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Tidal vs Ableton Live

Tidal logo

Tidal

Software

High fidelity music streaming

From
$10.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
A

Ableton Live

Software

Digital audio workstation built around a Session View for arranging ideas live

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Tidal tIDAL has no permanently free listening tier; after a 30-day trial a paid subscription is required; Ableton Live live 12 Intro is capped at 16 audio and MIDI tracks, where Standard and Suite are both listed as Unlimited

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Tidal and Ableton Live actually diverge.

Attributes where Tidal and Ableton Live differ
AttributeTidalAbleton Live
Starting price$10.99/monthOn request
Pricing modelsubscriptionone-time
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, DesktopmacOS, Windows
Founded2014Unknown

Identical on both: free tier (No), 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 Tidal

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

Only in Ableton Live

Nothing recorded that Tidal does not also cover.

What people use each for

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

Tidal

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

Ableton Live

  • Music productionnot Tidal
  • Live performancenot Tidal
  • Electronic musicnot Tidal
  • Audio recordingnot Tidal
  • Sound designnot Tidal

Where each one falls short

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

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

Ableton Live

  • Live 12 Intro is capped at 16 audio and MIDI tracks, where Standard and Suite are both listed as Unlimited
  • Intro includes 8 software instruments and 27 audio effects, against 20 instruments and 58 effects in Suite
  • Max for Live is listed as Suite only, so neither Intro at USD 99 nor Standard at USD 349 includes it
  • Intro ships 5+ GB of sound content, against 38+ GB in Standard and 71+ GB in Suite
  • MIDI Tools are listed as 0 in Intro, against 14 in both Standard and Suite
  • Sold as a paid licence per edition, USD 99 for Intro, USD 349 for Standard and USD 749 for Suite, with no free tier

Pricing, plan by plan

Tidal

$10.99/month
  • HiFi$10.99/month
    • Lossless audio
    • Downloads
  • HiFi Plus$19.99/month
    • Master quality
    • Direct artist payouts

Ableton Live

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Ableton Live review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Tidal if

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

Choose Ableton Live if

  • You work on macOS, Windows.
Ableton Live review

Questions people ask

Is Tidal or Ableton Live better?
Neither clearly leads. Tidal starts at $10.99/month and Ableton Live at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Tidal or Ableton Live?
Tidal starts at $10.99/month and Ableton Live at On request.
Does Tidal or Ableton Live run on more platforms?
Tidal runs on Web, Ios, Android, Desktop. Ableton Live runs on macOS, Windows.
What is Tidal best used for?
Tidal is most often used for streaming music in hires lossless up to 24-bit 192 khz and dolby atmos, offline listening to a personal library, casting lossless audio to supported hi-fi hardware over tidal connect. Of those, streaming music in hires lossless up to 24-bit 192 khz and dolby atmos and offline listening to a personal library are not what Ableton Live is typically brought in for.
What can Tidal do that Ableton Live cannot?
Tidal covers HiFi streaming, Master quality, Music videos, Exclusive content.
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