Tidal turbine technology is not as mature as wind turbine technology; in addition, tidal turbines are submerged systems. Therefore, they have to withstand high loading and harsh submarine conditions. To make tidal energy competitive compared to the other renewable sources, many challenges need to be overcome. The drivetrain configuration choice is one of the most important challenges that should address the question: with or without a gearbox? This paper will therefore address this critical issue by describing a review-based comparison and discussing the magnetic gearbox option as a promising drivetrain topology.