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Entertainment · head to head

Showtime vs Tidal

Showtime logo

Showtime

Entertainment

Signature entertainment and sports

From
$10.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Tidal logo

Tidal

Music

High fidelity music streaming

From
$10.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Showtime showtime is now offered only as part of Paramount+'s Premium plan, per the App Store listing (Paramount+ by CBS Mobile); Tidal tIDAL has no permanently free listening tier; after a 30-day trial a paid subscription is required
  • They diverge on capability: Showtime covers Streaming, Tidal covers HiFi streaming.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Showtime and Tidal actually diverge.

Attributes where Showtime and Tidal differ
AttributeShowtimeTidal
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tvWeb, Ios, Android, Desktop
CategoryEntertainmentMusic
Founded19832014

Identical on both: starting price ($10.99/month), pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), 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 Showtime

  • Streaming
  • Original series
  • Movies
  • Sports
  • Live events
  • Smart TVs
  • Streaming devices
  • Content filtering

Only in Tidal

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

Both cover

  • Account security
  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

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

Showtime

  • Premium streamingnot Tidal
  • Sports watchingnot Tidal

Tidal

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

Where each one falls short

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

Showtime

  • Showtime is now offered only as part of Paramount+'s Premium plan, per the App Store listing (Paramount+ by CBS Mobile)
  • Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current subscription period rather than immediately, with continued access through the paid period, per the App Store listing

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

Showtime

$10.99/month
  • Showtime Standalone$10.99/month
    • Original content
    • Ad-free

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 Showtime if

  • You need streaming.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv.
  • You also want original series.
Showtime 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 Showtime or Tidal better?
Neither clearly leads. Showtime starts at $10.99/month and Tidal at $10.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Showtime or Tidal?
Showtime starts at $10.99/month and Tidal at $10.99/month.
Does Showtime or Tidal run on more platforms?
Showtime runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv. Tidal runs on Web, Ios, Android, Desktop.
What is Showtime best used for?
Showtime is most often used for premium streaming, sports watching. Of those, premium streaming and sports watching are not what Tidal is typically brought in for.
What can Showtime do that Tidal cannot?
Showtime covers Streaming, Original series, Movies, Sports. Tidal covers HiFi streaming, Master quality, Music videos, Exclusive content. Both handle Account security, Web support, Ios support, Android support.
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