Max vs. Netflix: Which Should You Pick? (2024)

If you’re trying to decide between Max and Netflix, you’re looking at two of the most impressive streaming services around. While Netflix is the default streamer for millions of people, we can make a case that Max is the better choice. Why? Let’s dig in.

Max vs. Netfflix: Price

Max is $9.99 / month with ads, $16.99 ad-free, and $20.99 if you want 4K.

Netflix is $6.99 / month with ads or $15.49 to go ad-free, and $22.99 for the 4K option.

Max vs. Netfflix: Movies

We can make a case that Max has the best movie library of any streaming service since the Warner Bros. archive goes back 100 years and includes some of the biggest blockbusters ever created. Subscribers will see hits like “Barbie,” “Dune,” “Aliens,” 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 critically acclaimed movies, like those from the Criterion Collection, Roger Ebert’s Great Movies, and the British Film Institute’s Sight and Sound Critics’ Poll. Max is often the host for films from cinematic titans like Kubrick, Fellini, Truffaut, Miyazaki, and Kurosawa. You’ll find all-time classics like “The Wizard of Oz,” “Casablanca,” “Singin’ in the Rain,” and “On the Waterfront.” A deal with distributor A24 ensures critical favorites will continue on the service for a long time.

Netflix only started creating its own films a few years ago, so the library isn’t especially deep or valuable. You’re most likely to enjoy films Netflix has licensed from other studios. As of this writing, popular titles include “Hit Man,” “Gozilla Minus One,” “The Matrix,” “Amadeus,” “Monty Python and the Holy Grail,” “The Lego Movie,” “Moneyball,” “Kill Bill,” “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,” “Beverly Hills Cop,” “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” Shrek,” and “La La Land.” The movie library shifts every month, but there’s almost always something great to watch.

Max vs. Netfflix: 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,” “Veep,” “Game of Thrones,” “Succession,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “Sex and the City,” and “Deadwood.” Subscribers can watch popular TV like “Friends,” “South Park,” “The West Wing,” and “The Big Bang Theory.”

Max has 25 out of Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest TV Shows Ever. That’s an incredible lineup.

Netflix offers many of the most popular TV series in recent years. Subscribers can see “Beef,” “Black Mirror,” “Bridgerton,” “Wednesday,” “Squid Game,” “Money Heist,” “The Crown,” “I Think You Should Leave,” and “Stranger Things.” You’ll also see titles that originated outside of Netflix, like “Breaking Bad,” “Suits,” “Seinfeld,” “Arrested Development,” “Shameless,” and “Outlander.”

Max vs. Netfflix: Children’s Content

Netflix is a favorite for kids because of its easy-to-navigate interface. Children flock to shows like “CoComelon Stories,” “Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir,” “Numberblocks,” “Rugrats,” “Star Trek: Prodigy,” “Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous,” “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” “Luna Pentunia,” “Sonic Boom,” “The Smurfs,” “Transformers Prime,” “Goosebumps,” “Ninjago,” “Ask the StoryBots,” “Peppa Pig,” “Ben 10,” and “Avatar: The Last Airbender.”

Max has a unique children’s lineup, but this isn’t its strong suit. Standout titles include “Adventure Time,” “Courage the Cowardly Dog,” “Care Bears: Unlock the Magic,” “Teen Titans Go!” “New Looney Tunes,” “Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!” “The Flintstones,” “The Jetsons,” and “Beware the Batman.”

Max vs. Netfflix: Sports

With the B/R Sports section, Max 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. If you subscribe to a live TV provider like Fubo or Philo that doesn’t offer TNT or TBS, Max can help solve that shortfall.

Netflix offers very little from major sports leagues, though it offers many sports documentaries like the fantastic Chicago Bulls series “The Last Dance.” Netflix is hosting Christmas Day NFL games this year. It will be the home of WWE Raw in 2025. If you want live sports, Netflix won’t help beyond a few unusual events.

Max vs. Netfflix: Bottom Line

These titans offer a lot to love. From wildly popular originals to classic TV and award-winning entertainment, each of these services has a lot to love.

In a head-to-head battle, we give Max the edge because of the strength of the library. When it comes to critical acclaim, major awards, or popularity, Max simply offers more must-see entertainment.

Netflix is no slouch. The size of its audience means it has the ability to propel under-the-radar shows to worldwide success. Its pipeline means content arrives more frequently than Max, although the quality is hit-or-miss. Netflix also hasn’t figured out movies. Despite big budgets, big stars, and big directors, its film efforts haven’t broken through the way its TV projects have.

You’ll probably be happy with either service (or both), but if we had to pick one, Max has far more must-see titles, so we’d roll with them.