diff --git a/src/renderer/component/sideBar/view.jsx b/src/renderer/component/sideBar/view.jsx
index d50d21491..becc2d3ed 100644
--- a/src/renderer/component/sideBar/view.jsx
+++ b/src/renderer/component/sideBar/view.jsx
@@ -25,10 +25,7 @@ type Props = {
 const SideBar = (props: Props) => {
   const { navLinks, notifications } = props;
 
-  const badges = Object.keys(notifications).reduce(
-    (acc, cur) => (notifications[cur].type === NOTIFICATION_TYPES.DOWNLOADING ? acc : acc + 1),
-    0
-  );
+  const badges = Object.keys(notifications).length;
 
   return (
     <nav className="nav">
diff --git a/src/renderer/constants/settings.js b/src/renderer/constants/settings.js
index d5ab15a83..f63368105 100644
--- a/src/renderer/constants/settings.js
+++ b/src/renderer/constants/settings.js
@@ -15,3 +15,4 @@ export const AUTOMATIC_DARK_MODE_ENABLED = 'automaticDarkModeEnabled';
 export const AUTOPLAY = 'autoplay';
 export const RESULT_COUNT = 'resultCount';
 export const OS_NOTIFICATIONS_ENABLED = 'osNotificationsEnabled';
+export const AUTO_DOWNLOAD = 'autoDownload';
diff --git a/src/renderer/page/file/index.js b/src/renderer/page/file/index.js
index 564ce0aed..99a89e4fd 100644
--- a/src/renderer/page/file/index.js
+++ b/src/renderer/page/file/index.js
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ const perform = dispatch => ({
   navigate: (path, params) => dispatch(doNavigate(path, params)),
   fetchFileInfo: uri => dispatch(doFetchFileInfo(uri)),
   fetchCostInfo: uri => dispatch(doFetchCostInfoForUri(uri)),
-  checkSubscription: subscription => dispatch(doCheckSubscription(subscription)),
+  checkSubscription: uri => dispatch(doCheckSubscription(uri)),
   openModal: (modal, props) => dispatch(doNotify(modal, props)),
   prepareEdit: (publishData, uri) => dispatch(doPrepareEdit(publishData, uri)),
   setClientSetting: (key, value) => dispatch(doSetClientSetting(key, value)),
diff --git a/src/renderer/page/file/view.jsx b/src/renderer/page/file/view.jsx
index 8eba0ed2d..8e0ab3da2 100644
--- a/src/renderer/page/file/view.jsx
+++ b/src/renderer/page/file/view.jsx
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ type Props = {
   fetchFileInfo: string => void,
   fetchCostInfo: string => void,
   prepareEdit: ({}, string) => void,
-  checkSubscription: ({ channelName: string, uri: string }) => void,
+  checkSubscription: (uri: string) => void,
   subscriptions: Array<Subscription>,
   setClientSetting: (string, boolean | string) => void,
   autoplay: boolean,
@@ -96,16 +96,12 @@ class FilePage extends React.Component<Props> {
 
   checkSubscription = (props: Props) => {
     if (props.subscriptions.find(sub => sub.channelName === props.claim.channel_name)) {
-      props.checkSubscription({
-        channelName: props.claim.channel_name,
-        uri: buildURI(
-          {
-            contentName: props.claim.channel_name,
-            claimId: props.claim.value.publisherSignature.certificateId,
-          },
-          false
-        ),
-      });
+      props.checkSubscription(
+        buildURI({
+          contentName: props.claim.channel_name,
+          claimId: props.claim.value.publisherSignature.certificateId,
+        }, false)
+      );
     }
   };
 
diff --git a/src/renderer/page/settings/index.js b/src/renderer/page/settings/index.js
index 2eeb42c25..6d178b368 100644
--- a/src/renderer/page/settings/index.js
+++ b/src/renderer/page/settings/index.js
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ const select = state => ({
   autoplay: makeSelectClientSetting(settings.AUTOPLAY)(state),
   walletEncrypted: selectWalletIsEncrypted(state),
   osNotificationsEnabled: selectosNotificationsEnabled(state),
+  autoDownload: makeSelectClientSetting(settings.AUTO_DOWNLOAD)(state),
 });
 
 const perform = dispatch => ({
diff --git a/src/renderer/page/settings/view.jsx b/src/renderer/page/settings/view.jsx
index 1a79f1ece..729ba7059 100644
--- a/src/renderer/page/settings/view.jsx
+++ b/src/renderer/page/settings/view.jsx
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ type Props = {
   themes: Array<string>,
   automaticDarkModeEnabled: boolean,
   autoplay: boolean,
+  autoDownload: boolean,
   encryptWallet: () => void,
   decryptWallet: () => void,
   walletEncrypted: boolean,
@@ -59,6 +60,7 @@ class SettingsPage extends React.PureComponent<Props, State> {
     (this: any).onAutoplayChange = this.onAutoplayChange.bind(this);
     (this: any).clearCache = this.clearCache.bind(this);
     (this: any).onDesktopNotificationsChange = this.onDesktopNotificationsChange.bind(this);
+    (this: any).onAutoDownloadChange = this.onAutoDownloadChange.bind(this);
     // (this: any).onLanguageChange = this.onLanguageChange.bind(this)
   }
 
@@ -119,6 +121,10 @@ class SettingsPage extends React.PureComponent<Props, State> {
     this.props.setClientSetting(settings.SHOW_NSFW, event.target.checked);
   }
 
+  onAutoDownloadChange(event: SyntheticInputEvent<*>) {
+    this.props.setClientSetting(settings.AUTO_DOWNLOAD, event.target.checked);
+  }
+
   onChangeEncryptWallet() {
     const { props } = this;
     props.walletEncrypted ? props.decryptWallet() : props.encryptWallet();
@@ -157,6 +163,7 @@ class SettingsPage extends React.PureComponent<Props, State> {
       autoplay,
       walletEncrypted,
       osNotificationsEnabled,
+      autoDownload,
     } = this.props;
 
     const noDaemonSettings = !daemonSettings || Object.keys(daemonSettings).length === 0;
@@ -265,6 +272,13 @@ class SettingsPage extends React.PureComponent<Props, State> {
                 checked={autoplay}
                 postfix={__('Autoplay media files')}
               />
+              <FormField
+                type="checkbox"
+                name="auto_download"
+                onChange={this.onAutoDownloadChange}
+                checked={autoDownload}
+                postfix={__('Automatically download new content from your subscriptions')}
+              />
               <FormField
                 type="checkbox"
                 name="show_nsfw"
diff --git a/src/renderer/page/subscriptions/view.jsx b/src/renderer/page/subscriptions/view.jsx
index 68fa3e81f..60c57cf93 100644
--- a/src/renderer/page/subscriptions/view.jsx
+++ b/src/renderer/page/subscriptions/view.jsx
@@ -25,6 +25,9 @@ export default class extends React.PureComponent<Props> {
     const { notifications, setSubscriptionNotifications, doFetchMySubscriptions } = this.props;
     doFetchMySubscriptions();
 
+    // @sean will change this behavior when implementing new content labeling
+    // notifications should be cleared individually
+    // do we want a way to clear individual claims without viewing?
     const newNotifications = {};
     Object.keys(notifications).forEach(cur => {
       if (notifications[cur].type === NOTIFICATION_TYPES.DOWNLOADING) {
diff --git a/src/renderer/redux/actions/app.js b/src/renderer/redux/actions/app.js
index d3d5a56f7..ce68208dc 100644
--- a/src/renderer/redux/actions/app.js
+++ b/src/renderer/redux/actions/app.js
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ import { doFetchDaemonSettings } from 'redux/actions/settings';
 import { doAuthNavigate } from 'redux/actions/navigation';
 import { doAuthenticate } from 'redux/actions/user';
 import { doPause } from 'redux/actions/media';
-import { doCheckSubscriptions } from 'redux/actions/subscriptions';
+import { doCheckSubscriptionsInit } from 'redux/actions/subscriptions';
 import {
   selectIsUpgradeSkipped,
   selectUpdateUrl,
@@ -347,7 +347,7 @@ export function doDaemonReady() {
       dispatch(doCheckUpgradeAvailable());
     }
     dispatch(doCheckUpgradeSubscribe());
-    dispatch(doCheckSubscriptions());
+    dispatch(doCheckSubscriptionsInit());
   };
 }
 
diff --git a/src/renderer/redux/actions/content.js b/src/renderer/redux/actions/content.js
index a5f98694f..d0db1980b 100644
--- a/src/renderer/redux/actions/content.js
+++ b/src/renderer/redux/actions/content.js
@@ -110,6 +110,7 @@ export function doUpdateLoadStatus(uri, outpoint) {
           dispatch(doUpdateLoadStatus(uri, outpoint));
         }, DOWNLOAD_POLL_INTERVAL);
       } else if (fileInfo.completed) {
+        const state = getState();
         // TODO this isn't going to get called if they reload the client before
         // the download finished
         dispatch({
@@ -121,13 +122,13 @@ export function doUpdateLoadStatus(uri, outpoint) {
           },
         });
 
-        const badgeNumber = selectBadgeNumber(getState());
+        const badgeNumber = selectBadgeNumber(state);
         setBadge(badgeNumber === 0 ? '' : `${badgeNumber}`);
 
-        const totalProgress = selectTotalDownloadProgress(getState());
+        const totalProgress = selectTotalDownloadProgress(state);
         setProgressBar(totalProgress);
 
-        const notifications = selectNotifications(getState());
+        const notifications = selectNotifications(state);
         if (notifications[uri] && notifications[uri].type === NOTIFICATION_TYPES.DOWNLOADING) {
           const count = Object.keys(notifications).reduce(
             (acc, cur) =>
@@ -138,7 +139,7 @@ export function doUpdateLoadStatus(uri, outpoint) {
             0
           );
 
-          if (selectosNotificationsEnabled(getState())) {
+          if (selectosNotificationsEnabled(state)) {
             const notif = new window.Notification(notifications[uri].subscription.channelName, {
               body: `Posted ${fileInfo.metadata.title}${
                 count > 1 && count < 10 ? ` and ${count - 1} other new items` : ''
@@ -153,13 +154,15 @@ export function doUpdateLoadStatus(uri, outpoint) {
               );
             };
           }
-          dispatch(
-            setSubscriptionNotification(
-              notifications[uri].subscription,
-              uri,
-              NOTIFICATION_TYPES.DOWNLOADED
-            )
-          );
+          if (state.navigation.currentPath !== '/subscriptions') {
+            dispatch(
+              setSubscriptionNotification(
+                notifications[uri].subscription,
+                uri,
+                NOTIFICATION_TYPES.DOWNLOADED
+              )
+            );
+          }
         } else {
           // If notifications are disabled(false) just return
           if (!selectosNotificationsEnabled(getState())) return;
@@ -376,17 +379,18 @@ export function doFetchClaimsByChannel(uri, page) {
             buildURI({ contentName: latest.name, claimId: latest.claim_id }, false)
           )
         );
-        const notifications = selectNotifications(getState());
-        const newNotifications = {};
-        Object.keys(notifications).forEach(cur => {
-          if (
-            notifications[cur].subscription.channelName !== latest.channel_name ||
-            notifications[cur].type === NOTIFICATION_TYPES.DOWNLOADING
-          ) {
-            newNotifications[cur] = { ...notifications[cur] };
-          }
-        });
-        dispatch(setSubscriptionNotifications(newNotifications));
+        // commented out as a note for @sean, notification will be clared individually
+        // const notifications = selectNotifications(getState());
+        // const newNotifications = {};
+        // Object.keys(notifications).forEach(cur => {
+        //   if (
+        //     notifications[cur].subscription.channelName !== latest.channel_name ||
+        //     notifications[cur].type === NOTIFICATION_TYPES.DOWNLOADING
+        //   ) {
+        //     newNotifications[cur] = { ...notifications[cur] };
+        //   }
+        // });
+        // dispatch(setSubscriptionNotifications(newNotifications));
       }
 
       dispatch({
diff --git a/src/renderer/redux/actions/rewards.js b/src/renderer/redux/actions/rewards.js
index d98d4a9b6..18823dcf3 100644
--- a/src/renderer/redux/actions/rewards.js
+++ b/src/renderer/redux/actions/rewards.js
@@ -40,11 +40,13 @@ export function doClaimRewardType(rewardType, options) {
     }
 
     if (!userIsRewardApproved && rewardType !== rewards.TYPE_CONFIRM_EMAIL) {
-      const action = doNotify({
-        id: MODALS.REWARD_APPROVAL_REQUIRED,
-        isError: false,
-      });
-      dispatch(action);
+      if (!options || !options.failSilently) {
+        const action = doNotify({
+          id: MODALS.REWARD_APPROVAL_REQUIRED,
+          isError: false,
+        });
+        dispatch(action);
+      }
 
       return;
     }
diff --git a/src/renderer/redux/actions/subscriptions.js b/src/renderer/redux/actions/subscriptions.js
index b98e7b7a5..2af4d5844 100644
--- a/src/renderer/redux/actions/subscriptions.js
+++ b/src/renderer/redux/actions/subscriptions.js
@@ -1,19 +1,19 @@
 // @flow
 import * as ACTIONS from 'constants/action_types';
 import * as NOTIFICATION_TYPES from 'constants/notification_types';
-import type {
-  Dispatch,
-  SubscriptionState,
-  SubscriptionNotifications,
-} from 'redux/reducers/subscriptions';
+import * as SETTINGS from 'constants/settings';
+import rewards from 'rewards';
+import type { Dispatch, SubscriptionNotifications } from 'redux/reducers/subscriptions';
 import type { Subscription } from 'types/subscription';
 import { selectSubscriptions } from 'redux/selectors/subscriptions';
+import { makeSelectClientSetting } from 'redux/selectors/settings';
 import { Lbry, buildURI, parseURI } from 'lbry-redux';
 import { doPurchaseUri } from 'redux/actions/content';
+import { doClaimRewardType } from 'redux/actions/rewards';
 import Promise from 'bluebird';
 import Lbryio from 'lbryio';
 
-const CHECK_SUBSCRIPTIONS_INTERVAL = 60 * 60 * 1000;
+const CHECK_SUBSCRIPTIONS_INTERVAL = 15 * 60 * 1000;
 const SUBSCRIPTION_DOWNLOAD_LIMIT = 1;
 
 export const doFetchMySubscriptions = () => (dispatch: Dispatch, getState: () => any) => {
@@ -124,63 +124,83 @@ export const setSubscriptionNotification = (
     },
   });
 
-export const doCheckSubscription = (subscription: Subscription, notify?: boolean) => (
-  dispatch: Dispatch
+export const doCheckSubscription = (subscriptionUri: string, notify?: boolean) => (
+  dispatch: Dispatch,
+  getState: () => {}
 ) => {
-  dispatch({
-    type: ACTIONS.CHECK_SUBSCRIPTION_STARTED,
-    data: subscription,
-  });
+  // no dispatching FETCH_CHANNEL_CLAIMS_STARTED; causes loading issues on <SubscriptionsPage>
 
-  Lbry.claim_list_by_channel({ uri: subscription.uri, page: 1 }).then(result => {
-    const claimResult = result[subscription.uri] || {};
+  const state = getState();
+  const savedSubscription = state.subscriptions.subscriptions.find(
+    sub => sub.uri === subscriptionUri
+  );
+
+  Lbry.claim_list_by_channel({ uri: subscriptionUri, page: 1 }).then(result => {
+    const claimResult = result[subscriptionUri] || {};
     const { claims_in_channel: claimsInChannel } = claimResult;
 
-    if (claimsInChannel) {
-      if (notify) {
-        claimsInChannel.reduce((prev, cur, index) => {
-          const uri = buildURI({ contentName: cur.name, claimId: cur.claim_id }, false);
-          if (prev === -1 && uri !== subscription.latest) {
-            dispatch(
-              setSubscriptionNotification(
-                subscription,
-                uri,
-                index < SUBSCRIPTION_DOWNLOAD_LIMIT && !cur.value.stream.metadata.fee
-                  ? NOTIFICATION_TYPES.DOWNLOADING
-                  : NOTIFICATION_TYPES.NOTIFY_ONLY
-              )
-            );
-            if (index < SUBSCRIPTION_DOWNLOAD_LIMIT && !cur.value.stream.metadata.fee) {
-              dispatch(doPurchaseUri(uri, { cost: 0 }));
-            }
-          }
-          return uri === subscription.latest || !subscription.latest ? index : prev;
-        }, -1);
-      }
+    const latestIndex = claimsInChannel.findIndex(
+      claim => `${claim.name}#${claim.claim_id}` === savedSubscription.latest
+    );
 
-      dispatch(
-        setSubscriptionLatest(
-          {
-            channelName: claimsInChannel[0].channel_name,
-            uri: buildURI(
-              {
-                channelName: claimsInChannel[0].channel_name,
-                claimId: claimsInChannel[0].claim_id,
-              },
-              false
-            ),
-          },
-          buildURI(
-            { contentName: claimsInChannel[0].name, claimId: claimsInChannel[0].claim_id },
-            false
-          )
-        )
-      );
+    // if latest is 0, nothing has changed
+    // when there is no subscription latest, it is either a newly subscriubed channel or
+    // the user has cleared their cache. Either way, do not download or notify about new content
+    // as that would download/notify 10 claims per channel
+    if (claimsInChannel.length && latestIndex !== 0 && savedSubscription.latest) {
+      let downloadCount = 0;
+      claimsInChannel.slice(0, latestIndex === -1 ? 10 : latestIndex).forEach(claim => {
+        const uri = buildURI({ contentName: claim.name, claimId: claim.claim_id }, false);
+        const shouldDownload = Boolean(
+          downloadCount < SUBSCRIPTION_DOWNLOAD_LIMIT &&
+            !claim.value.stream.metadata.fee &&
+            makeSelectClientSetting(SETTINGS.AUTO_DOWNLOAD)(state)
+        );
+        if (notify) {
+          dispatch(
+            setSubscriptionNotification(
+              savedSubscription,
+              uri,
+              shouldDownload ? NOTIFICATION_TYPES.DOWNLOADING : NOTIFICATION_TYPES.NOTIFY_ONLY
+            )
+          );
+        }
+        if (shouldDownload) {
+          downloadCount += 1;
+          dispatch(doPurchaseUri(uri, { cost: 0 }));
+        }
+      });
     }
 
+    // always setLatest; important for newly subscribed channels
+    dispatch(
+      setSubscriptionLatest(
+        {
+          channelName: claimsInChannel[0].channel_name,
+          uri: buildURI(
+            {
+              channelName: claimsInChannel[0].channel_name,
+              claimId: claimsInChannel[0].claim_id,
+            },
+            false
+          ),
+        },
+        buildURI(
+          { contentName: claimsInChannel[0].name, claimId: claimsInChannel[0].claim_id },
+          false
+        )
+      )
+    );
+
+    // calling FETCH_CHANNEL_CLAIMS_COMPLETED after not calling STARTED
+    // means it will delete a non-existant fetchingChannelClaims[uri]
     dispatch({
-      type: ACTIONS.CHECK_SUBSCRIPTION_COMPLETED,
-      data: subscription,
+      type: ACTIONS.FETCH_CHANNEL_CLAIMS_COMPLETED,
+      data: {
+        uri: subscriptionUri,
+        claims: claimsInChannel || [],
+        page: 1,
+      },
     });
   });
 };
@@ -217,8 +237,11 @@ export const doChannelSubscribe = (subscription: Subscription) => (
       channel_name: subscription.channelName,
       claim_id: claimId,
     });
+
+    dispatch(doClaimRewardType(rewards.SUBSCRIPTION, { failSilently: true }));
   }
 
+  // should be subUri
   dispatch(doCheckSubscription(subscription, true));
 };
 
@@ -244,15 +267,22 @@ export const doChannelUnsubscribe = (subscription: Subscription) => (
   }
 };
 
-export const doCheckSubscriptions = () => (
-  dispatch: Dispatch,
-  getState: () => SubscriptionState
-) => {
+export const doCheckSubscriptions = () => (dispatch: Dispatch, getState: () => any) => {
+  const state = getState();
+  const subscriptions = selectSubscriptions(state);
+  subscriptions.forEach((sub: Subscription) => {
+    dispatch(doCheckSubscription(sub.uri, true));
+  });
+};
+
+export const doCheckSubscriptionsInit = () => (dispatch: Dispatch) => {
+  // doCheckSubscriptionsInit is called by doDaemonReady
+  // setTimeout below is a hack to ensure redux is hydrated when subscriptions are checked
+  // this will be replaced with <PersistGate> which reqiures a package upgrade
+  setTimeout(() => dispatch(doFetchMySubscriptions()), 5000);
+  setTimeout(() => dispatch(doCheckSubscriptions()), 10000);
   const checkSubscriptionsTimer = setInterval(
-    () =>
-      selectSubscriptions(getState()).map((subscription: Subscription) =>
-        dispatch(doCheckSubscription(subscription, true))
-      ),
+    () => dispatch(doCheckSubscriptions()),
     CHECK_SUBSCRIPTIONS_INTERVAL
   );
   dispatch({
diff --git a/src/renderer/redux/reducers/settings.js b/src/renderer/redux/reducers/settings.js
index 215032c8b..fd9c8c12d 100644
--- a/src/renderer/redux/reducers/settings.js
+++ b/src/renderer/redux/reducers/settings.js
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ const defaultState = {
     automaticDarkModeEnabled: getLocalStorageSetting(SETTINGS.AUTOMATIC_DARK_MODE_ENABLED, false),
     autoplay: getLocalStorageSetting(SETTINGS.AUTOPLAY, false),
     resultCount: Number(getLocalStorageSetting(SETTINGS.RESULT_COUNT, 50)),
+    autoDownload: getLocalStorageSetting(SETTINGS.AUTO_DOWNLOAD, true),
     osNotificationsEnabled: Boolean(
       getLocalStorageSetting(SETTINGS.OS_NOTIFICATIONS_ENABLED, true)
     ),
diff --git a/src/renderer/redux/selectors/subscriptions.js b/src/renderer/redux/selectors/subscriptions.js
index 1e9ca71cd..12c35ae74 100644
--- a/src/renderer/redux/selectors/subscriptions.js
+++ b/src/renderer/redux/selectors/subscriptions.js
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ export const selectSubscriptionClaims = createSelector(
       return [];
     }
 
-    const fetchedSubscriptions = [];
+    let fetchedSubscriptions = [];
 
     savedSubscriptions.forEach(subscription => {
       let channelClaims = [];
@@ -39,18 +39,20 @@ export const selectSubscriptionClaims = createSelector(
         // loop over the list of ids and grab the claim
         pageOneChannelIds.forEach(id => {
           const grabbedClaim = allClaims[id];
-          channelClaims.push(grabbedClaim);
+          channelClaims = channelClaims.concat([grabbedClaim]);
         });
       }
 
-      fetchedSubscriptions.push({
-        claims: channelClaims,
-        channelName: subscription.channelName,
-        uri: subscription.uri,
-      });
+      fetchedSubscriptions = fetchedSubscriptions.concat([
+        {
+          claims: [...channelClaims],
+          channelName: subscription.channelName,
+          uri: subscription.uri,
+        },
+      ]);
     });
 
-    return fetchedSubscriptions;
+    return [...fetchedSubscriptions];
   }
 );
 
diff --git a/src/renderer/rewards.js b/src/renderer/rewards.js
index 9da3727a9..da3833e7b 100644
--- a/src/renderer/rewards.js
+++ b/src/renderer/rewards.js
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ rewards.TYPE_FIRST_PUBLISH = 'first_publish';
 rewards.TYPE_FEATURED_DOWNLOAD = 'featured_download';
 rewards.TYPE_REFERRAL = 'referral';
 rewards.YOUTUBE_CREATOR = 'youtube_creator';
+rewards.SUBSCRIPTION = 'subscription';
 
 rewards.claimReward = type => {
   function requestReward(resolve, reject, params) {