Last.fm
Worth it
Confidence: Medium
Buy if you want a permanent, cross-platform record of everything you listen to . the core is free and nothing else does it as well.
New check
Comparison
Last.fm vs Spotify
Last.fm and Spotify both land on Worth it.
Spotify
Worth it
Confidence: High
Buy it if you want the cheapest, most widely supported music and podcast app for personal listening.
| Compare | Last.fm | Spotify |
|---|---|---|
| Verdict | Worth it | Worth it |
| Best for | Music nerds who want lifetime listening stats | Everyday music listeners |
| Who it's not for | Anyone wanting an actual streaming service | Values-driven buyers boycotting the CEO's AI-defense investment |
| Privacy | 2012 password breach confirmed; bug bounty via HackerOne exists; no dedicated security page found.⁵ | Active attack surface: platform CVEs and critical RCE in its open-source Backstage tool, plus recurring user account-takeover waves; a 2025 breach claim is under investigation. |
| Support quality | No support evidence in sources | Self-serve only; no phone support offered |
| Public sentiment | Longtime users love the listening-history archive but grumble about stagnant development, the Pro price hike, and app quirks.⁹ | Reviewers and G2 raters like the catalog and apps, while Reddit threads churn over shuffle behavior, price hikes, and account security.14 |
| Biggest gotcha | If your account predates 2012, assume the old password leaked⁵ | Support is self-serve; hacked-account users report slow, frustrating resolution |
Pick Last.fm when
- Music nerds who want lifetime listening stats
- Listeners spread across multiple apps
- People hunting new music via recommendations
When Last.fm is not a fit
- Anyone wanting an actual streaming service
- Privacy-cautious users uneasy about the 2012 breach
- Businesses or teams . purely a consumer tool
Pick Spotify when
- Everyday music listeners
- Podcast fans wanting one app
- Students (discounted tier)
- Families eyeing the Family plan
When Spotify is not a fit
- Values-driven buyers boycotting the CEO's AI-defense investment
- Audiophiles wanting lossless (Guess: Tidal-class services fit better)
- Buyers burned by repeated annual price increases
- Anyone expecting human support for billing or hacking issues
Sources
- Last.fm homepagelast.fmofficial
- Upgrade to Last.fm Prolast.fmofficial
- Last.fm kills 'subscription radio' service as losses mounttheguardian.comnews
news
- Last.fm Data Breach . Have I Been Pwnedhaveibeenpwned.comsecurity
security
- Last.fm Pro Pricing Increase . Redditreddit.comreview
review
- Trustpilot reviews of last.fmtrustpilot.comreview
- Last.fm . App Storeapps.apple.comreview
news
official
- Spotify Premium (USA) pricing pagespotify.comofficial
review
- Spotify User Statistics 2026 (777M users)demandsage.comnews
- Spotify price increases discussionarstechnica.comnews