Which Streaming Services Allow Downloads?
Your essential guide to offline viewing for flights, commutes, and dead zones.
Intro:
There is nothing quite as frustrating as settling in for a long train journey, opening up your favourite app, and being met with an endless buffering wheel because the 5G signal has vanished. I have spent countless hours commuting and travelling, and let me tell you, knowing exactly which apps let you download content offline is a total lifesaver. Let us break down the rules for every major platform so you are never caught out again.
Note: This guide covers both the UK and the USA. Download rules and plan eligibility can vary by country, subscription tier, device type, and licensing. Where a service is region-locked (e.g., US-only), we label it clearly.
01 The Quick Comparison
If you are rushing to the airport and just need the bare facts, I have put together a quick cheat sheet for you. Keep in mind that base ad-supported tiers on many platforms intentionally restrict downloading features to push you toward their premium subscriptions.
| Streaming Service | Region | Downloads Available? | Download Limits (typical) | Expiry Rules (typical) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Netflix | UK + US | Yes (plan-dependent) |
Ad-supported: 15 downloads/month per device (and limited devices). Basic / Standard / Premium: downloads on 1 / 2 / 6 devices. |
Varies by title (expiry shown in-app) |
| Amazon Prime Video | UK + US | Yes | Typically you can download the same title to 2 devices at once | Typically 30 days to start; ~48 hours to finish after you press play |
| Disney+ | UK + US | Yes (ad-free plans) | Up to 10 devices on eligible plans | Must go online and open the app at least once every 30 days |
| Apple TV+ | UK + US | Yes | Varies by device/account limits; Apple TV channels may impose limits | For most Apple TV channels, downloads expire after up to 30 days |
| BBC iPlayer | UK only | Yes (mobile/tablet) | Varies by programme and rights | Usually available for ~30 days after broadcast (rights-dependent) |
| ITVX | UK only | Yes (Premium) | Mobile/tablet only; licensing restrictions apply | Varies by title (check in-app) |
| Channel 4 | UK only | Some downloads available (app-dependent) | Varies (rights + device) | Varies by title (check in-app) |
| Hulu | US only | Yes (No Ads plans) | Up to 25 downloads across 5 supported mobile devices | Unwatched: up to 30 days (library-dependent); started: shorter window |
| Max | US only | Yes (Ad-Free plans) | Up to 30 downloads (Ad-Free) / up to 100 (Ultimate) | Unwatched: 30 days; once started: 48 hours |
| Paramount+ | UK + US (plan rules may differ) | Yes (Premium; not Essential) | Up to 25 downloads at a time | Once started: 48 hours (other expiry depends on rights) |
| Peacock | US only | Yes (Premium Plus) | Up to 25 pieces of content across devices | Unwatched downloads removed after 30 days (or when content leaves) |
02 Netflix Offline Rules
Netflix supports offline downloads on eligible plans. Ad-supported plans can download too, but they have a monthly download cap per device. Download device limits also vary by plan (for example, 1 vs 2 vs 6 download devices).
The feature I personally love is "Smart Downloads". When you are connected to Wi-Fi and finish watching an episode of a series, the app automatically deletes it and downloads the next episode in the background. It saves you from constantly managing your phone storage. Just remember that some third-party licensed films do expire quickly, so always check the small expiration tag next to your downloaded file.
03 Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Prime Video is incredibly generous with its download options. The vast majority of titles included in your Prime membership can be taken offline. They also give you fantastic control over the video quality, allowing you to choose between 'Data Saver' and 'Best' depending on how much storage space you have left on your device.
One thing to watch for is licensing and travel. On many platforms, downloaded titles can become unavailable if the title leaves the library or if rights change while you are away, so always check the expiry label in your Downloads tab before a trip.
04 Disney+ Downloads
Disney+ supports downloads on eligible ad-free plans. Standard With Ads does not support downloads, so if you switch to that plan you may lose access to existing downloads.
They do have a rather strict check-in policy, however. Your device must connect to the internet and open the Disney+ app at least once every thirty days. If you fail to do this, all your downloaded content will expire and require a fresh connection to be restored. Always do a quick refresh before heading out on a trip.
05 Apple TV+ Integration
You can download Apple TV+ content in the Apple TV app on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, and you can also download in the Apple TV app on Windows PC. Downloads aren't available in the Apple TV app on Apple TV devices, many smart TVs/streaming devices, or on tv.apple.com (streaming only).
Download expiry depends on what you are watching. For most Apple TV channels, downloads are available for up to 30 days before they expire (some channels can expire sooner).
06 UK Catch-Up (BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4)
BBC iPlayer is UK-only and requires a TV Licence for BBC iPlayer use. You cannot stream or download while abroad, but you can watch programmes you downloaded before you travelled (availability is usually around 30 days after broadcast, depending on rights).
Note: The old BBC iPlayer Downloads app for PC/Mac was discontinued, so offline downloads are mainly a mobile/tablet feature now.
Similarly, ITVX supports offline viewing on mobile/tablet for ITVX Premium subscribers (downloads are subject to licensing restrictions). Channel 4’s app offers offline downloads for some programmes, but availability and expiry depend on rights. Make sure to check the download icon and expiry label in-app.
07 US Services (Hulu, Max, Peacock, Paramount+)
Hulu (US only): Downloads are available on Hulu “No Ads” plans. You can have up to 25 downloads across five supported mobile devices. Unwatched downloads are typically available for up to 30 days (unless the title leaves the library).
Max (US only): Downloads require an Ad-Free plan. Unwatched downloads expire after 30 days, and once you start watching you have 48 hours to finish. Download capacity is plan-based (up to 30 vs up to 100).
Paramount+ (US + UK): Downloads are a Premium feature (not Essential). You can keep up to 25 downloads at a time, and once you start watching a downloaded title it remains available for 48 hours.
Peacock (US only): Offline downloads require Premium Plus. Accounts can have up to 25 pieces of content downloaded at a time, and unwatched downloads are removed after 30 days (or sooner if the title leaves the service). Peacock requires your device to be physically located in the US.
