Netflix's ad-supported plans are about to receive an unexpected, but very welcome upgrade.

Through an official blog post, Netflix revealed that the ability to download content will be introduced to its ad-supported plans "by the end of this week." Previously, this very useful feature was only available to subscribers of the more expensive ad-free plans, but that will soon change.

Our sister site TechRadar confirmed with Netflix that the upgrade will roll out in all 12 regions where "standard ad-supported" plans are available, including the US and UK. In more surprising news, the same Netflix spokesperson confirmed that downloaded TV shows and movies will also not include ads.

This announcement is a big boost for Netflix. Because Netflix will be the only major streaming service to download content with ads. Disney Plus and Max continue to lock the ability to download for offline viewing behind a premium price wall. The upgrade will make Netflix's ad-supported options more attractive, especially compared to its rivals.

The announcement comes on the one-year anniversary of Netflix's launch of its ad-supported tier, and it is clear that the giant streamer sees this option as an important part of its future service.

According to the blog post, Netflix has 15 million subscribers worldwide with ad-supported distribution. Of course, this is a small fraction of Netflix's roughly 250 million active accounts, but it clearly demonstrates that the ad-supported tier is viable.

It is also possible that cheaper ad-supported plans will become more prevalent in the future, as even the cost of basic plans continues to rise across the industry; Apple TV Plus is the most recent streaming operator to confirm price increases, and Netflix is rumored to be preparing further price increases Netflix is rumored to be preparing to raise its prices further.

Looking a little further down the road, Netflix has further plans for its ad-supported tier: a new binge-watching initiative in 2024 that will allow users to watch multiple episodes in a row, with subsequent ad-free episodes has already been finalized. In addition, in the New Year, the platform will offer a wider range of ads, including ads that incorporate QR codes.

The competition to be named one of the best streaming services has never been fiercer. However, Netflix is not resting on its laurels in this battle. With the ability to download content for offline viewing, Netflix's ad-supported tier is arguably the best value for money. Expect rival streaming services to follow suit in the coming months.