Qobuz: Reviews and Subscription Prices for Hi-Res Audio in 2026

Qobuz is a French audiophile streaming service founded in Paris in 2007. The platform offers a catalog of over 100 million tracks in 24-bit FLAC quality up to 192 kHz. The Studio Solo plan starts at €12.99/month, while the Family plan costs €21.99/month for six accounts. To manage your Qobuz account, simply log in to qobuz.com with your email address and password. The service is particularly renowned for its classical and jazz catalog, as well as for its liner notes and editorial articles.

Key points to remember

• Qobuz is a French company based in Paris, founded in 2007, specializing in high-resolution audio
• Studio Solo: €12.99/month, Duo: €16.99/month, Family: €21.99/month (6 accounts)
• Sublime Annual Plan: €179.99 for the Solo plan, up to €419.99 for the Family plan, with 60% off Hi-Res downloads
• Maximum format: FLAC 24-bit / 192 kHz, without MQA or Dolby Atmos (only 3 THX tracks)
• A catalog with a particularly extensive selection of classical music, jazz, and French chanson
• Compatible with Sonos, Bluesound, Naim, Roon, Audirvana, and Bose, but not all mainstream ecosystems

What is Qobuz, and who is behind the service?

Qobuz is a French music streaming service founded in Paris in 2007 by Yves Riesel. It is one of the global pioneers of high-resolution streaming—long before Tidal Hi-Res (2014) or Apple Music Hi-Res (2021). The company underwent a restructuring process in 2015, followed by an acquisition by the Xandrie Group in 2016, and now operates in about ten countries.

• Origin — Paris, France, founded in 2007
• Catalog — Over 100 million tracks, including several million in high-resolution audio
• Target Audience — Audiophiles, classical/jazz music lovers, owners of high-definition audio equipment
• Availability — France, United Kingdom, Germany, Netherlands, United States, Japan, Australia, etc.
• Direct competitors — Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal HiFi, Amazon Music Unlimited HD

What will Qobuz's prices be in 2026?

Qobuz offers two plans: Studio (monthly or annual, with unlimited streaming) and Sublime (annual, with discounts on Hi-Res downloads). The Family plan covers up to six separate accounts.

Studio Plans (unlimited streaming)

• Studio Plan|Monthly Price|Annual Price|Accounts
• Solo Plan|$12.99/month|—|1
• Studio Duo|$16.99/month|—|2
• Family Plan | €21.99/month | €249.96/year (approx. €20.83/month) | 6

Sublime Plans (Annual + Hi-Res Discounts)

• Sublime Offer | Annual Price | Discount on Hi-Res Downloads
• Sublime Solo | €179.99/year (approx. €15/month) | 60% off
• Sublime Duo | €269.99/year | 60% off
• Sublime Family | €349.88 to €419.99/year | 60% off

The Sublime collection is designed for collectors who regularly purchase Hi-Res albums as permanent downloads. The 60% discount makes these purchases more affordable: a Hi-Res album priced at €25 drops to €10 for Sublime subscribers.

Want to enjoy Qobuz Family without paying the full price? With a shared subscription, you can split the cost of six user accounts by legally sharing your plan with other verified music lovers. Find out how it works on spliiit

What is the audio quality like on Qobuz?

Qobuz streams lossless FLAC files at up to 24-bit/192 kHz, depending on the track. This is the highest resolution available among mainstream services. The Hi-Res catalog includes several million tracks, which are marked with a special logo in the app.

• FLAC CD — 16-bit / 44.1 kHz, CD-quality
• Hi-Res FLAC — 24-bit / 44.1 kHz to 192 kHz, depending on the recording
• OwnerMQA — Qobuz has never used this format
• No Dolby Atmos —only three tracks mixed in THX Spatial Audio so far
• Compression — AAC 320 kbps option to save bandwidth

What are Qobuz's strengths and weaknesses?

Qobuz stands out for the breadth of its classical and jazz catalog and the quality of its digital liner notes. However, the service is less widely available than Spotify or Apple Music across connected ecosystems.

Benefits

• Hi-Res Quality — Native 24-bit/192 kHz FLAC
• Classic and Jazz Catalog — A Leading Source in the Genre, Partnerships with Independent Labels
• Includes PDF booklets and editorial articles from Qobuz Magazine
• No MQA — Pure FLAC, audiophile quality guaranteed
• French Service — French-language customer support, SEPA payments
• High-Res Downloads — Buy individual tracks or full albums, DRM-free

Disadvantages

• No Dolby Atmos — just 3 experimental tracks
• No music videos — 100% audio service
• The hip-hop, pop, and R&B catalog is smaller than Tidal's or Apple Music's
• Limited integrations — not native on Apple Watch, less developed Google ecosystem
• Higher price than Spotify or Deezer for a monthly subscription
• The mobile app is sometimes considered less smooth than its competitors

What is Qobuz Magazine for?

In addition to its music catalog, Qobuz publishes daily editorial articles in its in-app magazine. This is one of the service’s defining features, a legacy of Yves Riesel’s background (he was a music journalist before becoming an entrepreneur).

• Daily Articles — Music News, New Releases, Reviews
• PDF booklets — available for classical and jazz albums
• Artist Interviews — Long-Form Content for New Releases
• Thematic selections — curated by our editorial team
• Feature articles — on composers, movements, and labels
• Content included at no extra cost with all subscriptions

What hardware is compatible with Qobuz?

Qobuz is natively integrated into most audiophile ecosystems, but less so in the mainstream market. This is something to check before subscribing, depending on your equipment.

• Multiroom — Sonos, Bluesound, Naim Mu-so, Yamaha MusicCast, Denon HEOS
• Connected Hi-Fi — NAD, McIntosh, Cambridge Audio, Marantz, Devialet
• Software — Roon, Audirvana, JRiver, Foobar2000
• Mobile — iOS and Android, compatible USB DAC headphones
• Car — Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, certain manufacturers (Volvo, Polestar)
• Smart speakers — Bose, Amazon Echo (Studio), Google Nest (partially supported)

Save up to 70% on your Qobuz Family plan with a shared subscription. spliiit verified users who want to legally share the six seats in a Family plan. See how it works.

What exactly is Hi-Res downloading?

This is a unique feature of Qobuz: in addition to streaming, you can purchase albums as permanent, DRM-free Hi-Res downloads. These are 24-bit FLAC files that you can keep on your computer, NAS, or external drive for life—even if you cancel your subscription.

• Purchase individual tracks or full albums, ranging from about €1.50 to €25 depending on the title
• No DRM — the files are yours to keep and share
• Available in several formats — FLAC 16/44 (CD), 24/44, 24/96, 24/192
• Sublime Sale — 60% off all Hi-Res purchases for Sublime annual subscribers
• Unlimited re-downloads from your Qobuz library
• Useful for collectors and audiophiles with a local music server

How can I save money on a Qobuz subscription?

There are three ways to lower your monthly Qobuz subscription cost without sacrificing Hi-Res quality.

• Switch to an annual plan — save about 5% on Studio Family (€249.96 instead of €263.88)
• Choose Sublime if you buy high-resolution albums: The 60% discount on downloads quickly makes up for the extra cost
• Shared Family Plan — The Family Plan covers 6 accounts, which works out to €3.50 to €3.67 per person per month if all slots are filled
• Co-subscription — a platform like spliiit finding verified co-subscribers
• Trial period — Qobuz regularly offers a free 1-month trial; check out the current promotions
• Compare with Tidal — see our Tidal vs. Qobuz comparison to help you choose

Which option is right for you?

Qobuz isn't a mainstream service. The choice depends on your musical tastes and your audio equipment.

• For fans of classical and jazz: Qobuz Studio Solo, an unrivaled catalog
• For a music-loving household (4–6 people): Family Studio for €21.99/month
• For Hi-Res collectors: Annual subscription with 60% off purchases
• For audiophiles with Sonos or Bluesound systems: Native Qobuz support, seamless integration
• For Dolby Atmos: Choose Tidal HiFi, which offers a wide selection of spatial audio tracks
• To split the cost: six people on the Family Plan

To explore more comparisons between platforms, check out our guide to the best music streaming services or our 2026 music streaming comparison. For account login information, see our Deezer account guide, and for comparisons of competing premium services, check out our Tidal vs. Qobuz comparison.

Frequently asked questions

Is Qobuz really French?

Yes. Qobuz was founded in Paris in 2007 by Yves Riesel. The company’s headquarters and editorial teams remain in France. The company has been part of the Xandrie Group since 2016. Customer support is available in French.

What is the difference between Qobuz Studio and Qobuz Sublime?

Studio is the standard monthly or annual streaming plan. Sublime is a more expensive annual plan that offers a permanent 60% discount on Hi-Res downloads. Sublime is only worth it if you regularly purchase albums as permanent downloads.

Does Qobuz offer Dolby Atmos Music?

No. Qobuz has opted for pure stereo FLAC and does not currently offer Dolby Atmos Music. Only three experimental tracks have been released in THX Spatial Audio. For Atmos, check out Tidal or Apple Music.

How many accounts are included in the Qobuz Family plan?

Both the Family Studio and Sublime Family plans cover up to 6 separate accounts. Each user has their own library, recommendations, and listening history. This is in line with the standards of Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, and Tidal Family.

Can I download songs to listen to offline?

Yes. All Studio and Sublime subscribers can download tracks for offline listening within the app. Permanent (owned) downloads are available for an additional fee, either individually or by album, with a discount for Sublime subscribers.

Is Qobuz available on Apple Watch?

Not natively. The Qobuz app works on the iPhone, and you can control playback (play/pause) from the Apple Watch, but there isn't a standalone Watch app with local downloads, as is the case with Apple Music.