Which Streaming Services Allow Downloads?
Compare the current offline rules for Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, Apple TV+, BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4, HBO Max, Hulu, Peacock and Paramount+.
Why this guide matters
Offline viewing is one of those features you barely think about until you really need it. A patchy train journey, a long-haul flight, a family holiday with weak hotel Wi-Fi, or just a dead signal in the middle of nowhere can make the difference between a smooth watch and a useless app. I have pulled the current rules into one place so you can see, at a glance, which services actually let you download content, which plans gate the feature, and what catches people out most often.
Reviewed for 6 April 2026: this guide covers both the UK and the US. Download rules can change by country, subscription tier, rights window and device, so I have focused on the practical stuff that matters most: whether downloads are offered, which plans include them, how long they last, and the limits that are most likely to ruin your journey.
Whether you are trying to download Netflix films for a flight, save Disney+ box sets for the kids, or work out if ITVX Premium is worth paying for, this page is built to give you a clear answer quickly.
01 The Quick Comparison
If you only need the short version, this table is the fastest way to compare the main download rules. The biggest pattern is simple: the cheaper ad-supported tiers are the ones most likely to limit downloads, remove them entirely, or make the rules stingier than you expect.
| Streaming Service | Region | Downloads Available? | Download Limits (typical) | Expiry Rules (typical) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Netflix | UK + US | Yes (plan-dependent) | Ad-supported: 15 downloads per device per calendar month, on up to 2 devices. Ad-free: limits vary by plan and title. | Varies by title; expiry is shown in the app |
| Amazon Prime Video | UK + US | Yes | Same title can usually be downloaded to up to 2 devices at once | Usually 30 days to start; about 48 hours to finish after pressing play |
| Disney+ | UK + US | Yes (Standard and Premium; not Standard With Ads) | The same title can be downloaded on up to 10 supported mobile devices | You need to go online and open the app at least once every 30 days |
| Apple TV+ | UK + US | Yes | Varies by device and channel limits | For most Apple TV channels, downloads last up to 30 days |
| BBC iPlayer | UK only | Yes (mobile and tablet) | Rights-dependent | Usually around 30 days after broadcast, though this varies by programme |
| ITVX | UK only | Yes (Premium) | Mobile only; rights restrictions apply | Up to 7 days offline; 48 hours once you start watching |
| Channel 4 | UK only | Some programmes | App-based mobile downloads; rights-dependent | Varies by programme |
| HBO Max | UK + US | Yes (Standard and Premium) | Standard: up to 30 downloads. Premium: up to 100 downloads. | 30 days unwatched; 48 hours once you start |
| Hulu | US only | Yes (No Ads plans) | Up to 25 downloads across 5 supported mobile devices | Up to 30 days unwatched; 48 hours once you start |
| Paramount+ | UK + US | Yes (ad-free plans; plan names vary by market) | Up to 25 downloads at a time | 48 hours once you start; other rights windows vary |
| Peacock | US only | Yes (Premium Plus) | Up to 25 pieces of content at a time | 30 days unwatched; 48 hours once you start |
02 Netflix Offline Rules
Netflix still does downloads well, but the rules depend heavily on which plan you pay for. The ad-supported plan is the tightest one: it allows 15 downloads per device each calendar month, and only on up to two devices. On ad-free plans, the limits are far more generous, but they still depend on your plan and the title itself.
The bit I still rate most highly is Smart Downloads. If you are working through a series, Netflix can automatically remove the episode you have finished and queue up the next one when you are back on Wi-Fi. It saves space and saves faff. The catch is that licensed films can disappear or expire faster than originals, so always check the expiry label in the Downloads tab before you leave the house.
03 Amazon Prime Video
Prime Video remains one of the easier services to live with if offline viewing matters to you. Downloads are available through the Prime Video app on iPhone, iPad, Android, Mac, Windows and Fire tablets, and Amazon still gives you the sort of flexibility most people want on a trip.
The usual rule of thumb is this: you get around 30 days to start watching a downloaded title, and once you hit play you normally have around 48 hours to finish it. Another useful detail is that the same title can usually be downloaded to two devices at once. It is still worth double-checking the label on rentals, add-on channels and live-event content, because those rules can be stricter.
04 Disney+ Downloads
Disney+ keeps things fairly straightforward once you know the one big catch: downloads are included on Disney+ Standard and Disney+ Premium, but not on Standard With Ads. If someone in the family downgrades to the cheaper ad tier, your existing downloads can disappear along with the feature.
Disney+ also makes a clean distinction between streaming devices and download devices. You can download on supported mobile devices, but not on TV-connected devices, computers or Windows tablets. The same title can be downloaded on up to 10 supported mobile devices, and you need to connect to the internet and open the app at least once every 30 days to keep everything alive. Before a holiday, that quick app refresh is well worth doing.
05 Apple TV+ Integration
Apple is better for offline viewing than a lot of people realise. You can download Apple TV+ and Apple TV channel content in the Apple TV app on iPhone, iPad, Mac, PC and Apple Vision Pro. That makes it more flexible than services that lock downloads to mobile only.
Where Apple is more restrictive is on living-room gear. You cannot download content from the Apple TV app on Apple TV boxes, smart TVs, streaming devices or on the web. Those are streaming-only. For most Apple TV channels, downloads stay available for up to 30 days before they expire, although some channels can have shorter windows and tighter device limits.
06 UK Catch-Up (BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4)
BBC iPlayer: BBC iPlayer is still firmly UK-based, and you need a TV Licence to use it. You cannot stream or download while abroad, but you can watch programmes that you downloaded before travelling. In practice, many programmes stay available for around 30 days after broadcast, although rights can shorten that window. If you used the old desktop download route, that is effectively gone now, so offline iPlayer is really a phone-and-tablet feature.
ITVX: ITVX Premium offers downloads on mobile devices, and the rules are clearer now than they used to be. Most downloads are available offline for up to 7 days, and once you start watching you get 48 hours to finish. It is handy for travel, but it is still subject to licensing restrictions, so not every title gets the download icon.
Channel 4: Channel 4’s current app supports mobile downloads, which is useful, but it is still the least tidy of the main UK catch-up services in terms of what is and is not available. Some programmes can be saved for offline viewing and some cannot, depending on rights. My advice here is simple: never assume a box set is downloadable until you actually see the icon on the episode page.
07 HBO Max, Hulu, Peacock and Paramount+
HBO Max: This is the biggest correction from the older version of this guide. HBO Max is no longer a US-only story, because it launched in the UK and Ireland on 26 March 2026. For downloads, the broad rule is simple: Standard gets you up to 30 downloads at a time, Premium gets you up to 100, unwatched downloads last 30 days, and once you start watching you have 48 hours to finish.
Hulu (US only): Hulu keeps downloads for its No Ads plans. You can have up to 25 downloads across five supported mobile devices, with up to 30 days to watch an untouched download and 48 hours once playback starts. If you switch away from a qualifying plan, you lose access to those downloads.
Peacock (US only): Peacock reserves offline viewing for Premium Plus. You can keep up to 25 pieces of content downloaded at once, and some titles can only be downloaded a limited number of times per account. If you start watching, the download is removed after 48 hours. If you do not watch it, it is usually removed after 30 days or when the title leaves Peacock. It is also one of the stricter services geographically, so treat it as US-based.
Paramount+: Paramount+ is another one where the old “Premium only” wording can now mislead people. In the UK, downloads are included on both Standard and Premium plans, while plan names can vary in other markets. The practical takeaway is that downloads usually sit on the ad-free tier rather than the entry plan. You can have up to 25 downloads at a time, and once you start watching one, you typically have 48 hours before it expires.
08 Download FAQs
Can I watch downloads abroad?
Sometimes, yes, but the answer depends on the service. BBC iPlayer and ITVX are both useful here because content downloaded in the UK can often still be watched while you are abroad. Others are stricter. Peacock is US-based, Hulu is effectively US-based for offline viewing, and any service can lose a download if rights change while you are away.
Do downloads expire even if I never press play?
Yes, often. Prime Video, Hulu, HBO Max and Peacock all commonly work on a “download it now, watch it within around 30 days” model. That is why it is better to download the night before you travel than two weeks earlier and forget about it.
Which plans are most likely to block downloads?
Usually the cheapest ad-supported tier. Disney+ Standard With Ads does not allow downloads, Peacock needs Premium Plus, Hulu keeps them for No Ads plans, and Netflix’s ad-supported plan allows downloads but caps them much more tightly than ad-free options.
Can I download on a laptop?
It depends on the platform. Apple TV and Prime Video support downloads on computers through their apps. Disney+ does not support downloads on computers. BBC iPlayer’s old desktop download route has gone, so offline iPlayer is mainly a mobile-and-tablet feature now.
What is the safest thing to do before a flight or long train journey?
Open every streaming app on Wi-Fi, refresh anything that shows an expiry warning, and actually tap into one downloaded episode or film for a few seconds to make sure playback starts. It sounds obvious, but it is the quickest way to catch a broken or expired download before you are stuck without signal.
