diff --git a/src/command/download.ts b/src/command/download.ts
index 9d5881c9..fb817d25 100644
--- a/src/command/download.ts
+++ b/src/command/download.ts
@@ -39,6 +39,13 @@ export class Download extends RootCommand implements LeafCommand {
         actTimestamp: this.manifestDownload.actTimestamp,
       })
       response = responseAct.data
+    } else if (this.manifestDownload.access) {
+      const [publisher, historyAddress] = this.manifestDownload.access.split(':')
+      const responseAct = await this.bee.downloadFile(this.address.hash, this.manifestDownload.destination, {
+        actPublisher: publisher,
+        actHistoryAddress: historyAddress,
+      })
+      response = responseAct.data
     } else {
       if (this.address.hash.length === 128) {
         const fileData = await this.bee.downloadFile(this.address.hash, undefined)
diff --git a/src/command/manifest/download.ts b/src/command/manifest/download.ts
index ad296ec4..b1311cbd 100644
--- a/src/command/manifest/download.ts
+++ b/src/command/manifest/download.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import { join, parse } from 'path'
 import { exit } from 'process'
 import { directoryExists } from '../../utils'
 import { BzzAddress, makeBzzAddress } from '../../utils/bzz-address'
+import { deprecationWarningText } from '../../utils/text'
 import { RootCommand } from '../root-command'
 
 export class Download extends RootCommand implements LeafCommand {
@@ -23,6 +24,9 @@ export class Download extends RootCommand implements LeafCommand {
   @Option({ key: 'stdout', type: 'boolean', description: 'Print to stdout (single files only)' })
   public stdout!: boolean
 
+  @Option({ key: 'access', type: 'string', description: 'Download using grantee list', conflicts: 'act' })
+  public access!: string
+
   @Option({ key: 'act', type: 'boolean', description: 'Download with ACT', default: false })
   public act!: boolean
 
@@ -40,6 +44,14 @@ export class Download extends RootCommand implements LeafCommand {
   public async run(): Promise<void> {
     super.init()
 
+    if (this.act) {
+      this.console.log(
+        deprecationWarningText(
+          '--act option is deprecated and will be removed in future versions. Please use --access option with publisher:historyAddress format instead.',
+        ),
+      )
+    }
+
     // can be already set from other command
     if (!this.address) {
       this.address = await makeBzzAddress(this.bee, this.bzzUrl)
diff --git a/test/command/download.spec.ts b/test/command/download.spec.ts
index b5f528ad..71167388 100644
--- a/test/command/download.spec.ts
+++ b/test/command/download.spec.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { Binary } from 'cafe-utility'
+import { Binary, System } from 'cafe-utility'
 import { existsSync, mkdtempSync, readdirSync, readFileSync } from 'node:fs'
 import { tmpdir } from 'node:os'
 import { join } from 'node:path'
@@ -43,6 +43,29 @@ describeCommand('Test Download command', ({ consoleMessages }) => {
     expect(consoleMessages[0]).toContain('Hello Swarm!')
   })
 
+  describe('when --access option is used', () => {
+    it('should download with act and print to stdout', async () => {
+      const addressesInvocation = await invokeTestCli(['addresses'])
+      const addressesCommand = addressesInvocation.runnable as Addresses
+      await invokeTestCli(['access', 'init', ...getStampOption(), '--list-name', 'test-download'])
+      System.sleepMillis(1000)
+      const uploadInvocation = await invokeTestCli([
+        'upload',
+        'test/message.txt',
+        '--share-with',
+        'test-download',
+        ...getStampOption(),
+      ])
+      const uploadCommand = uploadInvocation.runnable as Upload
+      const ref = uploadCommand.result.getOrThrow().toHex()
+      const history = uploadCommand.historyAddress.getOrThrow().toHex()
+      const publicKey = addressesCommand.nodeAddresses.publicKey.toHex()
+      consoleMessages.length = 0
+      await invokeTestCli(['download', ref, '--access', `${publicKey}:${history}`, '--stdout'])
+      expect(consoleMessages[0]).toContain('Hello Swarm!')
+    })
+  })
+
   it('should fall back to manifest download', async () => {
     const tmpDir = makeTmpDir()
     const invocation = await invokeTestCli(['upload', 'test/testpage', ...getStampOption()])