"Is Tidal-dl or Tidal-gui from GitHub safe to use?" β feedback from Reddit's r/Tidal
This is a common concern for many Tidal fans who want to download their music offline but worry about hidden risks. If you've also wondered whether Tidal-dl and Tidal-gui are safe, how to install them, or what the best alternative Tidal downloader is, this article has you covered. We'll break down everything - safety concerns, installation steps, pros & cons, and a side-by-side comparison with a secure alternative. By the end, you'll know exactly which tool is safe, reliable, and worth your time!
Many music lovers on Reddit and forums often ask: "Are Tidal-dl and Tidal-gui really safe to use?" Both tools are open-source projects on GitHub designed to help you download music from Tidal for offline playback. However, since they're not official apps made by Tidal, it's natural to worry about safety, stability, or even account risks. Now, let's take a closer look at how they work, what these two tools do, and their pros & cons.
π‘οΈ Want a safe and worry-free solution? Try NoteBurner!
Tidal-dl is the core of the Tidal-Media-Downloader project. It runs through a command line (CLI), which means you'll need to type commands in a terminal window. For beginners, this can feel intimidating, but once set up, it's lightweight, fast, and works across multiple platforms like Windows, macOS, Linux, and even Android (via Termux).
If typing commands isn't your thing, Tidal-gui is the friendlier option. It adds a graphical interface on top of Tidal-dl, so you can just click buttons to download music. But it's only available for Windows.
Discover how to get Tidal for free even after the Tidal Free plan ended. Learn the working methods for a free Tidal trial and subscription in 2025.
Many users search for how to install Tidal-dl on Windows, Mac, Linux, or even Android, but the process can be confusing at first since these tools are built on a Python environment. To save you time and frustration, this section gives you a clear step-by-step tutorial on how to download Tidal music with Tidal-dl GitHub and Tidal GUI, starting with what tools you'll need, then the installation process, and finally, how to actually rip your favorite Tidal tracks for offline listening.
Before starting, make sure you have the following tools ready:
Step 1 Download Tidal-dl
Go to the Tidal-dl GitHub Releases page.
Choose the version for your system:
pip3 install tidal-dl --upgrade
pkg install pythonpip3 install tidal-dl
Step 2 Log in to Your Tidal Account
Step 3 Download Music
tidal-dl [URL]
Step 1 Download Tidal-gui
Step 2 Log in to Tidal
Step 3 Download Music
Here's how to rip music from Tidal while preserving HiFi and Master quality using NoteBurner Tidal Music Converter.
Although tidal-dl and tidal-gui are free, open-source tools, they require Tidal login credentials and depend on GitHub updates, raising concerns like "Is tidal-dl safe?" or potential breakage after Tidal updates. For users prioritizing security and stability, NoteBurner Tidal Music Converter is a safe and convenient alternative.
Unlike open source tools that require Python installation and command line operations, NoteBurner is an easy-to-use, risk-free tool that's easy for beginners to use. Most importantly, NoteBurner never collects your personal account data or login details, ensuring your privacy and security are fully protected.
With NoteBurner, you can download and convert Tidal songs, albums, and playlists at up to 10x the speed in MP3, AAC, FLAC, WAV, AIFF, or ALAC without losing HiFi or Master sound quality. Once saved, you can also transfer them to any device, including phones, tablets, USB drives, car stereos, and more.
Step 1 Download and open NoteBurner Tidal Music Converter on your Mac or Windows computer. Then choose the "Tidal Web player" download mode.
Step 2 Go to the "Settings" window and select your desired output format, output quality, output folder, and so on. To maintain the original playlist order, set the "Playlist Index" as the output file name and choose "None" for output organization.
Step 3 Open a playlist on the YouTube Music web player, then hit "Add" to add any songs you want to download to NoteBurner.
Step 4 Click "Convert" to start downloading Tidal music to the computer. Once finished downloading, go to βConvertedβ. Hover over a song and click on the folder icon, and you will see all the downloaded Tidal songs are saved in the pop-up folder.
If you're wondering which tool is the best fit for downloading Tidal music: tidal-dl vs. tidal-gui vs. NoteBurner Tidal Music Converter, this comparison will help you decide. We'll look at key factors like speed, audio quality, ease of use, and security, so you can quickly see which option matches your needs.
| Feature | NoteBurner Tidal Music Converter | Tidal DL GitHub | Tidal GUI GitHub |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operating System | Windows, Mac | Windows, macOS, Android, Linux | Windows |
| Supported Format | MP3/AAC/FLAC/WAV/AIFF/ALAC | MP4/M4A/FLAC | MP4/M4A/FLAC |
| Download Speed | Up to 10X faster | Standard | Standard |
| Output Quality | Lossless (HiFi/Master supported) | Lossy | Lossy |
| ID3 Tags Retained | βοΈ (full tags, artwork included) | β | β |
| Customize Quality | β | β | β |
| Need Tidal Subscription | β | β | β |
| Easy to Use | β | β | β |
| Secure | β | β | β |
Conclusion: If you prefer a free but technical option, tidal-dl or tidal-gui may work for you. But if you want a safer, easier, and more professional solution with HiFi/Master quality support, NoteBurner is the clear winner.
A: Tidal-dl and Tidal-gui are open-source tools from GitHub that allow you to download music from Tidal for offline playback. Tidal-dl runs through a command-line interface, while Tidal-gui provides a graphical user interface and is more suitable for beginners.
A: Since these are community-developed projects on GitHub, security depends on the source you download them from. Please make sure to get these projects from the official GitHub repository, and be aware that open source tools may not have regular security updates released.
A: If you want a stable and risk-free alternative, NoteBurner Tidal Music Converter is a good choice. It lets you download Tidal tracks to MP3, FLAC, WAV, or AAC, keeps ID3 tags, and works smoothly on both Windows and Mac.
A: Yes, they can download audio in HiFi (FLAC) format. However, support for the Master (MQA) format is spotty and may not always work properly.
A: Common causes include outdated versions, changes to the Tidal API, or login errors. We recommend updating to the latest version on GitHub or confirming that your Tidal account type is supported. Sometimes these tools fail after Tidal updates its encryption system.
In this article, you can find detailed reviews of the top 8 free and paid Tidal music downloaders and learn to use them to download music from Tidal!
If you've read this far, you should already have the gist of it: Tidal-dl and Tidal-gui work, but they're not always secure and stable. They're free and open source, which is great for tech-savvy users, but they also come with risks, like login security or unexpected crashes during Tidal system updates.
If you simply want to quickly and easily download and enjoy your favorite Tidal tracks in HiFi or even Master quality, a professional alternative to Tidal GUI like NoteBurner Tidal Music Converter is a safer and smoother option. It handles all the technical issues for you, leaving you free to enjoy your music.
Note: The trial version of NoteBurner Tidal Music Converter supports converting the first 1 minute of each audio file for sample testing. If the program meets your needs, please buy a license to unlock the time limit.
