Tidal GUI and Tidal DL Review & Its Best Alternative [2025 Updated]

Part 1. Tidal-dl and Tidal-gui GitHub Review

First, let's learn what Tidal-dl and Tidal-gui are from GitHub in detail. Tidal DL and Tidal GUI, collectively known as Tidal-Media-Downloader, are two open-source projects available on GitHub. They allow users to download music and videos directly from Tidal. Both are developed in Python and are not affiliated with Tidal or its parent company.

Tidal-dl GitHub Review

Tidal-dl is a simple command-line interface (CLI) tool on Windows, Mac, Linux and Android for downloading music from Tidal, and the Tidal Media Downloader repository only contains Tidal-dl. There are no buttons or a visual interface. So, you need to type specific text commands into a terminal or command prompt window. It is powerful, but it is not easy to use for non-technical users.

🙆‍Pros of Tidal-dl

✔️ Free: Download tracks, albums, and playlists from Tidal for free by specifying their URL

✔️ Maximum Quality: Support high-quality up to 24-bit/192kHz FLAC format and even MQA files, saving the full lossless quality

✔️ Lightweight: Works fast with a command-line interface

✔️ Cross-Platform: Compatible with all Python-supported platforms (Windows, macOS, Android, and Linux)

✔️ Powerful and Flexible: Allow to customize the output format and directory, retain metadata, batch conversion, etc.

🙅Cons of Tidal-dl

❌ Difficult to Use: No user interface and requires specific setup and precise command syntax, not easy to use

❌ Not Stable: Sometimes, it will stop working suddenly if Tidal changes its API or updates its security measures

❌ No Support: As an unofficial tool, there is no customer support team to help you fix any issues you encounter

Tidal-gui GitHub Review

Tidal-gui is a more user-friendly graphical user interface (GUI) tool on Windows with additional features, and it can be downloaded in Tidal Media Downloader Pro. It provides a graphical user interface with windows and buttons for users to click.

🙆‍Pros of Tidal-gui

✔️ Easy to Use: If offers an easy way for users to browse, search and download music from Tidal visually

✔️ High-Quality Output: It also supports to output Tidal music in the highest audio quality

✔️ Multiple Output Formats: It supports to output audio files as FLAC, MP4, and M4A

🙅Cons of Tidal-gui

❌ Difficult to Install: The initial setup is complex and may require you to install Python or other components correctly

❌ Not Stable: It is often less stable and can be slower to receive updates and stops working

❌ No Support: There is no customer support team

❌ Single Platform: Only works on Windows

Part 2. How to Use Tidal GUI and Tidal DL from GitHub

After going through the review of the Tidal Media Downloader on GitHub, let's move on to a step-by-step user guide on how to download, install, and use it effectively.

Section 1. How to Get Tidal-dl & Tidal-gui from GitHub

To download Tidal-dl and Tidal-gui from the GitHub repository, you can follow these steps.

Note: You must download and install Python on your device as Tidal-DL is a Python script. Just visit the Python official website to get it.

Step 1. Navigate to the relevant web page for Tidal-dl and Tidal-gui.

Step 2. Look for the 'Releases' section at the right hand. Then click it to find the '.exe file' or the proper file for your OS in the new page. Then you can download the file on your device.

Step 3. Extract the zip file to a local folder of your computer or open the downloaded '.exe files' to open the program directly.

Step 4. If you download the zip, open the 'TIDALDL-PY' > 'tidal-dl.exe' files from the extracted folder to launch the program.

🔑 Tips: If you are going to install the Tidal DL, here is how to install the required packages based on your operating system:

For Windows users: Download and execute the tidal-dl.exe file.

For Linux users: Open the terminal and update the necessary packages with these commands:

• pip3 install tidal-dl --upgrade

For macOS users: Please install the following process.

• brew install ffmpeg
• brew install python
• curl -O http://python-distribute.org/distribute_setup.py
• python distribute_setup.py
• curl -O https://raw.github.com/pypa/pip/master/contrib/get-pip.py
• python get-pip.py
• pip3 install --upgrade tidal-dl
• tidal-dl

For Android users: Install Termux and then open 'termux-setup-storage'. Next, install 'Python' and 'tidal-dl'.

• pkg install python clang libjpeg-turbo ffmpeg zlib -y
• apt update
• apt upgrade
• pkg update
• pip3 install --upgrade pip
• pip3 install --upgrade tidal-dl
• tidal-dl

Note: Tidal-Media-Downloader-PRO (Tidal-gui) offers the updated and fixed process of the Tidal-Media-Downloader (Tidal-dl). You'd better download and install the updated version to avoid some bugs.

Section 2. How to Use Tidal DL and Tidal GUI GitHub Downloader

To download music from Tidal with the GitHub Tidal-dl or GitHub Tidal-gui downloader, you need a TIDAL subscription. Then please refer to the detailed instructions below:

How to Use Tidal-dl GitHub Downloader to Download Tidal Music

Step 1. Open the 'tidal-dl.exe' file from the folder to launch Tidal-dl.

Step 2. Enter the specific number to set your settings according to its prompts on the command-line interface. You can set audio quality, folder paths, etc. For the best quality, you can choose HiFi and MQA from the options.

Step 3. On the Tidal-dl command prompt, run the following command: 'tidal-dl [URL]'. Then go to Tidal web player, find and copy the track link address. Later, go back to your terminal and replace [URL] with the URL you copied from Tidal.

After that, Tidal-dl will start downloading Tidal music to the folder you set on your device.

How to Use Tidal-gui GitHub Downloader to Download Tidal Music

Step 1. Launch Tidal-gui by clicking the downloaded 'tidal-gui.exe' file and you will receive a Tidal-gui device code.

Step 2. Log in to your Tidal account and enter the displayed device code. Afterward, you can use the software just like using the Tidal app.

Step 3. Search for the Tidal music you want to download and select it.

Step 4. Click the download button to start the download process.

Step 5. Choose the download format and quality you want, and select the download location.

Step 6. Click the 'Download' button to start the download.

Note: GitHub Tidal-Media-Downloader and Tidal-Media-Downloader-PRO are not officially supported by Tidal. Downloading music from Tidal may violate their terms of service. So, it's important to use a responsible and legal Tidal ripper.

Part 3. How to Fix Tidal GUI and Tidal DL Not Working

While using Tidal-dl and Tidal-gui, there are some issues that occur. Now, let's find out the solutions to fix these issues.

❓Issue 1: Login Failed or Invalid Credentials on Tidal DL and Tidal GUI

Fix: This may be due to Tidal having updated its authentication process. Advanced users can fix this issue by using a new API key or an access token from their browser session. But this is a complex technical process. So, for most users, the best way is to wait for a volunteer developer to release an updated version of the tool.

❓Issue 2: Tidal-dl and Tidal-gui Say 'Track Is Not Available in Your Country' or '404 Error'

Fix: This may be caused by the outdated versions of the tools you use. So, you can try to update the tools to the latest version and try again.

❓Issue 3: Tidal GUI and Tidal DL Downloads Are Slow or Not Downloading Songs

Fixes: It may be caused by the network or the Tidal servers. So, please check your internet connection and connect it to a strong and stable network. Also, check the Tidal server's status.

View also: How to Fix Tidal Not Working

Part 4. Is Tidal GUI and Tidal DL from GitHub Safe to Use?

It is noted that the official projects on GitHub are not malicious generally. But you still need to know significant potential risks while using them before proceeding. Let's check the potential risks of using Tidal-dl and Tidal-gui from GitHub.

1. Account Security Risks: You need to enter your Tidal account credentials to use these open-source third-party tools. They are not affiliated with Tidal. So, there are potential risks to your Tidal account.

2. Malware and Virus Risks: If you download Tidal-dl and Tidal-gui from unofficial or untrustworthy websites and download portals, they may contain adware, spyware or other malware. So, make sure that you are downloading these tools from the official GitHub page.

3. Instability and Lack of Support and Maintenance: These tools are maintained by volunteers and can be abandoned at any time. Once the tool stops working, you can't get help from the developer.

Part 5. Best Alternative to Tidal Media Downloader GitHub - AudFree Tidal Music Converter

As we stated above, the GitHub Tidal DL and Tidal GUI are hard to use, unreliable and may leave you vulnerable to risk. And the software needs to be updated when Tidal changes something. For users who want a reliable and safe tool and a seamless user experience, there is a professional alternative to you.

That is AudFree Tidal Music Converter. It is an all-in-one Tidal music downloader designed for both Mac and Windows users. It is legal to use for personal or educational use. This top-notch software enables you to download all content from Tidal with lossless audio quality and ID3 tags kept. Also, it is capable of converting Tidal music to multiple commonly used formats.

Reasons to Choose AudFree Tidal Music Converter

✨ It is 100% safe and secure. It won't put your Tidal account and personal data at risk.

✨ It is easy to use to download all content from Tidal as local files within the built-in Tidal web player. No command lines and no complex settings.

✨ Convert Tidal music to FLAC/Lossless/AIFF/MP3/WAV/M4A/M4B

✨ Preserve 100% original streaming quality and all metadata information like ID3 tags from Tidal

✨ Support batch download at a fast 37X speed, saving your time

✨ Enable to customize output formats and audio quality

✨ You will get 24/7 support whenever you have a question or run into an issue.

✨ It is stable as AudFree maintains and updates the software constantly to ensure it always works.

Download Tidal Music with AudFree Tidal Music Converter

Here is a how-to guide to download your favorites from Tidal with AudFree Tidal Music Converter. Clicking the above green 'Download' button, you are able to install the converter on your PC. Then please look into the following instructions:

Step 1Locate and Add Tidal Audio to AudFree Tidable

Once installed, please launch the AudFree Tidal Music Converter on your computer. Log into your Tidal account within the Tidal web player page. Then locate tracks or the entire playlist and click the blue '+' logo > 'Add to List' button to add them to the converting window.

Step 2Set Output Formats and Other Parameters for Tidal Music

Head over to the upper-right toolbar near the minimized window. Then from the drop-down menu, choose 'Preferences'. Later, tap 'Conversion' in the setting window. Then you can select an output format for downloading your Tidal songs to MP3 or other format files. Beyond this, by changing the bit rate, audio channel, sample rate, or other output parameters, you can make lossless Tidal Master or HiFi quality. It supports audio quality up to 32-bit. After that, tap OK.

Step 3Export Tidal Playlists Locally and Losslessly in Batch

Hit the 'Convert' button from the 'Converting' list to kick off the process. After a while, this expert converter will export your added Tidal music to the targeted format you set before at up to 37X speed. Then, it will save them to the computer's local drive. Please go to the 'Converted' tab to click 'Open Folder' to locate your Tidal downloads.

Video GuideDownload Tidal Tracks via AudFree Tidable

Watch the video demo to easily download Tidal tracks on your computer without using Tidal-dl and Tidal-gui.

Part 6. Comparison Between Tidal-dl/Tidal-gui and Alternative

Here is an overview chart to compare the GitHub Tidal Media Downloader and its alternative, which can help you make a quick decision to choose a suitable one.

Features	Tidal DL GitHub	Tidal GUI GitHub	AudFree Tidal Music Downloader
Operating System	Windows, macOS, Android, and Linux	Windows	Windows, Mac
Download Content	Tidal songs, playlists and albums	Tidal songs, playlists and albums	Songs, playlists, albums, podcasts, audiobooks
Supported Format	MP4/M4A/FLAC	MP4/M4A/FLAC	Lossless/MP3/FLAC/M4A/WAV/AIFF/M4B
Download Speed	Normal	Normal	Excellent (up to 37X)
Output Quality	Lossless	Lossless	Lossless HiFi & Master
Conversion Success Rate	Low	Low	100% Working
Personalized Settings	✔	✔️	✔️
Need Tidal Subscriptions	✔️	✔️	✔️
Secure	Potential risks	Potential risks	100% safe and malware-free
Ease of Use & Setup	Difficult	Medium	Simple
Stability	Medium (Breaks with every Tidal API update)	Medium (Breaks with every Tidal API update)	Professionally maintained
Technical Support	No	No	Professional 24/7 Support Team
Software Updates	Manual (Requires new install)	Manual (Often lags behind Tidal-dl)	Regular and automatic
Methods to Download Files	Copy-and-paste URL into command line	Search within the app	Built-in web player, one-click add
Audio Channel	1	1	2 (Mono/Stereo)
ID3 Tags Retained	✔️	✔️	✔️
Save Covers	✔	✔️	✔️
Best for	Tech-savvy users & hobbyists	Users who want to visual interface	Everyone who wants a reliable and professional solution
Ratings	⭐️⭐️⭐️	⭐️⭐️⭐️	⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Part 7. FAQs about Tidal GUI and Tidal DL on GitHub

Q1: What Is the Key Difference between Tidal-gui and Tidal-dl?

A: It is the interface and usage. Tidal DL is a text-based tool operated with typed commands, while Tidal GUI offers a visual and clickable interface with buttons and menus, which is easier to use.

Q2: Can Tidal DL and Tidal GUI Download the Highest Quality Audio from Tidal?

A: Yes, they can download Tidal music with the highest audio quality, including HiFi FLAC and Master (MQA) files.

View also: How to Download Tidal HiFi Music

Q3: Is Tidal GUI Better than Tidal DL?

A: Nope. It is just easier to operate than Tidal DL. It still uses the same underlying download engine as Tidal DL.

Q4: How Do I Install Tidal GUI on Windows 10/11?

A: Just go to the official GitHub Releases page to download the .exe file and run the installer.

Q5: Can Tidal-gui and Tidal-dl Download Full Playlists and Albums from Tidal?

A: Yes. Both tools support to download entire Tidal playlists and albums by using the corresponding URL.

Q6: Why Is Tidal GUI or Tidal DL Not Working or Crashing?

A: It may be caused by Tidal updating its API or security. Or, it may be caused by the software bugs.

Part 8. Summary

In this guide, you have learned key details about GitHub Tidal-Media-Downloader, including its features, nice and bad points, how to use it, and fixes to the errors you encountered. While it's a useful open-source tool, there are risks and limitations among it.

So, the alternative - AudFree Tidal Music Converter - stands out in most aspects compared with it. It supports more output formats and outputs real lossless audio quality after conversion. Also, it is a desktop app that is easy and user-friendly to install and use. If you are looking for a smoother and more reliable way to download Tidal music, AudFree Tidal Downloader is definitely worth trying. Enjoy your favorite Tidal music with greater flexibility and quality!

By the way, AudFree Streaming Audio Recorder can also be a nice alternative to Tidal DL and Tidal GUI. It is an all-in-one tool for music downloading and conversion.