How Much Does Tidal Music Cost?

Published on October 28, 2025 | Prices Last Reviewed for Freshness: November 2025
Written by Alec Pow - Economic & Pricing Investigator | Content Reviewed by CFA Alexander Popinker

Educational content; not financial advice. Prices are estimates; confirm current rates, fees, taxes, and terms with providers or official sources.

Tidal is a premium music streaming service built around sound quality and artist-focused features. In the United States, pricing is built around a simplified tier structure, with optional discounts for households and students. The company positions itself as a higher-end alternative, emphasizing lossless playback and exclusive content.

Many people start with sound quality. If you care about lossless FLAC or hi-res FLAC, Tidal is one of the few services that puts those formats up front, along with a growing catalog of Dolby Atmos music for supported speakers, headphones, and home theater setups. Tidal’s own materials explain what “hi-res FLAC” means in terms of bit depth and sample rate, and what kind of hardware you need to actually hear the difference. You do need capable gear; for example, a good DAC, Atmos-capable soundbar, or multi-speaker setup, to get the full effect. Hi-res FLAC and spatial audio are a major selling point compared with standard streaming services.

Who is that for? Audiophiles who already own equipment like a USB DAC or an Atmos soundbar. Surround-sound and home theater fans who want spatial mixes. And everyday listeners who just want a clean, reliable stream they can download for offline listening. You pay a base subscription price and, in most states, sales tax is added on top. Add-ons can also increase the bill, including an optional DJ Extension for advanced mixing and software integration. Tidal’s subscription types define what each plan includes.

This guide breaks down current U.S. plan prices, what those plans actually include, which fees can show up on the bill, and ways to lower what you pay without giving up the listening experience you want.

Article Highlights

• Tidal’s U.S. Individual plan is $10.99 per month, Family is $16.99 per month for up to six accounts, and Student is $5.49 per month with verification. All prices are before tax.
• Hi-res FLAC, lossless audio, offline downloads, and (on supported hardware) Dolby Atmos mixes are included in the base plans.
• The free trial is typically 30 days, and it turns into a paid plan unless you cancel in time.
• On the web you can manage billing directly in your Tidal account dashboard, but if you subscribed through Apple or Google you need to cancel and request refunds through those stores.
• Offline listening supports multiple registered devices, and Tidal limits simultaneous online playback to one device at a time per account.

How Much Does Tidal Music Cost?

As of October 2025, Tidal lists three main subscription types in the United States. The Individual plan costs $10.99 per month. The Family plan costs $16.99 per month and covers up to six people on one plan. An eligible Student plan costs $5.49 per month.

All three include lossless streaming, access to hi-res FLAC where available, and Dolby Atmos mixes on supported devices. Tidal also offers a DJ Extension add-on (about $9 per month) for people who want pro-style DJ software integration. The company moved to this simplified structure after phasing out its older HiFi / HiFi Plus split and discontinuing its free tier in 2024, according to industry reporting that tracked Tidal’s subscription model changes over time. Those changes were pitched as “one plan with all the sound quality” rather than separate audio tiers.

Tidal typically offers a 30-day free trial for new accounts. After the trial, billing converts automatically to a paid plan unless you cancel in time. Posted prices do not include state or local sales tax. Some subscribers sign up through Apple or Google instead of the web, which means billing, refunds, and cancellation rules can differ by platform.

Use the table above as a quick reference. These plan definitions and prices are the current U.S. headline numbers at the time of writing.

The Family plan, covering up to six accounts with separate profiles, is priced at $16.99 monthly. Students can access Tidal’s service at a discounted rate of $5.49 per month. Tidal also offers a DJ Extension add-on for $9 per month for users requiring advanced music software integration. Tidal frequently provides trial periods, including a 30-day free trial, and occasional promotional offers such as three to six months free.

Tidal’s subscription pricing reflects its investment in higher payouts for artists and a focus on lossless and hi-res audio quality not always found on other streaming services. The single combined subscription simplifies past tier distinctions, retaining the features of Tidal’s former HiFi and HiFi Plus plans. While higher than some competitors like Spotify, many users feel the premium is justified by the superior sound quality and exclusive content, including curated playlists and music videos.

Special notes include the elimination of Tidal’s free tier as of 2024 and some adjustments in pricing for DJ users due to the new DJ Extension add-on. Student pricing remains the most affordable tier, providing discounted access to Tidal’s full catalog and features. Users can subscribe or modify plans anytime via Tidal’s account portal.

Also read our articles about the cost of Apple Music, Pandora Premium, or Spotify Premium.

Real-Life Cost Examples

Solo listener on Individual. You start a 30-day free trial, then continue on the standard Individual plan at $10.99 per month. In a state with a six percent digital-goods tax such as Pennsylvania, your monthly bill ends up around $11.65. Over 12 months, you are paying roughly $139.80 before promotions. That is simple and predictable.

Four-person household on Family. The Family plan is $16.99 per month total. With four active listeners, that is about $4.25 per person. In a city with around eight percent combined sales tax — for example, Philadelphia, the after-tax household bill is roughly $18.35 per month, or about $220.20 per year. On a per-person basis, that can beat paying for separate Individual plans.

Student plan with gear bundle. A verified student pays $5.49 per month for full access. Sometimes headphone makers or retailers offer short Tidal trials packaged with hardware. These bundles change regularly, so treat them as a bonus, not a guarantee, and check the current trial terms before buying hardware mainly for the promo.

Annualized view. Tidal bills monthly in the U.S.; there is no standard built-in “pay a year upfront and save” option. Older prepaid codes have mostly disappeared. In practice, most people should assume 12 recurring monthly charges, plus tax, and build that into their yearly streaming budget.

Cost Breakdown

Base subscription. Your base plan price unlocks lossless FLAC and hi-res FLAC where available, offline downloads on mobile, and support for spatial audio (including Dolby Atmos) on compatible speakers, headphones, soundbars, or AVRs. There are device limits: generally one device at a time for online playback plus up to five devices registered for offline listening at once.

Billing and tax. Billing can run through Tidal directly on the web, where you manage or cancel through your Tidal account dashboard. If you subscribed inside the Apple App Store or Google Play, refunds and cancellations usually have to go through those platforms instead. State and local tax often apply to streaming audio subscriptions, so two people on the same plan in different states may see slightly different totals.

Factors Influencing the Cost

Geography. Where you live affects the tax rate on digital services and sometimes affects short-term partner offers. In some regions, listeners also talk about “regional pricing,” meaning certain territories or markets see different effective rates for similar tiers. Subscribers regularly compare regional pricing in user forums, and note that even a one- or two-dollar difference per month matters over a full year.

Eligibility and features. Student discounts require verification. The Family plan assumes everyone covered meets household or family requirements. Spatial audio and hi-res benefits only matter if your headphones, speakers, phone, or receiver can actually play them. Trial lengths, seasonal promos, and bundle deals also change during the year; they are worth checking before you lock in.

Alternative Products or Services

Apple Music is a strong rival on sound quality because it includes lossless and high-resolution audio across iPhone, CarPlay, Apple TV, and other Apple hardware. If your household already uses mostly Apple devices, switching cost is low and the app integration is tight. Competing services continue to push fidelity and features, and reviewers track them in ongoing roundups of the best music streaming services.

Spotify has rolled out lossless FLAC as part of its premium experience, which closes the gap on raw audio specs for many listeners. Amazon Music has changed pricing on certain tiers, and Prime members sometimes get discounted access. If you want social features and playlists, Spotify is often the default. If you want lossless combined with Prime perks, Amazon may still be appealing. Tidal leans on hi-res FLAC, Dolby Atmos music, payouts positioned as more “artist-friendly,” and curated video content to justify its price point.

Ways to Spend Less

Households should compare the Family plan’s $16.99 per month to buying multiple Individual plans. At two people, the math may or may not favor Family. At three people or more, especially if everyone wants their own library, downloads, and recommendations, the Family plan usually wins on cost per listener.

Time your sign-up around trial windows and seasonal promotions. The standard free trial is 30 days. Around back-to-school or Black Friday, retailers and device makers sometimes bundle longer trials with headphones, smart speakers, or soundbars. Always set a reminder so a trial does not quietly roll into a paid month you did not budget for.

Expert Insights & Tips

Match the plan to your gear. If your headphones and speakers are not built for hi-res playback, lossless FLAC is often more than enough. Tidal’s hi-res FLAC spec raises the technical bar, and you only get the benefit if your full chain, app, DAC, amplifier, and drivers, can hit that bar. Test a few reference tracks and decide whether you actually hear the upgrade before you start chasing “hi-res” labels.

Try spatial audio on gear that can handle it (certain Atmos soundbars, AV receivers, or multi-speaker setups). Dolby Atmos music can sound immersive and “live in the room,” but the payoff depends on the mix and on your listening space. If you mostly listen on basic Bluetooth earbuds, it may be smarter to care about library depth, playlists, and price more than formats you cannot fully render.

Total Costs

A full year on the Individual plan is 12 payments of $10.99 plus any applicable tax. If you plan to buy a USB DAC or an Atmos-capable soundbar to get what you are paying for, include that hardware in your math. Spread that hardware cost across two or three years of listening time to understand your real yearly spend on music.

For families, start with the $16.99 Family plan, multiply by 12, and then divide by the number of people who actually listen. If only two people are serious listeners, it may be cheaper to mix and match plans across services. But once three or more people want their own profiles, downloads, and offline libraries, the shared Family plan usually comes out ahead on cost per person.

Hidden & Unexpected Costs

App-store billing can complicate refunds. If you sign up through Apple or Google, you usually have to request refunds and cancellations through that app store, not through Tidal directly. Each platform has its own rules, so you should track renewal dates. This matters if a “free” trial flips to paid and you were planning to cancel before the charge.

Mobile data and roaming can add surprise costs if you stream hi-res audio on the go. Some carriers treat high-bitrate streaming just like any other heavy data use. International data plans can be stricter or more expensive. It is safer to download playlists over Wi-Fi before long trips and listen offline, especially with spatial audio or hi-res tracks, which can be larger files.

Warranty, Support & Insurance Costs

Tidal’s refund policy is limited. The terms generally say there is no obligation to refund fees for time already used. If you bought service through Apple or Google, their policies control refunds instead. Save billing emails and check charges quickly so you do not miss a short refund window.

For plan changes or cancellation, Tidal documents a direct path through its account dashboard on the web. If you subscribed in-app, you will instead follow Apple’s or Google’s steps to cancel. After canceling, confirm the next renewal date so you are sure billing actually stopped. A two-minute check now can prevent you from paying for months you did not use.

Financing & Payment Options

Tidal accepts common payment methods and supports gift card or code redemption on the web. If you like to keep streaming costs separate from your main credit card, using a prepaid virtual card or gift code can make the budget easier to track month to month.

Billing runs monthly. There is no standard “pause” button, but canceling before the next renewal and signing back up later works like a manual pause. If you do that, remember that you may have to re-download albums and playlists when you return.

Opportunity Cost & ROI

At $10.99 per month, streaming can replace buying a few albums a year and opens a much larger catalog of music, including hi-res FLAC and Dolby Atmos mixes. For people who sit and really listen, good headphones, a quiet room, that depth and quality can feel worth the premium compared with basic, compressed streaming.

If you mostly listen casually on Bluetooth earbuds, in the car, or through a smart speaker in the kitchen, you may not hear a dramatic difference between services. In that case, user experience, playlists, and household pricing often matter more than absolute bitrate. It can be smart to try more than one service before committing long term.

Seasonal & Market-Timing Factors

Black Friday, back-to-school, and new hardware launches sometimes bring limited trial bundles (for example, “three free months if you buy these headphones”). These offers are not guaranteed and may only apply in certain regions, so it is risky to wait months hoping for a specific deal. The safer move is to start a normal 30-day trial when you are ready, and set a calendar reminder to cancel if you do not want to continue.

Market moves also matter. When Spotify adds lossless FLAC or Amazon adjusts its music pricing, it changes what “good value” means overnight. A plan that made sense last spring might not be the best fit this winter. Checking prices and features a couple of times a year can save real money over time.

Answers to Common Questions

What are the monthly prices in the U.S.?

Individual $10.99 per month, Family $16.99 per month (covers up to six people), and Student $5.49 per month with verification. All of these are before tax.

How long is the free trial?

Most new accounts get 30 days. After that, billing continues at the normal monthly rate unless you cancel before the trial ends.

What’s the difference between “lossless” and “hi-res” on Tidal?

Lossless FLAC is roughly CD quality. Hi-res FLAC uses higher bit depth and sample rate, which can capture more detail, but you only really benefit if your playback gear supports it.

Can I cancel anytime?

Yes. You can cancel through Tidal on the web, or through Apple / Google if you subscribed in-app. In most cases you can keep listening until the end of the period you already paid for.

Are there app-store markups?

Prices and refund rules can vary if you subscribe through Apple or Google instead of paying Tidal directly. That can affect taxes, renewal timing, and how fast you can get a refund.

Will I pay the same as someone in another state?

Not always. State and local taxes on streaming can change your final bill. Some cities add local tax, and some states tax digital services differently, so total monthly cost can vary even on the same plan.

Does Tidal still have a totally free tier?

No. Tidal removed its free tier and moved to a single paid structure with optional discounts (Student, Family) and add-ons like the DJ Extension. That means most listeners now pay monthly, but they get lossless and hi-res audio under that single umbrella instead of having to pick between multiple quality tiers.

Why is there a DJ Extension fee?

The DJ Extension (about $9 per month) is aimed at people who want deeper integration with DJ and mixing software. It is optional and sits on top of your base plan.

Why is my bill higher than the sticker price?

Taxes, platform fees if you subscribe in-app, and any add-ons such as the DJ Extension can all push the total above the headline number.

Does Tidal’s price go to artists?

Tidal markets itself as paying higher royalties to artists and focusing on “artist-first” payouts. That positioning is part of why its price can be higher than some competitors, even when the basic features (a big catalog, offline downloads, playlists) may look similar on paper.