When comparing Youtube vs Last.fm, the Slant community recommends Last.fm for most people. In the question“What are the best music streaming services?” Last.fm is ranked 4th while Youtube is ranked 10th. The most important reason people chose Last.fm is:
Last.fm scrobbles music from wide range of devices and music players, not just from official apps such as [Scrobbler for Windows and Mac](www.last.fm/download), [Scrobbler for iOS](https://itunes.apple.com/app/scrobbler-for-ios/id585235199), [Last.fm for Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=fm.last.android) and [Last.fm for Spotify](http://open.spotify.com/app/lastfm), but also a wide range of 3rd party Last.fm apps that are available on many platforms, built using the [official Last.fm API](www.last.fm/api) such as [ScrobbleMe for Windows Phone](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/store/apps/scrobbleme/9nblggh0dg4r), [Simple Last.fm Scrobbler for Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.adam.aslfms&hl=en), [Last.fm Scrobbler for Chrome](https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/lastfm-scrobbler/hhinaapppaileiechjoiifaancjggfjm?hl=en), [FoxyScrobbler for Firefox](https://addons.mozilla.org/en-us/firefox/addon/foxyscrobbler/) and the built-in Last.fm scrobbling in Deezer.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Large catalog of music
Huge variety of music to pick from including rare recordings, covers, mixes, etc.
Pro Community created mixes and remixes
Because anybody can upload to YouTube, it has content from remixes of popular songs to hour long mixes and everything in-between. Much of this content can't be found on other music streaming services.
Pro Really good suggestions
YouTube has some of the best suggestions around. Almost all of the suggestions are similar to the song you're currently playing, and allow for an endless music streaming service.
Pro Multiple frontends available
There are Chrome extensions (UpNext, Streamus), webapps (The Parade) and even native desktop apps (Atraci) that are all powered by Youtube. They provide additional functionality and convenience on top of what Youtube already offers.
Pro Supports a wide range of platforms, music players and browsers
Last.fm scrobbles music from wide range of devices and music players, not just from official apps such as Scrobbler for Windows and Mac, Scrobbler for iOS, Last.fm for Android and Last.fm for Spotify, but also a wide range of 3rd party Last.fm apps that are available on many platforms, built using the official Last.fm API such as ScrobbleMe for Windows Phone, Simple Last.fm Scrobbler for Android, Last.fm Scrobbler for Chrome, FoxyScrobbler for Firefox and the built-in Last.fm scrobbling in Deezer.
Pro Scrobbling
Last.fm checks what you listen to the most, they're calling it scrobbling, and streams songs based on that information. It works via your computer, smartphone, iPod and other music services.
Pro Last.fm Tag/Artist radio
Play songs similar to "X" from Youtube.
Cons
Con Confusing service for music
There is a Youtube Music app, which allows one to stream music videos as well as just the studio audio versions of songs. This feature is not accessible on the Youtube website, or the regular Youtube app.
In order to get ad free service on the site as well as the music app, ones needs to subscribe to Youtube Red for $9.99 a month. This nets the user features, such as Youtube (Google) created movies and videos as well as a way to save musical playlists for offline use, but only in the Youtube Music app. This makes for a confusing and fragmented service that requires using multiple apps, a website, and a subscription to a paid service that encompasses much more than just music, in order to get the full use out of music on Youtube.
Con Lots of ads unless you buy a subscription
There are lots of ads on YouTube, even in the middle of long songs. Some of them can be skipped, however others cannot. Most of the time ads are only displayed between songs.
Con Rips artists off
YouTube pays artists $0.0007 / play, which is less than 6 times what Spotify pays ($0.0044), and Spotify itself is criticized for ripping artists off.
Con Ambient music monetization denied
YouTube doesn't allow the monetization of the ambient musical tracks.
Con Lack of compositions
The most popular are there, but forget about something unique.