Music & Audio Apps · head to head
Tidal vs YouTube Music
YouTube Music
Music & Audio Apps
A new music streaming service from YouTube
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only YouTube Music has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Tidal tIDAL has no permanently free listening tier; after a 30-day trial a paid subscription is required; YouTube Music free tier includes unskippable ads which interrupts music listening
- They diverge on capability: Tidal covers HiFi streaming, YouTube Music covers Music streaming.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Tidal and YouTube Music actually diverge.
| Attribute | Tidal | YouTube Music |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $10.99/month | Free |
| Pricing model | subscription | Unknown |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Web, Ios, Android, Desktop | Web, Ios, Android, Smart-speakers |
| Founded | 2014 | 2005 |
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Music & Audio Apps).
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
- Exclusive content
- High-end audio systems
- Download protection
- Account security
- Desktop support
Only in YouTube Music
- Music streaming
- Live performances
- Personalization
- Google services
- Android Auto
- Google account security
- Family controls
- Smart-speakers support
Both cover
- Music videos
- Smart speakers
- Web support
- Ios support
- Android support
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 YouTube Music
- Offline listening to a personal librarynot YouTube Music
- Casting lossless audio to supported hi-fi hardware over TIDAL Connectnot YouTube Music
YouTube Music
- Music streamingnot Tidal
- Video watchingnot Tidal
- Discoverynot 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
YouTube Music
- Free tier includes unskippable ads which interrupts music listening
- User-uploaded content creates inconsistent audio quality and metadata compared to official releases
- Limited music discovery and recommendation features compared to Spotify's AI-powered algorithms
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
YouTube Music
Free- FreeFree
- Ad-supported listening
- Music videos
- Premium$11.99/month
- Ad-free
- Offline downloads
- Background playback
- Family$18.99/month
- Up to 6 accounts
- Parental controls
- Student$5.99/month
- Ad-free
- YouTube Premium included
Which should you pick?
Choose Tidal if
- You need hifi streaming.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android, Desktop.
- You also want master quality.
Choose YouTube Music if
- You need music streaming.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-speakers.
- You also want live performances.
Questions people ask
- Is Tidal or YouTube Music better?
- Neither clearly leads. Tidal starts at $10.99/month and YouTube Music at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Tidal or YouTube Music?
- YouTube Music has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $10.99/month for Tidal and Free for YouTube Music.
- Does Tidal or YouTube Music run on more platforms?
- Tidal runs on Web, Ios, Android, Desktop. YouTube Music runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-speakers.
- Can I use YouTube Music for free?
- Yes. YouTube Music has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Tidal starts at $10.99/month.
- 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 YouTube Music is typically brought in for.
- What can Tidal do that YouTube Music cannot?
- Tidal covers HiFi streaming, Master quality, Exclusive content, High-end audio systems. YouTube Music covers Music streaming, Live performances, Personalization, Google services. Both handle Music videos, Smart speakers, Web support, Ios support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
YouTube Music: How much does YouTube Music Premium cost?
YouTube Music Premium costs $11.99 per month for individual subscriptions, $18.99 per month for family plans (up to 6 accounts), and $5.99 per month for students.
SourceYouTube Music: Does YouTube Music have a free tier?
Yes, YouTube Music offers a free version with access to music and music videos but includes occasional unskippable ads. Free users can create playlists and discover music but lack premium features like offline downloads.
SourceYouTube Music: What makes YouTube Music different from other streaming services?
YouTube Music uniquely provides access to official songs, music videos, live performances, remixes, and user-uploaded content not available on other platforms. Users can seamlessly switch between audio and official music videos.
Source