Tidal

What it is

TIDAL is an artist-first, fan-centered music streaming platform that delivers over 100 million songs in HiFi sound quality to the global music community.

Lossless for people who actually hear it, and a crate for DJs

In 2026, Tidal is for people who care how music sounds. Its core users are listeners with decent headphones or a hi-fi setup who want lossless and hi-res FLAC without paying for extra tiers, plus fans of Dolby Atmos mixes. The second group is DJs. Tidal streams into DJ software such as rekordbox and Serato, and its stems feature can split a track into separate parts. If you only play background playlists on cheap earbuds, most of what makes Tidal different will be lost on you.

What changed: an AI crackdown and a price hike

June 2026: Tidal announced a policy on AI-generated music, and it took effect in July 2026. Tracks that are entirely AI-generated get an "AI" label and can't earn royalties or be sold directly to fans. Tidal also said it would use automated detection to remove AI tracks that impersonate real artists. For listeners, that means labelled AI songs and less AI filler, which Tidal says many users had asked for.

July 2026: Tidal told subscribers that prices were going up, and the increase took effect in August 2026. It applies to people billed directly by Tidal and kicks in at the first payment on or after the change date, with no action needed. The Family plan took one of the larger increases. Tidal's stated reason is to pay artists and rights holders and to fund new features. Either way, you pay more for the same product.

Shared seat or your own account?

A shared seat suits someone who listens casually, mostly on a phone and headphones, and mainly wants lossless sound without committing to a full plan. Tidal presents Family as a plan for one household. Buying a seat from strangers can conflict with its terms. If Tidal enforces those terms, the seat can be removed, and your playlists and listening history could go with it. That risk is real, and it's yours to weigh.

Pay full price if Tidal is central to how you listen or work. That includes DJs whose sets depend on it, anyone with years of carefully built playlists, and anyone who can't afford to be locked out the night before a gig. A seat you control is worth more than a cheaper one someone else can take away.

Before you buy

Check whether you get your own personal login inside the plan or just a password everyone uses. With a shared login, your recommendations get mixed with other people's, and anyone on it can end your session.

Ask what happens if the seat is removed or the plan owner changes: whether you get a replacement, a refund or nothing.

Confirm Tidal still works on your hardware. It has dropped support for several TV and streaming devices in the past, so test your speaker, TV or DJ software first.

Export or back up your playlists from day one, so losing the seat doesn't cost you your library.

TIDAL cracks down on AI music by cutting off monetization · Tidal Price Increase in 2026: Individual Subscription to Cost 12.99 Euros Starting in August · Is this the end of Tidal?

2026-09-29