HBO Max vs Paramount+ — Coverage, Exclusive IP, Pricing, SkyShowtime Impact
Updated 2026-04-24
TL;DR
Coverage is similar (~70+ countries each), VPN strictness is 3-star for both, pricing is in the same band ($9.99-15.99/mo). HBO Max anchors on Warner Bros. Discovery core IP — Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon, The Last of Us, DC films (Batman, Superman). Paramount+ anchors on CBS live + the full Star Trek franchise, SpongeBob, 1923 / Yellowstone spin-offs, and UEFA Champions League in select regions. In several European markets (Nordics, Netherlands, Iberia) neither launches directly — the joint venture SkyShowtime replaces both.
| Dimension | HBO Max | Paramount+ |
|---|---|---|
| Service regions | ~70 countries (NA + EU + LATAM + select APAC) | ~60+ countries (US core + EU + LATAM) |
| Parent company | Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) | Paramount Global (formerly ViacomCBS) |
| Base price (US) | $9.99/mo (with ads) | $7.99/mo (Essential, with ads) |
| Top-tier price (US) | Ultimate $20.99/mo (4K HDR + Dolby Atmos) | Premium with Showtime $12.99/mo |
| VPN strictness | 3-star — moderate, datacenter IP often blocked | 3-star — moderate, on par with HBO Max |
| Exclusive IP | Game of Thrones / The Last of Us / DC films / permanent home of Friends | Star Trek franchise / Yellowstone spin-offs (1923/1883) / SpongeBob / NFL on CBS |
| Live sports | MLB Sunday Leadoff (select seasons) + NHL/NBA (EU partnerships) | UEFA Champions League (US exclusive) + NFL on CBS + UEL/Europa |
| Nordic / Benelux / Iberia coverage | Replaced by SkyShowtime joint venture | Replaced by SkyShowtime joint venture |
Verdict
For Game of Thrones spin-offs, DC films, or HBO prestige drama (Succession, White Lotus) → HBO Max. For the Star Trek franchise, Yellowstone-verse, UEFA Champions League, or NFL on CBS Sunday → Paramount+. If you live in the Nordics, Benelux, or Iberia, neither will sell to you directly — subscribe to SkyShowtime (the joint venture rolling up both plus Peacock content). Both at once (~$23/mo) is the simplest way to cover the WBD + Paramount US drama landscape. Datacenter IPs work poorly on both — favor residential VPN nodes.