.99 per month. Binge will give you one device and HD streaming, while HBO yields two screens and HD streaming. On the Standard plans, you're looking at $19 per month for two devices and 4K streaming on Binge, or $15.99 per month for 2 devices and HD streaming on HBO. At the Premium, end both streamers allow for 4K and four simultaneous streams, for $22 or $21.99 per month, respectively.

	Plan	Price	Details
Binge	Binge Basic with Ads Free 7 Day Trial Basic with Ads Free 7 Day Trial Full HD streaming · 1 device at once Ads included Annual: $79/yr (Save $41) From $10/mth or $79/yr View Plan	From $10/mth or $79/yr	View Plan
Binge	Binge Standard Free 7 Day Trial Standard Free 7 Day Trial 4K UHD · 2 devices at once Ad-free Annual: $149/yr (Save $79) From $19/mth or $149/yr View Plan	From $19/mth or $149/yr	View Plan
Binge	Binge Premium Free 7 Day Trial Premium Free 7 Day Trial 4K UHD · 4 devices at once Ad-free Annual: $179/yr (Save $85) From $22/mth or $179/yr View Plan	From $22/mth or $179/yr	View Plan

Both are pretty on par with each other, but you'll see bigger savings opting for a Binge annual plan over anHBO Max one. You can save up to $85 per year with a Binge Annual Pass, whereas the most you can save with HBO Max is about $43 per year. 

Binge vs HBO Max: Which is better?

HBO Max and Binge are comparable for features and price, but it does boil down to content. Binge is putting in the work to improve its offering, but it is ultimately hard to argue with the pedigree of HBO and Warner Brothers. Discovery. Like for like, HBO Max has more hits, and a wider catalogue, with similar pricing. If you have to pick one, it is probably the right call.

There are definitely people who will benefit from Binge's selection of reality television, and the live simulcast channels from Foxtel, but if you're simply searching for the best quality viewing for your dollar HBO Max is the way to go.

Check out how Binge and HBO Max compare with other major streaming services in Australia. 

	Plan	Price	Details
AMC+ Bundle	AMC+ Bundle TV 7-day free trial TV 7-day free trial HD 1080p · 5 devices at once AMC+, Shudder & Acorn TV Annual: $83.88/yr (save $24) From $8.99/mth or $83.88/yr View Plan	From $8.99/mth or $83.88/yr	View Plan
Disney+	Disney+ TV + movies + sport TV + movies + sport 4K UHD · 4 devices at once Annual: From $179.99/y (save up to $49.89) From $9.99/mth or $179.99/yr View Plan	From $9.99/mth or $179.99/yr	View Plan
Amazon Prime Video	Amazon Prime Video TV + movies + more 30-day free trial TV + movies + more 30-day free trial 4K UHD · 3 devices at once Remove ads for $2.99/mth Annual: $79/yr (save $40) From $9.99/mth or $79/yr View Plan	From $9.99/mth or $79/yr	View Plan
Netflix	Netflix TV + movies TV + movies 4K UHD · 2 devices at once Deal: Get free Netflix Standard with Optus From $9.99/mth View Plan	From $9.99/mth	View Plan
Binge	Binge TV + movies + sport 7-day free trial TV + movies + sport 7-day free trial 4K UHD · 4 devices at once Annual: From $79/yr (save up to $85) From $10.00/mth or $79/yr View Plan	From $10.00/mth or $79/yr	View Plan
Crunchyroll	Crunchyroll TV + movies 7-day free trial TV + movies 7-day free trial HD 1080p · 4 devices at once Annual: From $119.99/yr (save up to 16%) From $11.99/mth or $119.99/yr View Plan	From $11.99/mth or $119.99/yr	View Plan
Apple TV	Apple TV TV + movies 7-day free trial TV + movies 7-day free trial 4K UHD · 6 (with Family Sharing) Annual: $129/yr (save $62.88) From $15.99/mth or $129/yr View Plan	From $15.99/mth or $129/yr	View Plan
Kayo Sports	Kayo Sports Sport 7-day free trial Sport 7-day free trial 4K UHD · 2 devices at once Deal: 1 month for $1 From $29.99/mth View Plan	From $29.99/mth	View Plan
DAZN	DAZN Sport Sport HD 1080p · 2 devices at once Annual: From $149.99/yr (save $223.89) From $31.99/mth or $149.99/yr View Plan	From $31.99/mth or $149.99/yr	View Plan
Foxtel Now	Foxtel Now TV + movies + sport 10-day free trial TV + movies + sport 10-day free trial HD 1080p · 2 devices at once Annual: Save 30% on Sports + Movies package when you sign up for 12mths From $35/mth View Plan	From $35/mth	View Plan
Paramount+	Paramount+ TV + movies + sport 7-day free trial TV + movies + sport 7-day free trial 4K UHD · 4 devices at once Annual: From $70.99/yr (save up to $55.89) From $7.99/mth or $70.99/yr Link not supplied	From $7.99/mth or $70.99/yr	Link not supplied
Stan.	Stan. TV + movies + sport TV + movies + sport 4K UHD · 4 devices at once From $9.99/mth Link not supplied	From $9.99/mth	Link not supplied
HBO Max	HBO Max TV + movies TV + movies 4K UHD · 4 devices at once Annual: From $119.99yr (save up to $43.89) From $11.99/mth or $119.99yr Link not supplied	From $11.99/mth or $119.99yr	Link not supplied
BritBox	BritBox TV 7-day free trial TV 7-day free trial 4K UHD · 4 devices at once Annual: $139.99/yr (save $27.89) From $13.99/mth or $139.99/yr Link not supplied	From $13.99/mth or $139.99/yr	Link not supplied
MUBI	MUBI Movies 7-day free trial Movies 7-day free trial 4K UHD · 2 devices at once Annual: $119.88/yr (save $60) From $14.99/mth or $119.88/yr Link not supplied	From $14.99/mth or $119.88/yr	Link not supplied

Anula Wiwatowska

Offsite Editorial Lead | Instagram

Anula is the Off-Site Editorial Lead for WhistleOut Australia, and an award winning tech journalist. She has been writing about the Australian telco industry, and consumer technology for over five years, and has been known to tell her Uber driver which phone they should upgrade to next.

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