The Tidal wave is receding.
Tidal has built its reputation on high-quality audio, but its niche appeal has struggled against larger competitors. Now, with Spotify HiFi finally on the horizon, Tidal faces its biggest threat yet.
If Spotify finally offers lossless audio, it could erase one of Tidal’s last advantages. Can Tidal survive?
The HiFi Game-Changer
Spotify first announced its HiFi tier back in 2021, and ever since, audiophiles have been stuck in a waiting game.
Licensing issues, AI experiments, and social feature rollouts kept pushing it further down Spotify’s to-do list.
But now, the long-awaited upgrade may finally be arriving… just not in the way many expected.
Instead of a standalone HiFi tier, Spotify is reportedly bundling lossless audio into a new “Music Pro” package, which could cost up to $5.99 per month on top of existing plans.
But, Music Pro won’t just be about better sound quality.
According to reports, the tier could also include remixing tools and special concert ticket access, making it more than just a HiFi upgrade.
It’s a smart move for Spotify. Besides, they’re already so late in the HiFi scene that simile adding it to the platform won’t really take back the users they’ve lost.
So, Spotify is adding some extra perks to sweeten the deal.
Now, the big question is, will Music Pro actually compete with Tidal’s audio quality?
Right now, it looks like Spotify will offer CD-quality lossless streaming (16-bit/44.1 kHz). But it’s still unclear whether it will include hi-res audio (24-bit/192 kHz FLAC), which is what Tidal offers on some tracks.
That still puts Tidal at an advantage. Yet, whether you’ll actually hear the difference between the two is still debatable.
Beyond just sound quality, however, Spotify’s sheer size is a problem Tidal can’t ignore.
With 675 million users and over 250 million paying subscribers, Spotify has the scale, the marketing power, and the ecosystem that makes switching incredibly easy.
Why Some Users Are Already Leaving Tidal
Tidal has built its reputation as the go-to streaming service for audiophiles, but for many users, great sound quality isn’t enough to keep them around.
Technical frustrations, clunky accessibility, and a user experience that doesn’t always feel intuitive have pushed people back to more familiar platforms.
Here are the two most common reasons, based on user feedback:
- First off, Tidal doesn’t let you transfer playlists directly, so users have to rely on third-party services. Some work fine, but many either cap free transfers or charge if you have a lot of songs. And that’s all before you even start listening.
- Users have also reported slow loading times, lag, and buffering, especially when streaming hi-res audio. While performance can vary depending on internet speed and device, hi-res FLAC files require more bandwidth so they’re more prone to buffering than lower-quality streams.
On the other hand, Spotify just works. Playlists sync across phones, smart speakers, gaming consoles, and car systems without a second thought.
For some users, Tidal’s sound quality makes up for the hassle. For others, not really.
A small boost in sound quality doesn’t mean much if getting to your music feels like work. When seamless access and ease of use matter just as much as fidelity, Spotify’s more polished experience wins out.
Tidal’s Business Is Crumbling Behind the Scenes
Tidal isn’t just losing users—it’s losing financial support too. Its parent company, Block (formerly Square), is pulling back investment and shifting focus to Bitcoin mining, leaving the streaming service with fewer resources to stay competitive.
Here’s how things are unraveling for Tidal:
- Revenue is falling: Tidal brought in $44 million in Q3 2024, down from $58 million three years earlier.
- Block admits it overpaid: The company took a $132 million goodwill impairment charge in Q4 2023, signaling that Tidal wasn’t worth what it paid.
- Massive staff cuts: In October 2024, CEO Jack Dorsey announced layoffs, cutting up to 100 employees—nearly a quarter of Tidal’s workforce. Marketing, product management, and design teams were hit hardest.
- Investment is drying up: Block is redirecting funds away from Tidal and into Bitcoin mining, deprioritizing the music platform when it needs support the most.
With shrinking revenue, a downsized team, and a parent company looking the other way, Tidal is running out of ways to compete.
Tidal Is Losing Crucial Platform Support
Tidal’s financial struggles aren’t the only problem—it’s also losing key partnerships and app support, making it harder for users to access the service.
Here’s what’s been cut:
- Plex dropped Tidal: No more integration with self-hosted music libraries, a major loss for dedicated music collectors.
- Samsung TVs removed Tidal: The app, AirPlay, and casting support were all eliminated from Tizen OS smart TVs.
- Roku removed Tidal: One of the most popular streaming platforms no longer supports the app, cutting off millions of potential users.
- Older Amazon Fire TV devices lost Tidal: Home theater fans relying on first- and second-gen Fire TV devices now have fewer options for high-quality streaming.
So, Is Tidal Doomed?
With more platforms dropping support, users have even fewer reasons to stay. Meanwhile, Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music continue to offer seamless compatibility, making the switch easier than ever. Tidal isn’t just losing ground. It’s running out of places to stand.
Spotify HiFi’s long-awaited launch only adds to the pressure. A better integration and a smoother experience could wipe out one of Tidal’s last real advantages.
Sure, we can say that other niche platforms like Qobuz is also in danger. But, that’s not really the case.
Unlike Tidal, Qobuz is actually becoming more stable with better partnerships and expansions. It also has its unique value proposition that lets users purchase high-quality music on its platform.
On the other hand, Block is scaling back investment, partnerships are crumbling, and frustrated subscribers are walking away for Tidal.
If Spotify HiFi delivers, Tidal could be left with little more than a name. The writing isn’t just on the wall. It’s getting louder.