Tidal review

Tidal is the strongest choice for listeners who care mainly about sound and want a familiar app rather than a niche one. Tidal streams at three levels: Max, which is HiRes FLAC up to 24-bit, 192 kHz, High, which is lossless FLAC at CD quality, and Low, which uses AAC up to 320 kbps for saving data. A pill under the progress bar shows which format you are actually hearing, which is handy when checking that a DAC is doing its job. HiRes FLAC streams on iOS, Android, desktop and web, and select partner speakers support it through Tidal Connect. Dolby Atmos is available too. Tidal Individual costs $11.99 a month, matching Apple Music, and the Family plan at $19.99 covers up to 6 members. Tidal says its catalog is over 180 million songs. There is no free tier, and Chromecast playback drops to High on devices that do not support HiRes. Discovery and podcasts are thinner than on Spotify.

Who it is for

Listeners with good headphones or a DAC who want Hi-Res audio at a mainstream price.

Price

Individual $11.99 per month; Student $6.99; Family $19.99 for up to 6 members.

Tidal Individual: $11.99 USD/month
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 8, 2026.

Key features

• Max quality: HiRes FLAC up to 24-bit, 192 kHz
• High quality: lossless FLAC at 16-bit, 44.1 kHz
• Dolby Atmos support
• Tidal Connect playback on partner speakers and systems
• DJ plans for mixing in DJ apps

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Hi-Res FLAC at $11.99, the same price as Apple Music
• Strength: Open FLAC format with a clear quality badge in the player
• Strength: Family plan covers up to 6 members for $19.99
• Weakness: No free tier
• Weakness: Chromecast falls back to High if the device lacks HiRes support
• Weakness: Fewer podcasts and extras than Spotify

Key facts

• Individual plan: $11.99 per month
• Top audio quality: HiRes FLAC up to 24-bit, 192 kHz
• Catalog: Over 180 million songs
• Family plan: $19.99, up to 6 members
• DJ plan: $19.99 per month

Where it ranks

Tidal is No. 3 in our Best Music Streaming Services verdict.