TIDAL alternatives
TIDAL alternatives: where hi-fi listeners go in 2026
The closest TIDAL alternatives for sound are Qobuz, Apple Music and Amazon Music Unlimited (all up to 24-bit/192 kHz); Artyfile Stream is the alternative for TIDAL’s other promise — fair artist pay — with uncompressed WAV label masters and at least €0.03 per counted stream.
TIDAL raised its European prices on 3 August 2026 — the Individual plan now costs €12.99 a month — and its direct artist payouts ended in 2023. If you are looking for a replacement, it helps to know which of the two reasons you came to TIDAL for: sound quality or artists.
If you came for the sound
Qobuz (€15.99, or €13.99 billed yearly), Apple Music (€11.99) and Amazon Music Unlimited (€12.99, €11.99 with Prime) all stream up to 24-bit/192 kHz where the label delivered it. Apple Music includes hi-res ALAC in its standard price; Qobuz adds editorial content and download purchases. Deezer streams FLAC at 16-bit/44.1 kHz (€11.99).
| Service | Individual plan / month | Best audio quality | How artists are paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| TIDAL | €12.99 (since 3 Aug 2026) | FLAC up to 24-bit/192 kHz | No figure published; direct artist payouts ended 2023 |
| Artyfile Stream | from €9.90 (100 streams) | Uncompressed WAV studio master, 44.1 or 48 kHz, up to 24-bit | User-centric pool, at least €0.03 per stream guaranteed |
| Qobuz | €15.99 (€13.99 billed yearly) | FLAC up to 24-bit/192 kHz | Average $0.01873 per stream (FY 2024) |
| Apple Music | €11.99 | ALAC up to 24-bit/192 kHz | Average $0.01 per play (Apple, 2021) |
| Amazon Music Unlimited | €12.99 (€11.99 with Prime) | FLAC up to 24-bit/192 kHz (Ultra HD) | No figure published |
| Deezer | €11.99 | FLAC 16-bit/44.1 kHz | Artist-centric model (since 2023) |
Prices for individual plans in Germany; Deezer and TIDAL German prices from the press sources listed. See sources below.
If you came for the artists
TIDAL publishes no current per-stream figure. Qobuz published an average of US$0.01873 per stream for fiscal 2024; Deezer weights payments towards artists with an engaged audience. Artyfile Stream goes further with a rule written into its terms: each subscriber’s artist pool (€12.00 of €19.90 on Standard) is shared only among what that subscriber plays, never less than €0.03 per counted stream.
Where Artyfile Stream fits
Artyfile Stream is not a full replacement for TIDAL’s multi-label catalogue: it streams the label Artyfile’s own 850+ recordings as uncompressed WAV studio masters at 44.1 or 48 kHz, up to 24-bit, with a monthly allowance of 100, 250 or 500 streams. Many listeners pair a large hi-res service with Artyfile Stream for the recordings — and the artists — they want to support directly. Every track has a free 30-second preview without an account.
Questions
- What is the best TIDAL alternative?
- For sound quality and catalogue size, Qobuz, Apple Music and Amazon Music Unlimited are closest (all up to 24-bit/192 kHz). For fair artist pay, Artyfile Stream guarantees at least €0.03 per counted stream with a user-centric pool — usually as a second subscription next to a large service.
- Is there a cheaper TIDAL alternative with hi-res audio?
- Apple Music (€11.99) and Amazon Music Unlimited with Prime (€11.99) both include hi-res up to 24-bit/192 kHz and cost less than TIDAL’s €12.99 Individual plan in Germany.
- Does TIDAL still pay artists directly?
- No. According to press reports TIDAL ended its direct artist payouts in 2023, and it publishes no current per-stream figure.
Sources
- TIDAL: Pricing, retrieved 27/09/2026
- TIDAL Support: Subscription price update (3 Aug 2026), retrieved 27/09/2026
- hifi.de: TIDAL raises prices (secondary), retrieved 27/09/2026
- TIDAL Support: HiRes FLAC audio, retrieved 27/09/2026
- Music Business Worldwide: TIDAL ends direct artist payouts (secondary), retrieved 27/09/2026
- Qobuz (Germany): Studio plan prices, retrieved 27/09/2026
- Qobuz (Germany): Offers, audio quality and catalogue, retrieved 27/09/2026
- Qobuz: average payout per stream for fiscal year 2024 (published 20 Mar 2025), retrieved 27/09/2026
- Apple Music (Germany): prices and features, retrieved 27/09/2026
- Apple Support: About lossless audio in Apple Music, retrieved 27/09/2026
- Apple Music for Artists: royalty rate (published 2 June 2021), retrieved 27/09/2026
- Amazon Music Unlimited (amazon.de): prices and catalogue, retrieved 27/09/2026
- Amazon Developer: Amazon Music audio formats (HD, Ultra HD), retrieved 27/09/2026
- Deezer: Offers (prices as shown for Austria), retrieved 27/09/2026
- GIGA: Deezer Premium 2026 prices in Germany (secondary), retrieved 27/09/2026
- Deezer Support: Audio quality, retrieved 27/09/2026
- Deezer: Artist remuneration (artist-centric payment system), retrieved 27/09/2026
- Artyfile Terms and Conditions, §5 Artyfile Stream and §6 Artyfile for Artists, retrieved 27/09/2026
Facts checked on 11 October 2026.