When it comes to music streaming, you want to choose the service that best fits your needs (as well as your budget). Many people are familiar with one of the most popular music streaming services, Spotify, but there are other magnificent options you’ve likely not even tried yet.
In this article, we highlight one of the best contenders for streaming tunes, Tidal. We’ll discuss some of the most important factors you’ll need to take into account when deciding on which streaming service is best for you. Things like which plans are offered by Tidal, whether or not there is a FREE trial option available, and what features you’ll gain access to with each Tidal plan will all be laid out for you. You’ll even learn about some alternatives to Tidal, so you’re sure to find your ideal streaming companion.
Jump straight to each section:
- What Is Tidal Music?
- What is HiFi?
- Is Tidal Music FREE?
- Tidal Subscription Cost: Plan Options
- Tidal Rising
- Tidal Supported Devices
- Tidal Music Alternatives
- Transfer and Manage Playlists
- FAQ: Tidal Music
What Is Tidal Music?
Since Tidal first launched in October 2014, it became known for being an artist-first, fan-centered platform for music lovers. This global music streaming platform brings fans and artists closer together through unique experiences while offering you the highest sound quality.
As for bringing artists and fans together, Tidal has a feature called “Tidal Rising”. This feature allows fans to discover new music by up-and-coming artists. The idea behind Tidal Rising was to offer a space dedicated entirely to fans to introduce them to new musical artists that they likely would’ve missed out on elsewhere.
In addition to offering a huge selection of songs to its listeners (like “Break My Soul” by Beyonce, “Flowers” by Miley Cyrus, and “Cruel Summer” by Taylor Swift), Tidal also offers you original content like videos and podcasts (like “Run Your Race”, “Tipping The Scales”, and “How To Money”).
When you get a Tidal subscription, you’re opening up a world of high-fidelity music (Aka.: HiFi) streaming. Regardless of the situation, you can enjoy music the way it was meant to be heard. Let’s take a closer look on what the differences are between the audio quality offered by Tidal:
- LOW – If you’re on the go, you can enjoy Tidal’s “Low” sound option with up to 320 kbps. The best part – you won’t have to worry about data. This is ideal if you’re somewhere with a weak phone signal or are about to reach your data cap (for those of you who haven’t opted for the unlimited data option with your phone service yet… Seriously, you should get unlimited data if you haven’t yet). With this “Low” sound option, you won’t have to worry about download space on your phone, either.
- HIGH – Want to enjoy hearing your music at up to 16-bit, 44.1 kHz? Look no further because this “High” sound option will give you just that! You can enjoy over 100 million songs that Tidal has to offer in studio quality with FLAC. This open-source format makes it easy for every artist to make and share their music at high-fidelity with ease.
- MAX – With “Max” sound, you will get to experience listening to your favorite songs with HiRes Free Lossless Audio Codec (HiRes FLAC) so you won’t miss out on a single detail. This type of sound is best experienced in 5G or WiFi with a hardware connection so you can feel your music at up to 24-bit, 192 kHz. It’s also best to ensure you have a device that supports playing HiRes Free Lossless audio, as well as a nice pair of headphones in order to fully immerse yourself in the sound quality of HiRes, as opposed to normal audio quality.
FLAC stands for “Free Lossless Audio Codec” format. To learn more about FLAC files, click here —> What are FLAC files?
What is HiFi?
As Tidal being a primarily a HiFi music streaming service, it’s important to know what HiFi is and stands for.
In a nutshell, HiFi, short for “High Fidelity,” refers to a high-quality audio reproduction system or technology that aims to faithfully reproduce sound as close to its original source as possible. It encompasses audio equipment, such as speakers, amplifiers, and headphones, designed to provide superior sound quality by minimizing distortion, noise, and other artifacts that can degrade the audio experience.
HiFi systems strive to deliver a more immersive and accurate representation of recorded or live music, allowing listeners to hear subtle details, nuances, and the full spectrum of frequencies in the audio signal. The term “HiFi” reflects a commitment to audio excellence, making it a sought-after standard for audiophiles and music enthusiasts who value a superior listening experience.
Is Tidal Music FREE?
As of April 2024, Tidal does NOT offer a FREE tier. In the past, the free subscription was available but came with ads and lower sound quality.
Similarly, the April 2024 update saw the company bundle its HiFi and HiFi Plus plans into a single subscription, combining the superior sonic quality of the Plus option with the lower $10.99 price tag of the regular plan.
So for all you audiophiles, don’t dismiss Tidal as your choice for music streaming. After all, Tidal was awarded “The best combination of sound quality, music selection and usability” from 2015 – 2022! Check out our article comparing Best Music Platforms for Audiophiles.
Tidal does offer a FREE trial, though, allowing new users to enjoy their first 30 days FREE.
Tidal Subscription Cost: Plan Options
In April 2024, Tidal took the opposite route of most streaming services and actually DECREASED the price of its top-tier plan. The company removed its pricier HiFi Plus tier and put all the benefits it offered into the regular HiFi tier. Take a look at what Tidal has to offer you:
* REMINDER: Tidal offers your first 30 days FREE with whichever plan you choose.
- Tidal HiFi Plan – This plan offers you 24-Bit, 192 kHz (Hi-Res FLAC, Dolby Atmos, Sony 360 Reality Audio, FLAC, (MQA) Master Quality Authenticated), access to over 100 million + songs, 650k + videos and you’ll get to enjoy them with. You’ll 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 to introduce you to new music so you never get bored.
*Live on Tidal is a unique feature, exclusive to Tidal, that allows you to be a DJ in your own home. You can actually connect your own DJ equipment with your Tidal subscription and broadcast your own live sets with your audience. This is a great way for music lovers to share their passion with others.
- 1) HiFi Individual (1 account) – $10.99/month (monthly). Yearly not available.
- 2) HiFi Family (up to 6 accounts) – $16.99/month (monthly). Yearly not available.
- 3) HiFi Student (1 account) – $4.99/month (monthly). Yearly not available.
Tidal Rising
Tidal Rising is a program offered by Tidal that highlights up-and-coming artists so their music doesn’t slip through the cracks while you’re listening to the 100 million + songs in Tidal’s music library.
This space is dedicated entirely to introducing fans to fresh and dynamic music that they’ll likely miss out on otherwise, such as music from up-and-coming artists like Dua Saleh, KIRBY, and Maria Isabel.
Tidal Supported Devices
For all you music lovers (especially audiophiles), it is vital to know which devices you’ll be able to enjoy your music on. Tidal is compatible with the following devices:
- • Audio Speakers (Sonos, Bluesound, Roon, Naim, Denon, Audirvana, Yamaha, Onkyo, HiFi Rose, Cambridge Audio, Aurender, Devialet, Astell&Kern, Teufel, Lumin, Phorus, KEF, Control4, MOON by Simaudio, Amarra for Tidal, Amare Musica, Atoll, AudioPro, Auralic, BANG & OLUFSEN, Bel Canto, Burmester, Cabasse, Cary Audio, CasaTunes, CocktailAudio, Dali, dCS, Definitive Technology, Dynaudio, Echobox, Electrocompaniet, Esoteric, Harmon Kardon, HIFIAkademie, Integra, iFI, IXION, Libratone, Lindemann, Linn, Lode, Lyngdorf, MarinLogan, Matrix Audio, McIntosh, Meridian, Mirage, miniDSP, NAD, OPPO, Orchard Audio, Paradigm, Pioneer, Plato, Plex, Polk, Primare, QAT, Revox, Samsung, Savant, Sony, SOtM, SYNG, T+A, Technics, Tidal Audio, Trivium, VOCO, Volumio, Wadia, Conversidigital mconnect, WiiM Mini, exaSound, AirLino by LinTech, Zidoo, Loutd, Silent Angel, Wattson Audio)
- • Smart TVs and Streamers (Chromecast, Roku, Vizio, Apple TV, Fire TV, Samsung TV, Android TV)
- • Auto Systems (Tesla, Mercedes-Benz, Lincoln, Volkswagen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto)
- • DJ Equipment (Denon DJ, djay Pro, Pioneer DJ, Serato, edjing, Virtual DJ, DJ it!, DJUCED, DEX 3)
- • Mobile Devices (iOS & Android)
- • Tablets (iOS & Android)
- • Desktop Computers and Laptops (Desktop app for MacOS & Desktop app for Windows)
- • Wearable Devices (Apple Watch & Samsung Gear)
Tidal Music Alternatives
Still undecided about whether Tidal is your go-to music streaming service? Or, perhaps you’re such a huge music lover that you want to enjoy multiple platforms for your hearing pleasure. Here’s a helpful list of some alternatives that your ears will fall in love with:
- Spotify – As aforementioned, this is the most famous streaming platform. Rightfully so, since Spotify is heavy on the tunes and light on the budget, it’s a great and completely free alternative to Tidal. With this music streaming service, you’ll have access to over 100 million songs, but not on lossless quality audio.
Sneak Peek of Spotify Pricing:
- – Spotify FREE – FREE!
- – Spotify Premium Individual – $9.99/month
- – Spotify Premium Duo – $12.99/month
- – Spotify Premium Family – $15.99/month
- – Spotify Premium Student – $4.99/month
Check out our analyses on Spotify plans : How Much Is Spotify Premium
- Deezer – A French music platform alternative that also offers a HiRes lossless audio streaming service that will give you access to audiobooks, podcasts, multiple radio stations, and a plethora of HiFi audio music (over 90 million to be more precise).
Sneak Peek of Deezer Pricing:
- – Deezer Premium – $10.99/month
- – Deezer Family – $17.99/month
- – Deezer Annual – $98.91/month (or $8.24/month for 12 months)
Check out our Comparison Article: Deezer vs Spotify
- Amazon Music – Another crowd favorite for its selection of over 100 million songs and the ability to listen in the highest resolution audio format, FLAC.
Sneak Peek of Amazon Music Pricing:
- – Amazon Music Unlimited Individual – $9.99/month (Prime members)
- – Amazon Music Unlimited Individual – $10.99/month (Non Prime members)
- – Amazon Music Unlimited Family – $16.99/month
- – Amazon Music Unlimited Single Device – $4.99/month (Prime members)
- – Amazon Music Unlimited Student – $5.99/month
Check out our Comparison Article: Amazon Music vs Spotify
- YouTube Music – This music streaming service also has more than 100 million songs in its arsenal. Think of this as the modern-day TRL (This stands for Total Request Live, for anyone who’s unfamiliar. It’s a popular show from many years ago). You can simply type in whatever song you want to listen to and watch a video simultaneously.
Sneak Peek of YouTube Music Pricing:
- – YouTube Music Premium – $10.99/month
- – YouTube Music Family – $16.99/month
- – YouTube Music Student – $5.49/month
Check out our Comparison Article: YouTube Music vs Spotify.
Transfer and Manage Playlists with TuneMyMusic
Now that you’ve been schooled on the important aspects of all-things-Tidal, maybe you’re ready to make a switch but aren’t sure where to start. Allow us to help.
TuneMyMusic is like your personal assistant in the world of digital tunes and playlists. Anything you wish to do but have always had difficulty doing in the past is now easy with the help of TuneMyMusic.
Simply check out TuneMyMusic and you’ll see all of the helpful features, such as:
- Transfer entire music libraries (copy playlist and music library between music services)
- Sync playlists (keep 2 playlists from 2 music services always synchronized)
- Share multiple playlists (share your music with friends who use other music services)
- Upload (upload songs to your library from a file)
- Backup (backup your entire music library to a file)
Now all of these features can be done in just a few simple steps when you use TuneMyMusic.
FAQ: Tidal Music
- 1) How to cancel Tidal subscription?
- You can simply log-into your account > “My Collection” > “Settings” > “Edit Profile” > “Manage Subscription” > “Subscription” > “Cancel Subscription”.
- 2) Is Tidal worth the money?
- Yes, if you’re an audiophile Tidal offers the highest-quality audio at the lowest price when compared to all competing streaming services.
- 3) How does listening to music on Tidal work?
- Tidal users can stream songs while online (OR) save them to enjoy while offline later.
There you have it! Now you know all the important things you’ll need to know about Tidal and can form an educated decision about whether it’s the service you want to try, want to continue to enjoy, or want to cancel.