A home theater in your pocket
HBO NOW is premium movie channel HBO's answer to streaming sites like Netflix and Hulu. Subscribers receive access to HBO's vast library of movies and TV shows. This library includes everything from the most talked-about movies to retro classics. HBO NOW's main draw, however, is the plethora of high-quality original shows that you can binge-watch at your leisure.
All the latest shows and movies at your fingertips
You can now enjoy the newest episodes on all your devices instantly.
HBO is perhaps best known for its seemingly endless stream of spectacular original content. Whether it be the icy tundras of Westeros or the picturesque deserts of Westworld's titular theme park, HBO's shows are the subject of endless water-cooler conversations. HBO NOW gives you instant access to this full library of original titles, including older classics like The Sopranos and The Wire. You can also stream shows live to your device of choice as soon as they air. The latest episodes of your show of choice are added to HBO as soon as they premiere, so you'll never need to worry about spoilers again. You don't even need a cable subscription to do so; simply open your app and you'll be watching alongside everybody else.
HBO NOW's selection of movies gives it a huge advantage over other streaming sites. The latest movies are often available on HBO NOW as soon as they leave theaters. Big-name titles such as Logan and Dunkirk are just a few examples, and you'll often find movies on HBO that you won't find on any other streaming sites. HBO also offers retro movie collections such as the Die Hard trilogy and the Back to the Future movies.
Wide selection of content aside, HBO NOW also boasts a smooth and intuitive user interface. The interface displays in a simple monochrome color scheme that makes for an easily navigated experience. Titles are organized by genres and collections, and are easy to search. Jumping between genres and titles is fluid, with no need to wait for pages to load. Whether you're watching at home or on a mobile device, streaming is seamless. You can watch content with minimal lag and buffering, and easily fast forward or rewind your chosen show or movie. The experience is also largely ad-free, aside from the occasional skippable trailer advertising HBO's latest content.
Though HBO NOW is a standout streaming service, there are a few downsides to take into consideration. Although HBO NOW's library is large, it doesn't include animated content of any kind. If you're an anime fan, that may be a dealbreaker, as both Netflix and Hulu offer huge selections of anime titles as well as other animated shows and movies. In addition, the live premieres are a double-edged sword. Because their latest content airs live, HBO's newest shows are only available one episode at a time. Other streaming services like Netflix release entire seasons at once, making them ideal for long watch sessions and eliminating the need to wait for the next episode. If you're tuning in to HBO to watch a currently airing series, you'll need to wait a week for the next episode to premiere, or hold off until the season finishes airing if you'd rather watch multiple episodes at a time.
Where can you run this program?
One of HBO NOW’s biggest advantages is that it’s available on seemingly every device under the sun. You can run HBO NOW on your Android Device, iOS device, PC, laptop, and a whole host of Smart TVs and game consoles.Is there a better alternative?
When it comes to quality original programming, HBO certainly stands ahead of the pack. If you want more variety outside of live-action shows and movies, Netflix and Hulu provide more genres and titles, including anime. Though you can’t stream shows as they air, Netflix and Hulu release entire seasons of their original programming all at once, making them much more suited for people looking to binge-watch their favorite shows. Both Netflix and Hulu also offer the option to create multiple user profiles under a single account, an option that currently isn't available for HBO NOW.
Our take
Though it seems like just about everyone has their own streaming service these days, HBO Now stands out in a crowded field. From “Game of Thrones” to “Succession” and beyond, HBO has a huge selection of the most hyped shows. You can stream on just about any device, so you’ll always have the latest episodes at your fingertips. It’s one of the best apps out there for serious TV fans.
Should you download it?
Yes. HBO Now’s quality originals and wide range of compatible devices make it a must-download.
