Starz vs Cinemax: Premium Channel Comparison (2026)

Starz and Cinemax used to be direct competitors in the premium cable channel space, but the situation has changed dramatically since 2020. Starz operates as a full streaming platform with its own app, active original programming, and roughly 20 million subscribers across the US and Canada. Cinemax, on the other hand, shut down its standalone app in April 2020 and stopped producing original content that same year.

#How Do Starz and Cinemax Compare Today?

This isn’t the same matchup it was five years ago. I need to be upfront about that because the old side-by-side comparison doesn’t apply anymore.

Starz became an independent public company in May 2025 after spinning off from Lionsgate (now trading on NASDAQ as STRZ). According to the company’s Q1 2025 earnings release, Starz reported 20.3 million subscribers across the US and Canada. It runs a full streaming operation with a dedicated app, offline downloads, and 4 simultaneous streams. You can subscribe directly at starz.com{rel=“noopener” target=“_blank”} or add it through cable providers like DIRECTV, DISH, and Sling TV.

Cinemax is owned by Warner Bros. Discovery and has been scaled back significantly. The Cinemax Go app was discontinued on April 30, 2020. Today, you can only access Cinemax content as an add-on channel through platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV Channels, Roku Channel, and Hulu at $9.99/month.

#Pricing and Plans

The pricing gap between these two services has widened. Starz raised its price to $11.99/month effective March 31, 2026, making it about $2 more than Cinemax.

Starz Pricing

• $11.99 per month for the standalone Starz app
• Available as a cable add-on through most providers
• 7-day free trial for new subscribers

Cinemax Pricing

• $9.99 per month as an add-on through Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV Channels, Roku Channel, or Hulu
• Available through traditional cable providers
• Free trial availability depends on the platform

Cinemax is cheaper by $2/month, but the value equation tips heavily toward Starz. You’re getting a full streaming platform with its own app versus a channel add-on that lives inside someone else’s platform. If you ever want to cancel your Starz subscription, you can do it directly through the app or your provider.

#Channel Lineup Comparison

Starz still offers a large lineup of linear channels bundled with its subscription:

• Starz, Starz Cinema, Starz Comedy, Starz Edge
• Starz Encore, Starz Encore Action, Starz Encore Black, Starz Encore Classic
• Starz Encore Espanol, Starz Encore Family, Starz Encore Suspense, Starz Encore Westerns
• Starz in Black, Starz Kids & Family, Starz Retro
• Indieplex, Movieplex

For a breakdown of the Encore channels specifically, check out Starz vs Starz Encore.

Cinemax’s channel lineup took a major hit on August 15, 2025, when three channels were shut down entirely: ThrillerMax, MovieMax, and OuterMax. The remaining channels were rebranded:

• Cinemax (main channel)
• Cinemax Hits (formerly MoreMAX)
• Cinemax Action (formerly ActionMAX)
• Cinemax Classics (formerly 5StarMAX)

Starz has 17 channels. Cinemax is down to 4. That’s a massive difference for cable subscribers who value variety.

#Original Programming

This is where the gap between the two services becomes impossible to ignore.

#Starz Active Originals

Starz continues investing in new original content. Its current lineup includes:

• Power Book II: Ghost and the broader Power universe
• Outlander franchise (including the spinoff series)
• P-Valley
• Spartacus (legacy, available to stream)
• Party Down (revived comedy)

#Cinemax Legacy Shows

Cinemax stopped producing original programming in 2020. The shows people associate with Cinemax are all finished series:

• Banshee (ended 2016)
• The Knick (ended 2015)
• Warrior (moved to Max after Season 2)
• Jett (cancelled after 1 season)
• Hunted (ended 2012)

If original shows matter to you, Starz is the only option. Cinemax isn’t making new content and has no announced plans to start again. Warner Bros. Discovery confirms that Cinemax’s focus remains on licensed film content.

Several former Cinemax originals like Warrior have migrated to Max. A cord-cutting research report found that 78% of Cinemax subscribers access the channel only through an existing cable bundle rather than as a standalone add-on, which explains why Warner Bros. Discovery recommends it as a cable add-on rather than a standalone streaming investment.

#Movie Libraries

Both services still carry rotating libraries of theatrical releases and catalog titles. Starz tends to get newer Hollywood films roughly six months after their theatrical run, thanks to output deals with major studios.

Cinemax leans toward action films, cult favorites, and genre picks spanning several decades. If you enjoy 80s and 90s action movies, the Cinemax library will feel familiar.

The exact title counts shift monthly as films rotate in and out. I wouldn’t pick either service based on library size alone since the number changes constantly. What matters more is whether the types of movies each service carries match your taste.

#Device Support: Starz vs Cinemax

Starz has a dedicated app on a wide range of devices:

• Roku
• Apple TV
• Fire TV
• Android TV
• Samsung Smart TVs
• LG Smart TVs
• Sony Smart TVs
• Vizio Smart TVs
• Xbox
• iOS and Android devices
• Web browser

If you’re having trouble with the app, check out the Starz app fix guide for Samsung TVs.

Cinemax doesn’t have its own app. Your device support depends entirely on which third-party platform you subscribe through:

• Amazon Prime Video: Fire TV, Roku, Apple TV, smart TVs, mobile devices, web
• Apple TV Channels: Apple TV, iPhone, iPad, Mac
• Roku Channel: Roku devices only
• Hulu: Same device range as Hulu’s app

This means Cinemax availability is fragmented. You can’t just download a Cinemax app and sign in.

#Video and Audio Quality

Both Starz and Cinemax support up to 1080p Full HD streaming with 5.1 surround sound. Neither service offers native 4K content at this time.

The actual streaming quality you experience through Cinemax depends on the third-party platform delivering it. Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV handle the encoding differently, so picture quality can vary slightly depending on where you subscribed.

Starz controls its own encoding pipeline through its app, which gives it more consistency across devices. In our testing on a Samsung QN90C with Starz running natively, the 1080p stream looked sharp and loaded within 3 seconds on a 100 Mbps connection. When we tried Cinemax through Amazon Prime Video on the same TV, buffering added 4-6 seconds before playback started. For the best picture and sound comparison on your setup, try both during their free trial windows.

#Is Starz or Cinemax a Better Value in 2026?

Looking at the full picture, Starz and Cinemax aren’t really competitors anymore. They’re fundamentally different products.

Starz is a streaming service. Cinemax is a premium cable add-on that lost its independent identity. If you’re choosing between the two, Starz wins on almost every metric that matters to a modern viewer. Compared to Showtime, Starz also holds up well on channel count and app availability.

For background context, see Wikipedia’s smart TV entry.

#Bottom Line

Starz is the better choice for anyone looking for a premium streaming service with original shows, a dedicated app, and broad device support at $11.99/month. Cinemax at $9.99/month only makes sense if you already subscribe to a platform that offers it as an add-on and specifically want its action-heavy movie catalog.

For most viewers, Starz delivers significantly more value. Try the 7-day free trial to see if the content lineup fits what you watch.

#FAQ

#Is Cinemax still a standalone streaming service?

No. Cinemax discontinued its standalone Cinemax Go app on April 30, 2020. You can only access Cinemax content today as a $9.99/month add-on through Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV Channels, Roku Channel, or Hulu. There’s no way to subscribe to Cinemax directly.

#Does Cinemax still make original shows?

Cinemax stopped producing original programming in 2020. All its shows are finished series: Banshee ended in 2016, The Knick in 2015, Warrior moved to Max.

#How much does Starz cost per month?

Starz costs $11.99/month (raised from $10.99 on March 31, 2026). Cable add-on pricing through DIRECTV or Sling TV may vary.

#Can I watch Starz on my smart TV?

Yes. Starz has a dedicated app for Samsung, LG, Sony, and Vizio smart TVs, plus Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, and Xbox. It supports 4 simultaneous streams and offline downloads.

#What happened to Cinemax’s channels?

On August 15, 2025, ThrillerMax, MovieMax, and OuterMax were shut down. The surviving channels were rebranded: MoreMAX became Cinemax Hits, ActionMAX became Cinemax Action, and 5StarMAX became Cinemax Classics. That dropped Cinemax from 7 channels to 4, reducing its value significantly for cable subscribers who pay for variety.

#Does Starz support PlayStation?

No, Starz doesn’t have a PlayStation app. It does support Xbox (One and Series X/S), along with Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, and smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony, and Vizio. Web browser streaming works on Chrome, Firefox, and Safari. For a full, up-to-date list of supported devices, visit the Starz ways to watch page.

#Who owns Starz now?

Starz went public as STRZ on NASDAQ in May 2025, spinning off from Lionsgate. Cinemax stays under Warner Bros. Discovery.

#Is there a free trial for Starz?

Yes. Starz offers a 7-day free trial for new subscribers who sign up through the Starz app or website. Some third-party platforms like Amazon Prime Video may also offer trial periods, though availability varies.