Software · head to head
Amazon Music vs Tidal
The short version
- Only Amazon Music has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Amazon Music amazon Music Unlimited is required for on-demand access to the 100 million song catalogue, ad-free podcasts and Audible audiobooks; Tidal tIDAL has no permanently free listening tier; after a 30-day trial a paid subscription is required
- They diverge on capability: Amazon Music covers Music streaming, Tidal covers HiFi streaming.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Amazon Music and Tidal actually diverge.
| Attribute | Amazon Music | Tidal |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | $10.99/month |
| Pricing model | freemium | subscription |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Web, Ios, Android, Fire-tv, Echo | Web, Ios, Android, Desktop |
| Founded | 2007 | 2014 |
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Amazon Music
- Music streaming
- HD audio
- Podcasts
- Alexa integration
- Echo devices
- Fire TV
- Alexa
- Amazon account security
Only in Tidal
- HiFi streaming
- Master quality
- Music videos
- Exclusive content
- High-end audio systems
- Smart speakers
- Download protection
- Account security
Both cover
- Web support
- Ios support
- Android support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Amazon Music
- On-demand music streaming across phone, watch and speakersnot Tidal
- Listening to podcasts and Audible audiobooks in one appnot Tidal
- Offline playback for subscribersnot Tidal
Tidal
- Streaming music in HiRes lossless up to 24-bit 192 kHz and Dolby Atmosnot Amazon Music
- Offline listening to a personal librarynot Amazon Music
- Casting lossless audio to supported hi-fi hardware over TIDAL Connectnot Amazon Music
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Amazon Music
- Amazon Music Unlimited is required for on-demand access to the 100 million song catalogue, ad-free podcasts and Audible audiobooks
- Unlimited skips require the Amazon Music Unlimited subscription
- Subscriptions bought through iTunes renew automatically each month unless auto-renewal is turned off at least 24 hours before the period ends
- The account is charged for renewal within 24 hours before the end of each membership period
- The iOS app requires iOS 16.0 or later
Tidal
- TIDAL has no permanently free listening tier; after a 30-day trial a paid subscription is required
- The subscription renews automatically on a monthly basis
- Lossless quality on external hardware needs TIDAL Connect and a supported device
- The iOS app requires iOS 17 or later
Pricing, plan by plan
Amazon Music
Free- FreeFree
- Limited selection
- Ads
- Unlimited$9.99/month
- Full catalog
- HD audio
Tidal
$10.99/month- HiFi$10.99/month
- Lossless audio
- Downloads
- HiFi Plus$19.99/month
- Master quality
- Direct artist payouts
Which should you pick?
Choose Amazon Music if
- You need music streaming.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android, Fire-tv, Echo.
- You also want hd audio.
Choose Tidal if
- You need hifi streaming.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android, Desktop.
- You also want master quality.
Questions people ask
- Is Amazon Music or Tidal better?
- Neither clearly leads. Amazon Music starts at Free and Tidal at $10.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Amazon Music or Tidal?
- Amazon Music has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Amazon Music and $10.99/month for Tidal.
- Does Amazon Music or Tidal run on more platforms?
- Amazon Music runs on Web, Ios, Android, Fire-tv, Echo. Tidal runs on Web, Ios, Android, Desktop.
- Can I use Amazon Music for free?
- Yes. Amazon Music has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Tidal starts at $10.99/month.
- What is Amazon Music best used for?
- Amazon Music is most often used for on-demand music streaming across phone, watch and speakers, listening to podcasts and audible audiobooks in one app, offline playback for subscribers. Of those, on-demand music streaming across phone, watch and speakers and listening to podcasts and audible audiobooks in one app are not what Tidal is typically brought in for.
- What can Amazon Music do that Tidal cannot?
- Amazon Music covers Music streaming, HD audio, Podcasts, Alexa integration. Tidal covers HiFi streaming, Master quality, Music videos, Exclusive content. Both handle Web support, Ios support, Android support.
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