Alternatives / Tidal
Looking for an open source Tidal alternative? We compared 2 open source music tools by license, platforms, and what they play. Navidrome streams your own library, while Nuclear is a desktop player for online sources whose legal standing has been questioned.
Written by Maxime DERAME
Last updated:
| Alternative | Best for | License |
|---|---|---|
| Navidrome | Self-hosted server for your own music | GPL-3.0 |
| Nuclear | Desktop player for online sources | AGPL-3.0 |
We looked for open-source music tools that replace a streaming app's listening experience. We verified each project's license, recent activity, stars, and platforms in its repository. Neither includes a licensed streaming catalog. See our methodology for the full criteria.
Navidrome is a self-hosted music server that streams your library to a web player or any OpenSubsonic-compatible app. It was tested with libraries near 900,000 songs, runs on a Raspberry Pi, and supports transcoding and per-user access control.
Nuclear is an AGPL-3.0 desktop player for Windows, macOS, and Linux that pulls audio from online sources, with playlists, a plugin API, and an MCP server for AI agents. It has no mobile version, and the legality of its sources has been questioned, so check what applies to you.
Navidrome is GPL-3.0. Nuclear is AGPL-3.0.
Both had commits within days or weeks of this update, and Nuclear has over 17,000 stars.
Tidal is a subscription service with a licensed catalog, which you lose access to when you stop paying. Open-source tools play music you own or find yourself, so you control the library but must source the files.
Navidrome is a GPL-3.0 self-hosted music server for streaming your own audio library through a browser or compatible mobile applications. It is not a direct video replacement, but fits YouTube Music-style use cases when you own the music files.
Pricing: Free and open source; you provide the music files, server, and any remote-hosting costs.
Nuclear is an AGPL-3.0 desktop music streaming client for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It searches supported external sources and provides playlists, favorites, artist pages, plugins, and playback without a traditional subscription.
Pricing: Free and open source; playback availability depends on external music sources.
| Alternative | Type | License | Self-hosted | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Navidrome | Music server | GPL-3.0 | Yes | Owned music libraries |
| Nuclear | Music player | AGPL-3.0 | Desktop app | Streaming-style browsing |
Want to stream your own collection anywhere
Navidrome supports OpenSubsonic mobile apps, transcoding, and multiple users.
Want a desktop player without a subscription
Nuclear has playlists and a plugin API, with legal caveats on its sources.