We list the best free Usenet trials, to make it simple and easy to discover a Usenet service that suits you best, in order to access and download content from Usenet groups.
Usenet access is almost always a paid subscription service and in exchange, you get reliable connectivity, security, speeds, retention, and completion. Most important, subscribing to a premium service gets you access to all newsgroups and a complete Usenet archive. Some even include newsreader software that connects to Usenet immediately after signup.
The good news is that you can still access Usenet at no upfront cost through free trials provided by select Usenet providers, then keep your subscription if you are happy with the service or cancel. We curated a list of the best free Usenet trials and deals to maximize your experience during the introductory period. We've compared options based on trial duration, transfer speeds, data limitations, premium features like a newsreader and/or Usenet search tool, and other key factors.
To dive right in with a top-quality Usenet provider, check out our list of best Usenet providers.
We also picked out the best Usenet providers.
The best free Usenet trial of 2024 in full:
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Best free Usenet trial overall
For over 20 years, Newshosting has been trusted by the Usenet world, operating a global delivery network with server platforms in the EU and US. Recognized as the gold standard forUsenet access, Newshosting offers the fastest speeds, reliable connections, and highest quality retention.
All Newshosting packages include a free newsreader app that simplifies the Usenet experience. With its built-in search feature,easily find specific posts or explore the extensive collection of 110,000+ newsgroups. The app also supports NZBs through direct import or drag-and-drop functionality, adding convenience to your Usenet workflow.
Exclusive TechRadar Offer - Get 3 FREE MONTHS added to your Newshosting account [70% Off]. This offer includes unlimited GB with unlimited speeds, a free newsreader with search, and free unlimited VPN account for added privacy. 30 day money-back guarantee also included.
Read our full Newshosting review.
Best free Usenet trial for access
Easynews is an all-in-one service combining unlimited Usenet access with a powerful Usenet search interface together in one plan. Easynews offers the most accurate search technology, complete with embedded file previews for a seamless experience across all devices, including mobile. No additional software or NZBs are required.
The Easynews Usenet search interface is user-friendly and provides fast, precise search results. It also comes with features like advanced search filtering (e.g. by newsgroup, file size, or even file type), saved search preferences, a zip manager to conveniently select multiple results for transfer, and even language preferences.
Exclusive TechRadar Offer - 3 FREE MONTHS added to your Easynews account [80% Off]. Get a free upgrade to unlimited GB with unlimited speeds, unlimited access to Easynews search, and a complimentary VPN account for added privacy. A 30 day money-back guarantee is also included.
Read our full Easynews review.
Best free Usenet trial for completion rates
Eweka is a EU based Usenet service known globally for its high completion and retention levels. Operating its own trans-Atlantic backbone, Eweka offers fast speeds and unlimited Usenet access to users inside and outside of Europe.
Eweka provides a free newsreader, with a convenient Usenet search feature, article previews, and support for NZBs, simplifying content discovery and download management.
Eweka offers strong privacy, including 256-bit SSL encryption and no tracking or monitoring of User activity, but there is no option to pay with bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies.
Exclusive TechRadar Offer - Get 52% off Eweka’s best package [includes money-back guarantee]. This offer includes: unlimited GB; unlimited speeds, a free newsreader with search, and free unlimited VPN account.
Read our full Eweka review.
Best independent free Usenet trial
TechRadar users can get 42% off unlimited access to one of most popular European Usenet service providers, TweakNews. While their retention levels may not be as deep as some other providers, TweakNews has top-quality retention, storing and making available the complete daily Usenet feed. All Usenet posts in all newsgroups are accessible fromTweakNews' impressive 4,200-day retention archive.
With a 99.9% completion rate, TweakNews guarantees full and comprehensive access to Usenet content. Users enjoy fast downloads with uncapped speeds, unlimited data usage, SSL encryption, and a free newsreader with search functionality, all at a competitive price.
TweakNews' support page is quite helpful covering all the general FAQs and is particularly helpful for newcomers to Usenet, PAR2, and NZB files. For any unresolved issues, users can submit a support request through the 24/7 contact form.
Exclusive TechRadar Offer - Get 42% off TweakNews’ best package. This offer includes unlimited GB, unlimited speeds, and free newsreader with search.
Read our full TweakNews review.
Best free Usenet trial for Europe
XS News, another long-time European Usenet provider, has a generous 14-day free Usenet trial that includes unlimited speed and access to a vast 30 Petabyte Usenet archive. If you remain after your free trial, your service will be enrolled on the Elite yearly plan.
Despite having lower retention than our top choices,, XS News gives you access to over 134,000 newsgroups, which is far more than some providers for ample opportunities to discover and share high-quality Usenet posts.
While XS News offers unlimited speeds with its top-tier plan, its performance may be less optimal for users located outside of Europe. The service does not include a VPN, but users are provided with free SSL connections to enhance security.
TechRadar Offer - Get a 14 day free trial with XS News.
Read our full XS News review.
Best free Usenet trial for data
Supernews offers a 72-hour trial period, one of the shortest among the free Usenet providers listed here. However, it includes 10 GB of data with unlimited speeds throughout the trial period.
Supernews' subscription plan includes features similar to some of the other providers, like unlimited speeds and unlimited access. You get 30 connections to maximize the download speeds, and all of them have SSL for security. It's worth noting that even for the free trial, some personal data is required during the signup process.
A subscription will also get you access to over 110,000 newsgroups, along with 3+ years of binary retention and 15+ years of text retention. Additionally, their customer support is available 24/7, 365 days a year, and they offer a comprehensive FAQ page to quickly address any common queries or concerns.
Get a 3 day free trial with Supernews.
Read our full Supernews review.
Best premium free Usenet trial
Giganews offers a 14-day free Usenet trial with 10 GB of data with full speeds. Like Supernews, binary retention is considerably lower than the top Usenet providers, but it does grant you access to all newsgroups.
Paid plans bump you to unlimited data along with an unlimited VyprVPN account. This value-add provides no-log online security for all your devices. However, it's important to note that the MIMO newsreader is no longer available, and users will need to configure a separate Usenet newsreader like SABnzbd.
There are cheaper Usenet options, but Giganews won't disappoint if you want a reliable network, fast performance, and quality support. The company has been in operation since 1994, manages its own servers across multiple continents, and promises no maintenance outages and downtime.
You'll also get comprehensive customer support. Giganews support is active 24/7, 365 days a year, available through a live chat window. They also have a detailed knowledge base and support options for the different services they offer (Usenet and VyprVPN).
Read our full Giganews review.
Best free Usenet trial for speed
UsenetServer has provided high-performance Usenet access for decades. With servers distributed worldwide, they offer exceptional coverage and over 5,400+ days of complete retention for 110,000 newsgroups.
Its Global Search feature allows users to efficiently search Usenet and create their own NZBs.Our testing returned reliable search results and high completion rates using UsenetServer’s global search.
An unlimited VPN is also included, with servers in 47 countries, great streaming speeds, and apps for all major desktop and mobile device operating systems.
UsenetServer offers unlimited downloads, unlimited speed, and 20 concurrent 256-bit SSL connections at some of the most affordable prices for premium Usenet access. Get special pricing of $7.95/month on a yearly plan or $10/month for the monthly plan.
Read our full UsenetServer review.
Best affordable free Usenet trial
Pure Usenet offers one of the best free Usenet options available:7 days of free Usenet with unlimited data allowance, unlimited speeds and free SSL encrypted connections.
Pure Usenet has an impressive retention period of 4,100+ days in all newsgroups, ensuring access to a complete Usenet archive going back many years. The service provides unlimited data usage and high-speed access over SSL encrypted connections.
To connect to Pure Usenet, a third-party client like SABnzbd or NZBGet is needed. While Pure Usenet lacks a live chat feature, there is a web form for 24/7 and email available for support requests.
Read our full Pure Usenet review.
Best free Usenet trial for desktop
Another no password option, Iload, a German based provider offers a 14-day free Usenet trial with 36 GB of access that only needs your email to kick-start your Usenet journey.
One of Iload Usenet’s strengths is its excellent retention rates and completion rates The service also includes a powerful integrated Usenet search engine through it’s full featured Usenet newsreader, available for Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems.
The newsreader has a convenient interface, offering preselected newsgroups for users to browse. Users also have the freedom to choose their own options from over 110,000 newsgroups. Another handy feature is the ability to add newsgroups to personal favorites for easy access every time the app is launched.
iLoad Usenet provides support through a support form or email. Responses are generally pretty quick.
All in all, Iload is a pretty good option for their free trial. The service quality itself is top notch and their newsreader is one of the better options available.
Best free Usenet trial for privacy
Usenet Farm is a small EU based provider with a no-password-needed free Usenet trial. Users only need an email address to log in for 10GB of free Usenet access without any time limitations.
Usenet Farm has been online since 2014, and it offers a polished experience with a data usage dashboard and eye on privacy. However, the retention period is very low compared to other providers. Retention also varies for different articles and newsgroups, which may result in occasional issues with search results and completion rates.
With the top-end subscription package, enjoy unlimited speed, account sharing, and up to 10TB of data per month. After that, a speed cap kicks in where your download speeds are reduced to 48 Mbps (0.048 Gbps).
Read our full Usenet Farm review.
We also feature:
Best free Usenet trial FAQs
How to choose the best free Usenet trial for you?
Our methodology for assessing the best free Usenet trials:
- Trial Duration: Determine the length of the trial period, whether it's measured in days or hours.
- Speed Caps: Check if there are any restrictions on the maximum download or upload speeds during the trial. Providers that offer unrestricted speeds will allow you to fully experience Usenet.
- Data Caps: We look for providers that offer unlimited data access to maximize your usage.
- Information Required: We determine what personal information you need to provide to get started with the trial. Some providers may require email addresses, while others may ask for additional details like mobile phone numbers.
Apart from the trial-specific factors, consider the following key service levels when evaluating providers:
- Retention Period: Look for providers with long retention periods and clear retention policiesexplicitly stating how far back their Usenet archives extend. The best providers currently offer close to 15 years of retention in every binary and text newsgroup, for the best search results and completion rates. Conversely, be wary of services with unclear retention language, it’s likely Usenet posts are deleted from their servers on an ongoing basis, resulting in an incomplete archive with high failure rates.
- Article Completion: For a reliable and comprehensive Usenet experience,ssess the provider's track record for offering a complete Usenet archive of posts in all newsgroups.
- Bundled Features: Consider providers that offer additional features such as a newsreader app, integrated Usenet search, or even a bundled VPN. These features enhance the overall Usenet experience and provide added convenience.
By evaluating these factors, you can narrow down the options and select the best free Usenet option among the myriad of choices.
Read more on how we test, rate, and review products on TechRadar.
How we tested the best free Usenet trial
TechRadar uses the following criteria to test, evaluate, and review major Usenet services:
Retention: The most important feature when choosing a service provider, as higher retention (measured in days) means access to more Usenet posts, offering better overall search and download results. The top Usenet providers offer upwards of 15 years retention, do not expire articles, and grow retention daily.
Completion rate: The best providers give access to the largest and most complete Usenet archives. They 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.
Read how we test, rate, and review products on TechRadar
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