Artist-first music streaming platform with HiFi and Dolby Atmos audio quality
Audiophiles, music producers, and listeners who prioritize sound quality and want to support artists directly
Google's music streaming service with integrated YouTube video content and free ad-supported tier.
YouTube users, casual listeners, and those seeking integrated video and music streaming at competitive prices
Tidal prioritizes audio quality with HiFi streaming up to 9216 kbps and Dolby Atmos, while YouTube Music offers convenience through YouTube integration and a 256 kbps standard bitrate at a lower price point. Tidal is the choice for audiophiles; YouTube Music suits casual listeners.
Choose Tidal if you're an audiophile who values lossless HiFi audio, Dolby Atmos spatial sound, and supporting artists directly with higher payouts. Choose YouTube Music if you want convenience, seamless YouTube integration, competitive pricing, and a modern UI for casual listening without advanced audio requirements.
Choose Tidal if
Audiophiles, music producers, and listeners who prioritize sound quality and want to support artists directly
| Metric | Tidal | YouTube Music | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per-Stream Artist Payout(cents) | $0.01284 | — | — |
| Maximum Audio Bitrate(kbps) | 320 (MQA Hi-Res) | — | — |
| Monthly Subscription Cost (Premium Tier)(USD) | $12.99-14.99 | — | — |
| Total Music Catalog(millions) | 100+ | — | — |
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Choose YouTube Music if
YouTube users, casual listeners, and those seeking integrated video and music streaming at competitive prices
| Global Active Users(millions) |
| ~3 |
| — |
| — |
| Monthly Active Users(millions) | Undisclosed | 1000+ million | — |
| Premium Subscribers(millions) | Estimated 5-10 | — | — |
| Global Market Share(%) | ~5 | — | — |
| Per-Stream Artist Payment(USD) | $0.007-$0.013 | — | — |
| Music Library Size(million songs) | 100+ | — | — |
| Monthly Subscription Price (Standard Tier)(EUR) | €14.99 (HiFi entry tier) | — | — |
| Artist Royalty Per Stream(USD) | $0.0168 | — | — |
| Web Player Maximum Bitrate(kbps) | 9216 kbps (Dolby Atmos) | — | — |
| Total Music Catalog(million tracks) | Over 100 million | — | — |
| Music Library Size(million tracks) | 90+ million | — | — |
| Base Paid Subscription Price(USD/month) | $10.99/month | — | — |
| Subscription Tier Options(number of plans) | 2-3 tiers | — | — |
| Maximum Audio Bitrate(kbps) | 9216 kbps | 256 kbps | +3500% |
| Song Library Size(million songs) | 110+ million | 100+ million | +10% |
| Monthly Premium Subscription Cost(USD) | $10.99 | $11.99 | -8% |
| Average Per-Stream Payout(USD) | $0.007 | $0.007 | — |
| Monthly Subscription Cost (Premium)(USD) | $13.99 | $13.99 | — |
| Average Song Catalog Size(millions) | 100+ million tracks | 100+ million tracks | — |
| Individual Monthly Subscription Cost(USD) | $11.99 | $11.99 | — |
| Average Per-Stream Artist Payment(USD) | $0.007 (blended average) | $0.007 (blended average) | — |
| Family Plan Monthly Cost(USD) | $17.99 | $17.99 | — |
All figures sourced from publicly available data. Last updated May 2026.
Tidal
9216 kbps (HiFi)🏆
YouTube Music
256 kbps (Premium tier)
Tidal
Dolby Atmos on all plans🏆
YouTube Music
Limited availability
Tidal
110+ million songs
YouTube Music
100+ million songs
Tidal
Standalone platform
YouTube Music
YouTube integration built-in🏆
Tidal
Artist-first platform with higher payouts🏆
YouTube Music
Standard streaming model
Tidal
Standard interface
YouTube Music
Split-view Now Playing redesign (2026)🏆
Tidal
Audiophiles and music enthusiasts
YouTube Music
Casual listeners and YouTube users
HiFi (High Fidelity) audio refers to lossless compression that preserves all original recording data. Tidal's maximum 9216 kbps bitrate is lossless, meaning it captures every detail of the master recording—36x higher than YouTube Music's 256 kbps lossy compression. This matters for audiophiles with quality equipment, but casual listeners on standard headphones rarely notice the difference.
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| Attribute | Tidal | YouTube Music |
|---|---|---|
| Offline Download Support | All tiers | — |
| Discovery Algorithm Rating(scale) | Good (Spotlight Program) | — |
| AI Playlist Generation | Not available | — |
| Apple Ecosystem Integration | Limited | — |
| Spatial Audio (Dolby Atmos)(availability) | All subscription tiers | — |
Show 6 more attributesMusic Purchase / Ownership Option(availability) Streaming only — Record Label Search Filter(availability) Not available — Desktop Download Support Mobile only — YouTube Integration No Yes (seamless) Offline Downloads Supported(boolean) Yes (Premium members) — Music Video Integration(level of integration) Full YouTube video library embedded — | ||
| Supported Devices | Multi-platform (limited partners) | — |
| Cross-Platform Availability | iOS, Android, Web, Desktop, Windows | — |
| Cross-Device Compatibility(rating) | Excellent across platforms | — |
| Social Sharing Features | Basic sharing | — |
| Per-Stream Artist Payout(cents) | $0.01284 | — |
| Artist Royalty Per Stream(USD) | $0.0168 | — |
| Video Content Library | Integrated music videos | — |
| Total Music Catalog(millions) | 100+ | — |
| Music Library Size(million songs) | 100+ | — |
| Music Library Size(million tracks) | 90+ million | — |
| Song Library Size(million songs) | 110+ million | 100+ million |
Show 1 more attributeContent Types Supported(formats) Audio + Video (music videos, official content, shorts) — | ||
| Maximum Audio Bitrate(kbps) | 320 (MQA Hi-Res) | — |
| Lossless Audio Support | Yes (HiFi tier) | — |
| Lossless Audio Maximum Quality(bit/kHz) | 24-bit/192 kHz (via MQA) | — |
| Web Player Maximum Bitrate(kbps) | 9216 kbps (Dolby Atmos) | — |
| CD-Quality Lossless Support(bit-depth / sample rate) | 16-bit / 44.1kHz (HiFi tier) | — |
Show 4 more attributesMaximum Audio Bitrate(kbps) 9216 kbps 256 kbps HiFi/Lossless Audio Support Yes (HiFi on all tiers) No Dolby Atmos Spatial Audio Yes (all subscribers) Limited Maximum Audio Quality(kbps/lossless) 320 kbps standard — | ||
| Monthly Subscription Cost (Premium Tier)(USD) | $12.99-14.99 | — |
| Free Tier Availability | None | — |
| Monthly Subscription Price (Standard Tier)(EUR) | €14.99 (HiFi entry tier) | — |
| Free Tier Available | No | — |
| Base Paid Subscription Price(USD/month) | $10.99/month | — |
Show 5 more attributesSubscription Tier Options(number of plans) 2-3 tiers — Monthly Premium Subscription Cost(USD) $10.99 $11.99 Monthly Subscription Cost (Premium)(USD) $13.99 — Individual Monthly Subscription Cost(USD) $11.99 — Family Plan Monthly Cost(USD) $17.99 — | ||
| Global Active Users(millions) | ~3 | — |
| Monthly Active Users(millions) | Undisclosed | 1000+ million |
| Premium Subscribers(millions) | Estimated 5-10 | — |
| Global Market Share(%) | ~5 | — |
| Per-Stream Artist Payment(USD) | $0.007-$0.013 | — |
| Artist Payment Per Stream(relative percentage) | 117% higher than industry standard | — |
| Average Per-Stream Artist Payment(USD) | $0.007 (blended average) | — |
| Audio Quality | Lossless HiFi + MQA | — |
| Quarterly Revenue (2025)(billion EUR) | Undisclosed | — |
| Free Tier Quality | Limited/Ad-based | — |
| Artist Monetization Barrier | Wider access via Partner Program | — |
| Free Ad-Supported Tier(available or not) | Yes - full catalog with shuffle | — |
| Artist Page Song Visibility | Limited visibility | — |
| User Interface Modernity(rating) | Modern, streamlined design | — |
| UI Redesign (2026) | Standard interface | Split-view Now Playing redesign rolling out |
| Total Music Catalog(million tracks) | Over 100 million | — |
| Maximum Audio Quality(kbps) | HiRes FLAC (9216 kbps) | High-resolution audio (320kbps + hi-res lossless) |
| Spatial Audio Support (Dolby Atmos) | Yes, all tiers | — |
| Artist Payout Structure | Artist-first model (higher payouts) | Standard streaming splits |
| Average Per-Stream Payout(USD) | $0.007 | — |
| AI DJ Adoption Rate(percent) | Not available | — |
| Session Length Boost from AI Features(percent increase) | Data not available | — |
| Integrated Podcast Content | YouTube-hosted only | — |
| Video/Shorts Integration | Primary growth engine via YouTube Shorts | — |
| Artist Upload Restrictions(approval process) | Requires YouTube Partner Program verification | — |
| Artist Monetization Features (2026)(count) | Ad revenue sharing, Super Chat, channel memberships | — |
| Average Song Catalog Size(millions) | 100+ million tracks | — |
| Google Ecosystem Integration(platforms) | Deep (Google Assistant, Workspace, Search, Android) | — |
| Maximum Audio Bitrate/Quality(kbps or kHz) | 320kbps Opus (lossy) | — |
| Native Apple Device Support(platforms supported) | Android, Wear OS, web browser only | — |
| Discovery Algorithm(data source type) | YouTube ecosystem video performance + watch history | — |
Side-by-side comparison of numeric attributes