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Entertainment · head to head

Infuse vs Tidal

Infuse logo

Infuse

Entertainment

Paid media player for Apple TV, iPhone, iPad and Mac with strong network share and cloud library streaming

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Tidal logo

Tidal

Music

High fidelity music streaming

From
$10.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Infuse has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Infuse it costs money in every form, subscription or lifetime, where IINA performs equivalent local Mac playback for free.; Tidal tIDAL has no permanently free listening tier; after a 30-day trial a paid subscription is required
  • They diverge on capability: Infuse covers Apple TV app, Tidal covers HiFi streaming.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Infuse and Tidal actually diverge.

Attributes where Infuse and Tidal differ
AttributeInfuseTidal
Starting priceFree$10.99/month
Pricing modelPer user per monthsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsMac, iOS, tvOSWeb, Ios, Android, Desktop
CategoryEntertainmentMusic
FoundedUnknown2014

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Infuse

  • Apple TV app
  • Network share streaming
  • Cloud storage support
  • Automatic metadata and artwork
  • Subtitle and audio track handling
  • Cross-platform library

Only in Tidal

  • HiFi streaming
  • Master quality
  • Music videos
  • Exclusive content
  • High-end audio systems
  • Smart speakers
  • Download protection
  • Account security

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Infuse

  • Someone with a NAS full of ripped or downloaded video who wants it browsable on Apple TV like a streaming servicenot Tidal
  • A household that wants one media library accessible from the living room television, phones and a Macnot Tidal
  • A user who wants automatic artwork and metadata for a personal library rather than plain file namesnot Tidal
  • Someone already invested in the Apple TV ecosystem who wants better playback than the built in Apple TV app supportsnot Tidal

Tidal

  • Streaming music in HiRes lossless up to 24-bit 192 kHz and Dolby Atmosnot Infuse
  • Offline listening to a personal librarynot Infuse
  • Casting lossless audio to supported hi-fi hardware over TIDAL Connectnot Infuse

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Infuse

  • It costs money in every form, subscription or lifetime, where IINA performs equivalent local Mac playback for free.
  • Full functionality depends on the Pro tier, so the free version alone is limited enough that most serious users end up paying.
  • It has no Android or Windows app, so it does not help a household with non-Apple television or phone hardware.
  • Streaming quality from a network share depends heavily on local network speed and NAS performance, which is outside the app control and can cause buffering.
  • Regional pricing and promotional lifetime pricing has varied over time, so the exact lifetime cost is worth checking on the App Store before buying.

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

Infuse

Free
  • Infuse (free)Free
    • Basic local file playback
    • Limited compared to Pro
    • No network share or cloud streaming
  • Infuse Pro Monthly$1.99/month
    • Full network share and cloud streaming
    • Metadata and artwork fetching
    • All future updates included while subscribed
  • Infuse Pro Lifetime$149.99/one-time
    • One-time purchase, no recurring fee
    • All future major version updates included
    • Regional pricing varies by App Store

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 Infuse if

  • You need apple tv app.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Mac, iOS, tvOS.
  • You also want network share streaming.
Infuse review

Choose Tidal if

  • You need hifi streaming.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Desktop.
  • You also want master quality.
Tidal review

Questions people ask

Is Infuse or Tidal better?
Neither clearly leads. Infuse 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, Infuse or Tidal?
Infuse has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Infuse and $10.99/month for Tidal.
Does Infuse or Tidal run on more platforms?
Infuse runs on Mac, iOS, tvOS. Tidal runs on Web, Ios, Android, Desktop.
Can I use Infuse for free?
Yes. Infuse has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Tidal starts at $10.99/month.
What is Infuse best used for?
Infuse is most often used for someone with a nas full of ripped or downloaded video who wants it browsable on apple tv like a streaming service, a household that wants one media library accessible from the living room television, phones and a mac, a user who wants automatic artwork and metadata for a personal library rather than plain file names, someone already invested in the apple tv ecosystem who wants better playback than the built in apple tv app supports. Of those, someone with a nas full of ripped or downloaded video who wants it browsable on apple tv like a streaming service and a household that wants one media library accessible from the living room television, phones and a mac are not what Tidal is typically brought in for.
What can Infuse do that Tidal cannot?
Infuse covers Apple TV app, Network share streaming, Cloud storage support, Automatic metadata and artwork. Tidal covers HiFi streaming, Master quality, Music videos, Exclusive content.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Infuse: Is Infuse free?

A limited free version exists, but network share and cloud streaming, the main reason people choose Infuse, requires Infuse Pro, sold as a subscription or lifetime purchase.

Infuse: Does Infuse work on Apple TV?

Yes, it has a dedicated Apple TV app with a television-optimised browsing interface, which IINA does not offer at all.

Infuse: Is there a one-time payment option?

Yes, a lifetime purchase is available alongside monthly and yearly subscriptions, currently around 149.99 US dollars depending on region.

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