Tidal review 2026

Tidal offers more than 100 million songs and covers all the major labels and most independent artists. In terms of numbers the catalogue is on a par with Spotify and Apple Music, although Tidal occasionally has gaps in certain niche genres. The unique selling point is exclusive early releases and high-quality music videos. Thanks to its close ties with the music industry (founded by Jay-Z, now owned by Block/Square), Tidal occasionally gets early-access content before other platforms. Podcasts play a minor role at Tidal – the focus is clearly on music. In return, there is a growing selection of live sessions, studio recordings and behind-the-scenes content. Scoring (29/35): A very large catalogue with exclusive music content. A deduction for the weaker podcast offering and occasional niche gaps compared with Spotify.

Tidal sets the benchmark for audio quality: music is streamed losslessly in the open FLAC format, as hi-res up to 24-bit/192 kHz for suitable recordings. On top of that comes Dolby Atmos for immersive 3D sound. All sound features are included in the standard plan – there is no longer a separate, higher-priced plan for the best quality. Tidal used to rely on the proprietary MQA format for hi-res content; it now uses FLAC for this. That is an advantage for users, because FLAC is supported by almost all D/A converters, streamers and audio apps. Full hi-res playback above 48 kHz requires suitable hardware (for example an external D/A converter) and a wired connection; over Bluetooth the quality does not arrive in full. Scoring (20/20): Absolute top class. Hi-res FLAC and Dolby Atmos in the standard plan make Tidal the technically strongest option for audiophiles – level with Apple Music.

Tidal's “My Mix” playlists and its Discovery section offer personalised recommendations that are functional but clearly fall short of Spotify's algorithms. The suggestions are less surprising and hit personal taste less often. In return, Tidal offers unique features: music videos in hi-res quality are available directly in the app, the “Tidal Connect” feature allows seamless streaming to compatible devices, and the Artist Connect function offers exclusive behind-the-scenes content direct from the artists. Scoring (13/20): Solid features with an artist focus and music video integration. The weaker recommendation algorithms, however, cost significant points compared with the competition.

Tidal has dropped its former split into HiFi and HiFi Plus: there is one plan model, which includes hi-res FLAC and Dolby Atmos. Last known prices: Individual €10.99 a month, Family €16.99 a month (up to 6 accounts) and Student €4.99 a month. Tidal's pricing page could not be accessed during our check in October 2026 – please check the current price directly with Tidal. On that basis, Tidal would be cheaper than Spotify (€12.99) and Apple Music, Deezer and YouTube Music (€11.99 each) despite offering hi-res. There is no free ad-supported version, and no podcasts or audiobooks either. For audiophiles who have already invested in high-quality audio hardware, Tidal is therefore attractively priced. Anyone who mainly uses podcasts or audiobooks pays here for features they do not need. Scoring (12/15): A favourable price for hi-res quality without a higher-priced plan. A deduction for the missing free version, the missing podcasts/audiobooks and the prices being hard to view.

Tidal is available on iOS, Android, Windows, macOS and the web. CarPlay and Android Auto are supported. No Linux support. The desktop app is fully featured and well optimised for playing hi-res content. Particularly worth highlighting is the broad support for high-end audio hardware: external D/A converters, Bluesound multi-room systems, Sonos and many AV receivers support Tidal natively. For audiophiles with a suitable system, the integration is outstanding. Tidal Connect allows direct streaming to compatible devices without Bluetooth compression – an important feature for users who value uncompressed signal paths. Scoring (8/10): Good platform coverage with excellent high-end audio integration. A deduction for missing Linux and the comparatively low smart-home coverage outside the audiophile world.