We list the best Usenet providers, to make it simple and easy to connect to Usenet groups so as to join in with online discussions or even to download files.
While Usenet predates the internet by over a decade, its lesser-known status has led to the internet's broader popularity. Briefly, Usenet is a decentralized network primarily used for sharing text and binary files. Unlike the internet, which relies on browsers like Firefox or Chrome to deliver content via the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), Usenet operates through the News Network Transfer Protocol (NNTP). This allows email clients to function as Usenet browsers, known as newsreaders, which facilitate access to its core components: the newsgroups. Today, it is common for Usenet providers to include their own newsreader software in their service packages.
Choosing the right Usenet provider can be challenging due to the variety of options available, each differing in usability and reliability. To aid in this selection, we have evaluated numerous Usenet services, examining key aspects like service quality, data retention, completion rates, and speed, while also considering additional features like Usenet search capabilities and VPN services.
Data retention is a critical factor; higher retention rates mean a more extensive archive of posts, improving search outcomes and completion rates. Top Usenet providers maintain archives with over 14 years of retention in both binary and text newsgroups and continue to add to these archives daily, expanding your access to a growing trove of Usenet content.
Here, we outline what we consider to be the leading Usenet providers available today.
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The best Usenet providers of 2024 in full:
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Best Usenet provider overall
Newshosting is the best Usenet provider as evaluated by our experts: top quality with the fastest speeds, best retention, and the most complete archive of Usenet posts. With a staggering 5,760 days of retention and 120,000 binary and text newsgroups, Newshosting has the largest Usenet archive available and retention continues to grow every day with all the new posts streaming onto Usenet.
While other Usenet providers store files posted to Usenet temporarily and discard them after a short period, Newshosting keeps every file posted to Usenet, regardless of age or demand. Thus, Newshosting is your best bet for finding articles, including old or unpopular ones.
Newshosting operates multiple US and European server farms for fast speeds worldwide. All plans include unlimited downloads and a high-quality newsreader app with Usenet search and file previewing built-in. You also get extra online security from a free VPN with fast speeds and premium features like auto-connect, split tunneling, multiple protocols including WireGuard, internet kill switch, and an ad blocker.
Our exclusive TechRadar promo provides you with 3 FREE MONTHS of unlimited Usenet downloads with unlimited speeds, 100 total connections, a free newsreader with built-in Usenet search, and a free unlimited VPN account for extra online security.
Newshosting emerged as the fastest during our download speed tests. They use premium connections into all major ISP networks worldwide for the fastest and most consistent speeds. In comparison, numerous Usenet providers rely on cheaper bandwidth, which tend to experience congestion, especially during peak traffic periods.
Furthermore, Newshosting passed our tests in retrieving old Usenet posts that we could not find from other Usenet providers. Though their basic VPN client and English-only tech support are minor drawbacks, the core Usenet service is the best we found in our research.
Newshosting is well priced for the premium service they provide: highest retention, fastest speeds, a free newsreader with Usenet search, and a free VPN. Newshosting is a great value all around. TechRadar visitors exclusively get 3 FREE MONTHS of unlimited Usenet downloads with no speed caps plus 100 SSL connections, saving you 70% on our top recommended Usenet provider.
Read our full Newshosting review.
Best independent Usenet provider
Eweka is an EU-based Usenet provider operating an independent data center and Usenet farm. It’s very popular with active Usenet users and our testing confirmed why. Eweka consistently gave us high completion rates, and we found posts on their servers that were unavailable elsewhere. Eweka is an excellent option for both primary and secondary Usenet server access and is recommended for users who only use a single Usenet server.
Eweka runs its own trans-Atlantic Usenet backbone for fast and reliable speeds regardless of your location. In our speed tests, we maximized our local ISP’s full bandwidth speed downloading from Eweka.
High retention is critical for successful Usenet searches. Eweka offers the highest retention available. Providers with limited retention delete older posts to make room for new posts, making it impossible to find specific articles on those providers' servers. In contrast, Eweka retains a complete archive of Usenet posts, everything both old and new.
Overall, we were impressed with Eweka's performance during our completion and retention testing.
Eweka has a free newsreader app called Newslazer, which includes a Usenet search tool, file previews, unlimited nzb imports, and auto-downloading/scheduling. A free unlimited VPN is also included for added online security protection.
Read our full Eweka review.
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Best Usenet provider for search
Easynews is a premium, all-inclusive, swiss army knife of a Usenet service. You get advanced search technology plus unlimited Usenet access through any web browser on any device, including mobile.
Its web-based search interface is user-friendly and intuitive, providing accurate and efficient search results, with file previews to help locate specific posts quickly. Easynews also provides flexible and feature-rich search capabilities, with filtering options for file type, extension, newsgroup, and file size. Retention exceeds 15.8+ years for all binary and text newsgroups and continues to grow.
The Easynews Big Gig Plan comes with an unlimited VPN service and unlimited NNTP Usenet access, which is configurable with other newsreader apps like SABnzbd. Monthly pricing depending on the amount of monthly bandwidth you require.
Read our full Easynews review.
An 80% discount available exclusively through TechRadar gets you 3 FREE MONTHS plus unlimited access (the max you can normally get is 150GB per month) and uncapped speeds with a 30-day money-back guarantee included.
Best premium access Usenet provider
Another solid choice and a good value Usenet provider. All plans come with unlimited downloads from multiple US and EU servers, fast speeds, and high retention rates for binary and text groups. Plus, there’s an NZB search engine to find and create your own NZBs.
UsenetServer is a premium service with high retention, 99% article completion rates, and no restrictions on data transfer or download speeds. Using the maximum of 20 connections, our tests showed download speeds exceeding 240 Mbps.
UsenetServer doesn't include a newsreader, but setup guides are available for the most popular Usenet apps. While it offers a bundled VPN for extra security, the VPN clients are basic, but connecting to the VPN server of your choice is easy with the simple interface.
UsenetServer's strength is its affordability for a premium service with high retention, fast speeds, and great completion rates.
Read our full UsenetServer review.
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Best integrated Usenet provider
Newsleecher, a Usenet provider with servers located globally, has been providing Usenet access since 2002. It also has a widely-used desktop client that isn’t restricted to a specific Usenet host.
Newsleecher's text and binary retention is 5,760+ days with its NNTP Usenet service and continues to grow daily - an exceptional service level and a primary reason why they’re a top recommended provider.
Other features include unlimited downloads, a maximum download speed of 500Mbps, SSL encryption, and the SuperSearch and SuperLeech tools for fast file discovery and automated downloads. In our tests, a 2.1GB file downloaded at an average speed of 2000Kbps and peaked at 2100Kbps on a 63Mbps connection.
Newsleecher's Usenet bundle is the top choice, offering a limited 14-day free trial for up to 14GB of downloads. Payment can be made via PayPal or credit cards. However, there is no information available regarding user data handling.
Read our full NewsLeecher review.
- [$9.49 a month] Usenet access only
- [$11.99 a month] Usenet access + Newsreader + search
- [$3.99 a month] Newsreader only
Best comprehensive Usenet provider solution
Giganews offers Usenet service with several features, including unlimited transfer and speed, SSL encryption, 100 connections, and VyprVPN. The service provides server redundancy on its US and EU servers, ensuring reliability and high uptime. Access speeds are average, and retention on binary newsgroups tops out at three years compared to other providers, which offer up to five times that amount of retention.
The cheapest pricing is when you select for a yearly subscription. New users can also take advantage of a 14-day free trial. Credit card and PayPal payment options are available for account registration.
Read our full Giganews review.
Best Usenet provider for completion rates
TweakNews is an independent EU-based Usenet provider known for its exceptional completion rates, great features, and competitive prices. With unlimited access plans and a free newsreader that includes Usenet search with file previews, TweakNews is an excellent value. The service also includes a free VPN that performed well in our testing, with servers in over 47 countries.
We found performance to be impressive with fast download speeds, and the included VPN gave us decent speeds in our testing. In fact, the Tweaknews VPN compares well to a good standalone VPN provider in terms of speed, usability, and features.
Although TweakNews offers 4,500+ days of retention, they periodically increase their retention. Overall good service and a solid option for those seeking an independent Usenet provider with excellent completion, speed, and features.
Read our full Tweaknews review.
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Best established Usenet provider
Astraweb is a reliable Usenet provider operating since 1997. With unlimited speed, 50 connections, SSL encryption, US and EU servers, and 24/7 customer support, Astraweb offers a no-frills Usenet access experience that gets the job done.
Retention is not the highest, currently 4000 days, but still enough to be a premium recommended service. Astraweb offers the same features on all its plans, with pricing dependent on whether you opt to pay monthly, three monthly, or annually. Various payment options are accepted, including Bitcoin, and Astraweb subscriptions only require an email address for almost complete privacy.
Read our full Astraweb review.
Best affordable Usenet provider option
Pure Usenet is a budget-friendly European based Usenet service with its own server farms and provides unlimited downloads with no speed throttling.
With retention of 4,100 days on all newsgroups, Pure Usenet offers a good service level, especially considering the same retention levels are available in every newsgroup, both binary and text. However, other providers like Newshosting offer more retention and server locations in both the US and EU, as well as a free newsreader and VPN.
Prices are exclusively in Euros, so your payment provider may charge for conversion if you are outside of Europe. Nevertheless, if you only need EU server access and can max out your speeds with 20 connections (which is acceptable for most users), Pure Usenet is a recommended budget option.
Read our full Pure Usenet review.
- Try Pure Usenet free for 7 days with unlimited downloads
Best simple Usenet provider option
Supernews is an established Usenet provider in operation since the mid-90s with servers across the US and Europe. 1,095 days of binary retention, which is significantly lower than our top choices, but 18+ years of text retention. Also, Supernews claims a 100% completion rate due to keeping multiple copies of articles across its various server farms, although this claim is not independently verified.
Feature-wise, Supernews offers unlimited speed with no throttling and our testing showed reliable and fast enough downloads. Although limited to 30 connections, this should be suitable for most users.
The provider offers only two plan options, a straightforward unlimited plan with monthly or yearly fees. Although not the cheapest option available, a three-day trial is available to test it out. Furthermore, TechRadar Pro users can enjoy their first month at half the regular price.
Read our full Supernews review.
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Best Usenet provider FAQs
How does Usenet work?
Usenet is a global decentralized social media platform that operates in a hierarchical structure. A user posts text, pictures or video to any of 100,000+ topic based “newsgroups” encompassing music, news, research, sports, open source software, and more. What sets Usenet apart from newer social media platforms is that it’s uncensored and unmoderated and not controlled by any single entity.
Usenet is a protocol (NNTP) so anyone can have a Usenet server and peer with the other servers out there. Usenet also provides faster transfer speeds than other protocols like HTTPS and FTP, and it offers fully encrypted and secure access.
To access Usenet, a subscription to a Usenet service and an app called a “Newsreader” are both needed to browse newsgroups and find, read, or download articles. Fortunately, the best Usenet providers include preconfigured newsreaders with built-in search functions.
For advanced users, Usenet or NZB indexers can be helpful tools for searching and grouping posts.These indexers crawl Usenet and allow you to run quick search queries and retrieve specific posts, similar to how search engines like Google let you explore the internet.
Does anybody still use Usenet?
Yes, Usenet is still actively used today. While it's true that some newsgroups within Usenet may appear inactive due to outdated topics like floppy disks or cassettes, many other newsgroups remain vibrant and heavily utilized. The platform continues to support an active community across numerous subjects, disproving the notion that Usenet or its newsgroups are obsolete.
Usenet Provider vs Usenet Indexer: What is the difference?
A Usenet provider is a service that stores newsgroup posts uploaded to Usenet and then delivers them to anyone who requests them. Their retention amount is a crucial factor, as it determines how long posts are kept and available for access. The best Usenet providers offer high retention rates (upwards of 15 years), and build their retention archive continually so no user posts ever expire. Larger Usenet archives provide the best search results and completion rates.
A Usenet indexer crawls the vast number of posts uploaded to Usenet and indexes them, making it easier for users to search for specific posts. While indexers can be helpful, they often come at an additional cost, and some may have restrictions on new member registration. Some of the top Usenet providers, such as Newshosting and Easynews, include a free "newsreader" with Usenet search functionality, making a separate indexer a nice-to-have rather than a need-to-have.
Why is retention so important?
A higher retention rate means access to a larger archive of posts, resulting in a better overall user experience. To maximize the benefits of your Usenet subscription, look for a provider that offers:
Long retention periods (ideally 5,395+ days)
The same retention level across all binary and text newsgroups
A transparent retention policy
Daily retention growth
Enough storage to prevent Usenet post expiration from the servers
Many providers have limited retention, which means that they only offer a fraction of Usenet's archive. Moreover, some providers delete Usenet posts at unpredictable times and without warning, leading to a subpar search results and download completion rates.
To ensure you have access to the most extensive collection of Usenet posts, choose a provider that offers the longest retention rates possible.
Which Usenet provider is best for you?
Usenet Providers offer varying service levels: retention rates, download limits, and speeds. Some providers offer additional features such as a free newsreader app or a VPN, while others offer only basic Usenet access and require you to find your own newsreader, Usenet search tools, and indexer or NZBs.
To make an informed decision, research each provider thoroughly and compare their offerings. Check the retention rates, download speeds, and download limits of each provider, and look for any additional features that may be useful to you.
How to choose a Usenet provider
When selecting a Usenet service, you should pay attention to a few key factors, which include retention time, completion rates, and access policies:
Retention Time: Crucial for access to a wide range of Usenet posts, top providers like Newshosting offer over 13 years of retention, significantly enhancing search results and overall experience. Always verify a provider's retention times and ensure they consistently expand their archives.
Completion Rates: Linked closely with retention, higher retention rates generally yield better completion rates, ensuring more reliable access to full posts.
Unlimited Access: Opt for providers that guarantee unlimited access without restrictions on downloads or speeds, providing a seamless Usenet experience.
Network and Server Quality: Choose a provider that owns and manages its network and prioritizes high-quality bandwidth routing for consistently fast and reliable connections.
Security and Privacy: Essential features include SSL encryption to secure your connection to Usenet servers and maintain anonymity. Top services also offer additional privacy protections, such as free VPN services.
Price: While premium Usenet services may cost more, they generally offer better quality and more reliable features.
Choosing the right Usenet provider involves considering these factors to ensure a high-quality, secure, and user-friendly experience.
How we tested the best Usenet provider
TechRadar uses the following criteria to test, evaluate, and review major Usenet services:
Retention: The most important feature when choosing a provider, as more retention means access to more Usenet posts, giving you better overall search and download results. The best Usenet providers offer upwards of 15 years retention, do not expire articles, and grow retention daily.
Completion rate: Premium providers give access to the largest and most complete Usenet archives. The best Usenet providers maintain the same premium retention levels for every post in every newsgroup (not just some posts in some newsgroups), ensuring complete search results.
Unlimited access: Top Usenet services provide 100% unlimited data, ensuring there are no speed throttling or account limitations based on transfer amounts.
Additional features: Premium services often include extra features, such as unlimited (vs. capped) speeds and a free unlimited VPN, which is typically worth $10-$12 per month. Some providers also offer a free newsreader app with built-in Usenet search, eliminating the need for a third-party newsreader and Usenet indexer registration.
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