HBO Max vs Netflix:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Netflix had more branded searches than HBO Max among OTT platforms worldwide. Netflix had about 83.1 million branded searches, while HBO Max had 9.1 million. Netflix made up 70.2% of all OTT platform searches we track, and HBO Max accounted for 7.7%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about OTT platforms, Netflix appeared in four of the five answers and HBO Max in two. Netflix was mentioned before HBO Max in every answer that named either.
Who do people search for more?
Netflix, about 9 searches for every 1 for HBO Max
Who does AI mention more?
Netflix, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, HBO Max in 2
Who does AI recommend more?
Netflix, named ahead of HBO Max in 4 of 4 answers
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Top OTT platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Netflix was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. HBO Max was mentioned in two out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Netflix was listed before HBO Max in every answer that named either.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
- Netflix1st
Disney+2nd
Prime Video3rd
HBO Max4th
Hulu5th
Uscreen6th
Brightcove7th
Kaltura–
JW Player–
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Netflix4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Disney+4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Prime Video4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Hulu4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- HBO Max2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Uscreen1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Brightcove1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Kaltura0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- JW Player0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about OTT platforms
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which OTT platform should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best OTT platforms?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best OTT platform for streaming services?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“ott platform”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“video streaming platform”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.
Is HBO Max or Netflix more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for HBO Max and Netflix by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all nine OTT platforms we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for Netflix, HBO Max. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Netflix | Disney+ | HBO Max | Prime Video | Hulu | Kaltura | Uscreen | JW Player | Brightcove |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 66.9% | 13.4% | 7.4% | 7.4% | 4.9% | 0.03% | <0.01% | 0.01% | <0.01% |
| Nov 2025 | 65.9% | 13.2% | 8.8% | 7.2% | 4.9% | 0.03% | <0.01% | 0.01% | <0.01% |
| Dec 2025 | 70.7% | 11.6% | 7.8% | 6.4% | 3.5% | 0.02% | <0.01% | <0.01% | <0.01% |
| Jan 2026 | 68.9% | 11.3% | 9.3% | 6.2% | 4.2% | 0.02% | <0.01% | <0.01% | <0.01% |
| Feb 2026 | 69.1% | 11.3% | 9.2% | 6.2% | 4.2% | 0.02% | <0.01% | <0.01% | <0.01% |
| Mar 2026 | 66.8% | 13.3% | 8.9% | 6% | 4.9% | 0.03% | <0.01% | 0.01% | <0.01% |
| Apr 2026 | 66.8% | 10.9% | 10.9% | 7.3% | 4% | 0.03% | <0.01% | <0.01% | <0.01% |
| May 2026 | 68.6% | 11.2% | 9.2% | 7.5% | 3.4% | 0.02% | <0.01% | <0.01% | <0.01% |
| Jun 2026 | 69.6% | 11.4% | 9.3% | 6.3% | 3.4% | 0.02% | <0.01% | 0.01% | <0.01% |
| Jul 2026 | 70.8% | 11.6% | 7.8% | 6.4% | 3.5% | 0.02% | <0.01% | <0.01% | <0.01% |
| Aug 2026 | 69% | 13.8% | 7.6% | 6.2% | 3.4% | 0.02% | <0.01% | <0.01% | <0.01% |
| Sep 2026 | 70.2% | 11.5% | 7.7% | 6.3% | 4.2% | 0.03% | <0.01% | <0.01% | <0.01% |
How has the HBO Max and Netflix comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Netflix was ahead of HBO Max in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, HBO Max’s share of searches among OTT platforms worldwide moved from 7.4% to 7.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 9.1M.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Netflix’s share of searches among OTT platforms worldwide moved from 66.9% to 70.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 83.1M.
How did search popularity change for OTT platforms worldwide in September 2026?
1 change
In September 2026, Netflix gained share of searches among OTT platforms worldwide, from 69% to 70.2%.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using HBO Max’s and Netflix’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Other head-to-heads among OTT platforms
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