Softwr

Software · head to head

Spotify vs Tidal

Spotify logo

Spotify

Software

Music for everyone

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Tidal logo

Tidal

Software

High fidelity music streaming

From
$10.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Spotify has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Spotify ad-free listening, offline downloads, lossless audio and unlimited skipping all require Premium at $12.99 a month; Tidal tIDAL has no permanently free listening tier; after a 30-day trial a paid subscription is required
  • They diverge on capability: Spotify covers Music streaming, Tidal covers HiFi streaming.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Spotify and Tidal actually diverge.

Attributes where Spotify and Tidal differ
AttributeSpotifyTidal
Starting priceFree$10.99/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Smart-speakersWeb, Ios, Android, Desktop
Founded20062014

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 Spotify

  • Music streaming
  • Podcast streaming
  • Playlist creation
  • Music discovery
  • Social sharing
  • Offline downloads
  • Cross-device sync
  • Audio quality options

Only in Tidal

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

Both cover

  • Smart speakers
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Spotify

  • Music listeningnot Tidal
  • Podcast consumptionnot Tidal
  • Playlist sharingnot Tidal
  • Music discoverynot Tidal
  • Background musicnot Tidal

Tidal

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

Where each one falls short

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

Spotify

  • Ad-free listening, offline downloads, lossless audio and unlimited skipping all require Premium at $12.99 a month
  • Lossless streaming tops out at 24-bit/44.1 kHz
  • The Duo plan at $18.99 a month covers two people and the Family plan at $21.99 covers a household, with no per-seat option between them

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

Spotify

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Ad-supported music
    • Shuffle play
    • Limited skips
  • Premium$9.99/month
    • Ad-free music
    • Play any song
    • Unlimited skips
  • Family$15.99/month
    • 6 Premium accounts
    • Individual profiles
    • Parental controls

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 Spotify if

  • You need music streaming.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Smart-speakers.
  • You also want podcast streaming.
Spotify 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 Spotify or Tidal better?
Neither clearly leads. Spotify 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, Spotify or Tidal?
Spotify has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Spotify and $10.99/month for Tidal.
Does Spotify or Tidal run on more platforms?
Spotify runs on Web, Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Smart-speakers. Tidal runs on Web, Ios, Android, Desktop.
Can I use Spotify for free?
Yes. Spotify has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Tidal starts at $10.99/month.
What is Spotify best used for?
Spotify is most often used for music listening, podcast consumption, playlist sharing, music discovery. Of those, music listening and podcast consumption are not what Tidal is typically brought in for.
What can Spotify do that Tidal cannot?
Spotify covers Music streaming, Podcast streaming, Playlist creation, Music discovery. Tidal covers HiFi streaming, Master quality, Music videos, Exclusive content. Both handle Smart speakers, Web support.
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on Spotify

More on Tidal

Keep looking

Other head to heads