HBO Max vs. Peacock, Paramount+, and Hulu: Who Gives Streamers A Better Experience With Ads?
Ad-supported streaming services are a popular way to watch premium content at a lower price. Now, Disney+ is joining the ad-supported race. While we await pricing and details, we thought we’d look at some other popular services that offer a less expensive tier for viewers willing to sit through the occasional commercial.
While ad-supported plans have been a great way to save a little of money, is it worth it? We’ve compared the various services, how many ads to expect, and what features you might give up by not choosing the ad-free plans.
HBO Max vs. Peacock, Paramount+, and Hulu At A Glance
| Service | Price | Ads Per Hour | Simultaneous Streams | 4K Streaming | Offline Mode | Live Sports |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HBO Max | $9.99 | 4 min/hr (none during HBO programming) | 3 | No | No | No |
| Peacock | $4.99 (Free for Comcast & Cox Customers) | 5 min/hr | 3 | No | No | Premier League & WWE |
| Paramount Plus | $5.99 | 9-10 min/hr | 3 | No | No | NFL & Champions League |
| Hulu Live TV | $5.99 | 9-10 min/hr | 2 | Select shows & movies on certain devices | No | NHL & ESPN+ Upgrade |
Ads Per Hour
While it is the most expensive at $9.99 a month, HBO Max also has the fewest ads at just 4 minutes per hour. On certain content, there will be less than that, for instance HBO originals and movies won’t have any. Certain shows like Friends will only have two short ad-blocks in the middle.
Peacock, which is half the price of HBO Max, and free in many cases, only has five minutes per hour, which is nearly half that of Hulu and Paramount+.
HBO Max
HBO Max es un servicio de transmisión de video por suscripción que brinda acceso a la biblioteca completa de HBO, junto con Max Originals exclusivos, y acceso a todas las películas de Warner Bros. en HBO Max poco después de que estén en los cines.
Number of Streams
Outside of Hulu which offers two simultaneous streams, HBO Max, Peacock, and Paramount+ each offer three simultaneous streams. Since they all offer user profiles, that means you will be able to share it with the whole family.
4K and Offline Mode
Currently, no ad-supported streaming service offers offline downloads. This feature has been held back for users on HBO Max Ad-Free ($14.99), Peacock Premium Plus ($9.99), Paramount+ No Ads ($9.99), and Hulu No Ads ($11.99).
Hulu is the only streaming service that includes 4K on select content on their ad-supported plan. While it’s only available on select content on HBO Max and Paramount+, that’s only available on their higher priced ad-free plan.
Hulu
Hulu is a video streaming service that gives access to thousands of full seasons of exclusive series, hit movies, kids shows, and Hulu Originals like The Handmaid’s Tale.
Content
At $9.99 a month, HBO Max is the priciest of its competition but offers a vast library of WarnerMedia and HBO movies, shows, and HBO originals that you can’t find anywhere else.
This includes “Friends”, “The Big Bang Theory”, “South Park”, “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”, “The West Wing”, and more, as well as fan-favorite HBO shows like “The Sopranos”, “The Wire”, “Curb Your Enthusiasm”, and more. As part of the ad-supported plan, you won’t get access to same day theatrical releases.
If you’re looking to stream the Star Trek Universe, Paramount+ has you covered with multiple original series like Star Trek: Discovery and Star Trek: Picard. They also bring in content from across Viacom’s owned channels like MTV, VH1, BET, Comedy Central, and kids content on Nickelodeon.
Hulu has a mix of high-quality original series like “The Handmaid’s Tale”, movies like “Nomadland” and “Palm Springs”, and a library of shows and movies from networks like ABC, NBC, Fox, and cable channels like Bravo, USA Network, and FX.
Peacock has an ever changing library of movies and TV shows, but it is the exclusive streaming home to shows like “Yellowstone”, originals like the “Saved By The Bell” and “Punky Brewster” reboots, and the entire libraries of The Office, Parks and Recreation, Law & Order, and Chicago Fire.
Paramount Plus
Paramount+ is a subscription video streaming service that includes on-demand access to 40,000+ TV show episodes from BET, CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr. and more. The lineup includes “1883,” “Tulsa King,” “Star Trek: Discovery,” Nickelodeon’s “SpongeBob SquarePants,” and MTV’s “Laguna Beach.” From well-loved franchises to compelling originals, Paramount+ offers a great library worth streaming. Live NFL games are included. The service also offers the option to watch your live CBS affiliate.
Live Sports
Regardless whether you are on an ad-supported or ad-free plan, some of the services offer live sports. Peacock includes Premier League matches that aren’t on TV, along with WWE Network including PPV events at no extra charge.
Starting in the fall, Hulu will stream select NHL games, and you can integrate your ESPN+ subscription for more live sports. Paramount+ has a wide variety of live sports including NFL, College Football & Basketball, Champions League, and PGA Tour Golf.
While Turner recently acquired NHL rights, which allow them to stream select games on HBO Max,they currently don't have plans to add it to the platform.
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Friends
September 22, 1994Las aventuras de seis jóvenes neoyorquinos unidos por una divertida amistad. Entre el amor, el trabajo y la familia, comparten sus alegrías y preocupaciones en el Central Perk, su café favorito.
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South Park
August 13, 1997This vulgar animated series follows the misadventures of four irreverent grade-schoolers in the quiet, dysfunctional town of South Park, Colorado.
“South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut” is a must-see movie if you enjoy this series. It shows off the musical inclinations that would later lead the creators to make “The Book of Mormon.” You’ll also enjoy the behind-the-scenes documentary, “6 Days to Air: The Making of South Park.”
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El príncipe de Bel-Air
September 10, 1990El príncipe de Bel-Air es una comedia de situación estadounidense, emitida originalmente en la NBC desde el 10 de septiembre de 1990 hasta el 20 de mayo de 1996. Will Smith protagoniza la serie interpretando a una versión ficticia de sí mismo, un adolescente de las calles de Filadelfia al que mandan con sus tíos ricos a una mansión de Bel-Air, en la cual su estilo de vida chocará con el de sus parientes. Los 148 episodios de la serie se emitieron en seis temporadas.
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Los Soprano
January 10, 1999Los Soprano (The Sopranos) es una serie de televisión estadounidense creada y producida por David Chase. La serie se estrenó en Estados Unidos el 10 de enero de 1999 por el canal de televisión por cable HBO, que la emitió ininterrumpidamente hasta su desenlace, el 10 de junio de 2007. La trama de la serie gira en torno al mafioso de Nueva Jersey Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) y las dificultades que enfrenta tanto en su hogar como en la organización criminal que dirige. A su vez, la serie también se centra en la historia de los personajes cercanos a Tony, especialmente su esposa Carmela (Edie Falco) y su sobrino y protegido Christopher Moltisanti (Michael Imperioli).
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Bajo escucha
June 2, 2002Told from the points of view of both the Baltimore homicide and narcotics detectives and their targets, the series captures a universe in which the national war on drugs has become a permanent, self-sustaining bureaucracy, and distinctions between good and evil are routinely obliterated.
This brilliant series is routinely cited as the best TV show ever made. (Entertainment Weekly, The BBC, The Telegraph, The Guardian, and Salon.com have all ranked it #1.) It is the closest thing we have to a novel on television. Sprawling narratives, unforgettable characters, and jaw-dropping plot twists combine into something remarkable, unique, and definitively American. From the police to the drug dealers to the junkies to blue-collar workers to politicians to journalists to elementary students, all the pieces matter.
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Larry David
October 15, 2000Hay personas que parecen haber sido maldecidas con la ley de Murphy: si algo tiene la posibilidad de salir mal, saldrá mal. Larry David se considera una de ellas. El creador y productor de Seinfield, una de los programas más laureados de la historia de la televisión, se interpreta a sí mismo en esta rompedora serie donde, en un ambiguo punto entre la realidad y la ficción, seguimos su día a día que se desarrolla entre celebridades y gente de la calle que nunca sabemos si están o no interpretando un guión. Somos así testigos de su peculiar y ácida visión de todo lo que le rodea y de su don para convertir situaciones cotidianas como ir al cine o atender una llamada telefónica en verdaderos despropósitos.
There’s also plenty of fresh, original content, including scripted series, reunion specials, documentaries, and more. Recent titles of note include “Friends: The Reunion”, “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Reunion Special”, “The Flight Attendant”, and “Beartown.”
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Friends: El Reencuentro
May 27, 2021El reparto de la mítica serie ‘Friends’ (1994-2004) se reúne para un especial en el que recuerdan numerosas anécdotas del rodaje, reciben a celebridades y a algunos invitados que pasaron por la serie. Reflexionan sobre la importancia para ellos de la serie y las consecuencias de su enorme fama sobre sus vidas.
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El príncipe de Bel-Air El Reencuentro
November 18, 2020El reparto de El príncipe de Bel-Air se reúne para la celebración del 30 aniversario de la icónica serie. Una noche llena de risas, música, baile e invitados sorpresa.
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The Flight Attendant
November 26, 2020La asistente de vuelo Cassandra Bowden se despierta en su habitación de hotel con resaca de la noche anterior en Dubai con un cadáver a su lado. Temerosa de llamar a la policía, continúa su mañana como si nada. En Nueva York, los agentes del FBI la reciben y la interrogan sobre su reciente escala en Dubai. Aún incapaz de reconstruir la noche, comienza a preguntarse si ella podría ser la asesina.
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Beartown
October 18, 2020El equipo de hockey sobre hielo es la única esperanza que tiene el pequeño pueblo de Beartown, cada vez más encerrado en su propia idiosincrasia. Pero cuando el equipo tiene opciones de ganar la semifinal nacional, todos los sueños del lugar se posan en los hombros de esos adolescentes, generándoles una pesada responsabilidad.
