Source-cited · Updated Jul 2026
Hulu vs HBO Max Price History
Since 2021, Hulu has risen +100% versus HBO Max at +23%. HBO Max has been the more price-stable choice. Every Hulu and HBO Max tier tracked, 2021–2026, with every price change sourced.
Hulu
4 plans · default: Hulu (With Ads)
HBO Max
Better value3 plans · default: Standard (Ad-Free)
Verdict
Better value: HBO Max
Since 2021, Hulu has risen +100% versus HBO Max at +23%. HBO Max has been the more price-stable choice.
Scorecard
The numbers behind the verdict
Hulu (With Ads) vs Standard (Ad-Free) — the default tier of each service, 2021–2026. A green tick marks the better number in each row. Note: Hulu’s default tier includes ads while HBO Max’s is ad-free, so this isn’t a like-for-like matchup — the tier table below lines up every plan.
| Metric | Hulu Hulu (With Ads) | HBO Max Standard (Ad-Free) |
|---|---|---|
| Current Price (2026) | $11.99 (better) | $18.49 |
| Total Change | +100% | +23% (better) |
| Number of Hikes | 4 | 3 (better) |
| Hike Frequency | Every 1.3 yrs | Every 1.7 yrs (better) |
| Avg Annual Change | $1.20/yr | $0.70/yr (better) |
Every tier
Which tier costs what today
Every Hulu and HBO Max plan in one list, cheapest first. First Tracked is each plan’s price when our tracking began — 2021, or its debut year if it arrived later. Retired tiers sit at the bottom with their final price.
| Service | Plan | Price Now | First Tracked | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MHBO Max | Basic with AdsAds | $10.99 | $9.99 (2021) | +10% |
| HHulu | Hulu (With Ads)DefaultAds | $11.99 | $5.99 (2021) | +100% |
| MHBO Max | Standard (Ad-Free)Default | $18.49 | $14.99 (2021) | +23% |
| HHulu | Hulu (No Ads) | $18.99 | $11.99 (2021) | +58% |
| MHBO Max | Premium (Ultimate 4K) | $22.99 | $19.99 (2023) | +15% |
| HHulu | Hulu + Live TV (With Ads)Ads | $89.99 | $64.99 (2021) | +38% |
| HHulu | Hulu + Live TV (No Ads) | $99.99 | $70.99 (2021) | +41% |