How To Watch The Last Of Us: 8 Legal Ways

The Last of Us was a huge hit. HBO turned this beloved video game into a show that got people talking, and now Season 2 is arriving shortly to continue the story. If you missed out or want to catch up, this guide shows how to watch The Last of Us season 1 and the new season 2.

Part 1. What is The Last of Us?

The Last of Us happens in a world gone to hell after a crazy fungus started turning people into zombies. You follow this guy Joel, who's seen trying to survive. He ends up having to smuggle this teenage girl, Ellie, across what's left of America. The weird thing about Ellie? She can't get infected like everyone else, which means she might be humanity's last shot at not getting completely wiped out.

HBO took the story straight from that PlayStation game everybody was obsessed with back in 2013. Season 1 basically copied the whole first game's plot. Now, Season 2 is grabbing stuff from the second game, but the trailer shows they're changing things up a bit. Fans are losing their minds over these differences - some people are pumped, while others are freaking out about them messing with the story they loved in the game.

Part 2. How to Watch The Last of Us Season 1 and Season 2

1. Max (HBO Max)

Max is the home for The Last of Us since HBO makes the show. You need a Max subscription to watch both seasons right away. Max offers three plans to pick from: the basic plan with ads costs $9.99 monthly, the Standard ad-free plan runs $16.99 monthly, and the Premium ad-free plan costs $20.99 monthly with better video quality and more offline downloads.

Max works on pretty much any device you own. You can watch the hit TV show on your PC, TV, or mobile devices. To get started, just download the Max app on your device or go to max.com and make an account. The sign-up takes only a few minutes; then, you can jump right into watching.

The Last of Us sits front and center on the Max home page since it's one of their biggest shows. Just tap on the banner or search "The Last of Us" to pull up both seasons or search for the show in the search bar. Max lets you watch episodes one by one or binge whole seasons at your own pace.

Season 2 episodes come out weekly on Max, not all at once. The good thing about using Max is that you get instant access to new episodes the moment they drop, unlike some other services that might delay them.

2. Hulu

Hulu doesn't have The Last of Us built into its regular packages, but you can watch it through them with some setup. You'll need to buy a Hulu bundle with Disney+, Hulu, and Max. This costs you $16.99 per month (with ads) and $29.99 per month (without ads).

This might sound pricey, but the nice part about this setup is having all your shows in one place instead of jumping between apps.

Hulu often runs a free trial for the HBO Max add-on that lasts about 7 days. This gives you enough time to watch all of The Last of Us first season episodes before fully committing to the cost for season 2.

Once you get the bundle, just search for the title or look under the HBO Max section. New Season 2 episodes pop up at the same time as on Max, so you won't miss anything or fall behind on the big conversations about the show.

3. YouTube TV

You can also watch The Last of Us on YouTube TV through its HBO Max channel. The main YouTube TV service costs $82.99 monthly and includes tons of live TV channels, which 6 of your family members can use.

The total cost runs higher than some other options, but YouTube TV brings some handy perks. Their unlimited cloud DVR lets you record every episode to watch later. This comes in handy if you want to rewatch certain parts or catch up on Season 1 before watching Season 2.

Setting up HBO Max on YouTube TV takes just a few clicks. After subscribing to YouTube TV, buy the MAX add-on for $16.99/month. Right after that, HBO content shows up in your library.

YouTube TV makes finding The Last of Us pretty easy with its search function. Just type the title, and both seasons pop up with all available episodes on the Max channel. The platform updates with new Season 2 episodes at the same time as they drop on Max, so you never need to wait longer than other viewers.

4. Sling TV

Sling TV offers a cheaper way to get The Last of Us compared to some other streaming services. For this purpose, you need either a Sling Orange or Sling Blue subscription.

Max is now available as an add-on for all Sling subscribers for $16.99/month. You can add Max as a separate add-on to your Sling TV subscription, specifically with Sling Blue or Sling Orange + Blue, and receive a $5 discount on the combined price.

Sling lets you pick which package works best based on the other channels you want. The Blue package tends to have more news and entertainment, while the Orange package focuses more on sports. Either way, the HBO Max add-on works the same way for both, giving you full access to The Last of Us.

Sling TV service is compatible with most devices, including smartphones, tablets, computers, and smart TVs. The app layout puts HBO content in its own section, making it easy to find both seasons without digging around too much.

With Sling, new Season 2 episodes become available at the same time as on Max. The service also remembers where you left off, so you can easily continue your watching across different devices. This helps if you start an episode on your TV but want to finish it later on your phone during a commute.

5. The Roku Channel

The Roku Channel now lets you subscribe to HBO Max directly through their platform to watch The Last of Us.

This setup works great if you already use a Roku device as your main way of watching TV. To get started, open the Roku Channel app and look for HBO Max under the premium subscriptions section.

The HBO Max subscription costs the same when you get it through Roku. The best part about watching this way is how the Roku interface pulls all your subscriptions onto one screen, making it simpler to jump between different shows without switching apps.

Once subscribed, look up The Last of Us by searching or browsing the HBO Max section. The show appears with both seasons clearly labeled.

The new Season 2 episodes show up on the Roku Channel at the same time as everywhere else. The platform also sends helpful notifications when new episodes are released, so you stay tuned for the latest part of Joel and Ellie's story.

6. Amazon Prime Video

Amazon Prime Video lets you add HBO Max as a channel subscription right inside their platform. This works great if you already have a Prime subscription for most of your streaming. The HBO Max channel costs the standard $9.99 monthly on top of your Prime membership, which runs about $14.99 monthly or $139 annually.

The main benefit of watching through Amazon comes from its user-friendly interface. They create a clean watchlist system that makes tracking shows across different subscriptions much easier. The X-Ray feature also provides extra details about actors and scenes while you watch The Last of Us.

Another great thing about Prime is that you can buy the episodes or the whole season of The Last of Us. One episode is $3.99, and the full season is $29.99; both are in HD.

Prime updates with new Season 2 episodes simultaneously with Max. The platform also works well with Fire TV devices, which allows voice commands through Alexa to quickly find and play episodes without typing anything or searching through menus.

7. Apple TV

Apple TV provides another way to watch The Last of Us through the HBO Max app on their platform.

This works especially well if you already own Apple devices like an iPhone, iPad, or Mac. The HBO Max app needs its own separate monthly subscription.

Setting up HBO Max on Apple TV takes just a few steps. Download the HBO Max app from the App Store, open it, and either sign in with your existing HBO account or create a new one. The app layout puts new and popular shows front and center, so The Last of Us stays easy to find.

Apple TV offers some of the best video quality for The Last of Us, with full 4K HDR support if your TV handles it. The app sorts episodes neatly by season to help you find exactly what you want to watch.

8. Fandango at Home

Fandango at Home (formerly called Vudu) lets you buy single episodes or entire seasons of The Last of Us without needing a monthly subscription. This pay-once option costs more upfront but saves money if you plan to rewatch the show multiple times.

Season 1 currently costs $24.99 to purchase. Individual episodes run about $2.99-4.99 each, and it should stay the same for season 2. Once bought, these stay in your library forever, even without internet access if you download them first.

To buy episodes, create a Fandango account, search for The Last of Us, and choose whether to purchase individual episodes or full seasons. The platform works on smart TVs, streaming sticks, game consoles, and mobile devices.

The only downside to this method comes with Season 2 - new episodes become available for purchase shortly after they air, not immediately like with subscription services.

Part 3. Free Streaming Services to Watch The Last of Us

Finding The Last of Us for free through legal means proves tricky since HBO keeps tight control over their shows. JustWatch helps you track where the show streams are the cheapest but doesn't provide free access.

A few ways exist to watch without paying full price. Max often runs 7-day free trials for new users, which gives you enough time to binge Season 1 if you watch quickly. However, this won't work for season 2, as the episodes will air periodically. Hulu sometimes offers free trials of their HBO Max add-on as well.

But still, you can watch the full first season 1 on free streaming sites like Hurawatch and FMovies.

Some cable packages include HBO access, so check if your TV subscription already gives you Max access through their "TV Everywhere" feature. This hidden perk lets many cable customers watch HBO shows online without extra costs.

For Season 2, no fully free legal options exist yet beyond trial periods. The show might eventually become available on free streaming platforms, but that typically takes several months after the official release.

Part 4. FAQs of How to Watch The Last of Us

Conclusion on How to Watch The Last of Us

This guide covers how to watch The Last of Us. Max offers the simplest way to watch it with immediate access to Season 1 and the upcoming Season 2. Hulu and YouTube TV work well if you already use those services and don't mind the add-on cost. For people who hate monthly bills, Fandango lets you buy once and keep forever. No matter how you choose to watch, Joel and Ellie's emotional journey delivers one of TV's most gripping stories, with the Season 2 trailer promising an even darker tale starting April 13, 2025.