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Tidal HiFi review

Priced at $24.00.

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CHOICE Expert Rating

77%

What is the CHOICE Expert Rating

CHOICE Expert rating

This is the product's overall performance score, based on key tests conducted by our industry experts in the CHOICE labs.

Good points

• Very easy to change streaming quality in the app for mobile or Wi-Fi connections
• Offline content on a mobile device can be stored on a microSD card
• Desktop app offers 'master' quality stream in addition to lossless (CD quality)
• Excellent playlist functionality in the mobile app allows you to add others' playlists to your own playlists

Bad points

• No option to download for offline listening through the desktop app
CHOICE Expert Rating View more details.

This overall score is made up of ease of use (60%) and audio quality (40%).

77%
Ease of use score View more details.

Assesses general layout, search tools, adding content to your library, genre browsing, playlist creation, offline mode and sharing on desktop (40%) and mobile (60%).

79%
Audio quality score View more details.

Assessed on PC using each service’s default (non hi-fi) setting, by a panel of experts. Automatic quality adjustment was used when services did not offer custom quality settings.

75%
Data consumption – standard/auto quality (MB) View more details.

Assessed the level of data consumed by a one-hour playlist at standard, high and highest quality offered by the service, in addition to the automatic settings. This playlist was played three times to create an average rate of data consumption. Auto quality adjustment was used if no other options were available. Bitrate can increase and decrease depending on internet connection speed and quality.

50
Data consumption – high quality (MB) View more details.

Assessed the level of data consumed by a one-hour playlist at standard, high and highest quality offered by the service, in addition to the automatic settings. This playlist was played three times to create an average rate of data consumption.

380
Recommended View more details.

We recommend services with an overall score of 75% or more.

Yes
Price (month) View more details.

Per month. Standard/default subscription. All services on test include a free trial period.

$24.00
Free version View more details.

These services offer a free streaming option supported by advertisements which play between tracks.

No
Windows View more details.

Is a Windows desktop version available.

Yes
OS X View more details.

Is an OS X desktop version available.

Yes
Web browser-based View more details.

Is a browser-based version available.

Yes
iOS View more details.

Is an iOS app available.

Yes
Android View more details.

Is an Android app available.

Yes
Other platforms View more details.

List of additional platforms that each service supports. Visit company website for a full list of supported devices, brands and models.

SoNos
Quality settings (Wi-Fi) View more details.

List of adjustable quality options available on Wi-Fi connection (mobile). Auto quality cannot be adjusted by user.

Normal, High, HiFi
Quality settings (mobile data) View more details.

List of adjustable quality options available on mobile data networks e.g. 3/4G (mobile). Auto quality cannot be adjusted by user.

Normal, High, HiFi
Hi-fi grade audio View more details.

Does the service offer hi-fi (lossless CD quality) audio streaming. Requires separate hi-fi account which incurs a higher monthly cost. Deezer Sonos only.

Yes
Offline mode (desktop) View more details.

Ability to download tracks for playback without an internet connection. Tracks can only be played through the related program/app. 

No
Offline mode mobile View more details.

Ability to download tracks for playback without an internet connection. Tracks can only be played through the related program/app.

Yes
Explicit content filter View more details.

Identifies tracks with explicit content and blocks or replaces them with "clean versions." 

No
Child-friendly mode View more details.

Optimised version with interface and content suitable for children.

No
Videos View more details.

Does the subscription include access to video content.

Yes
Family subscription plan View more details.

Provides individual accounts and group discounts for relatives living at the same address.

Yes
Upload your own music View more details.

Spotify: Can't upload your own songs to Spotify's servers, but Spotify will sync your local music to its library, if it has those songs in its database. If it doesn’t have them, you can sync them to a mobile device if you are on the same network as your computer. Google Play Music Uploaded songs are usually replaced by versions in Google’s database (e.g. radio edits). User must manually replace any songs they feel are incorrect using the 'Fix incorrect match' option Microsoft Groove MusicUploaded songs can be set to replace Groove's own version of those songs; FLAC files are not supported; feature requires OneDrive account.

No
Import iTunes playlists View more details.

Does the service let you import your iTunes playlists.

No
Simultaneous devices View more details.

Number of devices that can simultaneously access service per account.

1
Member reviews

Average rating