TIDAL vs Apple Music: price and which to choose
Quick verdict
Both stream lossless with immersive audio. TIDAL’s HiRes FLAC goes up to 24-bit/192 kHz with Dolby Atmos, plus DJ plans and a 30-day trial — but no US refunds. Apple Music is always ad-free with lossless and Spatial Audio on every plan, the Classical app included, Family Sharing for six and Apple TV with the Student plan.
Option A
Option B
We compare plans with a similar purpose, whose features may differ; prices before sales tax; prices for other plans and periods are in the reviews.
Feature comparison
| Criterion | Tidal | Apple Music |
|---|---|---|
| Best audio | HiRes FLAC 24-bit/192 kHz, Atmos | Lossless, Spatial Audio |
| Free tier | No (30-day trial) | No (1-month trial) |
| Student bonus | Discounted plan | Includes Apple TV |
| DJ plans | Yes | Not listed |
| US refunds | Not offered | Through Apple |
Two sound-quality-first services. TIDAL is platform-neutral and DJ-friendly; Apple Music is the natural fit on Apple devices, though it runs on Android and Windows too.
If you don’t want to read further
Highest-resolution files and DJ plans — TIDAL. Apple devices, the Classical app and Apple TV for students — Apple Music.
What really sets them apart
In each row, the last sentence matters most — what the difference means for you.
Sound?
Tidal
HiRes FLAC up to 24-bit/192 kHz, plus Dolby Atmos.
Apple Music
Lossless and Spatial Audio on every plan.
Both are hi-fi; TIDAL lists higher resolution.
Extras?
Tidal
DJ plans with stem separation.
Apple Music
Apple Music Classical, Apple Music Sing, Shazam.
DJs — TIDAL; classical listeners — Apple Music.
Students?
Tidal
TIDAL Student, verified every 11 months.
Apple Music
Student plan includes Apple TV.
More for students on Apple Music.
Trial?
Tidal
30 days for new sign-ups.
Apple Music
1 month for new subscribers.
TIDAL’s trial is a bit longer.
Sharing?
Tidal
Family: you plus 5 in the same country; each account streams on 1 device online.
Apple Music
Family Sharing: you plus five, each with their own library.
Both cover a household of six.
Where they don’t differ, even though it seems they should
This part is often more useful than the list of differences — it saves money for anyone who was about to pay for an imaginary advantage.
Lossless on every plan
Neither charges extra for lossless audio.
No ads
Neither has an ad tier.
Many platforms
Both run on iOS, Android, desktop and web or Windows.
Which one fits whom
| Your situation | What to choose | On what condition |
|---|---|---|
| You have hi-res gear | TIDAL | Up to 24-bit/192 kHz. |
| You live on Apple devices | Apple Music | Spatial Audio and Apple One bundles. |
| You’re a student | Apple Music Student | Includes Apple TV. |
| You DJ | TIDAL DJ | Streams to DJ gear. |
- TIDAL doesn’t refund US subscriptions.
- Cancel Apple Music at least 24 hours before the trial ends.
- Apple lists no free Apple Music plan.
- TIDAL adds sales tax in many states.
Where the facts come from
Sources: the TIDAL Help Center, and apple.com with Apple Support for the US. Prices are in the price blocks on each service’s page.
Facts in the text checked: .
FAQ: Tidal or Apple Music
Other comparisons
The same products against other competitors, and other comparisons in the “Music streaming” category.
Where their scores differ
Only criteria we’ve checked for both services and where the scores differ. Equal criteria and criteria without data aren’t shown here, because they add nothing to the decision.
If what matters most is — app rating: Apple Music Individual
Tidal Individual: 4,7 out of 5 (4,7/5) · Apple Music Individual: 4,9 out of 5 (4,9/5)
The scores and their weights are the same as in the reviews of both services. How we calculate
Comparison text updated: