Linux users seeking a native application for streaming music from TIDAL should consider High Tide, an open-source app that has recently emerged as a promising option. Unlike other music players like Strawberry or Tauon that also allow TIDAL streaming, High Tide is specifically designed for TIDAL, making it a unique offering in the Linux ecosystem.
Written in Python with a GTK4/libadwaita UI, High Tide utilizes official TIDAL APIs for seamless playback. While TIDAL is known for being a music platform that prioritizes artist experience, it struggles with popularity compared to giants like Spotify due to the absence of a free tier. Nevertheless, it competes robustly in terms of features and music library.
To use High Tide, you’ll need an active TIDAL subscription. Logging in is straightforward, requiring just a click to authenticate via the TIDAL website. Upon logging in, users are greeted with a home screen filled with familiar sections, including:
- For You (with Daily Discovery)
- Recently Played
- Custom Mixes
- Recommended Tracks and Albums
- Radio Stations
- Listening History
- Popular Playlists and Albums
The Explore tab offers options to search through genres, moods, activities, and more, making navigation user-friendly. Users can also manage their custom playlists and track favorites within the Collections tab.
Despite its impressive feature set, High Tide is still a work in progress. The app has shown instances of interrupted playback that require a restart to rectify, and some features are either lacking or not fully operational. While it does not support music video playback, it does offer essential functionalities such as:
- Playback quality control (low, high, lossless)
- Official playlists and recommendations
- Search capabilities for various media types
- Lyrics display and queue management
To try out High Tide, you’ll need to compile it from the available source code or download the latest auto-built .flatpakref from the project GitHub, as it hasn’t yet been made available in repositories like Flathub or as Snap packages.
While it currently lacks the reliability of alternatives like the open-source Electron-based TIDAL HiFi, there’s optimism for High Tide as it continues to develop and improve. Users intrigued by TIDAL’s offering are encouraged to keep an eye on this promising Linux client as it matures.