With so many options available today in the world of music streaming services, it can be overwhelming trying to decide which one is right for you. Allow us to help by doing a side-by-side comparison of two of the most popular music streaming services, Qobuz vs Tidal. We’ll discuss price, music selection, sound quality, user interface, playlist creation options, collaboration/sharing, and even offer you some friendly tips on how to transfer your music between music platforms.
- What Is Qobuz?
- What Is Tidal?
- Prices
- Music Selection
- Sounds Quality
- User Interface
- Playlist Creation Options
- Social Aspects
- Unique Features
- Transfer Playlists between Tidal and Qobuz
- Conclusion: Qobuz vs Tidal – Which is Better?
What Is Qobuz?
Qobuz is a French service that focuses on both streaming and downloading music. Since first launching in 2013, Qobuz has accumulated a following of around 200,000 users. Sure, this may not seem like a large following when comparing this number to that of other music streaming services. This is due to the fact that Qobuz launched with a specific focus in mind – audiophiles. Qobuz was the trailblazer of music streaming services focused on delivering high-resolution audio.
What Is Tidal?
Tidal entered the entertainment game a little later than Qobuz with their launch in 2014 by the Norwegian company, Aspiro. Tidal was then bought by the famous recording artist, Jay-Z in 2015 (Jay-Z recently sold 80% of the company but Tidal’s popularity is still growing, thanks to his endorsement). If you’re thinking that this likely caused an increase in popularity for this music streaming service, you’re correct! Today, Tidal has over 5 million paying subscribers. It obviously pays to have a celebrity endorsement, right? That’s not all Tidal has going for it, though. Tidal prides itself on its focus on artist ownership and ensuring the artists receive fair compensation for sharing their music with all of us. Let’s face it, for such high-quality audio, it’s totally worth paying for!
This vast difference in the number of listeners between Qobuz and Tidal likely has something to do with its availability, as well. While Qobuz is available in twenty-five countries, Tidal is available in a whopping s-i-x-t-y countries… sixty!
Prices
Let’s recap… So far, it would appear that while Qobuz is great for audiophiles, its competitor, Tidal, edges ahead in user count and availability. Now, let’s talk about pricing. For the best side-by-side comparison here, we’ll list all the relevant information in this category in a handy chart for your viewing pleasure.
Qobuz vs Tidal Price Comparison
| Qobuz | Tidal | |
|---|---|---|
| FREE TRIAL | 1 MONTH | 1 MONTH |
| YEARLY SUBSCRIPTION DISCOUNT | YES | NO |
| STUDENT DISCOUNT | NO | 50% OFF @$4.99/MONTH |
| BASIC INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNT | $12.99/MONTHLY$129.99/YEARLY @ $10.83/MONTH | $10.99/MONTHLY |
| UPGRADED INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNT * | $179.99/YEARLY @ $15.00/MONTH | / |
| BASIC DUO ACCOUNT | $17.99/MONTHLY$179.88/YEARLY @ $14.99/MONTH | NO |
| UPGRADED DUO ACCOUNT * | $269.89/YEARLY @ $22.49/MONTH | NO |
| BASIC FAMILY ACCOUNT | $17.99/MONTHLY | $16.99/MONTHLY |
| UPGRADED FAMILY ACCOUNT * | $349.99/YEARLY @ $29.17/MONTH | / |
Here’s another look at the plans offered by Tidal vs Qobuz:
Qobuz Pricing
- • Studio (Basic) Plan – This plan allows you to stream and download Hi-Res music. Included in this plan is FLAC 24-Bit up to 192 kHz. You’ll also receive access to their music library containing over 100 million tracks, original editorial content and offline listening ability.
- 1. Individual (1 account) – $12.99/month (monthly) OR $129.99 yearly ($10.83/month).
- 2. Duo (2 accounts)- $17.99/month (monthly) OR $179.88 yearly ($14.99/month).
- 3. Family (up to 6 accounts) – $17.99/month (monthly). Yearly not available.
- • Sublime (Upgraded) Plan – This plan will give you the same features available with the Studio Plan. The only difference is that the Sublime Plan allows you to have up to 60% OFF of the music you’ll purchase. Everyone loves a good discount, right?!
- 1. Individual (1 account) – $15.00/month (yearly) @ $179.99. Monthly not available.
- 2. Duo (2 accounts) – $22.49/month (yearly) @ $269.89. Monthly not available.
- 3. Family (up to 6 accounts) – $29.17/month (yearly) @ $349.99.
Tidal Pricing
- • HiFi Plan – As of April 2024, this is the only Tidal plan, basically. This plan offers you 24-Bit, 192 kHz (Hi-Res FLAC, Dolby Atmos, Sony 360 Reality Audio, FLAC, (MQA) Master Quality Authenticated. You’ll have access to over 100 million + songs, 650k + videos and you’ll get to enjoy them with NO ADS interrupting your jam sessions! If that’s not cool enough, you’ll also get offline listening ability, unlimited skips, access to Live on Tidal (listen w/ other people in real-time), access to Tidal Connect (your music, your way w/ all supported devices), ability to track and share your listening habits, and access to expert curated playlists so you can always hear new and fresh music.
- 1. Individual (1 account) – $10.99/month (monthly). Yearly not available.
- 2. Family (up to 6 accounts) – $16.99/month (monthly). Yearly not available.
- 3. Student (1 account) – $4.99/month (monthly). Yearly not available.
Some things these two platforms have in common are that they both offer family discounts with up to 6 accounts and they both offer your first 30 days FREE!
WINNER: Tidal has to win this round for their more affordable price while still offering needed plan options like individual accounts and family accounts. Basically, Tidal is catering to everyone and we’re totally here for it!
Music Selection
Now let’s talk about music selection. It is all about the music, after all, so song selection really matters here.
Qobuz Music Library
Qobuz counts with over 100 million songs which are all lossless audio quality. Their diverse music library is sure to satisfy even the pickiest of music taste buds, as it focuses on all the genres. With this music selection, you’ll come across their expert curated playlists that have been created by their editorial team for your listening pleasure. A Qobuz subscription will grant you access to exclusive music releases and even give you early access to some songs. Now you can be among the first to hear the hottest hits, at the sound quality you deserve.
Tidal Music Library
Tidal, in other hand, offers over 100 million songs. Tidal will also offer expert curated playlists which will tempt you into hearing some new tunes on a regular basis, you so choose. With your Tidal subscription, you’ll also enjoy more exclusive content such as music videos, behind-the-scenes footage and even concerts. Between the sound quality and the concert footage, you can feel like you’re actually at the concert, from the comfort of your own home. With a Tidal HiFi subscription, you’ll get access to lossless audio quality, as well as Master Quality Authenticated (MQA) files.
Winner: Tidal wins this round due to the vast behind-the-scenes content and exclusive among some interesting new artists.
Sounds Quality
Qobuz Audio Quality
Qobuz offers two different streaming quality options: HiFi (16-bit/44.1kHz or 24-bit/96kHz) and Hi-Res (24-bit/192kHz). HiFi offers CD-quality audio, while Hi-Res offers higher resolution audio that can provide a more detailed and immersive listening experience.
Qobuz’s audio quality is generally considered to be among the best in the streaming industry. The company uses a lossless compression format called FLAC, which means that no data is lost during the streaming process. This results in a sound that is very close to the original recording.
Tidal Audio Quality
Tidal offers three different streaming quality options: Normal (96 kbps), High (320 kbps), and HiFi (1411 kbps). Normal is the lowest quality option and is not recommended for listening to music with high-quality audio equipment. High offers CD-quality audio and is a good choice for most people. HiFi offers lossless audio, which means that no data is lost during the streaming process. This is the best option for audiophiles and those who want the best possible sound quality.
Tidal also offers a Master Quality (MQA) streaming option, which is available on the HiFi plan. MQA is a proprietary format that can offer even higher sound quality than lossless audio. However, it is not as widely supported as lossless audio, so you may need to have specific hardware and software to take advantage of it.
Overall, Tidal offers excellent sound quality. Whether you are a casual listener or an audiophile, you are sure to appreciate the difference in sound quality between Tidal and other streaming services.
Winner: When it comes to Qobuz vs Tidal sound quality, both platforms will give you the FLAC lossless audio format, but only Tidal offers the Hi-Res FLAC format and MQA streaming option. Both of these music streaming services will deliver the sound quality that all you audiophiles seek. They’re both pretty neck-and-neck in this category, but with the right hardware, Tidal stands out for it’s Master quality audio.
User Interface
Let’s face it, learning to navigate a new platform is not always fun. We all go into these new platforms understanding that there’s a learning period, but we don’t want to waste too much of our precious time learning everything. With that being said, let’s see what each platform has to offer, this time in terms of its user interface.
Tidal Interface
In terms of first impressions, Tidal is said to be beautiful in appearance and has a clean aesthetic, with focus more on accessibility rather than bells and whistles. In other words, you won’t find yourself getting lost in unnecessary frills while trying to just find some amazing music.
Overall, Tidal is pretty easily accessible on its web player, desktop, and mobile app. Yay! It’s also compatible with other devices like smartphones, tablets, wearable devices, voice assistants, car systems, streaming devices, gaming consoles, and smart TVs.
Regardless of how you choose to use Tidal, you should have no issues finding exactly what you’re looking for. Here are some of the features you’ll come across while exploring Tidal:
- – Home Screen – First impressions are important. This is true of music streaming services, as well. Tidals’ home screen is simple yet elegant and gives you everything you need without the distractions.
- – Navigation Menu – You’ll find the navigation menu in convenient places, like the top left or top right of the screen, depending on which device you’re using.
- – Search – Perhaps the most important feature you’ll find in a music streaming service, the search bar is a vital function for music lovers, especially audiophiles. Type in the name of any artist or album you’re searching for and you’ll enter a realm of musical possibilities. It’s like the musical wardrobe to Narnia.
- – Playlist Creation/Discovery – Everyone loves being introduced to new music, which is what makes this feature so worthwhile. In addition to discovering new music, you can create and edit your own playlists whenever you want.
- – My Collection – The home of all your favorites. This is where you’ll find all your saved songs, albums, playlists, and artists.
- – Artist Pages – This is where you’ll find info about… you guessed it… artists! You can learn all about their singles, albums, music videos, and see when they have new releases.
- – Album Pages – Click on an album of your choosing and you’ll be directed to the album page, where you’ll find all the information and visual art pertaining to that particular album.
- – Audio Quality Settings – Here, you can adjust the settings of the audio quality, according to your preferences. Check here to find that lossless audio!
Qobuz Interface
Qobuz’s user interface is not to be outdone by Tidal’s. Qobuz focuses on a clean design with clarity for its users. This is a relief, right? No one wants to be confused when trying to locate a certain function while streaming music.
This minimalistic approach to design is one you’ll surely appreciate, as it still gives you everything you’ll need during your music searches.
For added convenience, you can access Qobuz on many devices such as smartphones, tablets, computers, streaming devices, smart TVs, car systems, wearable devices, voice assistants, and web browsers.
When you use Qobuz, here are some of the features you can enjoy:
- – Home Screen – This is generally the screen that will greet you as you enter into the world of Qobuz. Here, you’ll find things like new releases, curated playlists, and recommended content based on your user history.
- – Navigation Menu – Usually located in the top left corner or the top right corner, the navigation menu will guide you to convenient places like Home, Search, My Library, and Playlists.
- – Search – Use this for finding content quickly. You can search by artist, song title, or album.
- – Playlist Creation/Discovery – Discovering new music is wonderful, especially when you come across songs that you fall in love with. When you find songs that you love, simply add them to a playlist and you can easily listen to them whenever you desire.
- – My Library – This is where you’ll manage all of your favorite content, such as artists, songs, albums, and playlists.
- – Artist Pages – Qobuz’s artist pages are more in depth than that of Tidal. This is because they provide comprehensive information about the artists, such as biographical details and discography.
- – Album Pages – Click on an album that interests you and you’ll learn about its details and be offered with options such as adding it to a playlist.
- – Audio Quality Settings – You can toggle between standard quality audio and Hi-Res audio, depending on your mood.
WINNER: In the battle of Tidal vs Qobuz, we’re declaring this user interface category a tie, because they both have rather similar user interfaces, appearances, and features for their users.
Playlist Creation Options
When it comes to playlists, the possibilities are endless. Let’s take a look at what options are offered in terms of playlist creation by both Qobuz and Tidal. We’ll list the most important features you’ll want to consider when creating your next playlist so you can make sure your streaming service of choice offers it or not.
Here are some of the features you’ll want when creating a playlist:
| Qobuz | Tidal | |
|---|---|---|
| Title | YES | YES |
| Description | YES | YES |
| Add Songs | YES | YES |
| Remove Songs | YES | YES |
| Rearrange Songs | YES | YES |
| Collaborative Playlists | YES | NO |
| Sharing Playlists | YES | YES |
| Public Playlists | YES | YES |
| Private Playlists | YES | YES |
| Curated Playlists | YES | YES |
WINNER: Qobuz wins this round, since it answers “YES” in every category. Tidal wasn’t far behind, though, as it only had to answer “NO” in one category – Collaborative Playlists.
Don’t worry, though, you can still share your favorite playlists from Tidal, by using our TuneMyMusic Transfer feature.
Social Aspects
In society today, we love social media and getting to interact with others through all of our apps, including our music streaming services. So let’s discuss a little bit about the social aspects of both Qobuz and Tidal.
Qobuz fans used to complain about the lack of social interaction available to them. For this reason, Qobuz launched their feature “Qobuz Club” in 2023. This allows Qobuz subscribers to interact, bringing music lovers and audiophiles together. With this social feature, you can share your musical likes/loves with others, discover new music and recommendations, and get advice about hi-fi and hardware.
Tidal launched a new social feature in 2023, as well, called Tidal Live. With this social feature, you’ll be able to act as a DJ and create your own musical content to share with others. When you’re listening to a song you like, you can click the “Live” button in the top right corner and create your own musical session. From there, you can give your session a name and share the link with your friends. Whatever songs you put in your “Now Playing” queue will become part of your session. As the initiator of your DJ session, you are the only person allowed to make changes to the song lineup. A plus for Tidal is that you can also share the songs you are listening to on social media, which makes it fun to express yourself musically as a Tidal user.
WINNER: The winner of this round is… both! We will call it tight, considering that Qobuz has an internal social media-like feature covering so many different topics, and Tidal can share songs you’re listening to on multiple social media.
Unique Features
While these two music platforms have many similarities, let’s discuss a little bit about what makes each of them unique.
Qobuz is unique in the fact that it gives you the exact quality specs of each song as you play it. They were also the first music streaming service to offer users the ability to both download and stream music.
Tidal is unique in the fact that it elevates the overall sound quality of music as you listen to it. For example, Tidal is optimized for Sony’s 360 Reality Audio platform. What does that mean, exactly? Well, it means that it highlights every individual sound that you would hear in a song, not just the words being sung. You will hear the sounds of every instrument elevated as if in a 360-degree spherical atmosphere.
WINNER: We’ve got to give this category win to Tidal, as it seems to be more suited towards the full audiophile experience, focusing on every single sound being elevated, rather than just the lyrics.
Transfer Playlists between Tidal and Qobuz
TuneMyMusic is the answer to all of your problems when it comes playlists transfer and management.
Whether you’re trying to share your playlists with a friend, transfer your playlist between music streaming services, sync two different playlists that are on different music streaming services, upload songs from your music library to a file, or backup your playlists so you’ll never lose them, TuneMyMusic can help you!
With TuneMyMusic, it’s possible to transfer playlists from Qobuz to Tidal or from Tidal to Qobuz. Not just that, but you can also transfer entire music libraries from any other service, including Spotify, Deezer, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and many others.
Conclusion: Qobuz vs Tidal – Which is Better?
Now for the fun part… let’s see who wins the battle between Qobuz vs Tidal:
- PRICE = Tidal
- MUSIC SELECTION/SOUND QUALITY = Tidal
- USER INTERFACE = Tidal & Qobuz (Draw)
- PLAYLIST CREATION OPTIONS = Qobuz
- SOCIAL ASPECTS = Qobuz
- UNIQUE FEATURES = Tidal
Qobuz vs Tidal score per feature
| Qobuz vs Tidal Comparison Score Table | Qobuz | Tidal |
|---|---|---|
| PRICE | 87 | 97 |
| MUSIC SELECTION/SOUND QUALITY | 95 | 98 |
| USER INTERFACE | 92 | 92 |
| PLAYLIST CREATION OPTIONS | 100 | 91 |
| SOCIAL ASPECTS | 98 | 98 |
| UNIQUE FEATURES | 92 | 98 |
| AVERAGE | 94 | 95.5 |
And the winner is… Tidal! Tidal slightly edged ahead in this side-by-side comparison. Next time you’re looking for a place to stream your favorite songs at a high audio quality, give Tidal a try… or Qobuz. They’re really both great in their own right. It honestly just depends on what you’re looking for.
If you are still deciding which streaming service is the best for you, check out our Comparisons page, which has excellent comparison articles for most music streaming platforms available today.