Best VPNs for Tidal

Best VPNs for Tidal

Originally founded in Sweden by Aspiro, Tidal is an American subscription-based music, podcast, and video streaming service. The company is now part of Block, Inc, formerly known as Square. It serves a total of 61 countries around the world and has agreements with the three major labels, as well as multiple independent labels. It offers several plans in different areas, and as with other streaming services, there are plenty of opportunities to connect to a VPN. We’ll be glad to tell you about the differences in a few moments. First, though, we ask that you look at our list of the best VPNs for Tidal.

RankVPN ServiceOur
Score
Server
Locations
Visit
1ExpressVPN9.8160Visit ExpressVPN
2NordVPN9.487Visit NordVPN
3Private Internet Access9.295Visit PIA
4CyberGhost9.0110Visit CyberGhost
5IPVanish8.873Visit IPVanish

Jay-Z owning TIDAL is just one of the interesting parts of the company. In 2017, they formed a partnership with a British company called Master Quality Authenticated and is the only streaming service to offer MQA files. Despite their name, these files are not of master quality and are only 96 kbps (MP3 quality is 128 kbps). The company argued that most people don’t have high-fidelity headphones, so they can’t tell the difference. As with any musical streaming service, that is not the only controversy surrounding it.

Despite its small size of only about 350k users, many experts say TIDAL is causing a revolution in the industry. That’s due to the way that the company handles profits. Their goal is to give the artists more of the money, even at the cost of their profits. Though the company offers three different plans, the HiFi plan is $9.99 a month and the HiFi Plus plan is $19.99 a month. That makes service quite a bit more expensive than most.

As we mentioned, Tidal is only available in 61 countries. Of those countries, the United States is the only country that offers a free version of the service. By using the AAC Codec, you can get bitrates up to 160 kbps. The other two plans are the HiFi and the HiFi Plus plans. The website tells you outright, “If your country is on the list, you may proceed to TIDAL.com to signup.” However, trying from outside those areas means the website will block you. The key is connecting to a VPN server in one of the countries that offer TIDAL. That way, you can get access to exclusive music on the service.

Audio Plans

Now, we’ll take a look at the three plans the service offers, the bitrate, and the audio quality.

  • Free (US Only) – This version is 160 kbps and supports the AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) standard. It is designed as the successor of the MP3 format, and you get better sound quality than MP3 files at the same bitrate.
  • HiFi plan – With this one, you get the option of AAC at 320 kbps or CD quality, but it also offers 1411 kbps (CD Quality), and 96 kbps (mobile). It supports Codecs of AAC, FLAC, and ALAC (iOS) only.
  • HiFi Plus – For audio quality, this plan offers AAC @ 320 kbpsCD QualityMQADolby Atmos, or Sony 360 Reality Audio. Bitrates for this one are 9216 kbps, 1411 kbps (CD Quality), 320 kbps, or 96 kbps. It supports the Codecs of AAC, FLAC, ALAC, MQA/Master, MPEG-H 3D Audio, Dolby Digital Plus, and Dolby AC-4.

As you can see, there are some high-quality options as well as some low ones. You’ll definitely be able to tell the difference between CD quality and the 96 kbps options.

Howto Select the Right VPN for TIDAL?

There are several questions to answer for the best options. Here are the factors we needed to see to help us make the decision.

  • Country access – Because of TIDAL’s limited access, you need providers that offer options in the 61 countries that allow it. That is especially true if you want to use the free version of the service.
  • App variety – Since some of the Codecs are specific to the device, you’ll want to choose a provider that has custom apps for all of them.
  • Privacy – You’ll want to choose a provider that offers next-generation encryption. That way, you won’t have to worry about someone seeing what you’re listening to.
  • Stable networks – No one wants to interrupt their favorite music. By having a provider with a large and stable network, you can help ensure that your song does not stop in the middle.

Here is a more in-depth look at the best VPN services for Tidal.


1. Best VPN for Tidal: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN Devices

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One of the high-security features of ExpressVPN is the VPN kill switch. While it is not unique to the provider, it is certainly important. What that does is literally “kill” your internet connection while you are disconnected. While some people may not care for that feature, others realize that if their VPN connection drops, they are vulnerable to being identified online. ExpressVPN will make sure you are protected by shutting down your internet connection until you reconnect. Doing so will help you stay safe.

If you are in a larger city, especially one that has a top-tier sports team, and you want to watch the game or match online, licensing rights will stop you from doing so. When that happens, the companies refer to it as a sports blackout. To get around this issue, you need to connect to a VPN server provided by ExpressVPN. The easy way to do that is to choose a server that is outside the area. That will make the blocking software believe that you are in another region. Then, you can enjoy the game or match.

ExpressVPN launched in 2009 and has grown into a premier VPN service. Whether you want to protect your privacy online, enjoy your favorite streaming services while traveling, or watch live sports, ExpressVPN is a great choice. You can rely on their network for fast, stable connections. This is true for VPN users and those who rely on their MediaStreamer feature to extend functionality to game consoles and more. We suggest signing up for our ExpressVPN deal which includes 3 months free when you subscribe for 12 months. The savings, along with a 30-day money-back guarantee make ExpressVPN an excellent choice.

Want to learn more? Read our full ExpressVPN review.

Pros:

  • Accepts major credit cards, PayPal and Bitcoin
  • User-friendly VPN apps and Smart DNS
  • Over 160 server locations in 94 countries worldwide
  • Works with Netflix
  • Supports torrenting
  • Excellent technical support

Cons:

  • Only 5 simultaneous connections
  • Lacks multi-hop functionality
Visit ExpressVPN

2. Best VPN for Tidal: NordVPN

NordVPN devices

One reason to use NordVPN is to protect your privacy by blocking malware and ads. Their CyberSec feature will help you avoid sites that host malware and annoying ads. It will also protect your system from becoming part of a botnet attack. If you have ever searched for something random online and have seen the term or item you searched for, continuously come up, that can be a bit unnerving. However, when you use NordVPN, you can help stop that from happening.

Gamers spend quite a bit of time and money on their gaming accounts. However, sometimes players don’t pay enough attention to security. If you are trying to keep your account safe, you’ll want to connect to a server by using NordVPN. By doing so, it will help you ensure that your achievements, finances, time spent, and inventory are safe from harm. Of course, you will want to take other precautions as well, but that is an essential step if you are a gamer.

Want to learn more? Read our full NordVPN review.

Pros:

  • No logging policy
  • Specialty servers for P2P and Double VPN
  • NordLynx WireGaurd protocol
  • Firestick app good for streaming
  • Accepts Bitcoin payments
  • Multi-hop servers

Cons:

  • Renewal prices are higher
  • Linux client lacks a GUI
Visit NordVPN

3. Best VPN for Tidal: PIA

Private Internet Access devices

One of the benefits of connecting to a VPN server from Private Internet Access is the ability to connect to different streaming libraries. If you are not aware, some streaming services have separate libraries of content, depending on where you are. No matter whether you want to watch titles from a country like India, Canada, Brazil, the UK, the US, or others, Private Internet Access makes it easy. All you need to do is connect to a server in the country you wish. That way, you can watch as much as you like.

If you are a fan of mixed martial arts (MMA), you may have noticed that Private Internet Access sponsors some of the fighters. Of course, they sponsor other things as well. They have long been popular in the sports market, giving users the ability to watch sports in various parts of the world. Whether you want to watch new events or are traveling overseas, connecting to a VPN is a good idea. That will help you get around any potential viewing issues you may have.

Want to learn more? Read our full Private Internet Access review.

Pros:

  • DNS-based ad blocker
  • Thousands of servers in 83 countries
  • Verified no-logs policy
  • Works with BBC iPlayer
  • Connect up to 10 devices simultaneously
  • Offers dedicated IP addresses

Cons:

  • Does not unblock some streaming services
  • Takes skill to install PIA on routers
Visit Private Internet Access

4. Best VPN for Tidal: CyberGhost

CyberGhost devices

If you are a gamer, one of the things you can avoid by connecting a VPN server from CyberGhost is what is known as a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack. If you are not aware, a DDoS attack makes a machine or network unavailable by flooding it with requests in an attempt to overload systems. You should not have to worry about attackers or botnets stopping you from playing your favorite games. When you connect to a VPN, though, it will help you prevent that from happening.

For everyone that keeps a sharp eye on privacy, you will be glad to know that CyberGhost does, too. One of the ways they do that is by using 256-bit military-grade AES encryption as your chief option. Keep in mind that in many countries, ISPs have a legal obligation to store logs on their customers for as much as two years. Because of that, keeping yourself safe with a VPN should be as big of a priority to you as it is to them.

Want to learn more? Read our full CyberGhost review.

Pros:

  • Based in Romania (outside 14 eyes)
  • Hosts 7,900+ servers in 91 countries
  • Similar UI across all VPN apps
  • Anonymous Bitcoin payments
  • Tech support available in different languages

Cons:

  • Limited payment options
  • Lacks local networking option
Visit CyberGhost

5. Best VPN for Tidal: IPVanish

IPVanish devices

For everyone concerned that the setup for your IPVanish account is going to be complicated or you will not be able to get it quickly and easily established, they offer several different apps to use. Those include apps for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Amazon Fire TV, Linux, and Chrome OS. Additionally, you will find easy setup guides for your router. Of course, you will find others available as well. As you can see, IPVanish has you covered, so whichever system you use will be smooth.

For gamers, distributive denial of service (DDoS) attacks can pose a significant threat to your gaming experience. When you connect to a VPN server from IPVanish, however, it can help you combat that issue. No one wants to get locked out or booted from a game. If you play for fun, it is an annoyance. If you play competitively, there are more significant consequences involved. Instead, just connect to a VPN so you do not have to worry about getting attacked while competing.

Want to learn more? Read our full IPVanish review.

Pros:

  • They do not use virtual servers
  • No IP or DNS leaks
  • SOCKS5 proxy included
  • Kill switch for Windows, Mac and Android
  • Firestick app popular for Kodi

Cons:

  • Does not work with Hulu
  • VPN client UI isn’t updated often
Visit IPVanish
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