Spotify, the world’s leading music streaming service, boasts over 236 million active paid subscribers and a vast library of artists, albums, podcasts, and audiobooks. It is available on nearly every desktop and mobile device. However, for fans of hi-res audio, Tidal may offer a better option with its emphasis on hi-res content and extensive collection of music and video content.
To determine which platform is superior, we compared Spotify and Tidal based on price, sound quality, and supported devices.
Price
Spotify offers two service tiers for individual users. The free, ad-supported tier provides access to the full Spotify library but with limitations and ads. The premium plan, priced at $11 per month, offers full features. Spotify also provides a Premium Duo plan for two individuals at $15 per month, a six-person Family plan with parental controls for $17 per month, and a student plan for $6 per month.
Students can take advantage of an excellent deal as the student Spotify premium plan includes a free ad-supported Hulu account. New Spotify users can try Spotify Premium free for 30 days. Paid plans allow downloading up to 10,000 songs for offline listening on up to five devices.
According to Bloomberg, Spotify is planning to introduce new subscription options and raise prices in 2024. Premium users may pay an extra $1 per month, while Duo and Family plans could increase by $2 per month. Tidal recently updated its subscription pricing to offer lossless audio, hi-res FLAC, and Dolby Atmos Music in new plans.
Tidal’s new prices align more closely with Spotify, but since it no longer offers a free plan, Spotify remains the price winner.
Winner: Spotify
Supported Devices
Tidal has apps for major platforms like Windows, MacOS, iOS, tvOS, Android, and Android TV. It also supports high-end streaming components from brands like Astell & Kern, Devialet, Denon, and more. Spotify covers all major platforms, as well as numerous connected audio devices, making its device support the best among music streaming services.
Winner: Spotify
Music Variety and Catalog Size
Both Tidal and Spotify boast large music libraries, with Tidal claiming 110 million tracks and 650,000 videos, while Spotify claims over 100 million tracks, 5 million podcasts, and 350,000 audiobooks. The music variety and catalog size category is a tie with no objective way to evaluate these claims.
Winner: Draw
Sound Quality
Spotify offers compressed 320kbps streaming quality, while Tidal provides lossless CD-quality streams. Tidal wins for sound quality with various hi-res audio formats supported. However, Spotify may catch up with its upcoming hi-res audio option, potentially matching the quality offered by Tidal.
Winner: Tidal
Videos, Podcasts, and More
Tidal focuses on videos and live concert recordings, offering over 650,000 videos, some exclusive to the service. Spotify also has videos and podcasts, with a catalog of over 5 million podcasts. Spotify wins for its vast podcast library and easy accessibility.
Winner: Spotify
Conclusion
Spotify emerges as the overall winner with its extensive music catalog, broad device support, and variety of plans. Tidal excels in providing high-fidelity music through its subscription service, catering to audiophiles. While Spotify remains the popular choice, Tidal remains a top contender in delivering high-quality audio experiences.
