{"id":324026,"date":"2025-11-10T15:23:37","date_gmt":"2025-11-10T20:23:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/?page_id=244578"},"modified":"2025-11-10T15:23:37","modified_gmt":"2025-11-10T20:23:37","slug":"tidal-review","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/entertainment\/streaming\/tidal-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Tidal Review"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n <\/span>\n \n\n\n

Tidal Review<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Tidal advertises over 100 million songs<\/a> ad\u2011free, putting its catalog on par with major services like Apple Music, Spotify, and Amazon Music. The platform emphasizes audio quality with Lossless FLAC and Hi\u2011Res FLAC up to 24\u2011bit\/192 kHz<\/a>, and it continues to feature a wide range of music videos, live sessions, and editorial programming (interviews, genre hubs, and curated playlists). Current marketing focuses on audio and discovery; Tidal maintains a large video catalog, though it no longer publishes a specific current video count.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like most music streaming services<\/a>, Tidal\u2019s apps organize listening around editorial and personalized playlists, search across artists\/albums\/tracks, and easy playlist building. Device support is broad: mobile, desktop, and web apps, plus direct streaming to hi\u2011fi gear via TIDAL Connect<\/a>. Tidal is compatible with smart TVs and streamers, works with smart speakers and multiroom systems, and supports in\u2011car playback through Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The apps clearly label available formats (Lossless\/Hi\u2011Res\/Dolby Atmos) and surface device\/quality options based on your connection and hardware capabilities (sound quality<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tidal Packages Compared<\/h2>\n\n\n
\n \n
\n
\n \n
\n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n
\n \n <\/th>\n \n
TIDAL Individual<\/center>\n <\/th>\n
\n
TIDAL Family<\/center>\n <\/th>\n
\n
TIDAL Student<\/center>\n <\/th>\n
\n
TIDAL HiFi (legacy)<\/center>\n <\/th>\n
\n
TIDAL Family HiFi (legacy)<\/center>\n <\/th>\n
\n
TIDAL Student HiFi (legacy)<\/center>\n <\/th>\n <\/tr>\n <\/thead>\n \n
\n
Price<\/center>\n <\/td>\n
\n
$10.99\/mo<\/font><\/center>\n <\/td>\n
\n
$16.99\/mo<\/font><\/center>\n <\/td>\n
\n
Discounted (see site)<\/font><\/center>\n <\/td>\n
\n
Included in Individual (Hi-Res FLAC)<\/font><\/center>\n <\/td>\n
\n
Included in Family (Hi-Res FLAC)<\/font><\/center>\n <\/td>\n
\n
Included in Student (Hi-Res FLAC)<\/font><\/center>\n <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n
Free trial length<\/center>\n <\/td>\n
\n
Varies by promotion<\/font><\/center>\n <\/td>\n
\n
Varies by promotion<\/font><\/center>\n <\/td>\n
\n
Varies by promotion<\/font><\/center>\n <\/td>\n
\n
Varies by promotion<\/font><\/center>\n <\/td>\n
\n
Varies by promotion<\/font><\/center>\n <\/td>\n
\n
Varies by promotion<\/font><\/center>\n <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n
Offline listening<\/center>\n <\/td>\n
\n
5 devices<\/font><\/center>\n <\/td>\n
\n
5 devices<\/font><\/center>\n <\/td>\n
\n
5 devices<\/font><\/center>\n <\/td>\n
\n
5 devices<\/font><\/center>\n <\/td>\n
\n
5 devices<\/font><\/center>\n <\/td>\n
\n
5 devices<\/font><\/center>\n <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n
Unlimited song skipping available<\/center>\n <\/td>\n
\n
\u2713<\/font><\/center>\n <\/td>\n
\n
\u2713<\/font><\/center>\n <\/td>\n
\n
\u2713<\/font><\/center>\n <\/td>\n
\n
\u2713<\/font><\/center>\n <\/td>\n
\n
\u2713<\/font><\/center>\n <\/td>\n
\n
\u2713<\/font><\/center>\n <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n <\/tbody>\n <\/table>\n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n\n\n <\/span>\n \n\n\n

How We Evaluated Tidal<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We compared Tidal on catalog size, pricing, trials, and features. Tidal lists 100M+ songs<\/a>, which matches the industry\u2019s top tier. On value, the U.S. baseline for ad\u2011free on\u2011demand plans has converged around $10.99\/month, and Tidal\u2019s current prices align with that: Individual $10.99 and Family $16.99 (student discounts available; no ad\u2011supported free tier). Free\u2011trial lengths change frequently and vary by promotion<\/strong>. For context and cross\u2011checks, see TIDAL Pricing<\/a>, Amazon Music Unlimited plans<\/a>, Apple Music<\/a>, and Spotify Premium<\/a>. Recent industry moves have emphasized ARPU growth via price increases rather than only user growth\u2014e.g., Spotify\u2019s 2024 U.S. price update (pricing announcement<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We also evaluated sound quality, discovery, and multi\u2011device UX. Tidal standardized on open formats\u2014Lossless and Hi\u2011Res FLAC up to 24\/192<\/a>\u2014after retiring MQA and Sony 360 Reality Audio in 2024, while maintaining Dolby Atmos content on supported devices (coverage<\/a>). We looked for clear format badges (Lossless\/Hi\u2011Res\/Atmos), and seamless casting and handoff via TIDAL Connect<\/a>, alongside broad app support across mobile, desktop, web, TVs, smart speakers, and car interfaces (Tidal apps<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n <\/span>\n \n\n\n

Tidal vs. Other Music Streaming Services<\/h2>\n\n\n
\n \n
\n
\n \n
\n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n
\n \n <\/th>\n \n
Tidal<\/a><\/center>\n <\/th>\n
\n
Amazon Music Unlimited<\/a><\/center>\n <\/th>\n
\n
YouTube Music<\/a><\/center>\n <\/th>\n
\n
Pandora<\/a><\/center>\n <\/th>\n
\n
Spotify<\/a><\/center>\n <\/th>\n <\/tr>\n <\/thead>\n \n
\n
Premium starting monthly price<\/center>\n <\/td>\n
\n
$10.99\/mo<\/font><\/center>\n <\/td>\n
\n
$10.99\/mo<\/font><\/center>\n <\/td>\n
\n
$10.99\/mo<\/font><\/center>\n <\/td>\n
\n
$9.99\/mo<\/font><\/center>\n <\/td>\n
\n
$11.99\/mo<\/font><\/center>\n <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n
Free trial length<\/center>\n <\/td>\n
\n
Varies by promotion<\/font><\/center>\n <\/td>\n
\n
Varies by promotion<\/font><\/center>\n <\/td>\n
\n
Varies by promotion<\/font><\/center>\n <\/td>\n
\n
Varies by promotion<\/font><\/center>\n <\/td>\n
\n
Varies by promotion<\/font><\/center>\n <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n
Highest sound quality<\/center>\n <\/td>\n
\n
Hi-Res FLAC up to 24-bit\/192 kHz<\/font><\/center>\n <\/td>\n
\n
Ultra HD up to 24-bit\/192 kHz*<\/font><\/center>\n <\/td>\n
\n
256 kbps<\/font><\/center>\n <\/td>\n
\n
192 kbps<\/font><\/center>\n <\/td>\n
\n
320 kbps<\/font><\/center>\n <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n
Number of songs<\/center>\n <\/td>\n
\n
100 million+<\/font><\/center>\n <\/td>\n
\n
100 million<\/font><\/center>\n <\/td>\n
\n
Not disclosed<\/font><\/center>\n <\/td>\n
\n
Not disclosed<\/font><\/center>\n <\/td>\n
\n
100 million+<\/font><\/center>\n <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n
Video content available<\/center>\n <\/td>\n
\n
Yes<\/font><\/center>\n <\/td>\n
\n
No<\/font><\/center>\n <\/td>\n
\n
Yes<\/font><\/center>\n <\/td>\n
\n
No<\/font><\/center>\n <\/td>\n
\n
Yes<\/font><\/center>\n <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n <\/tbody>\n <\/table>\n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n\n\n

*For tracks offered in “Ultra HD” on Amazon Music Unlimited<\/a><\/p>\n\n <\/span>\n \n\n\n

Key Tidal Considerations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

High-quality sound<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Tidal centers its audio offering on open, high\u2011fidelity formats: Lossless and Hi\u2011Res FLAC up to 24\u2011bit\/192 kHz<\/a> on supported devices, with Dolby Atmos mixes where available. In 2024, Tidal removed MQA and Sony 360 Reality Audio and consolidated around FLAC, simplifying device compatibility while keeping hi\u2011res options (reporting<\/a>). Competing services also offer open\u2011format hi\u2011res tiers\u2014Amazon\u2019s HD\/Ultra HD in FLAC and Apple Music\u2019s ALAC Lossless\/Hi\u2011Res (Amazon Music HD\/Ultra HD<\/a>; Apple Music Lossless<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Exclusive content<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Rather than long windowed album exclusives, Tidal differentiates with editorial and artist\u2011enablement. Expect short\u2011window premieres, in\u2011studio sessions, and storytelling around scenes and new releases, plus programs like TIDAL Collabs<\/a> that help artists find collaborators. Tidal has worked with labels on payout experiments, including a strategic collaboration with Universal Music Group<\/a> to explore \u201cartist\u2011centric\u201d models, and it has expanded creator\/DJ integrations such as native support in Pioneer DJ\u2019s rekordbox (integration details<\/a>). Tidal also maintains a large catalog of official music videos and original programming, though it does not publish a current video count.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Higher prices<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Tidal\u2019s pricing now aligns with the market baseline: Individual $10.99\/month and Family $16.99\/month in the U.S., with student discounts available (TIDAL Pricing<\/a>). There\u2019s no ad\u2011supported free tier and no dedicated \u201cDuo\u201d plan for two users. By comparison, Amazon Music<\/a> Unlimited is $10.99\/month (or $9.99 for Prime members), Apple Music<\/a> is $10.99, and Spotify<\/a> is $11.99 with an optional $16.99 Duo plan and bundled monthly audiobooks listening time. Family tiers at $16.99 for up to 6 accounts (Amazon\/Apple\/Tidal) can bring the effective per\u2011user cost to about $2.83 when fully utilized (Amazon plans<\/a>; Apple Music<\/a>; TIDAL Pricing<\/a>). Industry\u2011wide price updates in 2024 signaled a shift toward ARPU growth, not just user growth (Spotify pricing update<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n <\/span>\n \n\n\n

The Bottom Line<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Tidal is a strong pick if you want a 100M+ track catalog with open\u2011format lossless and hi\u2011res audio (up to 24\/192) and visible format indicators, plus deep editorial and a sizable video lineup. Apps span mobile, desktop, web, TVs, and hi\u2011fi gear via TIDAL Connect, and they support CarPlay\/Android Auto for in\u2011car listening. Pricing matches the market, but there\u2019s no ad\u2011supported free tier or Duo plan; if you value bundled audiobooks or a couple\u2019s tier, competitors may fit better. For sound quality, device reach, and curated discovery, Tidal competes at the top of the market (Tidal<\/a>; sound quality<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Tidal Review Tidal advertises over 100 million songs ad\u2011free, putting its catalog on par with major services like Apple Music, Spotify, and Amazon Music. The platform emphasizes audio quality with Lossless FLAC and Hi\u2011Res FLAC up to 24\u2011bit\/192 kHz, and it continues to feature a wide range of music videos, live sessions, and editorial programming (interviews, genre […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":345,"featured_media":0,"parent":2286,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-templates\/template-reviews.php","meta":[],"categories":[1315],"tags":[],"post_author":[],"yoast_head":"\nTidal Review - Reviews.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"We have evaluated multiple streaming services. 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