UsenetReviewz.com - Best USENET providers, NZB sites and software reviewed on UsenetReviewz.com

The Complete Usenet Guide

Sat, 20 Mar 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Not everyone has heard of Usenet, even though it’s been around for more than four decades. While platforms like Reddit, torrents, and Discord dominate the online conversation today, Usenet quietly continues to thrive as one of the oldest — and fastest — ways to share information.

Think of it as the original social media: decentralized, unmoderated, and lightning-fast. Unlike modern platforms that rely on a single company’s servers, Usenet is powered by a global network of providers, making it resilient, secure, and remarkably private.

What exactly is Usenet?

Usenet is a worldwide discussion and file-sharing system. It predates the World Wide Web, forums, and blogs — yet it’s still used by millions of people around the globe today.

It began in 1980, when graduate students Jim Ellis and Tom Truscott at Duke University connected with Steve Bellovin at the University of California. Using two UNIX machines and the Unix-to-Unix Copy Protocol (UUCP), they exchanged short news updates. That simple transfer is remembered as the birth of Usenet — a network that would quickly grow beyond academia into a vast, user-driven system.

Unlike modern platforms where posts live on corporate servers, Usenet replicates content across thousands of independent servers. That decentralization is what makes it so durable — no single point of failure, no single owner, and no corporate algorithm shaping what you see.

How to Search and Download from USENET

Sat, 20 Apr 2019 00:00:00 +0000

USENET is fast, private, and reliable when paired with a good USENET provider. But unlike the web, it relies on its own tools and terminology, which can feel confusing at first. The key challenge is knowing how to find what you’re looking for.

This guide walks you through the essentials—newsreaders, NZB sites, and USENET search engines—so you can unlock the full potential of your subscription.

You’ll learn how to search USENET for the files you want, with both free and paid options, plus tips to help you avoid wasted time and spam.

Step 1: Understand the USENET Landscape

Providers may give you access to over 100,000 groups, but most binaries worth downloading are found in fewer than 100. What matters isn’t the number of groups—it’s retention time.

Retention is how long your provider keeps files available. Some search sites list uploads from years ago, but you can only download them if your provider retains them. Always choose the provider with the longest retention you can get.

Get a Good Newsreader

Your newsreader is your main tool for browsing and downloading. A good one should offer:

Built-in search (like Newshosting’s reader or Newsbin)
Efficient header management (poorly designed readers will bog down your system)
A clean, intuitive interface that’s easy to use

Because there are so many options—free and paid—we’ve curated a list of the best USENET newsreaders. Your provider may also include one with your subscription, which is often the easiest starting point.

Glossary of Usenet Terminologies

Sat, 30 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0000

We know that Usenet can be quite confusing especially for new users out there. It is a complex system that has quite a few words and technical terms that may not be understandable to a lot of people. That is why UsenetReviewz compiled a list of terminologies to help you, hopefully, understand some of these Usenet-related words or abbreviations better.

A

alt

the hierarchy containing newsgroups devoted to a variety of miscellaneous topics which are mostly unregulated. For example, alt.zines is for discussing small press publications, magazines and pamphlets. Thealt hierarchy is not included in the Big-8 and was created separately as a place with more freedom and fewer rules.

alternative hierarchies

five other Usenet hierarchies not included in the Big 8. These hierarchies are subject to the same approval process as far as creation of a new group Is concerned. However, unmoderated newsgroups within the alternative hierarchies suffer from a great deal of spam. Thefive alternative hierarchies include bionet, bit, biz, k12, alt. Alternative hierarchies should not be confused with the alt hierarchy.

Usenet vs Torrents

Sun, 28 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

For digital enthusiasts, system administrators, and developers, Usenet and torrents represent two fundamentally different approaches to content distribution. While often compared for similar use cases, they operate on distinct network architectures with unique strengths and tradeoffs. Here’s a comprehensive technical analysis for informed users.

Historical Context: Usenet’s Evolution

Understanding Usenet requires acknowledging its remarkable legacy. Predating the World Wide Web, Usenet was conceived in 1979 as a distributed discussion system built on the UUCP (Unix-to-Unix Copy) protocol. It served as the original “social network”—a thriving ecosystem for academic discussions and kernel development long before HTTP existed. Over decades, Usenet evolved from purely text-based hierarchies to support binary encoding (initially UUEncode, later the more efficient yEnc), transforming into a high-performance platform for file distribution.

Deconstructing Protocols: NNTP vs. BitTorrent

The performance and operational differences stem from fundamentally different protocol designs.

BitTorrent: Peer-to-Peer Mesh

BitTorrent operates on a decentralized peer-to-peer model. When you initiate a transfer via a magnet link or torrent file, your client queries a Distributed Hash Table (DHT) using the KRPC protocol over UDP to locate peers. Transfer speeds depend entirely on the swarm’s collective upload bandwidth. When specific file chunks have few seeders, downloads can stall or slow dramatically.

How To Open Par2 Files

Wed, 19 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000

PAR stands for Parity ARchive, and both PAR and PAR2 files play a crucial role in repairing and replacing files that are either damaged or missing, particularly in the context of USENET. Unlike the World Wide Web, where files are transferred in a linear manner, USENET operates differently. Files and messages are relayed from one USENET server to another, each with varying storage capabilities (Retention).

Due to this complex transfer process and the differences in server capacities, it is common for parts of a USENET message to go missing. In USENET terminology, these missing segments are referred to as incompletes.

This is where Par2 files, along with the less frequently used Par files, become invaluable, as they address the issue of incomplete messages.

Utilizing Par Files

Your primary concern is likely how to effectively use par2 files to fix or replace any missing or corrupted files. The good news is that the process is relatively straightforward, provided you have the appropriate software installed.

Below is a table listing some of the top programs designed for handling Par2 and Par files.

Name	OS	Details
WinPar	Win	Freeware for Windows
MacPar	Mac	Freeware	highly recommended for Mac users
NZBGet	Win	Mac	Linux	Part of an Integrated Usenet Downloader
SabNZBD	Win	Mac	Linux	Another Integrated Usenet Downloader
ParArchive	Win	Mac	Linux	Freeware	Command Prompt	outdated

QuickPar Overview

For demonstration purposes, we will focus on QuickPar, the leading software for managing par files on Windows. Ensure that you associate both PAR2 and PAR files with QuickPar upon installation. If you frequently download binaries from USENET, consider integrating QuickPar into the Windows shell for seamless access.

5 Things You Need to Know About Usenet

Fri, 19 Aug 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Usenet might be for you if you’ve ever:

Jumped into a heated Reddit thread
Posted on a message board or forum
Downloaded files via P2P file-sharing
Connected to Tor
Watched a sketchy live stream

If you’re under 25, you might never have heard of it. But for old-school computer nerds, Usenet was the first social network. It’s part discussion forum, part file-sharing powerhouse—and still something unique even today.

Here’s why Usenet deserves your attention, and why it’s still thriving after 40+ years.

Usenet Newsgroups Came Before the Web

Long before Chrome or Firefox, Usenet was where people shared information.

In fact, Sir Tim Berners-Lee first described his idea for the “World Wide Web” inside a Usenet newsgroup (alt.hypertext) while working at CERN. His early project—WorldWideWeb—helped scientists share data instantly.

Think about that: the web itself was born on Usenet.

Usenet Was Built for Universities

Usenet started in 1979 when two Duke University grad students wanted to trade messages and files with UNC-Chapel Hill. The early network spread quickly across campuses, much like Facebook would decades later.

By 1993, AOL gave millions of users access. Overnight, Usenet shifted from an academic hangout to a global free-for-all, forever changing its culture.

Text Only Usenet Newsreaders for Linux

Fri, 19 Aug 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Usenet is a large-scale, decentralized information distribution system. First developed in the early 1980s, it has grown into one of the world’s largest messaging networks, with over 100,000 newsgroups at its peak covering nearly every topic imaginable.

Because Usenet is distributed, there are many ways to access its content. While Google Groups is one option, it is not always the best solution for browsing Usenet on Linux. This article highlights better alternatives for reading Usenet text newsgroups on Linux.

Why Not Use Google Groups?

When Google acquired Deja.com’s Usenet archive, it launched Google Groups—a web-based interface for newsgroups. While Google Groups is easy to access and only requires a Google account, it has several drawbacks:

No Threaded Discussions: Google Groups does not support proper threading, making it hard to follow complex Usenet conversations.
Poor Formatting: Posts are formatted for the web, which can cause display issues for non-Google users.
No Spam Filtering: There are no built-in filters, so users cannot easily block spam or unwanted messages.
Spam and Abuse: Google Groups is frequently abused by spammers, and many Usenet users filter out Google accounts, making participation more difficult.

Modern Usenet Text Newsreaders for Linux

In the past, most people accessed Usenet through accounts provided by their Internet Service Provider (ISP). Today, most ISPs no longer offer Usenet access, but there are several free and low-cost services available for text-only newsgroups.

Why You Can’t Download Some Files From Usenet

Sat, 13 Aug 2022 00:00:00 +0000

If you’re an experienced Usenet user, you’ve likely encountered downloads that fail to complete—despite being marked as “complete” by your Usenet provider. At first glance, Usenet transfers seem similar to peer-to-peer (P2P) downloads, but there are important differences and unique challenges. Unlike P2P, Usenet relies on a distributed network of servers that synchronize content, but retention policies, takedown requests, and technical limitations can all impact your ability to retrieve files.

Why Do Usenet Downloads Fail?

A file marked as complete on a Usenet server should, in theory, download without issue. However, several factors can prevent successful downloads. Incomplete uploads are a common technical issue, often resulting from interrupted posting or network errors. Most Usenet releases include PAR2 files—these are parity archives that allow for the repair or reconstruction of missing or damaged blocks, provided enough parity data is available. Advanced Usenet clients automatically use these files to maximize the chance of a successful download.

The most prevalent challenge today is content removal due to DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) requests. Rights-holders routinely issue DMCA notices to Usenet providers, compelling them to remove infringing material. This process is often automated, but not foolproof—sometimes legitimate files are mistakenly deleted. DMCA enforcement has become more aggressive in recent years, with providers implementing sophisticated monitoring and takedown systems. As a result, files may disappear from servers within hours of being posted, especially if they are popular or flagged by automated content recognition algorithms.

Popular Miscellaneous Programs for Usenet

Sat, 06 Aug 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Usenet in itself is pretty easy to use once you get the hang of it. With most providers and review sites having step by step guides on how to get started with Usenet, you are guaranteed to have a close to seamless experience on your exploring and downloading activity.

Of course, as required, you need to have an account with a reliable Usenet service provider. Once you have one, or even maybe several, you can start using the best newsreader that fits your needs to be able to participate in newsgroups as well as download from nzb sites and explore Usenet search engines.

While having all these components are enough to enjoy your Usenet activity, there are other pieces of software that can enhance your experience even more. These tools have specific uses that allow you to have a more convenient and efficient Usenet experience. Here are just some of the most popular softwares to use with Usenet.

Sonarr

You may automatically download video files from Usenet using Sonarr, which is a personal video recorder. The comprehensive integration of Sonarr with other newsreaders and NZB downloaders enables users of NZBGet and SABnzbd to quickly and automatically obtain the video files they require. You actually don’t need to do much to get your shows once Sonarr is set up. As they become accessible, it will continue looking for them and downloading them.

The Best Usenet Block Access Accounts

Sun, 31 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0000

A Usenet block account is essentially a pay-per-download account that remains active until the full amount of the bought data download limit has been consumed. And just like a mobile phone top-up account, you can recharge or replenish it even after you’ve used it up.

Monthly recurring Usenet accounts are the basis of our well-read piece Best Usenet Provider. We only discuss Usenet block accounts in this article.

Astraweb may be the most well-known option, but they’re not the only one. In actuality, there are currently more than a dozen block providers available.

A block account is primarily good for non-regular Usenet users or if you are not a heavy Usenet user.

Block Accounts vs Monthly Plans

Depending on the cost of each, you can determine whether it makes sense to transition from a block to a monthly plan. Because blocks get less expensive per GB the more you purchase, this is not always simple to calculate.

But if you begin regularly downloading 20 to 100 GB per month, that’s usually when it becomes economically viable to move from a block to a standing monthly service.

It should come as no surprise that the price per GB decreases as the amount of data you purchase increases in GBs (“the greater the block”).

Why Choose Usenet to Download

Fri, 29 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0000

These days there are a lot of options for downloading media via the internet. You also have streaming sites available for movies and series where you can watch and even download from. However, back in the day , there was nothing compared to Usenet, where you can exchange information which ultimately led to it being a popular platform for downloading as well.

If you’re an old-school computer expert, you’re certain to know about Usenet. Social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ were nothing compared to Usenet. Usenet quickly established itself as the go-to resource for academics and early tech geeks after it was first introduced in 1979 as a mechanism for college campuses to share “news.” Usenet has been a masterpiece for almost a decade. There was a panel discussion with animated and passionate arguments in green text on the dark screen, whether you wanted to argue about the art of the 17th century or the politics of the era. And even up to this day, there are a lot of active Usenet users exchanging information and using this platform to find the files they need.

Why Use Usenet

People had already started discussing major politics, news, and other mature matters online when the Internet was only being started and computers were still expensive, heavy, and slow. After some time, they realized how impractical it was to transfer files using floppy discs and preferred to use the Internet instead. There was absolutely no Pirate Bay, file lockers, file sharing software, or torrents. Even so, information was shared.

The Importance of Secure Usenet Ports

Sun, 24 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0000

To distinguish particular categories of network services and enable standardized communication between devices, Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) ports are utilized. Usenet is transmitted via the Network News Transfer Protocol (NNTP) through a variety of SSL-secured or non-SSL-secured TCP ports. There are numerous different types of protocols for various port types.

What is an SSL Port?

Digital data interchange between individuals and companies occurs for both sensitive and public data. Data security on the internet is much more important because of this significant internet feature. Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificates are used by an SSL port, also known as a Secured Port, to safeguard internet communications.

The primary goals of SSL technology are data encryption and authentication to maintain the security of internet connections. Our devices establish a connection with the server when we view websites. By encrypting the data passed between the server and the client, the SSL ensures that information transmitted over the internet remains private and safe, and the SSL port shows whether the connection is secure or not.

On the internet, different ports are used for different things. Web locations are divided into four or seven layers, and porting takes place in the vehicle tiers. One way to identify secure connections is through their ports. There are 65,535 ports in all.

Using Usenet for Your Business

Sat, 23 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Recently Usenet has been used more for downloading NZB files similar to how you can download torrents. However, Usenet is more than just a downloading platform. Let’s not forget that Usenet was originally developed as a message or bulletin board which facilitates online communication among its users. While in recent years Usenet has more active users in terms of NZB downloading, there are still thousands of active users exchanging information and thoughts on various topics.

There are thousands of newsgroups available on Usenet ranging from general topics like science or arts to more streamline topics like comics or even current events. With that in mind, Usenet is more than just a tool for finding and downloading files. It can be used in various ways from research via group discussion and even marketing purposes similar to how some businesses also use online forums, discussion groups and online communities.

Research Purposes

Usenet may be considered an unconventional tool for research purposes. However, if your study requires you to do surveys or attain non-academic information, then forums would be a great place for research.

Let’s say you are researching for your business on fitness and health and you need to find regular people that you can talk to about this topic. Newsgroups and forums can be useful since it is easy to find people talking about a specific subject because discussions are categorized and streamline

Alt Binaries Pictures

Sun, 07 Apr 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Alt Binaries Pictures is a dedicated section within Usenet that exclusively hosts image content. If you are on the hunt for a specific photo or wish to upload your own, this is the ideal destination. Access to the images in this section requires a subscription to the relevant newsgroup, as these pictures are not available through any other means, such as FTP archives. The only way to view these images is by being a member of the associated newsgroup.

Unsurprisingly, the most frequented newsgroups are those focused on adult content, particularly those featuring erotic, nude, and sexual imagery, which consistently dominate in terms of user engagement. Typically, the titles of these groups provide a clear indication of their content, and if you have any uncertainties, you can always browse through the images. However, be forewarned: some of the content may not be suitable for everyone and could be quite shocking. Given the minimal moderation on Usenet, you might encounter images that are unexpected or provocative.

Three Steps to Discovering Content on Usenet

Select a Usenet Service
Acquire Photo Content: NZB Sites, etc.
Choose a Usenet Newsreader to Access Binary Files

Further details on these steps can be found below.

Usenet Clients for Smartphones

Fri, 01 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0000

In today’s fast-paced world, the majority of individuals are constantly on the move, favoring technology that is portable and accessible. This trend also applies to Usenet users, who, while they may still prefer the reliability of desktop computers or laptops for accessing and downloading content, are increasingly interested in mobile applications tailored for their smartphones.

While Usenet providers typically ensure access across various devices, not every Usenet client offers a mobile-friendly version. Below are several Usenet newsreaders that you can explore and utilize directly from your smartphone.

Easynews Newsreader

Easynews stands out as a leading Usenet service provider that also features a streamlined and efficient Usenet newsgroup reader. With over 15 years of development, its web-based newsreader allows users to engage with newsgroups seamlessly from desktops, laptops, or any mobile device. It supports a variety of operating systems, including Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android, enabling users to search, view, and download files effortlessly across browsers like Chrome, Safari, or Firefox.

Subscribers to Easynews can benefit from the ability to carry over any unused data to the following month, enhancing the value of their subscription. Furthermore, Easynews accommodates popular file formats and boasts an impressive retention rate of 5,000 days. The monthly download limits vary based on the chosen subscription plan, ranging from 20GB to 150GB.

Top 10 Best Plugins for Plex YEAR

Tue, 13 Jul 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Plex is a powerful media server platform that lets you turn your computer, NAS, or even a cloud instance into your very own personal Netflix. At its core, Plex organizes all your movies, TV shows, music, and photos into a beautiful, user-friendly interface, complete with artwork, trailers, cast information, and recommendations. Once set up, you can stream your entire collection to virtually any device—smart TVs, phones, tablets, or web browsers—whether you’re at home or on the go. It takes scattered media files and transforms them into a polished, professional library.

Here is a list of the top ten plugins that help make Plex even better.

1. WebTools NG (Unsupported App Store)

WebTools NG is the essential Plex add-on because it restores functionality Plex removed when it discontinued its official plugin directory. It acts as a hub for managing and installing third-party add-ons, often referred to as the “Unsupported App Store.” With WebTools, you can install community-developed plugins, analyze Plex logs, scan for missing media, and manage subtitles more effectively. It’s considered the starting point for customizing any Plex setup because nearly every other add-on relies on it in some way.

Its reputation has stayed strong despite Plex’s shift away from plugins because WebTools ensures you can still extend Plex with features that aren’t officially supported. The project isn’t updated as frequently as it once was, but it’s stable and continues to function well with Plex Media Server in 2025. Without WebTools, your ability to use third-party plugins would be severely limited, so most advanced Plex users install it by default.

The Complete Plex Guide for YEAR

Sun, 20 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Introduction
What is Plex?
How Plex Works
Setting Up Plex Media Server
Plex Apps and Devices
Plex Pass vs. Free Version
Managing Your Library
Streaming Beyond Your Home
Beyond Personal Media
Advanced Tips
Troubleshooting
What’s New With Plex in 2025
Alternatives to Plex
Conclusion
Resources

Introduction

Plex has become the go-to solution for anyone who wants full control over their digital media. Whether you’re a movie collector, a music lover, or a cord-cutter looking to consolidate streaming services, Plex offers a flexible platform that lets you organize, stream, and share media anywhere.

But Plex isn’t just about your hard drive anymore. Over the years, it has expanded into live TV, free ad-supported movies, podcasts, music, and even gaming.

This guide will walk you through everything: from installing Plex Media Server to advanced automation setups, while covering all the latest updates in 2025.

1. What is Plex?

Plex is a media server + client ecosystem.

Plex Media Server (PMS): The “brains” of Plex, running on a computer, NAS, or container.
Plex apps (clients): Smart TVs, mobile devices, streaming sticks, and browsers that connect to PMS.

💡 Think of Plex as building your own Netflix — but with your library instead of someone else’s.

Getting an Invite from a Usenet Indexer

Sat, 17 Apr 2021 00:00:00 +0000

One of the key tools for fully enjoying Usenet is a reliable indexer. Indexers act like search engines for Usenet posts, which aren’t searchable through Google or other standard engines. While some providers—like Newshosting—include a built-in newsreader with search, many users prefer a dedicated Usenet indexer to discover high-quality NZB files quickly and reliably.

But here’s the challenge: not all indexers are equal. Some are open and easy to join, while others are invite-only and much harder to access. Knowing the difference can save you time and frustration.

Public vs. Private Indexers

There are two main categories of Usenet indexers: public and private.

Public Indexers
- Easy to access (some require no registration).
- Free or premium options available.
- Examples: NZBIndex, Binsearch, NZBStars, Easynews, NZBFinder, NZBGeek.
- ✅ Do it Now: If you’re just starting out, sign up with a public indexer today to test how they work.
Private Indexers
- Invite-only, community-driven platforms.
- Known for higher-quality, well-curated NZB files.
- Examples: NZBCat, NZBPlanet, DrunkenSlug, DogNZB.
- ⚡ If you want the best content, start working toward getting into a private indexer.

Why Private Indexers Stand Out

Curated, high-quality NZB files.
Smaller, more trusted user communities.
Controlled membership = less spam and clutter.
Often updated faster and more reliably than public alternatives.

💡 If quality matters to you, invest your time in securing access to at least one private indexer.

How to open NZB files

Mon, 03 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000

NZB files were developed within the Usenet framework to enhance the efficiency of file downloads. But what precisely constitutes an NZB file?

Understanding the Structure of NZB Files

Message IDs and Articles - In Usenet, a single file can be segmented into multiple components known as “articles.” Your newsreader is responsible for reassembling these articles after they are downloaded. Each article is assigned a unique identifier, referred to as a message ID.
Efficiency Through No Headers / Multiple Message IDs - Each file possesses a distinct message ID, which enables your newsreader to identify the specific file for downloading. The NZB file comprises numerous message IDs, allowing the newsreader to initiate simultaneous downloads upon import. This is particularly advantageous as it accelerates the download process by omitting the need to download headers associated with the file.
Importing and Downloading - After acquiring your NZB file, the next step is to import it into your newsreader. This action prompts the newsreader to open the file, download all its components, and seamlessly assemble them for you. This innovation greatly alleviates the burden that users previously faced before the advent of NZB files.

Top 5 NZB Downloading Tools

Essential Tips for Handling NZB Files

An NZB file is fundamentally a text file formatted in XML, containing relevant message IDs.
All NZB files are designated with the .nzb extension.
Ensure that the .nzb extension is linked to one of the NZB download applications for effective downloading, repairing, and unpacking.
Nearly all high-quality Usenet newsreaders are compatible with the NZB file format.

Best 5 Streaming NZB Downloaders

Fri, 22 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000

USENET is about as fast as it gets for downloading. To speed things up even more, some NZB downloaders allow you to stream video and audio before a binary has completed, which makes content even more readily available.

Some of these features are so advanced that you can skip forward and back in the files you’re downloading, making it essentially no different than having the complete file on your hard drive, almost instantly.

You’ll need a fast Internet connection to stream from NZBs.

If you have that, here are five of the best options out there for streaming binariesas you’re downloading them.

Top 5 Streaming NZBDownloaders

#1 - NZBGet

NZBGet is a robust and continually evolving Usenet downloader that has seen significant improvements since its launch.

The most recent version has been actively maintained, with updates rolling out regularly.

Configuring NZBGet can be a bit more complicated than some of the other options on this list. That being said, it’s lightweight, powerful and very easy to use once you get the hang of it.

Add an HTPC plugin to NZBGet and you’ll be ready to go. This downloader is a popular alternative to SABnzbd.

Leading NZB Downloader
Cross-Platform Compatibility
Intuitive Web Interface
Advanced Automation Features

Read About NZBGet

NZBGet vs SabNZBD

Fri, 24 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Which NZB downloader Is Best for Your Needs?

If you’ve engaged with Usenet communities or explored reviews of NZB software, you’ve likely encountered the persistent debate: NZBGet or SABnzbd? Although SABnzbd has a longer history and boasts a dedicated user base, NZBGet has gained significant traction due to its impressive speed, efficiency, and lightweight architecture.

Despite this, SABnzbd remains a top contender in the NZB downloader arena. User loyalty often stems from familiarity; many individuals continue to utilize software that has consistently met their needs, even when alternatives like NZBGet present notable benefits.

So, how can we objectively assess which NZB downloader holds the upper hand? What criteria should guide our evaluation?

Understanding the Functionality of NZB downloaders

An NZB downloader serves as a specialized Usenet client that facilitates the downloading and assembly of Usenet articles referenced in .nzb files. These NZB files function as navigational aids, directing the downloader to specific newsgroup locations within Usenet where the articles reside. Given the constraints of Usenet’s protocol regarding message sizes, larger files are segmented into smaller parts and distributed across multiple posts.

The downloader’s role is to identify, retrieve, and reconstruct these segments into the original file. Many of these files are compressed to enhance download efficiency, with RAR archives being the predominant format. This approach not only accelerates the downloading process but also minimizes storage and bandwidth demands. NZB downloaders simplify this intricate procedure, enabling users to access substantial files swiftly and effectively through Usenet.

How to Find Movies on Usenet

Thu, 07 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0000

For those who find it challenging to locate quality movies on Usenet, your search ends here. The days of endlessly sifting through Usenet search engines are behind you, as the process has become remarkably straightforward.

Usenet hosts a variety of newsgroups such as alt.binaries.boneless and alt.binaries.multimedia.vintage-film that are worth exploring. While you can still examine specific newsgroups for your desired films, the most efficient approach nowadays is to utilize NZB indexers.

It’s essential to have an account with a reputable Usenet service provider—options like Newshosting, Eweka, or Easynews are among the best. A high-quality Usenet service is crucial for optimizing your downloading experience from newsgroups.

Top NZB Indexers

NZB indexers serve as invaluable tools, allowing users to locate files without the need to manually browse through various newsgroups. Functioning similarly to search engines, these platforms enable users to input keywords into a search bar, yielding results that align with their queries.

The appeal of NZB indexers for movie searches lies in their user-friendly features, which include sections dedicated to recent releases and trending content. Additionally, many indexers offer filtering options that enhance the search experience by narrowing down results.

Here are some of the leading NZB indexers worth considering:

How To Use OffCloud For Usenet

Sat, 02 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Offcloud is a cloud-based download manager that provides a secure and streamlined Usenet experience without requiring a traditional newsgroup client. Its intuitive SaaS (Software as a Service) platform allows users to retrieve data from the cloud with minimal technical effort.

Key Features of Offcloud for Usenet:

No need for a standalone Usenet client—everything is managed in the cloud.
Supports direct downloads from Usenet to multiple cloud and remote storage services.
Simple NZB file upload process; Offcloud recognizes most newsgroup links and formats.
Secure authentication and transfer protocols for all supported services.
User-friendly interface suitable for both beginners and advanced users.

Offcloud’s Usenet capability combines the flexibility and availability of a SaaS solution with the simplicity of a modern download process. Users can easily upload NZB files to Offcloud, which then handles the download and transfer to the chosen destination. Supported destinations include WebDAV, FTP, Dropbox, and Google Drive, making it easy to integrate Usenet downloads into your existing cloud workflow.

Downloading from Usenet to WebDAV

Add your WebDAV server credentials in the Offcloud account settings.
Upload your NZB file and select your WebDAV server as the destination.
Offcloud processes the download and transfers the files directly to your WebDAV-enabled server.
Check your server for the completed downloads.

WebDAV integration is ideal for users who want to automate file transfers to self-hosted or enterprise storage solutions.

The Evolution of Online Communication

Sat, 11 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000

These days there are a lot of communication applications available for your smartphones, tablets and personal computer. You can easily check the app store or play store to find dozens of programs that all promise to be the most intuitive, simplest and best application that essentially has the same function which is to send instant messages, photos and videos to your family and friends.

However, all these trendy and modern programs that we use to interact with each other are products of years and years of technological advancements and evolution from past softwares and programs that were dramatically different.

The Rise of Chat Rooms

So while email is commonly considered as a precursor to modern instant messaging, they did not appear that far apart from each other. In 1971, the modern form of email was invented on the ARPANET system which is a US military network considered as one of the forerunners of the Internet. And after just two years, real-time chat came into fruition when Talkomatic was created at the University of Illinois.

Talkomatic was very similar to more modern chat rooms like the IRC system which was released in 1988 and has a large number of channels. However, the difference is that Talkomatic only featured six channels or rooms with up to five users each.

Blockchain vs Usenet

Fri, 27 Aug 2021 00:00:00 +0000

We came across a forum question recently, asking if Usenet is decentralized like Bitcoin. And browsing through that particular forum thread made us think how Usenet can be compared to blockchain, which is essentially a decentralized digital ledger that had its first real world application when Bitcoin was launched in early 2009.

While the applications of blockchain and Usenet differ greatly, there are certain similarities with these two protocols. But before we dive into that, for the purpose of educating some readers, let’s get into what blockchain is.

What is Blockchain?

Blockchain seems complicated at first and in all honesty, it can be. However, the core concept of this protocol is quite simple. It is basically a type of database. But what differs blockchain from a typical database is the way data is structured. Like the name indicates, a blockchain is a chain of blocks that contains information. This technique was originally described in 1991 by a group of researchers and was originally intended to timestamp digital documents so that it’s impossible to backdate them or to tamper with them. However, it went by mostly unused until it was adapted to create the digital cryptocurrency Bitcoin.

A blockchain is a distributed ledger that is completely open to anyone. They have an interesting property: once some data has been recorded inside a blockchain, it becomes very difficult to change it. Each block contains the following:

Alt Binaries Newsgroups

Wed, 17 Apr 2019 00:00:00 +0000

The alt. hierarchy represents a significant classification within Usenet, distinct from the original Big Seven categories. Established during the notable renaming event in 1987, this category emerged to address the inadequacies in group categorization. The core Usenet providers restructured the naming conventions, leading to the formation of the Big Seven, which includes comp, misc, news, rec, sci, and talk. The alt category was subsequently introduced to accommodate a broader range of discussions. For a deeper understanding of the Usenet hierarchies, refer to the detailed guide here.

Three Steps to Discovering Content on Usenet

Select a Usenet Service
Acquire Photo Content: NZB Sites, etc.
Opt for a Usenet Newsreader to Access Binary Files

Continue reading below for an in-depth exploration of these steps.

Step 1: Select from the Top 3 Usenet Services

Newshosting

Best Overall
Fastest Speeds
Free Newsreader

Eweka

Leading EU Provider
Exceptional Retention
Outstanding Completion

UsenetServer

Unlimited Access
NZB Search
Fast Speeds

To download the desired content, you will need to establish an account with a Usenet Service provider. While there are some free Usenet options available, often determined by your Internet Service Provider (ISP), most users will find it necessary to invest a modest fee for optimal access.

How To Stay Anonymous On USENET

Sun, 07 Jul 2019 00:00:00 +0000

For those engaging with USENET to download binary files, maintaining anonymity is crucial. Here are three compelling reasons to prioritize your privacy.

Three Reasons to Stay Anonymous on Usenet

Privacy - Various monitoring services employed by ISPs and governments gather extensive information about your online activities. This can lead to unwanted scrutiny and potential breaches of your personal data.
Bandwidth Management - Even if your ISP is not privy to the specific files you’re downloading, they can still analyze your overall traffic patterns. If they identify your NNTP (Usenet-based) traffic as low-priority, this could result in throttled speeds, hampering your experience.
Legal Safeguards - In the event you inadvertently download copyrighted material while accessing newsgroups, you could face legal repercussions. A few missteps can lead to significant issues, making it wise to keep your ISP in the dark about your activities.

Fortunately, there are three key strategies we recommend for USENET users to maintain their anonymity online.

Three Recommendations to Stay Anonymous on USENET

Enable SSL - First and foremost, always enable SSL when connecting to your USENET service provider. This not only protects your uploads and downloads from prying eyes but also minimizes the chances of your ISP throttling your USENET traffic. To enable SSL, ensure that you use a newsreader that supports this feature—most do. You can find comparisons of newsreaders on our newsreader comparison pages. Interestingly, many USENET newsreaders do not activate SSL by default.
Utilize a VPN - While using SSL should provide a solid layer of anonymity, if you frequently download from USENET, you might also be engaging with torrent materials. In such cases, we strongly recommend signing up for a VPN service. A virtual private network encrypts your internet traffic between your ISP and the VPN server. For instance, if you’re located in South America and wish to access Hulu’s services in the United States, a VPN server based in the USA would enable that.
Avoid Uploading - It is advisable to refrain from uploading content to USENET unless you are fully aware of the implications. Downloading from our recommended USENET providers is generally safe, as many of them have upload functions disabled by default. Once you start uploading, you enter a complex legal territory that can lead to complications.

Spotnet vs SpotLite vs SpotWeb

Thu, 06 May 2021 00:00:00 +0000

For active participants in the Usenet community, it is highly likely that you have come across or utilized Spotnet, Spotweb, or SpotLite. These three applications serve primarily as tools for searching and downloading files from Usenet, providing a straightforward, one-click experience.

Similar to NZB downloaders like NZBGet and Sabnzbd, these applications are frequently compared. This is largely due to their similar nomenclature, as they all incorporate the term “spot,” which pertains to user-generated index entries within decentralized file-sharing networks such as newsgroups.

A “spot” encompasses a downloadable file along with its associated metadata, designed for sharing among users. This concept is akin to entries found in traditional search engine indexes, with the key distinction being that spots are created by users to facilitate the identification, organization, and dissemination of content.

So, what distinguishes Spotnet, Spotweb, and SpotLite from one another? Which software emerges as the optimal choice for users?

Before delving into the specifics, it is essential to examine each program independently.

Spotnet

Spotnet gained traction among Usenet users following the closure of the prominent Dutch community, FTD. It quickly established itself as a viable alternative for downloading content from newsgroups.

As a user-friendly newsgroup indexer, Spotnet allows users to effortlessly browse various files within newsgroups, facilitating downloads, repairs, and extractions. This makes it a comprehensive solution for obtaining NZB files.

How to Download and Decode

Wed, 03 Jul 2019 00:00:00 +0000

If you are using Usenet, then you will most definitely want to download files at some point. As discussed in our article, pro and cons of Usenet and in our article usenet vs torrents, Usenet offers

Speed
Security / Privacy
Ease of Use

Given a good newsreader like the Newshosting Newsreader, downloading can be as easy as 1, 2, 3.

Start Newshosting Newsreader and enter your username and password
Search for a file
Click Download

Common files you will be able to download may include pictures (jpg, gif, bmp), e-books (PDF, doc, djvu), compressed and split rar files.

Direct Downloading From Alt.Binaries

If you subscribe directly to a Newsgroup, then you can download directly without getting involved with nzb files, depending on your personal settings. Typically, this would be related to an interest in a Alt.binaries group which you could be scanning or reviewing directly.

File Formats You’ll Encounter on Usenet ( 2026 Update)

Usenet posts are still dominated by tried-and-true formats like RAR and PAR2, but newer compression and packaging standards are occasionally used. Here’s an updated breakdown:

RAR & Split Archives (.rar, .r00, .r01, .001, .002, etc.)

RAR remains the standard packaging format for binaries on Usenet. Large files are compressed and split into dozens (sometimes hundreds) of smaller pieces for easier upload.

What is NNTP ?

Wed, 17 Apr 2019 00:00:00 +0000

NNTP is an acronym for Network News Transfer Protocol. From the user end, it simply refers to the means by which the many thousands of various newsgroups and their associated content are accessed by client computers.

The protocol is an old one and has long been established as a useful form of networking and exchanging files online. The protocol is based on the sharing of large amounts of information between the various NNTP servers and the client ’s ability to selectively download parts of that information as dictated by their needs and interests.

There is an incredibly large and diverse amount of information exchanged between users via this protocol.

The NNTP protocol is rather complex, but a suitable analogy for how the information is exchanged is in comparing it to pouring a quantity of water on a flat surface. Any server within the system transfers its information in all directions simultaneously.

The other servers within the system select only those articles they want, principally based on the articles being updates to existing conversations. These servers do have built-in systems that reduce the amount of spam material found on the various groups.

Duplication Content Detection

An NNTP server can determine if a post contains duplicate content. Those who spam newsgroups generally post the same message to several different groups. The servers will detect these posts and eliminate them from their downloads.

Best Block Usenet Providers

Thu, 11 Apr 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Usenet providers tend to offer block packages to their customers. The reason for this is that many ISPs limit the downloads that an individual has in their bandwidth allocation. This is an unnecessary limitation in most cases but there is little that a person can do about it other than change their internet service provider. A block is a set allocation of download capacity. These range from 5 GB upwards. The upside of buying a block is that it is a lot cheaper than signing up for an unlimited access service. There are unlimited services available, but if you have a bandwidth limitation on your ISP, then there really is no point in signing up for an unlimited account. The block account is a lot cheaper and you can tailor your subscription to suit you.

Some of our favorite block Usenet providers are listed here and these are the ones we have found that have the best selection of packages and range of prices.

How To Open Rar Files

Sun, 07 Apr 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Three Advantages of RAR Files vs ZIP Files

Compression – A RAR file is a compressed archive similar to a ZIP file. Both use mathematical algorithms to store more data in less space. RAR files typically achieve better compression ratios than ZIP files, though they may require more time to compress.
Split Archives – RAR technology allows large files to be split into multiple parts (multivolume archives), making them easier to upload, download, and share—especially on Usenet.
Unicode Filenames – RAR compression supports foreign language filenames (Unicode), ensuring compatibility with international content.

How To Open RAR Files

To open RAR files, use one of the recommended programs below:

Windows

WinRAR: The best program for both opening and creating RAR files. Highly recommended for Windows users.

macOS

The Unarchiver: A free RAR extractor that can unzip files and supports dozens of other formats.

Linux

RAR command line tools: Free and available for all operating systems.

The basic command-line version of RAR is free and works on all platforms. On Windows, WinRAR offers a free trial that never truly expires and is available in many languages. For best results, associate WinRAR with all available compression file types, especially RAR files.

History Of Usenet

Sat, 09 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Usenet, shorthand for User Network, is a decentralized computer network that was created with the intention of furthering communications between various academics in universities located worldwide.

Originally intended for discussion, Usenet was created by a pair of Duke University students in 1979. The general concept was to create a BBS(Bulletin Board System) or discussion group that could be used worldwide. Usenet users would subscribe and hopefully participate in various discussion taking place in their chosen category aka newsgroup.

Interestingly enough as Usenet appeared before the Internet, messages and discussions would be transported by voluntary computer networks. Transportation mechanisms would vary but much of the data was moved via dialup modems and public standard telephone networks. For more technical details refer to information about the UUCP networks ,etc. refer to these articles Usenet RFC.

Usenet was designed for a time when network communication was slower and usually in ASCII text. These network differences present their own problems and solutions. See Yenc for more information www.yenc.org. Nowadays, binary files are uploaded in the RAR file format alongside with parity files in order to reduce the problems associated with the underlying ASCII based file transfer.

Fast forward to present day, if you want to get started quickly and easily in various Usenet discussion groups just for discussion and not for binary file sharing then the quickest way is to check out Google Groups - http://groups.google.com/groups/dir

The Pros and Cons of USENET

Wed, 29 May 2019 00:00:00 +0000

As it is the case with any other file sharing technology, USENET has its own pros and cons. Further, on many Internet forums, you ’ll find comparison between USENET and some other file sharing protocols. While writing this post, though, we didn ’t consult these forums, but we have used our expertise and knowledge on the subject instead. Therefore, feel free to check and consider our thoughts on pros and cons of USENET.

Pros:

Speed: when comparing USENET with other file sharing protocols, speed is always considered first. USENET is definitely one of the fastest file sharing methods available, especially if you are subscribed to a decent USENET service provider, which will not throttle your speed. While downloading files from USENET, normally you will only be limited with the speed of your Internet connection.
Privacy and security: many USENET service providers will give you an option to connect to the servers using the SSL encryption. Since the files that will be transferred through your ISP infrastructure will be encrypted with some encryption key, only you and your USENET service provider will know what you are downloading.
Ease of use: USENET is very simple to use. Nowadays, there are numerous great USENET clients , NZB Sites and USENET search engines that have very user-friendly interface, which is, as such, very easy to use.

Cons:

Price: although some Internet service providers provide the free access to USENET, it is usually just a basic level of subscription, offering few thousands of newsgroups. Therefore, to gain the complete access to everything the USENET can offer, monthly (or quarterly, yearly, etc) subscription fee is supposed to be paid. There are numerous USENET service providers that offer the package with unlimited traffic for only few dollars a month.
Viruses: as it ’s the case with other file sharing methods, USENET is not immune to viruses. Therefore, you should always be very careful what you will download next.
USENET service providers: although this can ’t go directly into the Cons group, you must be careful while choosing your USENET service provider. As there are hundreds of providers offering their services, you must be familiar with USENET terminology; if you don ’t know what are e.g. retention and completion rate, do not hesitate to browse our website for more information.

In order to facilitate the selection of your next USENET service provider, feel free to check our list of recommended USENET providers.

Usenet Newsgroups vs Google Groups

Tue, 09 Jul 2019 00:00:00 +0000

According the Wikipedia definition, Usenet is a worldwide distributed Internet discussion system. It was first described on Duke University in 1979 and was established in the following year. Basically, USENET resembles bulletin board system (BBS) where users can post messages on certain newsgroups. Further, this message can be read by anyone who has the access to USENET newsgroups and reply can be posted on that message as well. Nowadays, thousands and thousands of newsgroups are available, covering a vast number of topics.

Google groups is the service run by Google. It is the world ’s most comprehensive archive of USENET posts, having posts that date back to the year of 1981. When comparing this fact with USENET newsgroups, Google groups do not depend on retention rate. In other words, the retention (number of days the message will stay on server) for USENET newsgroups will depend on the retention rate provided by USENET service provider. With Google groups, this is not the case.

Further, it is not required to have newsreader to access Google groups. Nothing but web browser and Internet connection are required. This is not the case with USENET newsgroups, although some providers offer web user interface as well.

How to Detect Usenet Traffic Shaping

Wed, 29 May 2019 00:00:00 +0000

The term “traffic shaping” may sound innocuous, yet it essentially describes the practice of Internet Service Providers (ISPs) reducing your connection speed when you utilize specific online services. Commonly, both torrent and USENET traffic are subjected to this throttling by ISPs. Fortunately, there are ways to determine if your connection is being affected and strategies you can employ to mitigate any issues.

Conducting the Test

When you experience sluggish speeds on USENET, the initial step is to consult with your USENET provider. Technical issues can arise occasionally, and most providers are willing to assist you in diagnosing any problems.

Additionally, it’s prudent to perform standard troubleshooting measures, such as inspecting your router, to rule out any local connectivity issues. A significant indication of throttling is when your internet speeds meet the expected levels, except during specific usage scenarios, like those mentioned earlier.

If you have a suspicion of throttling, consider utilizing the Glasnost Test. This test typically takes about eight minutes to complete, and it’s advisable to avoid downloading large files during this period. It will assess your connection for throttling across various services, including Bittorrent, eMule, Gnutella, Email, HTTP, SSH, USENET, and streaming video platforms. If you encounter resistance from your ISP, the results of this test can serve as compelling evidence in your discussions with them.

How to Setup Stunnel for USENET

Thu, 20 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000

By using Stunnel you can enable SSL connections to Usenet even if you do NOT have an SSL supported Usenet newsreader or USENET news poster. Reminder Stunnel is for Windows / Andriod / UNIX only.

Setup Stunnel for Usenet in 8 Steps

1) Go the stunnel download page — > https://www.stunnel.org/downloads.html and download the latest version.
2) Install stunnel with all default options
3) Edit the stunnel.conf file and look for the following lines; Use it for client mode ;client = yes and remove the ; in front of ;client = yes
4) Edit the config file so that it looks like this ..

; Service-level configuration 
compression = zlib 
nntp 
accept = 127.0.0.1:119 
connect news.giganews.com:563

5) Save the file and close the window
6) Go to Start->All Programs->Stunnel->Run Stunnel to start stunnel and then you should see the program running in your taskbar.
7) Go to Server Setup in your favorite news client and setup a new connection with the following settings: Server address 127.0.0.1 port 119 with 20 connections
8) Use your regular login and password and you are done! Your Usenet Connection is Now Secure.

How to remove old posts from USENET

Mon, 03 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000

While being young, inexperienced, being very often a œflamer, you probably posted dozens of posts on USENET you are now ashamed of. Further, if you are still using either the same nickname or an e-mail address (or both) and don ’t want to encounter a situation where somebody will pull out your old posts and present them to a community, read further. There are few steps on how to remove posts you wish they never appeared on USENET in the first place.

There are three ways on how to achieve this, depending on whether you still have an access to an e-mail account you were using while creating these posts.

1 - Online

If you still have your e-mail information, follow these steps:

Visit https://groups.google.com/forum/, login, find your posts
Once you have found a post you would like to delete, click more options (it is located next to the date of your post)
Under the subject line, several options will appear. Naturally, you ’ll choose Remove
Select Yes, remove it now, then click Confirm.

In a case you don ’t have an e-mail access anymore, the situation is rather complicated. You will have to verify by court order that you owned the email address, as the post cannot be removed prior this verification. Once you acquire the verification, you should send your documents to the following address:

How To Open NFO Files

Sat, 29 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000

NFO files contain information about any binary downloaded from the Usenet or other services. The extension “.nfo”, in fact, is a contraction of the word “information”. These files are a direct replacement for the common “readme.txt” files that usually accompany large downloads. Most often, these files will be found in archives such as RAR or ZIP files and are intended to give the user insight into the content, proper usage and origins of the files. These files are, in reality, nothing more than a text file with a different extension.

To read NFO files, one may use either a program specific to the task or their own text editor. To do the latter, one either sends the file to the text editor program””Open With” on the file menu”or changes the extension. For example, one might rename a file named “ReadThis.nfo” to “ReadThis.txt”. The file, when clicked, will then open in the computer ’s default plaintext reader due to the changed file extension. There are some fun benefits, however, to actually reading these files in a dedicated NFO reader program.

Our Recommended NFO Viewers

Since these files were first introduced, they ’ve traditionally been given a bit of artistic flare. To read NFO files as intended, one must use either a reader or a fixed-width font, such as the Terminal font included in plaintext editors. This allows the reader to see the various ASCII art included in these files. Usually, these are complex logos created by the uploader or uploaders and function as something akin to an Internet trademark. ASCII art will not display properly in variable-spaced font so, if one wants the authentic Usenet experience, they should either use their text editor manually or change the extension so that it opens in that program automatically and change the font to Terminal.

The Five Alternative USENET Hierarchies

Sat, 27 Apr 2019 00:00:00 +0000

The most established and popular hierarchies on the USENET system belonged to the Big 8 hierarchies, those created in the mid-1980s to help deal with the increasing popularity of the USENET system. There are five other hierarchies, however, called the Five Alternative hierarchies or, simply, the alternative hierarchies.

These hierarchies are subject to the same approval process where the creation of new groups is concerned as are the mainstream hierarchies and contain many high-quality groups. The alternative hierarchies are not all the same as the alt hierarchy, which has absolutely no standards for the creation of groups whatsoever.

The five alternative USENET hierarchies do have excellent groups to offer. When people talk about the 9,000 or 10,000 groups on USENET that represent the best examples of what a USENET group should be, they usually include some groups from these hierarchies among them. The alternative hierarchies include:

bionet: biology
bit: from the Bitnet mailing lists
biz: business, includes marketing materials
k12: educational topics covering grades K-12
alt: unregulated, numerous topics

All of these various hierarchies are useful, accepting the alt hierarchy. This hierarchy is notorious for bogus groups and for having a lot of spam. The process for creating a group in the alt hierarchy is looser than it is for all of the other hierarchies.

Understanding the Usenet Hierarchies

Tue, 12 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000

With so many topics and groups available on the Usenet it was long ago arranged into separate sections in order to make it easier for people to search and find the topics that they wanted and the groups they wanted to join. These different sections are known as the Big Eight Hierarchies. The big eight consist of the following:

What Are The Big Eight

Key Features of the Big Eight Hierarchies:

Each hierarchy covers a broad subject area, making navigation easier.
Groups are named using a dot notation (e.g., comp.lang.python, sci.physics, rec.sport.soccer).
Most hierarchies are moderated and require a proposal and voting process for new group creation (except alt).
Hierarchies help prevent clutter and duplication, keeping Usenet organized.
The Big Eight were established to bring order to the rapidly growing Usenet in the 1980s.

Historical Milestones:

1979: Usenet is created by Tom Truscott and Jim Ellis.
Early 1980s: Usenet expands globally, connecting universities and research centers.
Mid-1980s: The Big Seven hierarchies are formalized to organize newsgroups.
1987: John Gilmore creates the alt hierarchy, allowing unrestricted group creation.
1990s: The rise of alt.binaries transforms Usenet into a major file-sharing platform.
2000s-present: Usenet remains active, especially for technical, academic, and binary-sharing communities.

Group Creation Process (Big Eight):

Getting Started with Bitcoin

Sun, 11 Nov 2018 00:00:00 +0000

Bitcoin and Usenet

Enough that we had to rewrite our intro to Bitcoin article!

Here are the basics you’ll need to know about this cryptocurrency to get started using it.

It’s anonymous, easy to use and can be converted into fiat currency seamlessly using the right services.

Bitcoin terminology gets a little overwhelming at times, but read on and you’ll find that it’s not nearly as complicated as you might think.

The Basics: What It Is and Why You Want It

In real life, meaning those short stretches of time when you’re not in front of your computer, cash is the most anonymous way to buy and sell. Cash doesn’t have your name on it, isn’t connected to your bank account and can’t be used to hijack your identity or for similar nefarious purposes.

Bitcoin is sort of like that, but it’s for the Internet. Before we get into the technicalities, some things you should know:

Transaction fees are often cheaper using Bitcoin than they are with services such as PayPal

Transactions are completed quickly, even when you’re moving money overseas

Bitcoin is anonymous, as was said, but it can be tracked back to you, more on that below

How to Start a Newsgroup in USENET

Thu, 06 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000

If you have an idea for starting your own Newsgroup on USENET, it’s not as easy as simply hitting a “create” button. There’s a sort of “best practices” you need to follow in order to ensure your group will stand a chance of being formed.

Check for a Similiar Group

First, make sure your group doesn’t already exist_. Obviously, trying to start another version will be a waste of time. Furthermore, it won’t get approved for creation anyway.

As long as your idea doesn’t already exist, it’s time to go ahead with your charter. This is essentially a constitution of sorts for your newsgroup. Use this document to explain which types of articles will be accepted and which type you classify as unacceptable. You’ll want to talk about how moderators will be appointed, replaced, etc. Anyone who wants to become part of your newsgroup needs to abide by the charter you have created. You don’t have to overcomplicate things though, either.

Step Two - Newsgroup Hosting

Next, you’ll need a hosting service for your group, which is where the procedures will differ some. Basically, you need to apply to these hosts, which means they may ask certain things of you before approving your group. Amongst other things, they will review your charter to see if it’s something they approve of.

How to Improve Programming skills with USENET

Sat, 04 May 2019 00:00:00 +0000

If you want to learn some programming language, in most cases, you just have to type the name of that language into Google or other preferred search engine and use some keywords (such as tutorial, lessons, etc) to find resources.

If you don ’t like this approach, but you like books instead, numerous books are available on Amazon, eBay or some other online store (don ’t forget to read the users comments before you click buy, though).

On the other hand, there is one excellent resource which is basically much older than WWW and many younger programmers and Internet users may never even heard about; it ’s called Usenet.

Although discussions on USENET are slowly losing their battle with various forums available on WWW (mostly due to their fancy options and many other features USENET does not offer), USENET is very often a place where highly skilled programmers with years of experience gather and give advice.

Therefore, if certain newsgroup is active, it is likely that you will get great piece of advice from some top-notch programmer with lots of experience and who wishes to share his knowledge.

It is also good to know that all that is for free, as many Internet service providers offer free access to many text-based newsgroups. Many newsgroups (and their archives) are available through Google Groups, which is free as well.

How to Backup Your Data Using USENET

Wed, 27 Feb 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Online data backup services sometimes charge quite a bit of money for what they offer. If you want to get around the monthly charges, you can actually use your USENET service as a way to backup your data. Because there is so much storage on these services—up to 4 years of retention, in some cases—you can store an enormous amount of data on USENET servers.

The files you upload for backup purposes will be publically available, so you’ll have to encrypt them to prevent them from being downloaded and accessed by someone else.

Create an Encrypted Drive

You’ll want to create an encrypted drive. You can do this with a tool called Veracrypt. The program allows you to create a virtual drive that is encrypted. Your computer mounts it as if it were a separate drive. After you have this done, you’ll need to zip the drive using a compression tool.

Compress the Drive

Once you have the encrypted drive ready to go, you can compress it just as you would any other folder. You can use tools such as WinRAR, which is a paid utility. You can also use a free tool called 7-Zip to do this.

Once you have the file zipped up and ready to go, you have to create a PAR file.

How to open ISO files

Sun, 13 Jan 2019 00:00:00 +0000

A question that often crops up is how to open an iso file. First we should clarify what an iso file is. When you see an iso, you should regard it like a zip or cab file that has not been compressed. It is simply a complete copy of a CD or DVD.

You will find that many of the files that you download from the Usenet come in an iso format, so you do need to know how to open them correctly. The easiest program to do the sorting for you is the WinRAR program. It has been around for a while, is widely used and reliable and is streamlined to a very simple process.

Read our article about winrar and opening rar files here but basically, you can pick up a free copy of WinRAR from all over the Usenet and the web. When you have downloaded the WinRAR, you need to install the program. There is an installation wizard which will do all the hard work for you, just be sure that you select the iso option in the set up menu to enable it to work with the files.

Once you have installed it, you are ready to tackle the file itself. Once the file is downloaded and saved into a folder, go the file. Right click on the file image, select open with WinRAR and it will open the file for you. You now have the iso file ready to use.

How to Manage Your USENET Apps on the Go

Tue, 16 Oct 2018 00:00:00 +0000

If you’re looking for a way to manage all of your USENET apps from a mobile device, you have some good options to choose from. Popular USENET programs such as SickBeard, SabNZBD and others can be managed from mobile devices, allow you to start downloads and to perform other tasks no matter where you are. Some of these apps are far better than others and two of the best are listed below.

NZB360 Leads the Pack

Where remotely managing your USENET use is concerned, it’s hard to outdo NZB360. It’s integrated with NZBMatrix, SickBeard and SabNZBD, so it certainly has most of the important programs covered. The app is designed for the Android operating system and can be downloaded from the Google Play Store.

NZB360 does things right, from the intuitive layout to the support for SSL encryption over SabNZBD and SickBeard. You’ll still need to have a USENET access provider, of course, and that provider has to support SSL to get this enhanced privacy, but our preferred providers all offer this with their services.

Different layouts allow you to take advantage of an interface that is customized to be convenient and ideal for the task at hand. Layouts specifically for videos, for instance, make it easier to get information on what you’re looking at on a small mobile screen.

The USENET misc Hierarchy

Sun, 17 Feb 2019 00:00:00 +0000

The misc hierarchy on USENET is exactly what the name implies: miscellaneous topics. Even though there are seven hierarchies that were originally created to better organize the USENET and an eighth category, humanities, was added in the mid-1990s to make the system of organization even better, there are still some subjects that just don ’t fit in quite anywhere.

When this is the case, you ’ll find them in the misc hierarchy. This USENET hierarchy can be particularly fun because of the tremendous array of subjects covered by the various newsgroups.

Some of the newsgroup subjects in the misc hierarchy overlap with subjects in the other hierarchies. Youll find, for instance, that there are some groups that are dedicated to political topics that are also found on the talk hierarchy and that there are some newsgroups dedicated to subjects that would normally be found under the rec hierarchy.

These groups do differ a bit, in most cases, from their similar groups on the other hierarchies. Like the other Big Eight hierarchies, many of the groups on the misc hierarchy have been around for a while and have plenty of long term followers. This is a great hierarchy to take a look at if you just want to meet some new people and enjoy yourself.

The USENET rec Hierarchy

Fri, 18 Jan 2019 00:00:00 +0000

There are plenty of Internet forums dedicated to hobbies, but none of them are as diverse or as long-lived as the newsgroups on the rec hierarchy of the USENET system. The rec hierarchy is one of the first created and constitutes one of the Big Eight hierarchies, which were all devised by a referendum when the USENET first started to become very popular in the mid-1980s.

Today, some of the most interesting and lively conversations about a wide array of recreational activities are found within this newsgroup hierarchy.

Like all other USENET newsgroup hierarchies, the rec hierarchy uses a naming convention in which rec is followed by a dot which is followed by a name that defines the topic of the newsgroup in question. In many cases, there is another name that follows the first name that further clarifies the purpose of the newsgroup.

For example, if you have an interest in alpine skiing, you could seek out the group rec.skiing.alpine to talk with other people who share your passion for this exciting activity. Given the nature of the USENET, you ’re more likely to find people who are actually professionals or who are at least very knowledgeable about the topic they post about on the USENET than you are on the Internet at large.

The USENET sci Hierarchy

Sun, 23 Dec 2018 00:00:00 +0000

Unfortunately, the Internet is sometimes one of the absolute worst places to discuss anything about science. It ’s full of people who are unqualified to speak about it at all but who post endlessly, nonetheless, on any Internet forum they can find.

If you ’re looking for a higher level of conversation, you may want to try the USENET sci hierarchy, one of the best places in the world to meet some of the most accomplished individuals in the sciences and to get a peek into the conversations that they have.

Whenever a new way of exchanging information is devised, scientists are among the first to make use of it. Scientists were among the first users to get online on the first versions of what we know as the Internet. The same holds true of the USENET.

The sci hierarchy was created in the mid-1980s to accommodate the growing popularity of the USENET system. When the system was created in the late 1970s, however, scientists were among the first to make use of it in its early years. The sci hierarchy endures today as one of the absolute best places to go if you want to get information on just about any scientific field you can imagine.

The USENET comp Hierarchy

Sun, 09 Dec 2018 00:00:00 +0000

It should come as no surprise that one of the first USENET newsgroup hierarchies created was the comp hierarchy, which has specifically to do with computers. This hierarchy was created in the mid-80s when the other Big Eight hierarchies were created. Today, it is one of the best known hierarchies on USENET and contains some of the best discussions related to computers in the world.

If you ’re not familiar with USENET newsgroup discussions, they tend to differ quite a bit from the discussions youll find on Internet forums. Where computer related topics are concerned, you ’ll find that many of the discussions on Internet forums are actually based around specific products or are commercial sites in and of themselves that require people to purchase subscriptions to see the entire thread where they may or may not find the answers that they ’re looking for.

If you have a [USENET subscription][1], you ’re able to join any group you want them to read all the posts you want. One of the unique characteristics of the USENET makes the comp hierarchy particularly useful to those who love technology.

The USENET is famous for being the place where many very qualified and very knowledgeable individuals go to discuss the topics of the various newsgroups. Because this is the case, you can generally get any computer question you ’ve ever wanted answered addressed by one of the people within the appropriate category in the comp hierarchy.

The USENET soc Hierarchy

Wed, 31 Oct 2018 00:00:00 +0000

The USENET soc hierarchy was created in the mid-1980s and constitutes one of the Big Eight hierarchies, the oldest currently operating hierarchies on the USENET system. The system of naming was devised to better separate the subjects of the various newsgroups contained within them.

The USENET system became very popular in the 1980s and seven original categories were created by referendum that were designed to make it easier for users to navigate to the information that they wanted. If you ’re looking for information about social issues, the social sciences or anything else related to social topics, the soc hierarchy is for you.

The soc hierarchy can be surprisingly diverse. For example, there are groups that are designed for people who are in the military, groups for grad students and groups for people who have a specific interest in the social sciences, and further subgroups for people who have an interest in a particular branch of the social sciences.

This is one of the true strengths of the USENET as a communications platform. The newsgroups are oftentimes so specific that there is little work to be done sorting through posts that are off topic or that will not be interesting to the people reading them.

The USENET news Hierarchy

Fri, 05 Oct 2018 00:00:00 +0000

The USENET news hierarchy is where you want to go when you have questions about this system. This is one of the first hierarchy is created; it was created by referendum in the 1980s. Because this is such an old hierarchy, some of the best and most active groups are found within it.

If you ’re interested in USENET history, in learning how to use the system better or in learning tips and tricks that can make it a lot more fun, you ’ll want to check out groups in the news hierarchy. This is also the place to go if you want to know about the various procedures and practices that are common to USENET server administrators.

USENET is a decentralized system. This means that there is no one webpage you can seek out to find out the rules for every particular server. Likewise, there is no one newsgroup where the rules for the entire USENET are defined.

Quite simply, there are no universally applicable laws where the USENET system is concerned. There are, however, some generally accepted standards for behavior on the USENET system. If you want to learn about these, the news hierarchy is the best place to look.

What Are Incompletes

Thu, 31 Jan 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Incompletes are binary files downloaded from a newsgroup which, for one reason or another, are inappropriately truncated or otherwise damaged in a way that prevents them from being used as intended. These files can be frustrating for end users but, fortunately, newsgroup technology provides easy fixes for these situations.

The reasons this happens are myriad but, mostly, it has to do with the way in which data is transferred between one Usenet server and another. Understanding this data-sharing strategy shines a bit of light on the causes of these difficulties.

Incompletes sometimes result from communication difficulties between servers. A Usenet server works a bit differently than a regular Internet server. One ’s Usenet server downloads its content from other Usenet servers. This process continues and the information is propagated throughout the entire network in this manner.

Sometimes, there are problems during the transfer of the data that cause the files to be cut off before the entire binary is transferred. This is oftentimes the origin of a file that is not complete. In general, most users claim that pay-for-access servers are better at attending to this concern as they have a great deal of interest in providing their clients with the best possible service.

How to Avoid USENET Problems on Campus Connection

Tue, 22 Jan 2019 00:00:00 +0000

If you have a USENET account or access to another service that consumes high amounts of bandwidth, you might find yourself in conflict with your campus IT department.

Of course, if you ’re sharing or downloading copyrighted material, you might run into even more trouble.

Here are some ways you can stay on good terms with your college ’s IT department.

1: Download During Off Hours

If you plan on pulling a lot of bandwidth-if you ’re using Sonarr or CouchPotato, for instance-make sure you only use your connection heavily during off hours.

Most of the time, people will be off line, for the most part, after 3am. They ’ll usually get up bright and early, so expect the network to be used heavily again by 6 or 7am.

If you schedule your downloads during the off hours, you ’re less likely to eat up bandwidth that other users require and, thus, less likely to generate any complaints.

2: Use SSL or a VPN

Encrypt your traffic whenever you ’re on a campus connection. This is particularly important if you ’re downloading something that the college might frown upon.

The fact that you ’re using encryption shouldn ’t attract any attention. VPNs are very popular these days, so you certainly won ’t be the only person on the campus network using one.

The Decentralized Design of USENET

Fri, 30 Nov 2018 00:00:00 +0000

If you understand the way the Internet works, the workings of the USENET system will be very familiar to you. It is a decentralized system in which each individual server has a specific administrator but which has no overarching authority that applies to all of the servers.

Each individual server connects to others and, eventually, all of the servers will connect either directly or through a chain of servers to one of the major USENET servers in the world. The servers operate on their own rules, so a server may update very frequently or very infrequently, though most of them update at least once per day.

The USENET server downloads all of the new articles from the other servers to which it connects. When you connect to the USENET server, you download all the updates to the newsgroups to which you subscribe.

If you write a reply to these newsgroups, you upload it to your server and, when your server connects to another server, it provides your article to that server. At the same time, your server downloads the updates from the servers to which it connects. This constant exchange of information allows articles to be propagated over the entire planet in very short order.

What is a USENET Newsgroup Charter

Wed, 21 Nov 2018 00:00:00 +0000

The USENET newsgroup charter is something like a business plan for a newsgroup. It exists to lay out in plain detail the purpose of the group, what is considered to be the topic of the group and to define criteria that sometimes determine what is acceptable behavior on the newsgroup and what is unacceptable behavior on the newsgroup. In some cases, you will find much of the information included in a newsgroup charter mirrored in the FAQ document for that newsgroup.

Whenever you join a new USENET newsgroup, it ’s best not to assume that the hierarchal name completely describes the purpose of that newsgroup. Most often, the topics discussed will be a bit more specific than what the names will imply. To make sure that they stay on topic, experienced USENET newsgroup users usually go ahead and read the charter for a group that they join so that they better understand what they are supposed to be talking about on the newsgroup.

This prevents any problems with off-topic posts causing a conflict with the moderators or with any other members of the newsgroup. It ’s a great way to make sure that you get on the good side of the people who run the newsgroup that you want to belong to.

Doxxing and Trolling

Mon, 15 Oct 2018 00:00:00 +0000

Doxxing and trolling are likely familiar terms to anyone who uses Internet forums, social media sites, Reddit, or any other venue where people can freely and, possibly, anonymously, converse online. Their history actually goes all the way back to USENET and these terms originated in the mid-1990s. Their meaning has changed a bit over the years, but, essentially, they mean the same thing that they did when they became popular on USENET newsgroups.

As you’ll see, the way both things came about on the Internet or on USENET is largely similar. You’ll also see that, in some cases, one of these actions can be a retaliation for the other.

They See Me Trollin’

Trolling, just as a basic concept, simply means participating in a conversation for the sole purpose of harassing, disrupting or otherwise making life unpleasant for everyone else involved. “Don’t feed the trolls” originated on USENET, when user started to realize that the best way to deal with these people is to generally ignore them. Trolls thrive on attention and, if they don’t get it, they usually go away pretty quickly.

Trolling can get vicious at times and there have been instances, such as the recent #GamerGate argument, where things get all too personal and sometimes downright threatening.

Good Manners on USENET

Fri, 12 Oct 2018 00:00:00 +0000

Just because the Usenet is anonymous, it does not mean you should throw good manners out the window! Some would say not to bother as no one knows its you, but it can get you in trouble!

When we talk about good manners, we do not mean please and thank you although that is always nice. We are talking about a type of etiquette within the groups. There are certain things that as a new user you may not know, so here are some tips for good manners on the Usenet!

Always read the FAQ - The frequently asked questions are exactly that. If you have a query, it is likely other people have had the query before, as it may be a very common issue. It is always good to check the FAQ section to see if there is already an answer there before posing the question.

Dont Flame - Many people do it but it does not make it right. If you are not aware of what flaming is, it means being insulting to someone who has said something silly or that has made you angry. If you do come across something that does bring out a bad reaction, then it is best to ignore it.

Digital Carnage Review

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Digital Carnage is an NZB indexer aimed at users who want straightforward access without the usual friction. There is no invite requirement and no waitlist, so anyone can create an account, browse the index, and start downloading right away. That makes it especially appealing to newcomers, casual grabbers, and anyone who prefers a low-commitment indexer.

What sets Digital Carnage apart is that it combines open registration with surprisingly low pricing. The free tier is look-only, but paid plans start at just $14.00 per year and scale up to unlimited access. For a site that launched in March 2024, it already shows signs of maturity: it indexes more than 16 years of Usenet content and has been recognized in tooling support through NZBHydra2.

Digital Carnage Interface

Digital Carnage Pricing

Highlighted Features

Open registration
No invite requirement
No waitlist
Low annual pricing
Free tier available
Unlimited paid access
Daily grab limits
Daily API limits
Manual browsing
Batch selection
Detailed metadata
Size and age filters
Dark mode
API access on paid plans
NZBHydra2 preset support
SSL-secured browsing and downloads
Search by Keyword
Category filtering

Interface

Digital Carnage appears to focus on usability rather than complexity. The interface supports manual browsing, batch selection, detailed metadata per listing, and filters for size and age, which should make it practical for both quick browsing and more targeted searching.

What Is a NAS?

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

A modern NAS device connects your entire home network, making files accessible from any device while running 24/7 in the background.

Introduction: Why People Are Building Home Servers Again

Over the past few years, more people have rethought how they store and access data at home. Data libraries keep growing, cloud subscriptions pile up, and many want more control over their files. This is where a NAS comes in.

A NAS — short for Network-Attached Storage — is one of the simplest ways to centralize files data. and services at home without running a full desktop computer 24/7. This guide explains what a NAS is, what it is good at, and where it fits into a modern home server setup.

I set up a NAS at home to organize and automate and organize my data libraries with Docker so I could configure it once and keep the setup consistent even when switching computers. It immediately added value for computer and photo backups, too.

What a NAS Is (Plain-English Explanation)

NAS stands for Network-Attached Storage. At its core, a NAS is a small computer designed to stay on all the time and share storage across your home network.

Headphones Review

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Headphones is an open-source automated music downloader from the arr family, focused on audio files. It works similarly to PVR apps like Sonarr and Sickbeard, but specializes in music. Headphones integrates with NZB and torrent downloaders such as SABnzbd, NZBGet, Transmission, µTorrent, Deluge, and Blackhole, allowing users to automate the search and download of MP3 and FLAC files.

Latest Updates & Development

Headphones continues to receive updates and bug fixes from its contributors. The latest release (v0.6.5, September 2023) added dependency fixes and improved integration. The project is actively maintained on GitHub, with a strong community for support and feature requests.

Key Features

Automated music downloader for NZB and Torrent
Integrates with SABnzbd, NZBGet, Transmission, µTorrent, Deluge, and Blackhole
Metadata fetching from Last.FM and MusicBrainz
Supports MP3 and FLAC formats
Highly configurable: quality, metadata, post-processing, notifications
Runs on macOS, Linux, Windows, FreeBSD, Synology NAS, Docker, Raspberry Pi
Simple, modern web interface
Artist and album overview pages
VIP server integration for enhanced search

Installation

Headphones does not have a one-click installer. Installation is straightforward for most platforms:

Windows: Download from GitHub, extract, and run Headphones.py with Python 3.6+.
macOS: Clone the repo or download the ZIP, run with Python 3.6+ (python3 Headphones.py).
Linux/FreeBSD: Clone the repo, run with Python 3.6+.
Synology NAS: Available via SynoCommunity package repository.
Docker: Use the official image at Docker Hub.
Raspberry Pi: Supported, see HTPC Guides.

See the official installation wiki for full instructions.

Momentum Newsreader Review (Discontinued)

Wed, 17 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Momentum Newsreader was a popular free Usenet client available for Windows, Mac, and Linux. It was developed by HolmeZ SoftSolutions, the same team behind Holmez newsreader. As of 2025, Momentum has been discontinued and is no longer maintained or available for download. The official website now displays a farewell message, and support has ended.

Overview

Momentum offered a user-friendly interface and a solid set of features for both beginners and experienced Usenet users. It supported NZB files, allowed browsing and searching newsgroups, and provided a browser-based version for added convenience. While active, it was known for being completely free, with no paid tiers or hidden costs.

Key Features (while active)

Free of charge
Multi-platform: Windows, Mac, Linux
NZB file support
Intelligent search and filtering
Download sorting by category
Preview downloads (mosaic view)
Notifications for saved searches and completed downloads
Customizable interface (dark mode, compact view)
Favorites list and live feed for new releases
Select specific files to download from a release
Download speed limiting
Integration with Holmez browser newsreader for streaming

Momentum was available in two versions: Classic and Plus. The Plus version offered improved performance, more newsgroups, and an integrated category view—all still free.

Status in 2025

Momentum is now discontinued. The official site (holmez.com) confirms the closure, and downloads/support are no longer available. Users seeking a free Usenet client should consider alternatives such as SABnzbd, NZBGet, or other actively maintained newsreaders.

King's Day Special Offers

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

King’s day is a national holiday in the Kingdom of the Netherlands commemorating the birthday of King Willem-Alexander Claus George Ferdinand; born 27 April 1967. King’s Day or Koningsdag is a rotating holiday with an interesting history.

In the 19th century, King William III was so unpopular that the birthday of four-year-old daughter Princess Wilhelmina was instead celebrated.

Fast forward to the 21st century and again we find the King of the Netherlands is once more popular. King’s Day 2025 brings some of the best Usenet deals of the year, with discounts ranging from 15% to 70% off regular prices, many including extra features like VPNs and web search capabilities.

Here are the special offers available for King’s Day 2025 (April 27 through May 3rd):

Eweka’s King’s Day Deal

€2.50/month (€37.50 for 15 months)
25% savings compared to regular pricing
Includes:
- 6,091+ days retention
- 50 connections
- 1TB Easynews web search + VPN
- EU-based Eweka Network backbone

TweakNews King’s Day Deal

€1.99/month (€29.85 for 15 months)
38% savings compared to regular pricing
Includes:
- 4,200+ days retention
- 60 connections
- EU servers with NTD takedown policy
- BaseIP backbone (EU)

Newshosting King’s Day Deal

$1.99/month ($29.85 for 15 months)
33% savings compared to regular deals
Includes:
- 6,094+ days retention
- 100 connections
- VPN included
- Omicron backbone (US)

Easynews King’s Day Dealß

$1.99/month ($29.85 for 15 months)
Includes:
- 6,094+ days retention
- 60 connections
- Web-based Usenet search + VPN
- Omicron backbone (US)

UsenetServer King’s Day Deal

$2.50/month ($37.50 for 15 months)
16% savings compared to regular pricing
Includes:
- 6,094+ days retention
- 60 connections
- VPN included
- Omicron backbone (US)

NewsDemon King’s Day Deal

$12 for 6 months Unlimited (renews at regular rate)
Over 70% off standard monthly pricing
Includes:
- 4,500+ days retention
- 50 connections
- UsenetExpress backbone (US)

ViperNews King’s Day Deal

€/$ 33.00 per year (renews at the same price)
Major block discounts:
- 500GB Block = €/$6.99
- 1000GB Block = €/$11.99
- 2000GB Block = €/$21.49
Includes:
- 4,500+ days retention
- 50 connections
- EU servers with NTD takedown policy
- Uzo Reto backbone (EU)

XS News King’s Day Deal

25% off all plans
Includes:
- 4,200+ days retention
- Up to 60 connections (depending on plan)
- Abavia backbone (EU)

UsenetFarm King’s Day Deal

30% off with coupon code: KINGSDAY2025
Includes:
- 4,000+ days retention
- 50-100 connections (depending on plan)
- UsenetFarm backbone (EU)

FrugalUsenet King’s Day Deal

$7.49/quarter ($29.96/year)
14% savings compared to regular deals
Includes:
- 4,500+ days retention
- Up to 200 connections (200 on main servers, 50 on bonus)
- Powerhouse backbone (US-based)

If you’re thinking about grabbing a new provider, switching, or stacking accounts, this is the best time until Black Friday sales.

BlueRayNZB Review

Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

BluRayNZB.org is a specialized NZB indexer built specifically for users transitioning from BD25.eu. Focused exclusively on high-definition Blu-ray content, it covers BLURAY, BLURAY-UHD, TV-BLURAY, and TV-BLURAY-UHD categories. Rather than relying on full automation, BluRayNZB follows a scene-based model, delivering complete original .iso files packaged in .rar format that closely mirror standard scene release structures. The platform has grown steadily since launch, accumulating over 2,000 members and nearly 1,500 indexed NZB files — a solid foundation for a manually curated HD indexer.

Blue Ray Nzb

Blue Ray Nzb2

Highlighted Features

Privacy: SSL encryption ensures user safety and data protection.
Open Registration: A vibrant user base with frequent updates.
High-Quality Content: Daily updates featuring new Blu-ray releases with impressive pretimes.
File Format: Complete original .iso in .rar (scene format).
Retention: 3000 days of data retention.
Support: 24/7 Discord support available for all users.
Membership Options: Limited-time lifetime accounts available for donors.
Indexing Frequency: Rapid updates on new releases ensure users have access to the latest content.

Interface

BluRayNZB runs on a custom platform designed around the needs of NZB users rather than a generic indexer template. The site is laid out for efficient searching and downloading, and because all content is manually uploaded by core members, you get a curated library rather than an automated firehose. The Discord community serves as the primary hub for announcements, release notifications, and user interaction.

Newshosting Review

Tue, 30 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Newshosting stands as our top-rated provider for USENET services. With a rich history that began in 1999, it has garnered widespread acclaim for its superior network performance, impressive speeds, and outstanding customer service.

Where Newshosting truly separates itself from the pack is binary and text retention. The archive depth dwarfs what most competing providers can offer, translating directly into higher article completion rates and better article completion. At the time of this review, Newshosting’s retention window extends well beyond 15 years across all hosted newsgroups — a technical benchmark few rivals come close to matching.

As a Tier-1 operator, Newshosting owns and controls its entire server farm, with heavy investment in high speed data bandwidth routing. That vertical integration is what delivers consistently fast, low-latency USENET connections.

In summary, Newshosting offers a robust and high-quality Usenet access solution. Below is a summary of the key benefits associated with a Newshosting account.

Newshosting Quick Summary

EXCLUSIVE DEAL (3 FREE Months): $5.99 / month special price for UsenetReviewz.com visitors + free newsreader with search + a free VPN account
Standard Price: ~~$19.94/month~~
Premier Tier-1 USENET Infrastructure: Newshosting’s self-owned network delivers throughput and uptime that third-party-reliant providers simply can’t replicate.

Black Friday Special Offers

Sat, 18 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The annual Black Friday event has arrived, presenting a prime opportunity for USENET enthusiasts to capitalize on substantial discounts across various USENET providers and NZB services. This is your chance to save significantly with exclusive Black Friday offers.

Premier Black Friday Offers

Explore our curated selection of the top Black Friday 2026 Lifetime Special Offers available for Usenet Providers.

#1 - Newshosting

Standard price: ~~$299.10~~
Limited Time Offer: $5.99/mo
Total Savings: 70%
Service highlights:
- Enjoy 3 complimentary months of service
- Unlimited downloads with no data caps
- No throttling on speeds, regardless of download volume
- Access to the fastest Tier-1 Usenet network
- Multiple server farms located in the US and EU
- Exceptional binary and text retention with full retention across all newsgroups
- One of the unique providers that enhances retention daily (no articles ever expire)
- Comes with a FREE newsreader that supports Usenet search and NZB files
- Includes a FREE Zero-log VPN account

Save With Newshosting

#2 - Eweka

Standard price: ~~€9.60~~
Black Friday Offer: €6.99/mo
Lifetime Savings: 52%
3 Months of Service at No Cost
Service highlights:
- Enjoy unlimited downloads without data restrictions
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Unlimited speed
- Over 5500 days of binary retention
- Free SSL encrypted downloads
- 50 simultaneous connections
- Free newsreader with search functionality

Save With Eweka

Oonews Review

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Detailed Review of oonews.eu: A Legacy in the German NZB Scene

oonews.eu, a renowned German NZB site, garnered significant attention during its active years. In the timeline spanning the end of 2022 and the dawn of 2023, it regrettably shut its doors to the community. This closure marked the end of an era for many NZB enthusiasts who relied on it for their indexing needs.

There’s a whisper in the NZB community that suggests the extensive database of oonews.eu didn’t just vanish into thin air. Instead, there’s speculation that it found a new home. Rumor has it that prominent German NZB platforms, namely House Of Usenet and SceneNZBs, might have been the recipients of this invaluable treasure trove of data. This is a common trend in the world of NZBs, as databases are sometimes passed on to ensure continuity and preservation of content.

It’s worth noting that oonews.eu itself was a successor in this legacy chain. When the platform first sprang to life, it reportedly inherited its foundational data from wiznab, another historic NZB site. This cyclical trend of data handover is symbolic of the interconnectedness and sense of community that exists in the NZB world.

For those who have a particular penchant for German content, the void left by oonews.eu’s departure is a loss. However, platforms like SceneNZBs and House of Usenet continue to serve the NZB community and are excellent choices for German content seekers.

Eweka Review

Mon, 12 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Based in the Netherlands, Eweka operates as a leading USENET provider with complete ownership of its infrastructure, earning our highest recommendation for independent European server access. The service delivers exceptional retention periods and completion rates while maintaining its own USENET backbone, guaranteeing reliable high-speed connectivity for European subscribers and international users alike.

Eweka Quick Summary

UsenetReviewz.com visitors receive exclusive pricing – €6,99/month for Eweka’s premium tier
Save 52% when signing up through UsenetReviewz.com, backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee
Our highest-rated independent European provider, recognized for superior retention and completion performance
Europe’s fastest and most dependable backbone infrastructure
6439 days of comprehensive retention spanning all newsgroups (unmatched by any European USENET provider)
Unrestricted high-speed USENET access with no bandwidth caps or speed limitations
Newslazer – bundled newsreader enabling search, preview, and download functionality directly from USENET
Seamless integration with leading USENET automation tools including SABnzbd, Sonarr, and Radarr
Complimentary unlimited VPN service included with select subscription tiers
Multilingual customer support available in English, Dutch, German, and French

Visit Eweka ↗

How We Evaluate

Selecting an appropriate Usenet provider requires careful examination of multiple performance indicators that directly impact user satisfaction. Retention stands as the cornerstone metric, defining the breadth of accessible historical posts; top-tier providers maintain extensive retention windows that dramatically improve content discovery and platform utility. The concept of retention growth ensures continuous availability of aging content, preventing premature post expiration.

Dutch Anti-Piracy Group Reveals Taking Down 349 Illegal Pirate Sites in 2021

Sun, 14 Aug 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Bescherming Rechten Entertainment Industrie Nederland (BREIN), a Dutch anti-piracy group, says that they have taken down over three hundred illegal pirate sites last year. These websites include torrent open directories, illegal IPTV operators, and streaming portals. Regardless of the technology involved, any illicit supply is a top priority for the Dutch regulatory agency. Infringing content can be found on torrenting websites, cyberlockers, Usenet, IPTV, and other websites or social media.

BREIN claims that while cyberlockers and unauthorized IPTV subscriptions are becoming more common for audiovisual content, torrenting is still the most popular protocol for pirates. The primary sources of income for websites that host links to torrent content are advertising and VPN affiliate sales. Premium subscriptions are offered by Usenet and Cyberlocker providers for quicker downloading.

According to BREIN, it examines suppliers and intermediaries, such as hosting and access providers, payment services, advertisements, and search engines, for enforcement. According to the research, “the barring of access to the illicit BitTorrent site The Pirate Bay has resulted to a fall of almost 95% in Dutch visits.” The primary goal of BREIN is to get banning orders against a few other well-known illicit piracy websites.

368 studies on pirate websites were finished by BREIN in 2021 alone, and 43 more are ongoing. In 349 of the cases, the illegal website or service was taken down, and The Pirate Bay’s IP and DNS were blacklisted. While eight additional lawsuits are still pending, eight unlawful vendors stopped selling IPTV subscriptions. 39 unlawful streaming websites were taken offline by BREIN, along with 21 Facebook groups that were hosting illegal content, 10 open eBook directories, and 920 regular and long-term uploaders.

Usenet Forum, Dream of Usenet, Goes Offline

Sat, 06 Aug 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Relatively new Usenet Forum, Dream of Usenet has announced that it will be closing its doors after only a few months of being online.

The German Usenet forum, which opened in February of this year, has decided it will go offline after malfunctions came about on their site and the lack of reliability on some of its team members.

According to its founder, Jedimeister, he has been absent for a while due to health reasons and when he got back he tried to get something going again with some of the site’s team members. Unfortunately, one of Dream of Usenet’s team members disappeared again and could not be contacted. Other team members have also been said to have moved on to other brands.

While there are plenty of alternatives when it comes to Usenet forums as well as indexers available online, competition is always a good thing in any industry.

Jedimeister, founder of Dream of Usenet, left a farewell message for its users stating:

“You waited a long time for the statement, here it is. First of all, without getting in suspense, Dream of Usenet (DoU) is going offline. I, Jedi Master, tried to get something going again with Taxidriver, Akeni and the others.

SceneNZBs Review

Mon, 18 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0000

SceneNZBs is a recently launched Usenet indexer that debuted on July 10, 2022, in collaboration with the House of Usenet forum. This German-based platform offers users a free-to-access service featuring an extensive library of over 2 million NZB files.

While the basic service is free, users have the option to upgrade to a premium membership that unlocks additional benefits, including access to releases from P2P groups and a wider array of content types.

Currently, SceneNZBs emphasizes German-language releases, but there are plans to broaden their offerings to include English content in the near future.

Scenenzbs Interface1

Scenenzbs Interface2

Highlighted Features

Newly established German Usenet indexer
Primarily focused on German content at this time
Plans to incorporate English releases soon
Extensive database with over 2 million NZB files
Free access available
Paid plans include VIP and Premium VIP options
Hosts both Scene and P2P releases
Provides an API interface via RSS feed

Interface

Navigating the SceneNZBs interface is intuitive and familiar for users accustomed to Usenet indexers. To find the files you need, simply utilize the search bar located in the upper right corner of the homepage. Alternatively, users can browse through the Menu and Categories tab, which organizes content into sections such as Movies, Audio, Books, and TV shows.

New Usenet Indexer Opens in Cooperation with House of Usenet

Sat, 16 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Last July 10, 2022, a new Usenet Indexer, SceneNZBs, was launched in cooperation with the well-known Usenet forum, House of Usenet. This news German indexer was opened with around 2,000,000 NZB files available and is said to be hosting similar files with that of House of Usenet.

The announcement of the collaboration with the German-language forum House of Usenet came right at the start. The indexer will subsequently contain all NZBs published on HoU. The HoU team considered automating NZB downloads in response to user queries. For the crew, maintaining both a forum and an indexer would be simply too much work. Therefore, it seemed like a good idea to work closely with a new indexer.

A statement released on the SceneNZBs website declares:

“ Welcome to SceneNZBs!

Today we opened the registration for our new Usenet indexer.

The registration will remain open for the time being. We may change this in the future.

SceneNZBs does not only carry Scene-Releases, but also P2P-Releases.

Please read the rules and follow them:

If you want to support us, please read this page:

You can contact us by e-mail or via the contact form

Even though we are starting with over 2,000,000 releases, this platform is brand new and there will certainly be some teething problems.

Thunderbird hits version 102 - gets major upgrades

Sun, 10 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Thunderbird, a cross-platform open source email and messaging client, has reached version 102 with a new look and improved features including Matrix chat support. The latest version of this client is the first major upgrade since version 91. This is normal for the app, following the same annual release cycle as Firefox’s extended support release, the latest version was version 91. From now to the next major release, Thunderbird 102 receives a regular stream of minor updates and bug fixes.

Thunderbird 102 has a modernized look and new vertical Space toolbar on the left side of the app window that allows users to quickly switch between inboxes, address books, calendars, task lists, and chat tabs. These are all built-in features. The previous Lightning Calendar add-on is now a built-in part of the app, similar to PGP support, which was an add-on called Enigmail. Thunderbird can communicate with various groupware calendars and contact servers, including personal and corporate Gmail accounts, Microsoft Exchange, Office 365, and more.

The address book feature has also been updated to run as a tab in the main window instead of in a separate window. You can now import addresses in vCard format. There is also a new import / export tool that replaces some third party add-ons and includes the ability to import the entire Thunderbird profile into another profile. Add-ons Manager does not show incompatible add-ons-a welcome change as many older XUL add-ons are no longer supported, like Firefox Quantum.

NZB Leech Review

Wed, 29 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000

NZB Leech is a straightforward Usenet download client for Android, designed for users who want to download NZBs from newsgroups while on the go. The app allows importing NZB files, downloading, repairing, and extracting files directly on your mobile device. A paid Usenet provider account is required to use the application.

Highlighted Features

Usenet download client for Android
Fast & Easy to Use
NZB file support
Supports repairing & extracting
Up to six usenet servers can be used
With a mix of primary and backup servers
With 7-day free trial
After trial, you can only use 1 server
SSL support
password protected nzbs supported - add password to nzb name: “my nzb {{mypassword}}.nzb” or manually provide password when extracting from file tab (paid only)
automatic extract rar and 7zip (7 day trial)
integrated search sites (7 day trial)
add custom newznab websites (7 day trial)
add custom rss feeds (7 day trial)
view nfo and txt files (7 day trial)
run par repair manually from file tab (7 day trial)
run extract manually from file tab (7 day trial)
settings are restored on reinstall in Android 6.0+ if turned on in Android Settings -> Backup & reset
Background downloading supported, even when phone is sleeping
Indicates which files are incomplete files (in red text)
Newly downloaded media passed to Android on download success

Plans & Pricing

Generally, NZB Leech is free to use. For the first 7-days you will be able to use the application to its full potential. However, after 7 days there will be certain limitations as to your usage, some of which are mentioned on the highlighted features.

UsenetDiscount Shutting Down

Tue, 28 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Recently, UsenetDiscount users have received email alerts from the said Usenet service provider stating that due to unforeseen circumstances, the company will be closing usenetdiscount.com. UsenetReviewz discovered this from a Usenet forum thread that informed a lot of Usenet users on the said email alert.

According to UsenetDiscount, they are currently in the process of canceling all user accounts and that they will refund any prorated amount.

As of writing, no further statement has been made by UsenetDiscount and the company has not disclosed any exact information as to the actual reasons why the service provider will be shutting down.

According to one Reddit user, UsenetDiscount has also announced that they will be shutting down five years ago. However, the provider revived itself only to close this 2022.

Upon UsenetReviewz’ most recent check, the UsenetDiscount website is still online however, a banner that says “Sorry, we are not accepting new accounts at the moment” can be seen.

UsenetDiscount has been providing Usenet service to users for more than 10 years and was previously regarded as one of the better providers back in the day.

To find the best provider possible for your Usenet activity, you can check out our list of the best Usenet service providers today.

SnelNL Newsreader Review

Mon, 20 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000

SnelNL is primarily a Dutch Usenet service provider that not only gives users access to Usenet but also provides their own streaming newsreader. This newsreader comes free with SnelNL’s paid accounts. The best feature of this newsreader is that it allows its users to stream media even as you download.

Highlighted Features

Free newsreader with an SnelNL account
Not just a downloader but also a streaming newsreader
Allows you to stream while downloading
Pre-configured to the SnelNL network
Simple and minimalist user Interface
Perfect for beginners
Claims to have a better completion rate than Spotnet

Plans & Pricing

As mentioned, the SnelNL newsreader comes free when you subscribe to a SnelNL account. Please refer to the SnelNL’s pricing info below:

Free Trial Information

As a Usenet service, you can try out SnelNL without paying for three days. You can actually try using the SnelNL software as well during this time. If you are unsatisfied with their service, make sure to cancel your subscription before the first billing cycle begins.

Usage Overview

The SnelNL newsreader was primarily developed for the needs of SnelNL account holders. While you can use other newsreaders along with an SnelNL account, this Usenet service provider recommends using their own streaming downloader along with their subscription. According to their site, they offer a much better completion rate than Spotnet.

Free Usenet Access, Free Trials and Free Newsreaders

Tue, 14 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000

This section covers the main routes to free USENET access: ISP and university servers, free trial offers from paid providers, and free newsreader software. The free trial offers below are the quickest way to get started — Tweaknews is worth noting as it doesn’t require a credit card to sign up.

Top 5 USENET Free Trial Offers 2026

#	Free Trial	Visit
1	14 Days / 30 GB	Visit Provider
2	30-Day Money Back Guarantee	Visit Provider
3	14 Days / 10 GB	Visit Provider
4	14 Days / 50 GB	Visit Provider
5	30-Day Money-Back Guarantee	Visit Provider

Free USENET Access

Free access through your university or ISP is possible, but rare and typically restricted in terms of retention, newsgroup coverage, and speed.
See our list of free USENET providers for a full breakdown of what’s still available.

Free USENET Trials

Free trials from paid providers are the most practical option for most users — you get full access for a limited time or data allowance.
Pay attention to the trial terms: duration, data cap, and whether a credit card is required.
Browse our list of USENET providers with free trials or the full free trial catalog.

Free USENET Newsreaders

Several high-quality free newsreaders exist — you don’t need to pay for one to get started.
The right newsreader depends on your use case: discussion-only, NZB downloading, or automated downloading via tools like Sonarr.
See our full list of free USENET clients, or our picks for the best USENET clients if you’re open to paid options (most are a one-time fee around $20).

Top Free Newsreaders

#	Name	OS	Details
1			Best Usenet Search Interface Best Usenet Search Results File Previews Easy to Use Usenet Access Included
2			Cross-Platform Newsreader Integrated USENET Service Efficient Header Scanning Robust USENET Search Capabilities
3			Free and User-Friendly Binary Newsreader Leading NZB Downloader in the Market Intuitive Web Interface Advanced Automation Features
4			Leading NZB Downloader Cross-Platform Compatibility Intuitive Web Interface Advanced Automation Features
5			Essential Newsreader Functions Offline Reading Capability yEnc Support Multi-Server Connectivity

Five Tips for Getting the Most from Free USENET

Check your ISP or university first
Some ISPs and universities still include USENET access with their service. It’s worth asking — but expect limitations. Retention is often short, binary newsgroups may be restricted, and heavy usage can trigger throttling. See our list of ISPs offering free USENET access for what’s currently available in the USA.

Birds of Binaries Review (Defunct)

Sat, 11 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Birds of Binaries was a specialized NZB forum and indexer that focused on high-quality binary uploads, including movies, TV, and software. It operated with a small but dedicated user base and leaned more toward curated content rather than mass scraping. Its reputation was that of a niche, boutique-style NZB community, appreciated for selectiveness but limited in scope. However, by the early 2020s the site largely disappeared from Usenet discussions, and by 2025 there was no evidence of it being active. No updates or relaunches were reported, so it is considered defunct.

Birds of Binaries had served as an entry point for newcomers eager to learn about Usenet, featuring open registration. Unlike many platforms that operated on an invite-only basis, Birds of Binaries encouraged a broader user base by remaining accessible. Although the forum featured a modest collection of content, its developers had ambitious plans to expand the offerings significantly, but these plans were never realized.

There were no moderators overseeing the forum, though the creators had looked to implement this feature to enhance community engagement and maintain quality.

What set Birds of Binaries apart from other Usenet forums was its unique focus on hosting 3D STL files specifically for 3D printing—a rarity in the Usenet space. This specialized offering catered to a niche audience, making it a standout choice for enthusiasts in this area while it was active.

Sky of Usenet Review

Mon, 06 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Sky of Usenet serves as a prominent German Usenet forum, providing a diverse array of content and categories. This platform not only facilitates user discussions but also grants access to various files that users may find beneficial. It operates on an invite-only basis, meaning that without an invite code from an existing member, your access will be limited. However, the site occasionally distributes invite codes, so keeping an eye on it could yield opportunities for new users.

Despite facing challenges such as server issues in the past, the team behind Sky of Usenet has demonstrated resilience in addressing these problems. The forum experienced a notable security breach recently, yet their dedicated staff worked diligently to restore functionality and enhance security measures.

Highlighted Features

German Usenet Forum
Registration is via invitation only
Occasionally distributes invite codes
Historically faced server issues
Users who registered before November 2021 must re-register
Email address is essential for access
No distinct membership levels

Interface

Following the hacking incident, which necessitated a complete overhaul of their system in November 2021, Sky of Usenet has managed to maintain a familiar interface. The layout remains user-friendly, with clearly defined categories and an intuitive navigation system that allows for seamless browsing.

UsenetHD Review

Sun, 05 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000

UsenetHD stands out as an exclusive, invite-only forum tailored for Spanish-speaking users, offering a unique collection of files, including high-definition and Blu-ray releases. While it may not rival the more prominent NZB sites and indexers, it fills a niche by catering specifically to a Spanish-speaking audience, fostering a vibrant community of active users who engage in discussions about Spanish content.

This platform is notable for being one of the few dedicated Spanish Usenet forums in recent years, and it organizes its content in a user-friendly manner. Additionally, UsenetHD features a dedicated section for Usenet reviews, enhancing the overall user experience.

Highlighted Features

Exclusive Spanish Usenet Forum
Membership is by invitation only
Relatively low number of active users
Dedicated Usenet reviews section
Contains HD and Blu-ray content
Customizable themes - dark and light modes
Flexible interface with both round and rectangular icons
Icon color customization options
Adjustable site header
User-friendly interface

Interface

Navigating the UsenetHD interface is straightforward, mirroring the design principles of contemporary Usenet forums. Users will find that the layout is intuitive, with sections clearly categorized to meet various needs, including areas for reviews, new releases, and discussions surrounding Blu-ray and HD content.

Moreover, UsenetHD provides a tutorials section, which is invaluable for newcomers looking to understand how Usenet forums operate and how to utilize the site effectively.

VoordeligUsenet Review

Tue, 31 May 2022 00:00:00 +0000

VoordeligUsenet is a Dutch Usenet provider that offers different packages ranging from basic low speed packages to high-speed plans. All of their plans have no download limits and the company does not oblige you to renew your Usenet subscription.

VoordeligUsenet also has what they call advantage packages which are discount packages similar to other Usenet services plans that gives you Usenet access only at specific hours of a day.

VoordeligUsenet Quick Summary

Dutch Usenet service provider
Various packages available - basic, high-speed, extreme
Discount packages available - advantage plans
900 days of retention
99.7% completion rate
No download limits
No obligations
SSL access free
Access to more than 150,000 newsgroups
Number of connections ranging from 4 to 12
Account sharing allowed

Pricing

VoordeligUsenet offers plans that vary in terms of speed and connections. Pricing are as follows:

Basic Packages

High Speed Packages

Extreme Packages

Aside from their usual plans, they also offer discount plans called advantage packages. What makes this different from their other plans is that these packs can only be used for 12 hours a day, either between 0:00 to 12:00, 02:00 to 14:00 or 04:00 to 16:00. Usage outside these hours are not allowed. All of their advantage plans come with unlimited downloads and 12 connections.

UsenetMax Review

Sun, 29 May 2022 00:00:00 +0000

UsenetMax is primarily a free Usenet service provider limited to 128 kbps download speed and just 3 connections. However, you have the option to subscribe to a paid service to lift the speed cap and increase the number of connections to 12. Their website does not disclose if you get unlimited speed with a paid service and they also do not disclose their retention rate.

UsenetMax Quick Summary

Free Usenet server
Limited features for free service
Capped speed at 128 kbps for free service
Limited to 3 connections for free service
Option for a paid service
Paid service lifts speed cap
Paid service increases connections to 12
Undisclosed retention rate
Payment option: Credit Cards
SSL encryption available
Support via email
Email support to add a newsgroup

Binary Retention

Unfortunately, UsenetMax does not disclose both their text and binary retention rate. This is a big problem since retention is a huge deciding factor when choosing a Usenet service provider.

Pricing

While UsenetMax is a free Usenet service, you have the option to subscribe to a paid service that comes with uncapped speed and a higher number of connections. Pricing are as follows:

30 days high-speed download - $29.95 one-time charge
Monthly recurring bill - $19.95 monthly recurring
72 hours high-speed download - $5 one-time charge

Free Trial Info

As previously mentioned, UsenetMax can be used completely free for as long as you want. Please be reminded, however, that when you are using their free service, your speed is capped and the number of connections are limited.

NZBNewzFrance Review

Mon, 23 May 2022 00:00:00 +0000

NZBNewzFrance is a French-language Usenet indexer that operates on a forum model. Like many similar platforms, it depends on its community to share links to NZB files, which can be accessed through a variety of genre-specific search filters available on the forum.

As of our latest assessment, the platform boasts a membership of over 5,000 users. However, the level of active participation appears limited when compared to other forum-based indexers, which may impact the overall user experience.

Highlighted Features

Forum-based Usenet Indexer
Dedicated French NZB community
Open registration for new users
Donation-based premium options
User-friendly interface
Current membership exceeding 5,000
Topic searches facilitated by filters
Displays user activity on the homepage
Intuitive design

Interface

The interface of NZBNewzFrance shares similarities with other Usenet indexers that utilize a forum structure. Upon logging in, users are greeted with a dashboard showcasing the latest topics and posts. The right-hand side features various filters to refine searches, while user activity is prominently displayed on the left.

Users can initiate new discussions easily by clicking the ‘create’ button located at the top of their account page, or by using the ‘start a topic’ option found within existing threads.

Membership Levels

Although NZBNewzFrance does not have formal membership tiers, users can choose to support the site through donations. The donation options are structured as follows:

Usenet.today Review

Sun, 22 May 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Usenet.Today is a Dutch Usenet service provider that offers plans based on speed from 10 Mbit to 400 Mbit. Aside from that, they also have block access plans which range from 50 to 1024 GB.

Usenet.Today has a decent retention rate but is not at the same level of the top Usenet service providers today. That being said, their retention also isn’t the lowest in the market and they do cover all the basics needed for Usenet access from a good number of connections and SSL encryption.

Usenet.today Quick Summary

Dutch Usenet Service Provider
Compatible with any Usenet client
2300 days of binary retention
‘Unlimited’ Connections
Accounts based on speed
With Block access plans
200,000 newsgroups
Free trial by email
Anonymous with direct payment

Binary Retention

Usenet.Today does not have the best retention rate today but is decent enough with 2300 days of binary retention.

Pricing

Usenet.Today offers both block access plans and packages based on speed. Currently they have unlimited plans that range from 10Mbit to 400Mbit and can be paid for on a 1 month to 1 year basis.

Their block access plans range from 50 to 1024GB.

Free Trial Info

You can try out Usenet.Today for free by supplying your email address and they give you 10GB of access. It is unclear how long the block lasts or if you can use it indefinitely until the 10GB lasts.

House of Usenet Review

Mon, 16 May 2022 00:00:00 +0000

House of Usenet stands out as a prominent Usenet indexer based in Germany, offering users a free membership that grants access to a wealth of advanced features without any hidden fees or upgrades. Built on the MyBB platform, it cultivates a lively community through its forum-based structure. However, it is essential to note that House of Usenet does not support API access, which may limit its appeal for users seeking automated functionalities.

Key Features

Forum-Centric Indexing: House of Usenet serves primarily as a forum-driven Usenet indexer.
German Language Focus: While the platform primarily caters to German-speaking users, it remains open to a global audience.
MyBB Framework: Utilizing the MyBB codebase ensures a seamless and user-friendly experience for all members.
Open Registration: Users can easily sign up without any barriers.
Completely Free Access: All features are available at no cost, making it accessible to everyone.
Enhanced Search Capabilities: Users benefit from a powerful search tool that allows for detailed filtering based on various criteria.
Thriving User Community: With over 50,000 members, nearly a million posts, and more than 600,000 discussion threads, the platform boasts an active user base.
Absence of API: The lack of API access may deter some users looking for automated solutions.

User Experience

Navigating House of Usenet is straightforward, thanks to its intuitive interface that mirrors the layout familiar to many Usenet indexers. Users can effortlessly search for topics or posts and leverage the forum’s structure to engage in specific discussions. The search functionality is particularly robust, allowing for detailed refinement of queries, whether exploring complete messages, subject lines, trending topics, or posts from certain dates.

Usenet.pro Review

Sun, 15 May 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Usenet.pro is a Usenet service that provides you with all the necessary requirements for usenet access from SSL encryption, a wide range of choices in terms of speed and connections, unlimited downloads. Not only that, Usenet.pro also allows you to share your account without any data limits.

According to their site, their server parks have ‘triple redundancy’, meaning that all data is available at various locations. On average they have a 99.7% completion rate.

What makes Usenet.pro unique is that they offer 2 main types of subscription: normal and discounted. Their discounted subscription is based on the time of usage.

Usenet.pro Quick Summary

Multiple types of plans
Subscription and Discounted Subscription
Discounted subscription - based on time usage
Various speeds and connections
Connections from 4 to 30
Speed from 4 Mbit to 300 Mbit
99.7 complete on average
Free SSL on every package
Unlimited downloads
Account sharing allowed
More than 3000 days of binary retention

Binary Retention

There are more than 3000 days of retention on Usenet.pro which ensures users that you will find data present for more than 8 years on their servers.

Pricing

Usenet.pro has 2 main plans: subscription and discounted subscription, both of which can either be paid on a 30, 90, 180 and 365 day basis.

Usenet.org Review

Wed, 11 May 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Usenet.org is an uncomplicated Usenet service provider that offers good privacy and security as well as uncapped speed. They have a good retention rate and a competitive pricing that costs €8.33 per month.

According to their site, Usenet.org covers over 200,000 newsgroups with a community of about 8 million Usenet users worldwide.

Usenet.org Quick Summary

Uncapped speed without restrictions
Optimized networks
Privacy via 256-bit SSL encryption
Simple pricing - €8.33 per month
Professional and dedicated customer support
Live chat
200,000 newsgroups
Based in Zurich
No logs, no monitoring

Binary Retention

While not at par with the best Usenet service providers, Usenet.org has a retention rate of 3400 days of binary retention.

Pricing

Usenet.org has an uncomplicated pricing with a monthly fee of €8.33. You can also opt to pay for one full year of service for €99.96.

Free Trial Info

Signing up with Usenet.org you will automatically be directed to a 14-day free trial offering. Make sure to test out their service before committing to their paid service. Once the free trial period ends, you will automatically be billed so if you feel like the service isn’t for you be certain to cancel the trial before the 14-day day period ends. You can do this by contacting their customer support as seen in their member’s area.

United Newsserver Review

Mon, 09 May 2022 00:00:00 +0000

United Newsserver is a German Usenet service provider that offers you access to more than 100,000 newsgroups where hundreds of terabytes are available. However, when compared to our current top Usenet providers, United Newsserver only offers 900 days of retention for all times and just 600 days for binary retention which is incredibly lower than the ideal retention rate.

United Newsserver Quick Summary

German Usenet Provider
Access to more than 100,000 newsgroups
Low retention rate: 900 days
Binary retention: only 600 days
SSL encryption included
8 simultaneous connections can be used
Data protection guaranteed
Secure payment methods
Reliable data traffic
Bitcoin accepted

Binary Retention

One of the biggest concerns with United Newsserver is that they only offer 600 days of binary retention which is a lot lower than current industry standards. The best Usenet providers today offer up to 4000 days of binary retention over 12 years of text retention.

Pricing

Entry level prices start at €4.98 per month or €14.95 per quarter

Free Trial Info

You can test out their Usenet access for three days free of charge and with no obligations. Simply register on their website and they assure you that this type of access will not extend into a paid subscription, therefore a cancellation isn’t necessary.

Speedium.Network Review

Wed, 04 May 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Speedium.Network is considered as the first blockchain-based Usenet platform that offers unlimited speed and bandwidth. This Usenet service provider has its own fully independent backbone that adheres to NTD regulations.

Speedium.Network covers the basics needed for Usenet access as far as providers go. Their plan covers a decent number of retention, SSL encryption, good number of connections and adherence to European privacy laws.

Binary Retention

Speedium.Network offers 1500 days of binary days and a total of 5+ years of text retention.

Pricing

Speedium.Network offers monthly and yearly unlimited access. Based on their site, they offer unlimited speed but they actually cap it at 300MB/s. Aside from their unlimited plan, Speedium.Network also has block access plans that start at €15 for 500GB.

Block access plans are as follows:

€15 for 500GB
€25 for 1000GB
€40 for 2000GB

Free Trial Info

Based on their website, Speedium.Network does not have any free trial offerings. However, according to other sources free trials can be done via a “by request” basis. To do this, you can reach out to Speedium via email or possibly through their helpdesk.

Fileleechers Review

Sun, 01 May 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Fileleechers was a German Usenet indexer that utilized the WoltLab Suite as its underlying framework. This platform operated as a free, forum-centric, invite-only indexer, meaning that without an invitation code from a current member, users were unable to register or engage with the community. Invitation codes were typically distributed by existing users, making access somewhat exclusive.

Highlighted Features

Free Usenet indexer
Codebase: WoltLab Suite
German language interface
Community-driven forum
Invite-only access
No clear information on account limitations
Available RSS feeds
No premium membership option
Recommended NZBDonkey for NZB downloads
Affiliate link to Speedium Network for Usenet services

Interface

The interface of Fileleechers was straightforward, designed for ease of use and efficient navigation. Upon gaining access through an invitation, users were directed to the homepage, where a variety of menus and links facilitated searching for files or exploring recently uploaded content. The forum aspect allowed users to engage with others to find specific files they were searching for.

As a German-centered Usenet indexer, users predominantly encountered German-language files, although there were also English-language options available.

For downloading files, Fileleechers suggested using Speedium as a Usenet provider along with NZBDonkey as the recommended NZB downloader. Those interested in alternative services could review the top Usenet service providers and the best Usenet clients.

5000 days of retention for Newshosting, Eweka Easynews and UsenetServer

Tue, 26 Apr 2022 00:00:00 +0000

On Sunday, April 24 2022, Newshosting, Easynews and UsenetServer hit 5,000 days of retention (Eweka hit this mark 3 days later on April 27th 2022). This was a huge milestone for these Usenet providers and in the case of Omicron brands : Newshosting, Easynews and UsenetServer, this retention journey began almost 14 years ago. Since this time they have been committed to growing retention daily with no sign of slowing down.

Some important points

Retention is a measurement of how long articles are stored on a provider’s servers. It’s one of the most important service-level features since it determines how many articles you can access from a provider’s servers. Yes, many popular files can be taken down via DMCA complaints but this isn’t always the case.
The Omicron brands listed above carry every article posted to every newsgroup for the full number of days stated. In other words, subscribers get access to the full Usenet archive. Conversely, many other providers have hugely inconsistent retention levels for different newsgroups and even subsets of articles, which leads to inconsistent completion and higher failure rates. Users should take note of services listing retention ‘up to XXXX days’ or similar language to detect the difference between complete and partial retention services.

Easy-leech Review

Sun, 24 Apr 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Easy-Leech was a Usenet NZB indexer service that allowed users to search for and download NZB files, and for a while it was supported by a Telegram community where people could chat and receive updates. However, the project has since shut down, and the main site no longer works as intended—when users try to access it, they are redirected to another Usenet site called SceneNZBs. Reports from the community, including discussions on Reddit, indicate that the operator, known as “lola,” eventually lost interest in maintaining the platform, which led to both the closure of its Telegram channels and the end of Easy-Leech itself. An official statement, written in German, confirmed the decision by declaring that Easy-Leech would not be coming back and marking its closure after just one and a half years of operation. As a result, Easy-Leech has been discontinued entirely, with no plans for revival, and users who previously relied on it have either migrated to SceneNZBs or sought out other active Usenet indexers to fill the gap it left behind.

Highlighted Features (while active)

Free Usenet indexer
Option to upgrade to VIP membership
Forum-style indexing
100 NZBs and 10 APIs available for free users
Supported Bitcoin and PayPal for VIP subscriptions
Regular updates with the latest content
Predominantly featured German-language NZBs
Open for user requests
RSS feeds accessible on the platform
API details provided on the site

Interface

Navigating the Easy-Leech interface was straightforward and user-friendly. Upon visiting the homepage, users could easily register for an account. After registration, users found a comprehensive menu at the top of the website, showcasing categories such as consoles, movies, audio, PC, TV, adult content, and books.

Sonic News Review

Mon, 18 Apr 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Sonic News is a Usenet service provider that gives you easy access to newsgroups using your internet browser. This provider has a web gateway with thumbnail picture preview, automatic combining and binary attachment decoding.

Sonic News’ retention varies depending on popularity and activity of newsgroups. This ranges from one year to ten years for more popular groups. Please note, however, that Sonic News is quite outdated and it is quite evident on how their website looks like.

Sonic News Quick Summary

Own NNTP servers
Variable expiration of articles
Web gateway
As low as $3.99 per month
Easy online cancellation
High privacy standards
Good support information on website

Binary Retention

Sonic News does not specify what their binary retention rate is. According to their site, the expiration of articles varies depending on the popularity and activity of groups - ranging from 1 year to 10 years. This may refer to text retention.

Pricing

For as low as $3.99 you can get a Usenet service from Sonic News. Their plans vary depending on speed. For the full list of pricing, see below:

Free Trial Info

Sonic News does not have any free trial offering but they have a 7-day trial fee for all types of plans. Depending on the plan you select, this ranges from $1.99 to $5.99.

Usenet-Server Review

Mon, 11 Apr 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Usenet-Server is a German Usenet service provider that offers fast and unlimited access. While Usenet-Server covers all the necessary basics needed for Usenet activity like SSL encryption, a good number of connections and full posting rights, it is important to note that their retention is a lot lower than the ideal retention rate.

Usenet-Server lets you buy gigabytes of load for your Usenet activity according to only what you need. Similar to block access plans from other Usenet services, the GB you pay for does not expire until you fully consume what you purchased.

Usenet-Server Quick Summary

All servers located in Europe
Fast servers
Unlimited service
900 days of retention
99% completion rate
50 simultaneous connections
Free SSL
Full posting rights
Flexible pricing
German-speaking support
No contact, no monthly payments
Paid GBs only expires until fully used

Binary Retention

Usenet-Server’s retention rate is lower than our preferred or ideal rate. Currently their retention period is only 900 days. Ideally, a decent number would be at around 2000+ days. Newshosting, for example, offers over 12 years of retention.

Pricing

The pricing really depends on the gigabyte you purchase. The homepage of the Usenet-Server website automatically shows you a control area where you can gauge how much you need for your Usenet activity. It starts at €1 for 1 GB to €50 for 625 GB. The higher the number your GB is, the cheaper the cost is per GB.

UsenetDiscount Review

Mon, 04 Apr 2022 00:00:00 +0000

UsenetDiscount is a Usenet service provider that offers uncensored Usenet access with speeds up to 800 Mbit/s and 50 connections. Their straightforward plan comes with SSL encryption and more than 3 years of article retention.

This Usenet provider has been in this business for more than 10 years and has established itself as a decent Usenet service. And while we may not consider them as one of the best when compared to other providers like Newshosting or UsenetServer, UsenetDiscount can be considered as having a reliable service.

UsenetDiscount Quick Summary

10+ Years of Experience
Up to 800 Mbit/s
Use up to 50 connections
99.9% Completion
3+ Years of Article Retention
256-bit SSL Encryption
Unlimited Plan
Volume Plan
5-day free trial

Binary Retention

According to their site, UsenetDiscount has 3+ years of article retention. It is quite unclear how long their binary retention is or if the 3+ years only covers text retention.

Pricing

UsenetDiscount has a pretty simple pricing setup offering just two main plans: Unlimited and Volume10. See pricing below:

Free Trial Info

To test out their service, you can sign up for a free trial through their website. All their plans come with a 5-day free trial period. If you are unsatisfied with their service, you should cancel your plan before the free trial period ends.

NZBCave Review

Sun, 27 Mar 2022 00:00:00 +0000

NZBCave serves as a notable NZB forum, providing users with access to a variety of NZBs. Similar to traditional forums, it includes spaces for discussions. While many NZB forums do not charge for membership, NZBCave does offer a premium service that allows users to fully utilize all features of this indexer.

For those opting for a free account with NZBCave, access is restricted to a view-only mode, limiting interaction and participation.

Highlighted Features

NZB forum
Options for both Free and Paid memberships
Free accounts are view-only
Lifetime fee option available for paid accounts
Built on the Xenforo community platform
Open registration policy
Community of over 3000 active members
Established since 2010
Offers a range of backup releases, including Blu-rays in 1080p and 2160p
Minimal takedown occurrences

Interface

The interface of NZBCave is straightforward and resembles that of other forum websites. Users can easily navigate to the latest posts and activities through the “What’s New” section, while the “Forum” page provides direct access to various discussions. Although there is a link to an IMDB page, it appears to be non-functional at this time.

To experience the full range of features on NZBCave, users can opt for either an annual or lifetime membership fee. Alternatively, those interested in merely browsing can register for a free account.

SmsUsenet Review

Mon, 21 Mar 2022 00:00:00 +0000

SmsUsenet is a Dutch Usenet service provider that has no data limits. They offer two types of accounts that both vary in speed. What makes this provider different from most Usenet services is that they offer a mobile option which allows you to pay for their service through your phone via the 0900 number if you are from The Netherlands. This type of account is also a good option for those with no experience with Usenet. Please note, however, that SmsUsenet has a low retention rate which makes it a not so reliable option especially when compared to the best Usenet service providers today.

SmsUsenet Quick Summary

Flexi and Mobile Account Plans
More than 150,000 newsgroups
SSL Encryption available
900 days of retention
4 to 6 connections
Switching download speed
Allows you to pause your account
No notice period
No data limit
Full speed headers
99% completion
99.8% uptime
Flexible Payment options

Binary Retention

SmsUsenet only has a retention of 900 days. This is a lot lower than our recommended binary retention. Most top Usenet services are currently at 4000+ days and other providers are at 2000+ days, making SmsUsenet one of the lowest in terms of retention rate.

BD25 Review

Mon, 14 Mar 2022 00:00:00 +0000

BD25 is a Usenet indexer specifically catering to movie aficionados. It hosts thousands of movie files which includes full blu-ray releases which is something you don’t see that much on nzb sites.

BD25 hosts NZB files themselves so you will not have to rely on searching for specific files via Usenet forums. And if you cannot find the blu-ray releases you are looking for, you can place requests for the blu-ray films you want. Based on our research, however, one disadvantage of this indexer is that it only has blu-ray releases and no other films with subtitles.

Upon our most recent check, registration is currently closed since the maximum number of users have been reached.

Highlighted Features

Usenet forum for blu-ray releases
Host NZB files
Users can request for blu-ray films
Presents upload request and upcoming uploads
One account per one IP address
Easy-to-use interface
Simple nzb file downloading
Free to use
Currently closed for registration - maximum users reached

Interface

To be able to use BD25, you would need to first create an account on their site. Currently it is closed for registration but if you are lucky enough to be able to create an account, you will receive an email with a link that you need to click on to activate your account.

Headphones VIP Review

Sun, 06 Mar 2022 00:00:00 +0000

The Headphones VIP Server functions as a specialized indexer that primarily curates music files, seamlessly integrating with a variety of audio-centric newsreaders. Notably, it is designed to work particularly well with the Headphones app, an automated tool that simplifies the process of downloading music using NZBs and Torrents.

Upon subscribing to Headphones VIP, users gain immediate access to the VIP MusicBrainz Mirror. This resource is a comprehensive music encyclopedia that compiles metadata about music and makes it publicly accessible, alongside offering the benefits of a private Usenet indexer.

Key Features

Private Usenet indexer dedicated to music
Focused on indexing audio files
Immediate access to the MusicBrainz open music database
Compatibility with the Headphones app
Usable with other audio-focused newsreaders
Satisfaction guaranteed with a money-back option
Secure payment options via PayPal
No long-term contracts required

User Interface

Once you register and complete the payment for a Headphones VIP account, you will enjoy instant access. The interface operates similarly to other online indexers, allowing users to search for desired files effortlessly and receive quick results.

What sets Headphones VIP apart is its unique ability to integrate smoothly with the Headphones app, enhancing the user experience for those focused on music downloads.

Membership Structure

Headphones VIP offers a singular membership tier. To set up your account, visit their website and enter your chosen username and password. You will then be redirected to a PayPal window to finalize your subscription. After completing the payment, you will return to the Headphones VIP site.

Simonews Review

Mon, 28 Feb 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Simonews is a Usenet service provider that offers subscription/ flatrate accounts and long-term accounts. Their long-term accounts are similar to current block accounts however there is an automatic expiration of 5 years.

At first glance, Simonews seems like a decent Usenet provider. However, when going into details, the service and their website is outdated. This provider has a low retention rate and only one of their servers has SSL encryption available.

Simonews Quick Summary

Subscription/ Flatrate Accounts Available
Block Plans for long-term user - expires in 5 years
Low Retention - 900 days only
Usenet speed up to DSL 16000
109,000 Usenet newsgroups
One server with SSL Encryption available
No E.U. data retention
Credit card and Paypal payment option

Binary Retention

Simonews has a very low retention rate compared to the best Usenet service providers. Currently, their website states that they have 900 days of retention.

Pricing

Simonews has 2 types of accounts: Subscription and Long-term accounts.

Subscription accounts either give you monthly data transfer or flatrate speed of x mbit/sec. Long-term accounts are similar to block accounts but automatically expires after 5 years.

Free Trial Info

Simonews has a free demo account of 0.5 Gigabyte good for 7 days.

Shemes Review

Mon, 21 Feb 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Shemes is a Usenet service provider that offers Grabit software which is a Usenet content downloader. This service regularly updates their service like server upgrades and other features to make your Usenet experience better.

Shemes has plans that both include unlimited downloads and block access. If you also need Usenet just for searching, they also have a plan for that.

Shemes Quick Summary

EU and US Servers
SSL Encryption
Offers 45 connections
6+ years of retention
Usenet search only plans
Unlimited download plans
Block plans
Unused download credits rollover for block plans
Offers Grabit Usenet Software

Binary Retention

According to their website, Shemes has a retention rate of 6+ years. It is quite unclear, though, if this refers to binary retention or text retention.

Pricing

As mentioned, Shemes offers various plans which includes Usenet search only plan, search and unlimited download plan and block access plans.

Free Trial Info

No free trial information is mentioned on the Shemes website.

Special Offers/ Coupons

When you sign up with a Shemes service you get unlimited use of the Grabit Usenet search feature. Other than that, Shemes does not have any special offers or coupons available. You can check back with us for future promos with this Usenet service.

MijnUsenet Review

Mon, 07 Feb 2022 00:00:00 +0000

MijnUsenet is a Dutch Usenet provider that offers plans based on your desired speed. Aside from that, MijnUsenet also has what they call a “benefit package” which basically is a lower cost plan that you can only use at certain times of the day.

While this Usenet provider seems to have decent Usenet access plans, it is important to note that they have a very low retention rate and their website’s copyright date ended in 2018 which indicates that they have a very outdated service compared to most Usenet providers in the market today.

mijnusenet Quick Summary

Plans varying in speed - from 4 Mbit to 200 Mbit
Offers discounted plans based on 3 different time zones
Access to 150,000 newsgroups
900 days of retention
99.7% completion
Free SSL access
No download limit
4-20 connections
Account sharing allowed
Direct access after payment
24/7 support via email

Binary Retention

MijnUsenet has a very low retention rate currently at 900 days based on their website. This is much lower than our recommended binary retention that top Usenet providers ideally should have.

Pricing

MijnUsenet has Usenet access packages based on speed which you can either purchase per month, quarter, half-year or per year.

I-telligent Review

Mon, 31 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0000

I-telligent Usenet is a Dutch usenet provider that offers subscription and prepaid types of accounts for users. Both of these accounts vary in speed allowing you to select which fits well with the bandwidth of your internet service provider.

i-telligent Quick Summary

Dutch Usenet provider
Subscription and Prepaid Accounts
Unlimited downloads
Various speeds offered
SSL Encryption
Up to 40 connections
2300 days of retention
99.8% completion
Forum available

Binary Retention

Compared to top Usenet providers, I-telligent has a low retention rate which is currently at 2300 day. Top Usenet providers are currently at 4000+ days.

Pricing

I-telligent offers subscription and prepaid accounts, both of which have different speeds allowing you to choose which plan would best suit the bandwidth of your internet service provider.

Subscription plans can be purchased on a monthly or annual basis. 7 days before a subscription expires, customers will receive an email with the option to renew, upgrade or stop the service.

Standard - €4.25/mo
- 75 Mbit
- 20 connections
Luxe - €6.50/mo
- 300 Mbit
- 30 connections
Deluxe - €9.50/mo
- Unlimited
- 40 connections

Pre-paid plans, on the other hand, are for people who have an account number from which it is not possible to debit automatically or who do not want to use direct debit. Payment can be made by bank transfer. Terms can be pre-determined by selecting the months. Seven days before a term expires customers will receive an email with instructions to renew the account.

Tangysoft Newsreader Review

Mon, 24 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Originating from Hong Kong, Tangysoft was considered as one of the more popular Usenet newsreaders for a long time. However, with the emergence of more advanced Usenet clients in the market, Tangysoft has lost its luster but still has some very decent features that make it a good newsreader.

Tangysoft does not have the most modern interface and the most updated features but it does its basic job well - searching for files and managing newsgroups. Please note, however, that it no longer supports downloading of NZB files.

Highlighted Features

Tangysoft has a few features that make it a decent enough newsreader. But you might need another alternative for NZB downloading.

Searches files and filegroups in a classic way
Manages newsgroups - individually and via categories
Good user interface
Good filter options
Automatic unpacking and repairing
Multiple languages supported - German, English, Spanish and French
Works on multiple operating systems - Windows, Mac, Linux
No longer supports NZB downloading
No regular updates

Plans & Pricing

Tangysoft is a completely free Usenet newsreader.

Usage Information

With its simple look and clear visuals of each function on its interface, Tangysoft is pretty easy to use. However, it does lack some more modern features that allow it to compete well with other newsreaders in the market. It is also not compatible with mobile devices so there are definitely some improvements that could be made with this newsreader to modernize it.

Dreamload Review

Mon, 17 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Dreamload is a German Usenet service provider that offers unrestricted and fast Usenet access that comes with a free search engine and clients.

Dreamload offers multiple block and flat-rate accounts allowing users to have power to choose the best possible Usenet access subscription perfect for one’s needs.

Dreamload Quick Summary

Decentralized, anonymous user administration
No data retention
Free search engine
Free clients
Multiple installation possible
Classic and Silverlight client
Available: Block and Flat Rate Accounts
Maximum bandwidth of 500 Mbit/s
Binary Retention: 900 days
Archive size: approximately 1,500,000 GB
Ad-free

Binary Retention

Compared to other Usenet service providers, Dreamload has a low binary retention which is only 900 days. If you are looking for recent binary files, that would be ok. However, it would still be best to go for a Usenet service that offers a much higher binary retention rate.

Pricing

Dreamload has accounts based on volume and flat-rates. Their block or volume accounts all come with 200 Mbit of speed and access to 150,000 newsgroups. These block accounts range from 25GB to 500GB.

If volume accounts aren’t for you, you can choose their flat-rate accounts which you can either pay for every 3, 6 or 12 months. Their flat rate accounts vary in speed from 3 Mbit/s to 200 Mbit/s.

Holmez Newsreader Review

Sun, 12 Dec 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Holmez is a free software for Usenet search that you can download from Google play. This newsreader allows you to find content from Usenet easily, quickly and efficiently. Aside from that, it also allows you to download NZB files to your device as well as stream them conveniently.

While this free newsreader is only available on Google Play, Holmez is actually compatible on multiple operating systems since it is a cloud-based newsreader that is opened on your browser. Searches can be done in the browser window which makes it suitable for all operating systems. You can actually check out their website and log-in to get started.

Highlighted Features

Holmez has several features that makes it a good Usenet companion especially for people on the go. What we like especially is that it can be used on mobile devices even having an app via Google play or even be used via your phone or computer browser.

Completely free
Content can be viewed directly through your browser
Stream directly in the app
Upload downloads to your personal archive
Multiple download or repeated streaming works well
Usable with Usenet service provider of your choice
Available in English, Spanish, French, Dutch, German, Italian and Portuguese.
Easy to use
Searches can be saved if you want to refer to them again
Sorting of results allowed
Filtering options available

Plans & Pricing

As mentioned, Holmez is completely free. No need to purchase anything from their end. Of course, you would need to subscribe to a Usenet service provider to be able to get Usenet access and fully use Holmez.

Bulknews Review

Sun, 05 Dec 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Bulknews is a Dutch Usenet service provider that offers multiple flat and block accounts that are private, secure and fast. They have redundant servers that enable users to get fast Usenet access through multiple backbone connections.

This Usenet provider also offers occasional promos and discount codes which is appealing for a lot of users. However, their retention rate is not as high as the best Usenet service providers today. That being said, Bulknews does have the lowest retention either and they cover all the necessary basics needed for Usenet access as far as providers are concerned.

Bulknews Quick Summary

Reliable Usenet access
10Mbit to 500Mbit of speed
Secure connection via SSL encryption
Over 100,000 newsgroups available
Retention rate of 1600 days
Completion of 99.9%
Multiple Block Accounts (20GB to 6000GB)
Multiple Flat Fee Accounts (20Mbit to Unlimited Mbit)
Up to 40 secure connections
Free Usenet trial available
Multiple Payment methods including Bitcoin
Posting allowed for Flat accounts

Binary Retention

Bulknews does not have the highest retention rate but is decent enough with 1600 days of binary retention. If you need a provider with a higher retention, check out our list of the best Usenet service providers.

Pricing

Bulknews has two types of accounts available: Block and Flat Accounts. Block accounts offer unlimited speeds and 30 connections but vary in download limits, while Flat accounts or bulk accounts give you unlimited download size but vary in speed and number of connections.

Atlantis News Review

Sun, 28 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Atlantis News is a Usenet service provider that claims to be the largest private, uncensored newsgroups provider on Usenet. However, there are other better and more competent service providers in the market today that offer better service and have far better features than Atlantis News.

This Usenet service also claims to have the largest retention period in the market but does not disclose the number of days of their binary or text retention. If you check out their website, their service seems to be outdated and you could benefit from looking at more reliable services listed on our best Usenet service providers today.

Atlantis News Quick Summary

Fast downloads - able to max out broadband with binaries
Claims to have the longest retention in the Usenet industry but does not mention how many binary and text retention days they have
99.9% completion rate
Encrypts member information
Safe usage whether downloading or posting
Does not keep logs of your downloads
Pricing based on download limits

Binary Retention

As stated on their website, Atlantis News has the longest retention in Usenet. However, based on what we’ve researched online, this provider only has 21 days days of retention - massively lower than active Usenet service providers today.

AnarQy Review

Mon, 22 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Anarqy is a Usenet service provider that offers unlimited access and downloads through their variety of servers. Their pricing is relatively decent at $8.99 per month, however their service seems to be outdated. This is initially quite evident by their website that does not just look old-fashioned in terms of its look but also lacks key information that users may need to make them decide which Usenet provider to subscribe to.

At an initial glance with Anarqy, it may serve users well to check out the best Usenet service providers rather than go for an unsure and seemingly outdated provider.

AnarQy Quick Summary

Monthly subscription: $8.99
7-day trial version: $2.95
Variable retention of 1 year to 10 years
Nearly perfect completion
Access to newsgroups via internet browser
Easy online cancellation
With US and EU servers
12-20 connections (depending on the server)
SSL ports

Binary Retention

It is unclear what the binary retention is of Anarqy. The only retention information that their website states is that their variable retention ranges from 1 year to 10 years.

Pricing

You can subscribe to Anarqy monthly for a fee of $8.99. While the pricing seems to be competitive with top Usenet providers, you have to check at the information they have on their site first and compare it with the best Usenet service providers. Anarqy service information is not that complete and seems to be very outdated.

Aeton Review

Sun, 14 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0000

aEton is a German Usenet service provider that has been in the industry since 2011. It has been considered as one of the leading providers in Europe, however, over the last few years their popularity has declined mainly due to the emergence of other better Usenet services and their aEton’s lack of upgrades with their features.

According to their website, aEton was the first Usenet service provider to offer free test accounts and they introduced Usenet flatrate to the European market. But even with being a trailblazer in certain areas, aEton does not seem to be able to keep up with the modern times and has yet to improve their site and services to be able to compete with the best Usenet service providers in the market today.

aEton Quick Summary

German Usenet Service Provider
Has been in the Usenet business since 2001
Experienced but outdated in service
SSL Encryption
Retention time of 1100 days
Up to 150 mbit/s with block accounts
Up to 30 mbit/s with flat rate accounts
Free newsreader
Free search engine
No user logs
Payment method - Credit Cards and PayPal
Monthly cancellability
No permanent subscriptions

Binary Retention

aEton has a retention rate of 1100 days. While this may not be the lowest among all existing Usenet service providers, this is much lower than the standards of the best Usenet services today.

123usenet Review

Sun, 07 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0000

123usenet is a Dutch Usenet service provider that has been around since 2011. They offer various Usenet packages for beginner to expert level Usenet users and it includes a decent number of secure connections and unlimited downloads. However, their retention rate is not at the same level of the best Usenet service providers today.

123usenet Quick Summary

Dutch Usenet Service Provider
Multiple Plans - Beginner, Advanced, Expert
Payment per 1, 3, 6 or 12 months
Maximum of 12 connections
900 days of retention
Unlimited Downloads
Secure connections via SSL encryption
Account sharing allowed
Access to 150,000+ newsgroups
Multiple payment options except cryptocurrency

Binary Retention

123usenet has a retention rate of 900 days. This is a lot lower than the best Usenet service providers today like Newshosting or UsenetServer. Retention refers to how long a provider keeps files on their server. And if a provider has a low retention rate then most likely you won’t be able to find files or discussions that may have been posted a while back.

Pricing

This Usenet provider has several subscription plans that can be enjoyed by users of multiple levels. These plans differ in number of connections and speed but they consistently provide users with unlimited downloads.

Maximum Usenet Review

Sun, 31 Oct 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Maximum Usenet is a US-based Usenet service provider that has been around since 2006 and offers high binary retention. Maximum Usenet also has multiple server farms located in the US and EU giving you maximum satisfaction with high speed, completion and privacy.

Maximum Usenet Quick Summary

US-based Usenet service provider
US and EU Servers
Privacy Guaranteed
256-bit SSL Connections
50 Connections
Uncensored Newsgroups
Maximum Usenet Servers - United States and Amsterdam
High Binary Retention - 4908 Day
24/7 Support
Bitcoin not accepted
Unlimited and Block Access Plans

Binary Retention

Maximum Usenet currently offers 4908 days of Binary and Text retention. This is at the same level of the best Usenet service providers.

Pricing

Maximum Usenet offers multiple plans ranging from unlimited access and block access plans. Pricing are as follows:

Free Trial Info

Maximum Usenet does not have any free trial offering. You may want to check out our list of the best Usenet service providers for those that have free trials so you can test out their service first.

Special Offers/ Coupons

This Usenet service provider does not have any special offerings or promos. However, do check back with us for future promotions and possible coupons.

AnonyNews Review

Sat, 23 Oct 2021 00:00:00 +0000

While not so well-known as the best Usenet service providers, AnonyNews has some decent offerings from a long retention of 3000 days to high speed downloads via a multiple high-performance system. Their pricing is also simple and straightforward having basically only one package that you can either a monthly, quarterly or per year basis.

AnonyNews Quick Summary

Dual server system - US and EU
No logging of downloads
Anonymous uploads
Active newsgroups
Retention of over 3000 days for binaries
Over 10 years or retention in text groups
99.9% completion rate
High-speed downloads
SSL encrypted access available
Simple subscription plan
Multiple payment methods

Binary Retention

AnonyNews has a binary retention of over 3000 days and a text retention of over 10 years. This is higher than low-end Usenet providers but a little lower than our best Usenet service providers.

Pricing

This Usenet service provider does not want to burden subscribers with a lot of options in terms of their subscription plan. AnonyNews only offers a single plan which you can either subscribe to on a monthly, quarterly or per year basis.

Free Trial Info

AnonyNews does not have any free trial offering.

Special Offers/ Coupons

Currently, there are no special offers or coupons with this usenet provider. Make sure to check back with us for future offers and promotions.

NZBS.cc Review

Sat, 16 Oct 2021 00:00:00 +0000

NZBS.cc operates as a Newznab+ indexer that maintains a semi-private profile through its invite-only testing phase. While not as prominent as the top contenders in the indexer space, this platform continues active development into 2025, offering solid functionality for users who manage to secure access.

The infrastructure backing NZBS.cc is robust—over 90GB of RAM paired with 24TB of storage capacity ensures responsive performance. Binary retention exceeds 4000 days, positioning it competitively for users seeking older content. The platform integrates seamlessly with automation tools including Sonarr, Radarr, and SABnzbd, making it particularly valuable for automated download workflows.

Core Capabilities

Extended retention: Binary availability spanning over 4000 days.
Automation-ready: Native compatibility with Sonarr, Radarr, Jackett, and SABnzbd.
Responsive design: Interface adapts fluidly across desktop and mobile devices.
Tiered access structure: Standard, VIP, and Elite memberships with progressive feature unlocks.
Elite-tier Spotweb: Backend API and Spotweb access for top-tier subscribers.

Search Experience

The search interface balances simplicity with power, offering both straightforward queries and advanced filtering options. Custom scripts optimize search accuracy and speed, while the clean design keeps the experience efficient whether you’re browsing manually or configuring API endpoints for your automation stack.

Access Tiers Explained

Free accounts provide a taste of the platform with restricted NZB downloads and limited API calls—enough to evaluate but not for heavy usage. Standard membership ($10/6 months) removes download restrictions and provides 2000 API calls. VIP ($30/year) eliminates API limits entirely. Elite ($50/year) adds Spotweb backend access for users who prefer that interface or need additional integration options.

Xennews Review

Sat, 16 Oct 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Editor’s Note: As of 2022, Xennews has been moved to Usenet provider Hitnews. Xennews was always a sister company of Hitnews and has now been moved back to the said Usenet service provider. All current active accounts with Xennews has been transferred to Hitnews. For any concerns, you can email support@hitnews.com.

Xennews is a Usenet service provider based in the US which offers a variety of plans that differ in speed. Users can subscribe to plans depending on how long they need the service. This ranges from a month of service to a full year.

Xennews also has a good retention rate, 99% of completion and provides high download speed.

Xennews Quick Summary

US-Based Usenet Service Provider
Three main Account Plans
Retention Rate - 2100 Days
Completion Rate of 99.9%
High Download speed of up to 1000 mBit
With Standard and SSL Ports
No recurring payments
Anonymous sign-up
Multiple payment methods

Binary Retention

Xennews has a decent retention rate of 2100 days which is more than 4 years. While this is good enough, this is still not at the same level as some of the best Usenet service providers that offer up to 4000 days of retention.

Pricing

Xennews offers 3 main plans that diffen in speed limits. Accounts can be paid on a monthly basis or up to a full year of service. This Usenet service provider uses a prepaid system with no recurring fees happening and no surprises for users. If your account is about to expire, you will receive an email from them as a reminder. You can extend your account by logging into their website. A new payment will be added to your account so you can extend whenever you like. If you don’t want to extend you don’t have to do anything. Your account will always be available.

FirstLoad Review

Sat, 09 Oct 2021 00:00:00 +0000

FirstLoad is a Usenet service provider based in the UK that has been in the business of professional downloading since 1979. They offer several account options that include monthly block accounts, as well as a one-week unlimited option.

While it seems like they are a good Usenet service provider, their website somehow lacks other necessary information especially with regards to number of connections and server locations.

FirstLoad Quick Summary

UK-based Usenet Service Provider
Monthly Block Access Accounts
One-week Unlimited Account
Payment options depending on account chosen
Retention period up to 1200 days
128-bit SSL encryption
14-day free trial with free Lumac Usenet client

Binary Retention

FirstLoad has a retention period of 1200 days which is lower than most of the best Usenet service providers today. The ideal retention period is at 4000+ days.

Pricing

FirstLoad offers multiple block plans ranging from 100 GB per month to 800 GB. They also have what they call a FirstLoad Flat Mobile which has an unlimited data volume for one whole week.

According to their site, they also offer a 30-day money-back guarantee if you will be unsatisfied with their service. To get a full refund, make sure to contact their customer service before the first 30 days of your account ends.

NewsXS Review

Sun, 03 Oct 2021 00:00:00 +0000

NewsXS is a Dutch Usenet service provider that offers a wide variety of unlimited and block account options. They have been in the Usenet business for quite some time now and have established themselves as a reliable Usenet provider especially for the European market.

While NewsXS is not at the same level as the best Usenet service providers in the market today, they offer a good amount of connections for their users, as well as a decent retention rate. SSL is also included in their plans and they also allow account sharing.

NewsXS Quick Summary

Dutch Usenet Service Provider
Unlimited Usenet Accounts
Block Usenet Accounts
14-day Free Trial Period
1900 days of Retention
Up to 50 connections
Account Sharing Allowed
Free SSL Connection
Multiple IP Addresses
Multiple Payment Methods

Binary Retention

NewsXS has a retention of 1900 days. This retention rate has not changed for the past few years. While this may not be at par with the best Usenet service providers, this is decent enough to be able to find files from 5 years back.

Pricing

NewsXS has two main types of accounts: Unlimited Usenet and Block Access.

Their Unlimited Usenet accounts vary in speed and number of connections. This would be perfect for users who heavily rely on Usenet for downloading files and newsgroup discussions.

EasyUsenet Review

Sun, 26 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0000

EasyUsenet is a Usenet service provider that offers Usenet access at competitive rates. They have multiple packages that vary depending on speed and number of threads. This provider has a decent retention rate and covers the basics needed for Usenet access including free SSL and entry to 134,000 uncensored newsgroups.

EasyUsenet Quick Summary

Netherlands-based Usenet Service Provider
Brand of XS News
High Security with Free SSL
Free trial for 5 days
Multiple packages - Block access, Prepaid Flatrate Products
Prepaid products vary in speed and number of connections
Offers promo plans - good for 100 days
Access to 134,000 uncensored newsgroups
2200+ days of retention

Binary Retention

EasyUsenet has a retention rate of 2300 days.

Pricing

EasyUsenet offers users the option to choose between Prepaid Flatrate products and Block Access plans.

Their flatrate accounts vary in speed and number of connections

EasyUsenet also has block access plans with 12 threads each.

This Usenet service provider also offers promo plans that are set to 100 days of usage. Pricing are as follows:

Free Trial Info

Users can test out EasyUsenet service for 5 days with no personal data required for registration. The free trial comes with 500 Mbit/s of speed and free SSL. Simply enter your email address, location and mobile number to register.

BREIN Successfully Shuts Down NZBXS.com

Mon, 13 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Dutch intellectual property protection organization, BREIN successfully claimed another victory with Usenet indexing site, NZBXS.com going offline. The shutting down of NZBXS.com happened after BREIN was able to agree to a settlement with the administrator of the indexing site.

NZBXS.com agreed to share user data to the intellectual property protection organization before closing their operations. According to NZBXS.com’s administrator, the Usenet indexing site started out as a hobby project and has never really grown out of proportion. However, thousands of users still gathered to share hyperlinks to illegal downloads. These links redirected to files from movies, games, videos, ebooks and apps which raised serious copyright infringement problems that have caused damages to rights holders.

BREIN History with Usenet Indexers

BREIN has a long history of going after Usenet indexing sites for copyright infringement issues. In 2018, for example, the anti-piracy outfit Popular Usenet community, Place2Home shut down after both parties came to a legal settlement after Place2Home was found to have Dutch file-sharers who illegally uploaded TV shows, music, movies and other contents.

According to their site, “BREIN’s main tasks is to tackle illegal sites and services. In addition, BREIN identifies and prosecutes the first and major uploaders who feed these illegal platforms. This approach is extended to the frequent uploaders, who maintain the system. Furthermore, BREIN reports millions of search results for content offered without permission to Google every year. These are removed or moved to the back, so that legal offers appear at the top of the search results. Due to the increasing number of legal providers, this is becoming more and more successful.”

Usenet Indexing Site, Newzbin, Shuts Down

Sun, 05 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0000

After more than 8 years as a Usenet indexing site, Newzbin, which is a popular source of files for Usenet users, has closed.

Last August 19, 2021, Newzbin announced that they will be closing its doors stating the “current status of Usenet” as the reason why they are stopping their operations. Their forum post states: “We notice that things are getting quieter and more and more uploaders are choosing eggs for their money with the increasing risks of getting caught.

We respect this decision and hope you will also respect our decision to stop.

Our pleasure in maintaining and further developing Newzbin has also disappeared.” This solidifies the idea that the main reason why this popular Usenet indexing site is closing is due to the legal action by anti-piracy group BREIN.

BREIN regularly announces its actions against people involved in Usenet posting and indexing and has been successful in forcing several Usenet services to go offline from FTD to News-Service.com, both of which closed several years ago.

Newzbin meets the same fate as the abovementioned Usenet services by settling with the anti-piracy group. The agreement between Newzbin and BREIN includes handing over user details. This means users may find themselves contacted by the group due to the “utilization of NZBXS’ API to power software including Sickbeard, RADARR, and CouchPotato.”

Newsgroup Ninja Review

Mon, 30 Aug 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Newsgroup Ninja is a tier-1 Usenet reseller intent on providing good service at a reasonably low price. They are partnered with one of the oldest and most reliable Usenet service providers which allows them to have low margins but provide high quality service.

The focus of this reseller is newsgroup access catered towards those who require reliable, fast and secure service without client bundles or add-ons.

NewsgroupNinja Quick Summary

Tier-1 Usenet Reseller
Premium Bandwidth for Tier-1 Speeds
Regions in both US and EU
Competitive Pricing - only $5.83 per month
High Retention Rate - 4909
Unmetered Access
Account comes with 50 SSL Connections
Zero-logging Access
24/7 Support
Money-back guarantee

Binary Retention

You can access newest, oldest and the best posts with Newsgroup Ninja’s retention of 4909 days. Completion rate is at 99%

Pricing

This Usenet service provider only has two subscription options—monthly and yearly. Both plans include unlimited downloads and speed, unlimited bandwidth, unmetered access, 50 connections, 4,406 days of binary retention and SSL encryption:

Monthly - $7.99/mo
Yearly - $69.99/yr ($5.83/mo)

Free Trial Info

Newsgroup Ninja does not have any free trial offering. However, they do offer a 7-day money-back guarantee. If you are unsatisfied with their service, you can contact them through their online support form or send them a message through the dashboard during the first 7 days.

UsenetExpress Review

Mon, 16 Aug 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Usenet Express is a tier 1 Usenet Service provider that offers multiple packages including block plans and unlimited plans. This provider has server farms in both US and Europe and offers users access to 50 connections, SSL encryption and even a VPN add-on.

UsenetExpress Quick Summary

Tier 1 Usenet Service Provider
US and EU Servers
256-bit SSL (TLS1.2)
Block and Unlimited Plan
Unlimited Speed
50 connections
Connections upgradeable to 150 connections
Includes free headers, free posting and header compression
30-Day Risk Free Trial
VPN Add-On Available
Retention of 3000 Days
No logging
Uncensored newsgroups: 100,000+
Multiple payment methods including Bitcoin
Maximum allowed streams: 150
Header compression
Free headers with unlimited account
No logging

Binary Retention

Users can find articles over 3000 days old when using Usenet Express. Usenet Express also has a completion rate of 99%.

Pricing

Usenet Express has a single block plan and unlimited plan. Their block plan includes 500GB of data and you have the option to add a VPN service with your package. Unlimited plans, on the other hand, come with a VPN account included. Both Block and Unlimited plans include 50 connections, 256-bit SSL and a 30 day risk-free feature. Pricing are as follows:

NZBXS Review

Mon, 09 Aug 2021 00:00:00 +0000

NZBXS is an indexing platform built on the Spotnet framework, dedicated to Usenet indexing services. It is important to note that NZBXS does not store any files and is not liable for the content that users upload or download through Usenet. As stated on their website, “This site exists solely to provide a listing of available content; even without this site, the files on Usenet servers remain accessible.”

At present, NZBXS is not accepting new registrations. If you are fortunate enough to have an existing account, you can log in to access the site. However, it remains unclear whether membership confers any unique advantages compared to what is available to non-registered users. Like many other Spotnet/Spotweb-based platforms, NZBXS is ad-supported and functions similarly to its counterparts.

Key Features

Free registration (currently unavailable)
Enhanced search capabilities (with various filters)
Access to documentation via the Spotweb GitHub
Regular maintenance updates
Rapid search functionality
Advertisements: Present
Security: HTTPS certified
Unlimited API access (for registered users)
Compatible with automation tools like Sonarr, Sickbeard, Radarr, and CouchPotato.

User Interface

The NZBXS website features a straightforward interface reminiscent of other Spotweb-based platforms such as NZBStars. Unlike some sites, it lacks a dedicated forum; however, users have the option to comment on files and engage in discussions with fellow members.

iLoad Usenet Review

Wed, 04 Aug 2021 00:00:00 +0000

iLoad Usenet makes Usenet easily accessible and secure for users. This Usenet service provider does not only provide long retention days but also the good completion rates and an integrated search engine for Usenet. SSL encryption also is included for free and they have software for Windows, Mac and Linux. The service provider offers 7,657 binary newsgroups and a total of 35,630 terabytes of data.

iLoad Usenet offers multiple plans from volume, flatrate to prepaid plans.

iLoad Usenet Quick Summary

High Retention rate - 6041 days
Integrated Usenet Search Engine
Software for Windows, Mac, Linux
Access to 7000+ binary newsgroups
35000+ terabytes of data
Multiple types of plans

Binary Retention

iLoad Usenet offers one of the highest retention rates in the market today with 6041 days of retention and still growing. That’s more than 10 years. Aside from that they have a 99% completion rate as well.

Pricing

iLoad Usenet has multiple plans: Volume, Prepaid and Flatrate. With the number of plans they have, you should consider examining their plans carefully and see what best suits your needs. Plan specifics can be seen below:

Volume Subscriptions

Flatrate Subscriptions

Prepaid

Volume plans can be purchased on a 1-month, 3-month, 6-month and 12-month basis except for iLoad XXL which is only for a maximum of 6 months
Flatrate plans can be purchased on a 1-month, 3-month, 6-month and 12-month basis except for iLoad Flat XXL and unlimited subscription which is only for a maximum of 6 months
iLoad Prepaid plans vary in the amount of data. The validity of plans depends on the amount of data you purchase - this ranges from 3 months to 24 months.

Free Trial Info

iLoad Usenet offers a 14-day free trial either by volume or flatrate. Volume free trials range from 12GB to 240GB. Flatrate trials, on the other hand, range from 1 Mbit to 25 Mbit.

Prowlarr Review

Tue, 20 Jul 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Introduction

If you’re running Radarr, Sonarr, Lidarr, or Readarr, you already know the hassle of keeping multiple indexers synced across apps. Every time an API key changes or a tracker updates, you end up repeating the same configuration steps. That’s where Prowlarr comes in.

Prowlarr acts as a central hub for your Usenet and torrent indexers. Instead of managing each one in every app, you configure them once in Prowlarr, and it syncs everything automatically. It’s especially powerful when deployed in a NAS + Docker setup, where it runs smoothly alongside the rest of your automation stack.

Key Features & Benefits

Prowlarr isn’t just a convenience add-on — it solves real problems in the *arr ecosystem:

Native Usenet support for 20+ indexers, plus any Newznab-compatible source
Torrent support for nearly 500 trackers, plus any Torznab tracker
Indexer Sync → configure once, sync across Radarr/Sonarr/Lidarr/Readarr
Per-Indexer Proxy → bypass region restrictions with SOCKS, HTTP, or Flaresolverr
Health Monitoring → get status notifications when an indexer fails
Manual or Automated Searches → flexible control at a category level

Prowlarr vs. Alternatives

Feature	Prowlarr	Jackett	NZBHydra2
Supported Sources	Usenet + Torrents (Torznab	Newznab)	Torrents only	Primarily Usenet (Newznab)
App Integration	Native sync with all *arr apps	Manual setup per app	Indexer aggregation	less sync
Deployment	Docker	NAS	Windows	Linux	macOS	Docker	Windows	Linux	Docker	Windows	Linux
Ease of Use	Modern UI	one-click sync	More manual	less polished	Powerful but complex
Development	Actively maintained	.NET 8 stack	Less frequent updates	Active	but niche focus

Bottom line: Prowlarr replaces Jackett for most torrent users and adds full Usenet support, making it the best all-around choice for mixed setups.

NZBID Review

Mon, 05 Jul 2021 00:00:00 +0000

NzbID serves as a versatile Usenet search engine designed to index newsgroup headers and streamline the process of downloading NZB files. It is important to distinguish it from the now-defunct NzbID.org. Accessible at nzbid.net, NzbID is a burgeoning platform that continually refines its features to deliver an exceptional Usenet searching experience to its users.

Key Features

NzbID provides a remarkable Usenet Newsgroups search experience, showcasing a variety of features:

Conduct searches using filename, subject, author, email, or across all available fields
Choose specific newsgroups for focused searches
Filter search outcomes based on the retention rate of posts
Browse through an array of newsgroups
Set parameters for minimum and maximum file sizes for your searches

User Interface

The platform boasts an intuitive design, making navigation a breeze. Users can seamlessly search for desired files via the search bar or peruse a curated selection of popular Usenet groups. NzbID currently encompasses more than 500 groups and has indexed over 1 million NZBs.

User Experience

Finding and downloading free NZB files is straightforward. You can perform searches by filename, author name, subject, or author email. Every indexed message on NzbID contains Usenet binaries, simplifying the process of searching for NZB files without unnecessary hassle. Users can also take advantage of RSS feeds and browse through Usenet Newsgroups. Furthermore, it allows you to specify the retention rate of posts and adjust your search parameters, including setting minimum and maximum file size limits while sorting results by relevance, newest, oldest, smallest, or largest files.

UsenetNews Review

Wed, 30 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +0000

UsenetNews is a Usenet service provider that offers access to independent servers available packaged into one convenient, money-saving option. All their servers provide SSL access to all accounts. Their plans also have good value and feature unlimited access, no speed limits and access to their varied retention depending on the package you select.

UsenetNews Quick Summary

Access to multiple independent servers
Choice between US and EU servers or both
SSL Access
Provides unlimited access and unlimited speed
Allows Posting
Retention varies depending on the server package you subscribe to

Binary Retention

Each server has their own independent retention. The retention you get depends on the package you are subscribed to.

Blue Server Connection: 3000 Days
Gold Server Connection: 1,500 Days
All Access Server Connection: 2,000 Days

Pricing

UsenetNews’ membership type is only for monthly subscription. They do not offer yearly, discounted, subscriptions. As mentioned, their plans are based on the server connection you want to use.

Gold Server - $4.49 per month
Blue Server - $6.99 per month
Blue & Gold Server - $9.99 per month
All Access (Gold, Blue & Green Server) - $12.00

The breakdown of their servers are as follows:

Plan	Monthly Pricing	Retention	Connections	Servers
Gold	$4.49	1500	40	EU
Blue	$6.49	3000	50	EU
Blue & Gold	$9.49	3000	50	EU
All Access	2000	50	US & EU

Free Trial Info

This Usenet service provider does not have any free trial offering. However, they have a refund policy that states that you can request a refund within 24 hours of purchase or 5 GBs of downloads, whichever happens first.

Prepaid Usenet Review

Sun, 20 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Prepaid Usenet provides Usenet access without pressure and risk. What makes it different from other Usenet service providers is that they give users complete cost transparency and control in such a way that they offer access without subscription but instead through prepaid payments.

Prepaid Usenet does not have any hidden fees and they also offer a money-back guarantee if you are not satisfied with their service, as well as a free trial offering without having the need to give your information.

Prepaid Usenet Quick Summary

Prepaid Payment
No subscription plans
1800 days of binary retention
Guaranteed volume with no decline
Complete anonymity – SSL Encryption
Free SMS test account – 10GB of data volume
Full cost control
Comes with own newsreader
No termination necessary

Binary Retention

Prepaid Usenet has a binary retention of 1800 days and over 5 years of text retention

Pricing

With Prepaid Usenet you get Usenet access without being tied to long-term and expensive subscriptions. They offer 6 prepaid plans which includes a free plan for testing that comes with 10GB of volume.

10GB - €0.00
12GB - €5.00
50GB - €15.00
100GB - €25.00
220GB - €50.00
500GB - €100.00

All their plans include the following:

Usenet4u Review

Tue, 15 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Usenet4u has been in this industry for the past 15 years and has been providing high-quality access to the worldwide Usenet network. The three main principles of this Dutch Usenet service provider are: Quality, Service and Good Price.

Usenet4U Quick Summary

Dutch Usenet Service Provider
Has been in the industry for 15 years
Retention of 1900 days
Multiple Account Plans: Unlimited, Prepaid Small, Prepaid Large
No contract, no notice period
No Automatic Renewal
Secure & Easy Payment
Free SSL security
Free Headers
Up to 18 simultaneous connections
Forum Available

Binary Retention

Usenet4u has a binary retention of 1900 days. While this may be a decent number, this is lower than the best Usenet service providers on our list.

Pricing

Usenet4u has prepaid packages that have no time limit and are valid indefinitely. They offer prepaid packages for users who are looking for small data usage as well as large usage.

Plan	Price
Prepaid 15GB	€8.50
Prepaid 25GB	€12.50
Prepaid 50GB	€21.50
Prepaid 100GB	€32.50
Prepaid 150GB	€43.50
Prepaid 250GB	€58.50
Prepaid 500GB	€72.50
Prepaid 1000GB	€139.50

Usenet4u also has unlimited packages that you can sign up for a month, 3 months, 6 months or one whole year. These unlimited packages also vary in download speed – either 50 or 250+ Mbit.

Usenet Big-8 Management Group Hosts AMA on Reddit

Sun, 13 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +0000

As part of their public outreach efforts to promote Usenet, the Usenet Big-8 Management Board hosted an AMA (ask me anything) session on popular forum site, Reddit, last May 28. This management board is responsible for the following:

creates well-named, well-used newsgroups in the Big-8 Usenet hierarchies,
makes necessary adjustments to existing groups,
removes groups that are not well-used, and
assists and encourages the support of a canonical Big-8 newsgroup list by Usenet sites.

The Big-8 recently reconstituted the Board after a three-year dormancy and has now been busy restoring and modernizing its infrastructure and as part of this reconstitution, current Board members Jason Evans (a technical training engineer), Tristan Miller (an artificial intelligence research scientist) and Rayner Lucas (a self-employed programmer, electronics hobbyist and retrocomputing enthusiast) answered several questions from the Usenet community on reddit.

Based on the reddit thread, the Big-8 management board answered questions that varied from their personal Usenet recommendations, historical information, tutorials and future plans. Some of the discussions worth highlighting are as follows:

Recommendations

Q: What apps would you recommend to get back into Usenet?

A: Jason: Thunderbird is the most prevalent. Pan is gret on Linux.

Q: Which resources would you recommend for someone who hasn’t used Usenet before (clients, servers, groups, …). Do you see any future in bridges like nntpit? What should I do if I want to set up an internal NNTP server for my club/school/company? What should I expect if I want to set up an NNTP server that’s talking to other servers?

Newslazer Review

Mon, 24 May 2021 00:00:00 +0000

NewsLazer provides fast access to thousands of newsgroups. It is a newsreader or Usenet browser that is both user-friendly and effective – allowing you to search, preview and download from newsgroups with good retention.

As of mid-2025, the latest version is v3.8.7, released June 1, 2025.

One of our best Usenet service providers, Eweka, lists Newslazer as their top newsreader of choice for its unlimited search, fast downloads and instant set up.

Highlighted Features

Available for multiple platforms
- Windows
- Mac
- Linux
Simple Set up
- Download the software and login with your Usenet provider account details (username & password)
Streamlined Search
- Easy-to-use interface that allows you to locate and browse all your favorite newsgroups
- Multiple filter options (by most recent posts) – latest file groups, best file groups or create a custom search via the Global Usenet search box
Automated Downloads
- Monitor the search results you want and use Newslazer’s intuitive settings to automatically download them.
Bookmarks available
- Two default bookmark folders – text and binary
- Customize bookmark list by adding and deleting new folders and newsgroups
Configurable Settings
- Choose between Usenet search engines and set search history options
- Control private settings, file system settings and user interface settings
- Set speed limit
- Use NZB Auto Import feature for automated downloading
- Scheduler
- Link to the VLC video player of your choice and/or set video preview settings
- Filter out adult content
- Auto Shutdown
24/7 Support
- Round the clock support team to answer your questions and solve your issues

Plans & Pricing

Newslazer is completely free to download and use. There is no paid version of this software.

UsenetFire Review

Sun, 23 May 2021 00:00:00 +0000

UsenetFire has shutdown as mid 2023. This review is left in place for archive purposes only. UsenetFire had a life span of about 2 years.

UsenetFire Quick Summary

Tier 1 backbone – providing direct 10 gig fiber connection (UsenetExpress)
US & EU Servers – find fast speeds with a server location near you. UsenetFire servers are in Europe and North America.
SSL Secured – 256-bit encrypted connections
Retention – 3000 days and growing
50 connections
Access to browse through over 104,000 newsgroups
Monthly and Block Plans
Account Stacking – multiple plans can be ordered under one account
Custom Made Dashboard
Easy purchase and account maintenance – no third-party software involved
Competitive pricing
Good customer support
SPECIAL OFFER: Promo Code: usenetreviewz (20% off on any block or subscription plans)

Retention

UsenetFire offers 3000 days of binary retention and growing.

Pricing

UsenetFire offers both monthly subscription plans and block accounts and can all be stacked under one account.

All their monthly plans cover unlimited data and user access to 50 connections from their US and EU servers, SSL encryption and their growing retention.

This Usenet service provider also offers multiple block accounts that are data-capped depending on which gigabyte block plan you select. Other than variations in block access, other features included in monthly subscriptions are also part of block accounts.

NZBScout Review

Mon, 10 May 2021 00:00:00 +0000

⚠️ Update (March 2026): NZBScout appears to be no longer operating. The domain nzbscout.com has been redirected to domain-parking infrastructure (ParkLogic nameservers via Namecheap), which is a common indicator of a service that has shut down. No official shutdown statement has been made by the developers. We recommend exploring our list of best NZB sites for currently active alternatives.

NZBScout was a noteworthy player in the realm of NZB sites, catering to a diverse array of content including videos, audio files, e-books, games, PC applications, and even adult material. This NZB search engine was meticulously crafted by its developers, utilizing their own coding expertise rather than relying on any pre-existing content management systems or indexing scripts.

What differentiated NZBScout from its competitors in the NZB and Usenet search engine landscape was its commitment to being an open-access platform. Users could enjoy unlimited downloads without any fees or membership requirements. The developers had explicitly stated their intention to remain a free service, allowing users to freely download as many NZBs as they desired.

Nzbscout Interface

Nzbscout Search Results

Nzbscout File Details

Nzbscout Details Suggestions

Key Features

Open NZB platform
Completely free; no membership tiers
Unlimited usage
Comprehensive crawling of popular newsgroups for the most sought-after NZBs
Daily updates
Additional insights sourced from external databases
Total verified NZBs: 400,000
Daily additions of 1,500 to 2,000 NZBs
Generated related file suggestions in the “You Might Also Like” section

User Interface

NZBScout featured a sleek and modern interface that enhanced user experience. Upon entering the site, users were welcomed by a clean layout that facilitated easy navigation and efficient file searching.

CUII Starts DNS Locking Campaign in Germany

Wed, 28 Apr 2021 00:00:00 +0000

The S. TO SERIEN STREAM website was blocked recently due to copyright infringement by the newly formed CUII (Clearing House Copyright on the Internet) in Germany. The group implemented a domain name system lock (DNS lock) on the website to restrict customer access to the page. According to reports, other prominent structurally infringing sites like The Pirate Bay and Kinox are also being considered for blocking.

Until recently, copyright holders have been relying on legal proceedings to enforce DNS locks on violating websites. And with the new clearing house procedures, DNS blocks can now be implemented more rapidly and by all its participating Internet access providers.

With the CUII and these new developments in Germany, things may change for the European internet with restrictions and blocking being implemented here and there.

DNS Blocks - What are they and how to avoid them

DNS or the Domain Name System is used all the time when a website is requested. DNS helps to resolve a name such as website.com to its numerical Internet address also known as its IP address. It is considered as the internet’s basic address system similar to a dynamic phone book that converts human-friendly web addresses like NYTimes.com and Google.com into their machine-friendly numeric counterparts.

USPTO Campaign on Combatting Pirated Products

Tue, 27 Apr 2021 00:00:00 +0000

The U.S Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) recently sent notices to several stakeholders and copyright holders regarding their implementation of a National Campaign on Consumer Awareness. This notice aimed to seek suggestions from stakeholders on the proper implementation of the said campaign to combat the trafficking of counterfeit and pirated goods.

According to a document released by the Federal Register, the daily journal of the United States government, the USPTO sought information from intellectual property rights holders, online third-party marketplaces, third-party intermediaries and other private sector stakeholders on the development of this national campaign as a public-private partnership.

Background of the National Campaign

In early 2020, the Department of Homeland Security released a report to the President of the United States titled “Combating Trafficking in Counterfeit and Pirated Goods”. This was in response to a Presidential memorandum on the aforementioned topic and among the actions identified was the establishment of a National Consumer Awareness Campaign.

This National Campaign encompasses all types of trafficking of counterfeit and pirated goods including online piracy. According to the Copyright Alliance, online services play a major role in educating the public on the risks and costs of piracy and with that offered suggestions to the USPTO to help implement this campaign.

In-Depth Review of NZBHunter

Wed, 21 Apr 2021 00:00:00 +0000

NZBHunter is an up-and-coming NZB site that employs Spotweb for the retrieval of NZB files. It stands alongside other notable Spotweb-based NZB platforms like NZBServer. Spotweb acts as a web-centric version of Spotnet, necessitating an existing HTTP server and database setup.

The NZBHunter platform boasts an extensive collection of files, encompassing everything from images and movies to e-books, audio tracks, TV series, and adult content. Additionally, users can find games and applications across various platforms. However, to download NZB files, users must first log into their accounts, which restricts browsing capabilities for unregistered visitors.

Nzbhunter Interface

Nzbhunter Search

Key Features

Built on the Spotweb framework
Free access to browse content
Login required to download NZBs
Wide array of genres available
Games and applications included
Enhanced filtering options
File retention period of up to one year
Lacks forums and chat support
Enhanced privacy through SSL encryption

User Interface

When comparing NZBHunter to other Spotweb-based NZB sites, one will notice that its interface closely mirrors those of its peers. The design, filtering options, and overall user experience are quite consistent, with the primary distinction being the login feature.

AltBinz.net Servers Affected by Fire

Mon, 15 Mar 2021 00:00:00 +0000

OVHCloud, a French cloud services firm that hosts AltBinz.net had a major incident last March 10 shortly after midnight. A fire that broke out destroyed one of the four data centers of the firm in Starsbourg in Eastern France. The rest of the data centers were also affected due to high voltage distribution.

According to OVHCloud and Reuters, the fire broke out at the SBG2 Data Center. Firefighters were immediately on site but could not control the fire at the said building. The site was isolated; however, it also has impacted services on SBG1, SBG3 and SBG4.

The AltBinz.net server is in SBG3 but due to the high voltage distribution and inactivity of AltBinz’s back-up server users have been unable to authenticate when starting AltBinz.

Disruption of millions of websites

The fire at OVHCloud not only disrupted the newsreader site, AltBinz, but also knocked out millions of other websites including government agency portals, news websites, banks and shops as it took as a big chunk of the .FR web space.

OVHCloud is considered as Europe’s largest cloud service hosting about 3.6 million websites including government platforms in France, Britain, Poland and the Ivory Coast.

The Starsbourg centers were among OVHCloud’s 17 data centers in France and upon the major incident happening, the cloud services firm immediately recommended websites whose productions are in the said location to activate their disaster recovery plan.

Popcorn Time Faces Copyright Infringement Lawsuit

Mon, 15 Mar 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Free movie app company, Popcorn Time and several of its users has been hit by a group of independent movie companies with a lawsuit for copyright infringement. Along with the widely used application, VPN service VPN.ht and hosting provider Voxility was also targeted.

While a lot of major Hollywood studios avoid suing pirate services and its users, smaller independent studios have been more active in putting pressure on these apps, sites and third-party services including its users. These independent studios believe that these companies and users play a huge role and the piracy ecosystem that they want to battle.

In recent years, for example, Hawaiian attorney Kerry Culpepper has been putting pressure on various pirate sites and services including YTS, one of the largest torrent sites in the industry. Culpepper convinced YTS to settle with several movie companies for more than a million dollars in damages.

Lawsuit against Popcorn Time

With the help of their lawyers, Culpepper and Attorney Timothy Hyland, independent production companies filed a complaint at a federal court in Virginia against Popcorn Time, VPN.ht and Voxility, accusing them of copyright infringement.

These production companies include Fallen Productions, Inc, Eve Nevada LLC, Millenium Funding Inc., Bodyguard Productions Inc., Gunfighter Productions LLC, Voltage Holdings LLC, HB Productions Inc, Killing Link Distribution LLC, LHF Productions Inc, Rambo V Productions Inc and Wonder One LLC. These companies argue that the defendants all play a role in distributing pirated copies of their files.

NZBGeek Hacked, User Data Compromised

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Last December 2020, it was reported that popular Usenet indexer, NZBGeek, was hacked. In a statement released by NZBGeek, they mentioned that the hackers managed to place a keylogger to access supposed secure information from their system. These hackers were able to obtain a copy of their database which includes usernames, encrypted passwords, email addresses and last connected IP addresses. As per their statement, the hard drive on their indexer also failed along with an API server.

Advised Action

Upon informing the public of this predicament, NZBGeek advised its users to take appropriate action if they have used their card with the website since November 20, 2020. This includes reporting what happened to their card issuer to protect users from unlawful charges.

NZBGeek also suggests that users change their credentials and card information as soon as possible. If you use the same username/password combination on any other website NZBGeek suggests you change them. You should also use two factor authentications with all your online accounts”. According to their released statement, “PayPal data is not at risk providing you do not use the same username/password for NZBGeek”.

NZBGeek clarifies that they do not store credit card details on their website. However, with the hackers using an SQL-exploit to install a Javascript-based keylogger, this left users exposed.

TweakNews Review

Fri, 26 Feb 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Operating from the Netherlands, TweakNews has built a reputation as one of Europe’s most reliable Usenet providers, consistently delivering high-performance feeds with minimal downtime. Their comprehensive service packages include unrestricted downloads, integrated newsreader software, and VPN protection as standard features. Users seeking a premium Usenet experience backed by European infrastructure will find TweakNews particularly compelling.

TweakNews Quick Summary

€7,50/month exclusive rate for UsenetReviewz.com visitors—includes newsreader software and VPN service with annual commitment.
Regular pricing stands at €12,95/month – UsenetReviewz.com visitors save 43%
UsenetWire newsreader provides integrated search, preview, and download functionality in a unified interface.
Zero throttling—your connection speed remains unrestricted, unlike competitors who implement artificial bandwidth caps.
4200 days of retention that continues expanding monthly.
Zero-log VPN service with unlimited bandwidth included across all Usenet subscription tiers.
Block account options available for pay-as-you-go flexibility.
Server infrastructure exclusively hosted within EU data centers.
Support for up to 60 concurrent connections depending on plan selection.
Seamless integration with automation tools including Sonarr, Radarr, and CouchPotato.
Multilingual support available in English and Dutch.

Visit TweakNews ↗

How We Evaluate Usenet Providers

Selecting the right Usenet provider requires careful analysis of multiple performance indicators and service characteristics. Retention depth serves as a primary benchmark—it determines how far back into Usenet history you can retrieve content, with industry leaders maintaining archives spanning thousands of days. This metric directly impacts your ability to locate older releases and niche content that may have limited availability. Providers committed to retention growth demonstrate long-term investment in their infrastructure.

NZBReader Review

Mon, 15 Feb 2021 00:00:00 +0000

NZBReader is an innovative web-based tool designed for seamless downloading of NZB files from Usenet. Its user-friendly interface caters to both novice and experienced Usenet users, ensuring a smooth experience for everyone.

NZBReader guarantees secure data transfer from Usenet to your device, offering unlimited traffic for premium users while operating efficiently in the background—minimizing resource consumption on your device.

Highlighted Features

NZBReader stands out as a modern alternative to the now-defunct NZBLord. While they share some similarities, NZBReader boasts a contemporary interface and is actively maintained.

Key features include:

Web-based platform
Intuitive and straightforward interface
Drag-and-drop downloading capability
High-speed downloads
99% uptime for Usenet access
Enhanced bandwidth options
Advanced encryption technology
No user tracking or logs
SSL Encryption for secure connections

The NZBReader website regularly updates statistics on the number of NZBs downloaded, total traffic, and server uptime.

Plans & Pricing

NZBReader offers three premium subscription packages to enhance your Usenet downloading experience. Each plan includes unlimited download traffic, SSL encryption, and premium bandwidth.

1 Month Access - $15.00
6 Month Access - $50.00
1 Year Access - $100.00

Special Pricing

Currently, there are no promotional offers available from NZBReader.

Free Trial Information

Unfortunately, NZBReader does not provide a free trial. However, its simplicity and user-friendly design make it appealing to many users, even without a trial period. More details can be found in the usage section of this review.

Newscene Review (Provider Offline)

Sun, 14 Feb 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Update (September 2025): As of late 2025, Newscene appears to be offline and is no longer available as a Usenet provider. The website is inaccessible and sign-ups are not possible. The following review is retained for historical reference.

Newscene was a Usenet news service that was said to offer a high degree of anonymity for subscribers. However, upon checking their website, not only did it lack a lot of information to make a sound decision about this Usenet provider, but it also seemed outdated and was offline for sign-ups.

Newscene Quick Summary (Historical)

Access to over 53,000 newsgroups
“High degree” of anonymity
Newsgroup search option on website
US and EU servers
Month to month and Multi-month plans
Metered without speed limit
9 connections
Outdated service and website
Sign-up system offline in later years
Support via FAQs and tech team

Binary Retention

As mentioned, there was a lack of information with this Usenet service. Both their text and binary retention were not mentioned on their site.

Pricing

Newscene offered monthly, 3 month, and 6 month plans. When compared to top Usenet service providers, their prices were higher.

This Usenet service had a “metered download without speed limit’’ plan which gave you a download allowance and a specific amount of time within which you could use that download limit.

Altopia Shutting Down

Tue, 09 Feb 2021 00:00:00 +0000

After 26 years in the industry, well-known Usenet provider, Altopia, will be turning off its Usenet NNTP service on March 2021

Altopia has been one of the longest-running providers in the Usenet industry. They have provided both beginner and expert Usenet users with quality and competent service for the past 26 years. According to some Usenet forums, while it is sad that one of the oldest providers in the business is shutting down, it does not come as a surprise since the beginning of retention wars in 2008 which marked the start of the end of a lot of smaller providers.

While this shutdown of Altopia saddens and may worry a lot of its users, Altopia Corporation Chief Geek, Chris Caputo mentions that the final monthly credit card billings have already happened. Customers who have paid beyond February 2021, will have their extra payments refunded or will be contacted by the company. If current customers have questions or other inquiries, the Altopia website and their team can still be reached via email at support@altopia.com.

Altopia also provides a list of their recommended alternative Usenet providers on their website. You can also check UsenetReviewz’s top Usenet providers for 2021 and see which of these services would be the best option for you.

What is the Big 8?

Tue, 09 Feb 2021 00:00:00 +0000

The Big 8 is a group of newsgroup hierarchies established in order to make it easier for users to search and find topics they want and the groups they want to join in. These hierarchies are subject to the same approval process where the creation of new groups is concerned as are the mainstream hierarchies and contain many high-quality groups. Creating a group involves a democratic process where people can Call for Votes (CFV), which is a Usenet decision-making process. Usenet users are called upon to vote on a topical administrative issue under the supervision of the Big 8 management board. New newsgroups go through a process of nomination, discussion and, as mentioned, voting.

Aside from supervising the approval process of new newsgroups in the Big-8 hierarchies, the Big-8 management board also makes the necessary adjustements to existing groups, removes groups that are not well-used and assists and encourages the support of a canonical Big-8 newsgroup list by Usenet sites.

Currently, the Big 8 consists of the following hierarchies:

comp. - computer-related discussions
humanities. - humaties topics
misc. - miscellaneous topics
news. - newsgroup-related matters; topics about Usenet
rec. - recreation and entertainment
sci. - science-related discussions
soc. - social discussions
talk. - discussions about various controversial topics with no obvious categorization.

These heirarachies make it easier for Usenet users to find the topics they want quickly and more efficiently. For example, if you wish to search for a newsgroup that discusses movies, then you will likely find a group for that on the rec hierarchy.

Usenet Crawler Server Breached

Mon, 08 Feb 2021 00:00:00 +0000

A lot of users of NZB site, Usenet Crawler, have recently been having problems accessing the website due to connection timeout or server problems. During our most recent check, Usenet Crawler has not been performing well during the past year in terms of website response time and uptime.

Uptime Concerns

While most active NZB sites present a 99% to 100% uptime for their websites, Usenet Crawler has just been generating an uptime rate of only about 90%. And as of writing, it’s January 2021 uptime was only at 9.62%.

Based on our active monitoring, Usenet Crawler’s uptime activity has been fluctuating for several months now with connection timeout constantly recurring, sometimes lasting for several minutes or up to a long period of time.

Server Breach

According to its site administrator, a Usenet Crawler server was breached. This served as the administrator’s personal development machine and is also the staging server for all that Usenet Crawler has. This includes all the source code, allowed access to restricted areas and all of the admin’s passwords and crypto wallets.

While it is quite unclear when this incident occurred, based on relevant facts, this may have happened over the period of several months since the site admin apologizes for leaving its users in the dark.

NZB Hydra 2 Review

Mon, 01 Feb 2021 00:00:00 +0000

NZBHydra 2 is the advanced successor to the original metasearch tool, NZBHydra. This enhanced meta search application for newznab indexers and torznab trackers significantly outperforms its predecessor in terms of speed, stability, and features, making it a preferred choice for users.

Often regarded as the “spiritual successor” to NZBMegaSearch, NZBHydra 2 simplifies access to a wide range of newznab indexers and torznab trackers via Jackett. It seamlessly integrates with popular applications like Sonarr, Radarr, Lidarr, and CouchPotato, allowing for a streamlined experience in managing downloads.

This software is consistently updated and maintained, ensuring users benefit from ongoing improvements and bug fixes.

The Program

NZBHydra 2 boasts a variety of enhancements and features that set it apart from earlier versions. Key functionalities include:

Comprehensive searches across popular indexers such as Anizb, BinSearch, and NZBIndex, along with any newznab-compatible indexers. It consolidates results, applies various configurable filters, identifies duplicates, and presents everything in a unified interface.
Directly adds results to NZBGet or SABnzbd for efficient download management.
Full support for media IDs across platforms like IMDB, TMDB, TVDB, TVRage, and TVMaze, along with the ability to convert between them.
Intelligent query generation that creates a search query when only a media ID is provided, even if the indexer lacks support for that ID or if no results are found.

Big-Bit Review

Thu, 28 Jan 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Big-Bit has different modes of account: Normal User, Top Users, Donors, Administrator, Manager, The Abuser, and they also accept customized name requests, but it’s mostly given to special members. The color of their username can easily distinguish their label.

Big-Bit has over 30,000 visitors per month, and they are attracting visitors mostly from Dutch-speaking countries.

Although the website is secured by SSL connection, the website still encourages its users to use a VPN when browsing and downloading from the site.

Once you register on the website, they will assign a moderator to you. You can also request for files (with a limit) and ask to upload files.

Bigbit File Request

Bigbit Help Desk

Bigbit Search Results

Bigbit Uploader Form

Highlighted Features

Open and free for registration
Privacy: SSL connection
File request allowed
Uploader request allowed
On-site avatar creator
Retention: undisclosed
Ads: No ads
Integration: undisclosed

Interface

Big-bit has a custom interface. The website was originally written in Dutch but automatically translates to English once you enable the pop-up translation setting.

WtfNZB Review

Tue, 26 Jan 2021 00:00:00 +0000

WtfNZB serves as a publicly accessible NZB site, offering free access to its users. The platform is supported by voluntary donations and has no current intentions to implement a VIP tier system.

Currently, WtfNZB is undergoing significant development aimed at enhancing user experience. While some features might still be in progress, the beta version has shown promising improvements in integrating with the Newznab API and RSS clients.

✨

Editor’s Tip:

Editor’s Note: As of April 30, 2021, WtfNZB has ceased operations, and we are officially categorizing this site as a defunct NZB platform.

Wtfnzb Nzb Site

Wtfnzb Browse by Category

Wtfnzb Search With Rss

Key Features

Open NZB site
Free registration
No VIP accounts
No invite required
RSS Feeds
API Integration: Compatible with Sabnzbd, NZBGet, etc.
Forum available in beta
Enhanced search functionality
Information on TV shows and movies
Support for multiple languages

User Interface

Given that WtfNZB is still in the midst of extensive development, the complete user interface is not yet finalized. However, insights from the beta version indicate that search functionalities have been notably upgraded, and the platform has been revamped to improve user-friendliness.

Binary Boy Review

Thu, 17 Dec 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Binary Boy is a Usenet newsreader compatible with Windows operating systems. It allows users to search and download files from Usenet newsgroups. It has several basic and advanced features that include NZB and yEnc support, automatic file extraction, SSL support, header compression, automated download scheduling and a feature called Dr. Binary, which searches for missing and damaged files from your download list.

Binary Boy is a paid newsreader that you can purchase for $19.95 and includes lifetime free upgrades.

✨

Editor’s Tip:

EDITOR’S NOTE: Upon clicking “buy now” links to Binary Boy newsreader on their site, it redirects to a MyCommerce page that shows that the product does not exist. You may need to click through Binary Boy’s Usenet access plan to be able to pay for and access the newsreader product.

Highlighted Features

Binary Boy has features similar to a lot of newsreaders out there. But while other newsreaders perform very basic functions of only being able to read and post articles from Usenet, Binary Boy is also capable of NZB extraction, which is also a prerequisite of most Usenet users these days.

Threaded decoder
Automatic file extraction from downloaded RAR archives
NZB support
Browse manually or download automatically
Handle 64-bit article numbers
SSL connections for servers that support it
Header compression enabled on servers that support it
Customize search rules and folders for each newsgroup
Search using individual keywords or create complex AND, OR and NOT search rules
Built-in picture viewer
Launch external programs based on the downloaded filename
Overwrite temporary files before deleting for increased privacy
Schedule automated downloads

Plans & Pricing

Binary Boy can be purchased for $19.95 and can be paid via major credit cards or PayPal. You can also purchase a Binary Boy Usenet access account and receive a $10-dollar coupon if you would also like to buy the Binary Boy newsreader. Binary Boy Usenet accounts are priced at:

MicroPlanet Gravity Review

Thu, 17 Dec 2020 00:00:00 +0000

MicroPlanet Gravity is a free Usenet client capable of reading news over NNTP. Since its development in 1996, it has gained popularity in the Usenet community even being chosen as PC Magazine’s Editor’s Choice that same year. From that point, several improvements and updates have been done to the program to provide users with the best possible Usenet newsreading experience possible.

✨

Editor’s Tip:

EDITOR’S NOTE: MicroPlanet Gravity has not been updated since September 2010. There is also no information if its open-source contributors have ceased development on the software.

Highlighted Features

MicroPlanet Gravity is an online and offline Usenet news client with an extensive list of features from filters, rules and scoring. All their versions use Perl Compatible Regular Expressions or PCREs for these rules, filters and scoring. It has the following key features:

Implements a scoring system. Users can sort or filter by score or assign colors to score ranges.
Users can act on certain articles based on certain criteria
Powerful and flexible display filters
Multiple user support
Binary decoding abilities including yEnc decoding and filter displaying to show complete binaries, if all parts are present
Backup and restore can be done via the “Export and Import” functions under the Tools menu
Displays X-faces (enable or disable X-face display from the Global options)
Spell Checker – uses Hunspell, a small open source spell checker
Platform is Visual C++ 2008 and MFC
Current version: 3.0.4 (stable)

MicroPlanet Gravity does not support NZB files, header compression, or multiple connections.

Newsgroup Commander Pro Review

Thu, 17 Dec 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Newsgroup Commander Pro basically allows you to search, read, reply, and send new messages on Usenet using a simple, yet handy, interface. Developed by InternetSoft Corporation, which is a company that mainly focuses on email client software and FTP software, Newsgroup Commander Pro helps you go through newsgroups and download articles from them.

This Usenet newsreader has several basic, yet functional features that allow it to perform well and provide fundamental commands that traditional newsreaders are known for including message searching, posting, online and offline reading and managing newsgroups.

Highlighted Features

Newsgroup Commander has the following features and options:

Message search via keywords
Built-in newsgroup reader
Online and Offline Reading
View individual messages within a newsgroup for reading
Multiple include/ exclude filters to search and find articles by content
Unlimited newsgroup management
Manages filets, addresses, etc
Post messages
Multiple Connection Support
Allows you to choose between downloading all articles of a group or only the specified number of the last articles
Automatic loading of articles via mouse click
Online Filters
Article Title only downloading
Configurable layout to set up various message list views as well as toolbars and buttons

Newsgroup Commander Pro’s latest version is 9.05 and can be downloaded from the Internet Soft Corporation website.

Slrn Review

Thu, 17 Dec 2020 00:00:00 +0000

S-Lang Read News or Slrn is an NNTP-based Usenet client that accesses news servers to read messages from Usenet. Initially developed in 1994, the program has been updated several times with its latest version released in 2016.

Based on the Slrn manual, the program has the usual features of a traditional newsreader. Aside from that, it supports scoring rules to highlight and sorts or kills articles based on information from their header. Slrn is also highly customizable and allows free key-bindings. It can easily be extended using the S-Lang macro language and is capable of offline reading by using either slrnpull or a local news server like leafnode or INN.

The Slrn website was last updated in June of 2021.

Highlighted Features

As mentioned, Slrn is a traditional newsreader. It does not have advanced capabilities that other more modern newsreaders have. However, as a basic Usenet client, it functions well with the key features that it has.

Freeware, released under GNU licensing terms
Downloads headers
UnZips and UnRARs files
Advanced filter support
Allows free key-bindings
Multiple server support
Offline reading available by using Slrnpull or a local news server
SSL encryption, available
Anonymous and authenticated server access available.
Courtesy copy and miscellaneous settings are available
Customizable interface
Uses Slang editor to compose a message

Plans & Pricing

Slrn is free to install and use. There is no donation information for this program.

BinTube Newsreader Review

Wed, 16 Dec 2020 00:00:00 +0000

BinTube Usenet Reader is a great tool for downloading different kinds of content from Usenet, including audio and video files. It allows you to download and stream video, audio and image files and basically handles all file formats, encodings and packing methods that can be found on Usenet. The BinTube Usenet Reader comes in two versions which are BinTube Ultimate and BinTube Pro.

BinTube Ultimate comes free when you subscribe to Usenet service provider, BinTube.

BinTube Ultimate has a progressive streaming feature that enables users to limit the download speed according to the bandwidth necessary for the stream. BinTube Ultimate can also support multiple servers and third-party Usenet providers.

Highlighted Features

BinTube Ultimate have the following features:

Built-in Usenet Search with a high search retention
Media Streaming – start streaming your files as soon as downloading starts
Advanced Streaming - Skip to any section of a video or DVD image before all the preceding parts are downloaded. This works with the internal player, external media players, and most uncompressed and unencrypted files.
Progressive Streaming (only for BinTube Ultimate) – limits download speed to the bandwidth necessary for streaming
Image Gallery – image viewing in thumbnail or gallery mode
Full NZB file support
NZB Verification – verifies nzb files before downloading begins
SSL Encryption
Smart repair file downloading – PARs are only downloaded if needed
Smart Part prioritization – automatically organizes parts and downloads them in the order they are needed first
ASCII art rendering – displays text files containing ASCII art correctly
Automatic folders – multiple files are automatically stored in separate folders
YEnc, UU, Base64 decoding
RAR, Zip and 7z extraction
Split file merging
Download manager
Built-in open search – search your favorite Usenet search engine from BinTube
NZB watch/drop folder
Bandwidth limiter
Minimize to system tray
Adware & Spyware free
Supports multiple servers and third-party Usenet providers

Bintube has improved support for high DPI monitors and a brand-new search engine with full retention and new functionality not found anywhere.

Usenet Explorer Review

Wed, 16 Dec 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Usenet Explorer was released in 2005 and has evolved into having several versions, the most recent of which is their version 5.8.2.

According to its project history, the program was started in parallel with Newspro development, which is also a multi-server newsreader.Usenet Explorer can handle binary newsgroups as large as 150M headers without consuming significant resources. Also, fault tolerance issues have been addressed at different levels given the necessity to handle such large volumes of data. This program is suitable for conventional Usenet access without thinking about volumes as with other programs, and in addition more recent binary Usenet access methods since NZB files and indexing are also fully supported.

Highlighted Features

Usenet Explorer is a free to download program that has several automated features on top of the more conventional newsreader functions. For the full features of this newsreader, please see below:

Newsreader for text and binaries
Supports multiple servers
Has a multi-tabbed interface
Capable of doing simultaneous multiple tasks
Exceeds binary downloaders in terms of both reliability and performance
Handles large newsgroups efficiently
Virtual groups - combining headers from many groups in one window
Optional auto or custom grouping of headers in threaded view
Automation through AutoHeaders/Watch/Scheduler.
Header filtering options
Integrated Search feature
NZB file support. Conventional header download.
Customizable and fast auto PAR2 repair, join and unrar
SSL support with ZLib compression capability
Compressed headers / IPv6 ready / Native x64 version available
Low memory consumption
Low processor usage
Flexible and extendable underlying framework
Fully autonomous, no verification server or phoning home except for optional check for updates
Settings and database are contained in a single folder, doesn’t use registry
Powerful freeware text/binary poster included
Win95/98/ME/NT/2K/XP/Vista/Win7/Win8/Win10 compatible

While this programs most recent version was released back in 2017 and no newer versions has been released, minor updates have constantly been made throughout the years. Upon checking their development page the past few years after the release of version 5.8.2 has been concentrated on minor functionality changes and bug fixes. There is also an active community of users on their forums page that suggest possible improvements for the software.

NZBLord Review

Wed, 09 Dec 2020 00:00:00 +0000

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Editor’s Tip:

Editor’s Note: Update as of September 2025 - NZBLord’s website is currently online, but the service is not competitive with top-tier Usenet providers. Pricing and completion rates do not match leading services like Newshosting. For support, contact support@nzblord.com

NZBLord is a quick and easy web tool where you can download NZB files from. To download, you would simply need to go to your favorite NZB search engine and look for the files you want. NZBLord gives you the option to download files from either your computer, URL address of an NZB file, or paste the content of the NZB file directly to the form they provide.

With the simplicity of its process, NZBLord does not require users to have an account with a Usenet provider. But while this NZB downloader seems like a very impressive tool, it would cost you several dollars to get premium access to their service. You still may want to go for other reliable downloaders that are free, like NZBGet or SABnzbd.

We’d also like to note that since there is no configuration involved for you to be able to use SSL ports for your downloading, your activity is not secure and anonymous. The NZBLord website is also labelled as “not secure”, so users should avoid entering any sensitive information on the site.

Usenet Prime Review

Mon, 07 Dec 2020 00:00:00 +0000

In a landscape crowded with numerous Usenet service providers, Usenet Prime differentiates itself by promoting “peak performance and prime protection.” As a relatively recent entrant to the market, Usenet Prime boasts unlimited download speeds, block plans, robust SSL encryption, respectable retention rates, and a responsive customer support team.

While not classified as a Tier-1 Usenet provider, Usenet Prime operates as a reseller for a provider that maintains its own infrastructure. Their servers are strategically located in both the United States and Europe, allowing them to offer competitively priced plans that cater to users seeking either unlimited access or non-expiring block accounts.

Quick Facts

Monthly subscription at $10 grants unlimited speed with no restrictions
Block accounts of 500GB and 1TB available for $20 and $35, respectively
Supports up to 50 simultaneous connections
US and EU server locations ensure optimal connectivity
Retains prime binary and text content with over 99% completion rates
1100 days retention for binary files
Access to 104,000 newsgroups
Utilizes 256-bit SSL encryption for security
Offers logless access, ensuring no tracking of user activities
Quick and effective customer support
Does not accept Bitcoin payments
No free trial available

Retention

Usenet Prime advertises high retention rates on its platform, although it does not specify the exact number of days. According to our findings, Usenet Prime currently provides 1100 days of retention for binary files. While this is a commendable figure, it falls short when compared to the top-rated Usenet service providers available today.

Xmas Day Special Offers

Wed, 02 Dec 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Celebrate Christmas with us by taking advantage of special offers from top Usenet Providers . While nothing can beat the annual Black Friday Usenet special offers, these Christmas savings still offer good value.

Xmas Day Special Offers

Here are some Xmas Holiday Special Offers for 2026. There are currently five providers offering limited time discounts.

#1 - Newshosting

Regular price : ~~$239.38~~
Lifetime discounted price: $8.33/mo (yearly account)
58% lifetime discount
Service level features:
- 100% unlimited downloads with zero GB caps
- 100% unlimited speeds with zero throttling, no matter how much you download
- Fastest Tier-1 Usenet network
- Multiple server farms in the US + EU
- Industry’s best binary and text retention with full retention in every newsgroup
- One of the few providers that grows retention daily (no articles ever expired)
- Includes FREE newsreader with Usenet search (also supports NZB files)
- Includes FREE Zero-log VPN account

Save With Newshosting

#2 - UsenetServer

Regular price : ~~$239.38~~
Lifetime discounted price: $7.95/mo (yearly account)
60% lifetime discount
Service level features:
- 100% unlimited downloads with zero GB caps
- 100% unlimited speeds with zero throttling, no matter how much you download
- Global Usenet network with multiple US + EU server farms
- Over 12.2 years of binary and text retention and growing
- One of the few providers that grows retention daily (no articles ever expired)
- Includes FREE Usenet search + NZB engine called ‘UNS Global Search’ (allows you to search Usenet and create your own NZBs)
- Includes FREE Zero-log VPN account

Save With UsenetServer

Lidarr Review

Tue, 01 Dec 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Lidarr is a music collection manager built for Usenet and BitTorrent users. It monitors multiple RSS feeds to discover new albums from your favorite artists, then works with download clients and indexers to grab, sort, rename, and organize your library. It can also perform automatic upgrades—replacing existing files with better-quality versions when they become available.

Lidarr functions the same way as Sonarr and Radarr, but is specifically designed for music. Like the aforementioned applications, it can detect new releases via RSS feeds and automatically handle upgrades. Lidarr runs on major operating systems including Windows, macOS, Linux, FreeBSD, NAS systems, Raspberry Pi, and also has excellent Docker support.

As of September 2025, the latest stable release is v2.13.3.4711, with a develop branch in the 2.14.x line for early adopters. (GitHub Releases) Lidarr continues to be actively maintained with regular updates and fixes. Changelogs are visible on the project’s GitHub page.

Highlighted Features

Lidarr includes a wide set of powerful features for audio file management:

Runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, FreeBSD, Docker, NAS devices, and Raspberry Pi
Monitors multiple RSS feeds for new audio releases
Scans your existing library and downloads missing albums automatically
Upgrades your library when higher-quality files are found
Handles failed downloads automatically by retrying with another release
Manual search with detailed feedback on why a release was skipped
Fully configurable file and folder renaming
Integration with SABnzbd and NZBGet
Integration with Kodi, Plex, and Jellyfin (notifications, library updates, metadata)
Support for multi-disc and multi-album releases
Built-in calendar and status overview table
Metadata fetching and writing to tags
Modern, responsive UI with artist and album overviews

Lidarr is community-driven: users can submit feature requests, and developers actively incorporate new ideas and improvements.

Radarr Review

Tue, 01 Dec 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Radarr is an application that manages video collections similarly like Sonarr. It focuses on a specific video genre and can be integrated with a lot of Usenet download clients. Not to be confused as an NZB downloader, Radarr is a third-party application that assists in the whole Usenet downloading experience via its automated features and capability to monitor multiple RSS feeds for new video files. Be reminded, however, that to be able to explore Usenet, you would need a reliable Usenet service provider

Radarr works on multiple platforms for popular ones like Windows, Mac and Linux, as well as Docker and Raspberry PI.

This application released its latest version in January 2022, version 4.0.4, and is regularly being maintained and updated by its developers. If you check their github page, you will see Radarr regular changes and updates by developers and contributors. This assures users that Radarr works well and bugs are fixed if and when issues arise.

Highlighted Features

Radarr is a great tool to integrate with your favorite NZB downloader. Users especially enjoy this application when integrated with more popular downloaders like NZBGet and SABnzbd.

Its key features include the following:

Adding new videos with lots of information, such as trailers, ratings, etc.
Support for major platforms: Windows, Linux, macOS, Raspberry Pi, etc.
Can watch for better quality of the video files you have and do an automatic upgrade.
Built-in Calendar
Automatic failed download handling will try another release if one fails
Manual search so you can pick any release or to see why a release was not downloaded automatically
Full integration with SABnzbd and NZBGet
Automatically searching for releases as well as RSS Sync
Automatically importing downloaded movies
Recognizing Special Editions, Director’s Cut, etc.
Identifying releases with hardcoded subs
QBittorrent, Deluge, rTorrent, Transmission, uTorrent, and other download clients are supported
Full integration with Kodi, Plex (notification, library update)
A beautiful UI
Importing Metadata such as trailers or subtitles
Adding metadata such as posters and information for Kodi and others to use
Advanced customization for profiles, such that Radarr will always download the copy you want

Radarr is also open to feature requests from its community of users. It has a big group of contributors and developers that provide both support and continuous improvements on the application.

Newstap Review

Mon, 30 Nov 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Newstap is a decent software for people who are always on the go. With its compatibility with smaller devices like iPhones and iPads, users can enjoy reading through newsgroups and Usenet articles with much ease and convenience. However, unlike more popular Usenet newsreaders, Newstap is not a full-featured program. It is only capable of very basic newsreader functions and cannot download NZB files.

Newstap was developed specifically for mobile Mac devices and has no installers for other mobile platforms like Android. This newsreader is also a paid software which you can purchase from the Apple App Store. But its developers also released a free lite version that has certain limitations in features.

This newsreader is in constant maintenance and updating with the latest version, 5.5, recently released in March 2021.

Highlighted Features

As previously mentioned, Newstap has a free lite version that is limited in functions. While the paid version supports multiple servers, the lite version can only be used to subscribe to two newsgroups at a time. There is also no sync feature and there are visible ads on this lite version.

To enjoy the full features of Newstap, you would need to get a paid version of this application. It has several good features for Apple users:

NZB Drop Review

Mon, 30 Nov 2020 00:00:00 +0000

NZB Drop is an NZB Downloader for Mac OS X designed by the same developers of Hogwasher. It has several good features as far as NZB downloaders are concerned and may be compared to other top programs like NZBGet and SABnzbd.

This NZB Downloader is made by the same developers of another Usenet newsreader, Hogwasher, which is also a decent software for Usenet activity. Both are in constant maintenance and updating.

NZB Drop requires macOS X.9 (Mavericks) and later versions for it to be able to run on a device. It can download files by avoiding heaps of headers and getting you directly to the content that you want. The latest version is currently at version 4.03 with several bug fixes and updates.

Highlighted Features

Designed by reliable software developer, Asar, NZB Drop is a paid NZB downloader that has pretty good features. Although it is not as popular as NZBGet and SABnzbd, it can compete well with these fore-mentioned downloaders because of its efficiency, attractive interface and decent functions.

Download files
- Bypass Usenet clutter and get the files you need directly

Unified Interface
- Manage all your NZB files and downloads from one browser window
File Collections
- View and manage related files as single collections.
Post Processing
- Full support for automatic par2 check and repair, unrar, unzip, and split-file assembly

Integrated Search
- Search for files from Usenet search engine. Default at binsearch.info

Monitor newsgroups
- Subscribe to binary newsgroups and monitor for posted NZB files
Multi-server Support
- Use and download from an unlimited number of primary and back-up server simultaneously
Fast Downloads/ Multi-connection Support
- As many as 100 simultaneous connections per server
Built-in Image Viewer

Plans & Pricing

The latest version of NZB Drop (version 4) is currently at $18.00 and can be purchased from their website. Accepted payment options include Visa, Mastercard, Amex and PayPal. You can also purchase NZB Drop via Check or Money order and mail payment to:

Pineapple News Review

Mon, 30 Nov 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Pineapple News is a Mac OS X Usenet newsreader released in 2005. Primarily, it is an offline reader but has features and a user interface that is also functional for online use. Initially developed in 1999 as a BeOS software, Pineapple News was eventually released for Mac devices about 5 years later since BeOS and MacOS are quite similar.

It is a program that is easy to use and setup that even beginner Usenet explorers can run the software effortlessly. But while it is said that Pineapple News can run on Mac OS versions 10.3.9 or later, upon testing, it does not work on the most recent updates of Mac like Catalina or Big Sur. This may be because further development and support on this software has been discontinued since 2007. Usenet users may benefit from exploring other Usenet newsreaders in the market that have recently been updated and have continued support from its developers and the Usenet community.

Highlighted Features

Pineapple News is not a full-featured newsreader. While it can subscribe to, manage and read newsgroups, it is not capable of downloading NZB files. It can, however, read binary attachments of different file formats. Below are the main features of this newsreader:

Hogwasher Review

Wed, 25 Nov 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Hogwasher is a dependable newsreader for Mac users. It is created by Asar, which is a software company that develops applications for OS X and iOS.

Hogwasher is a full-featured newsreader that allows users to download files from multiple connections across multiple servers. It has an extensive filtering feature that keeps article discussions available and a modern-looking interface that can be enjoyed by most Mac device users.

Aside from the basic newsreader functions of being able to read articles from Usenet and posting messages on threads, it also supports binaries and NZB files. It has full support for post processing and has a built-in image gallery.

Hogwasher is in constant development with its latest version, Hogwasher 5.24, released fairly recently.

Highlighted Features

Being a fully capable newsreader, Hogwasher has multiple features that cater well to the needs of a lot of Usenet users. While it is not compatible with other operating systems like Linux and Windows, Hogwasher provides a good user experience for Mac users.

Graphical Thread Tree Display
- Follow complex threaded discussions at a glance
Extensive Filtering
- Keeps what you need and gets rid of spam and garbage
Multi Server Support
- Allows you to download from an unlimited number of primary and backup servers
File Uploading
- Allows you to drag files on message windows.
- Post properly segmented and encoded binaries with one click
Binary and NZB Support
- Capable of downloading binaries and NZB files
Integrated Image Viewing
- Allows users to view images via its built-in image gallery
Post-processing
- Automatic PAR 2 check and repair, unrar, unzip and split-file assembly

This newsreader supports multiple servers, you can also use other Usenet service providers with Hogwasher. The current version, 5.24, addressed several issues that the app used to have.

MT-NewsWatcher X Review

Wed, 25 Nov 2020 00:00:00 +0000

MT-NewsWatcher is a Usenet client that supports multiple servers and can quickly and efficiently search for the articles you want to read on Usenet. This software also allows users to view and save binaries from newsgroups easily.

MT-NewsWatcher was developed to work on Mac computers and has filtering, searching and sorting features. However, upon our testing, it does not seem to work on the most recent versions of MacOS. But based on its website, MT-NewsWatcher should be able to run on version 10.5 (Leopard). The latest release of MT-NewsWatcher of Mac version 10.5 is currently still in Beta phase. According to their site, it seems like no changes have been made on MT-NewsWatcher for several years now. However, it still performs decently but not at the same level as that of far more modern and better Usenet newsreaders today.

Highlighted Features

MT-NewsWatcher has several decent newsreader functions that make it a convenient tool for Mac users. While it is not compatible with the latest version of MacOS, users can check out the features of this program with lower versions of the said operating system.

Configurable Personalities – present several different appearances in your various newsgroup postings

Binary Handling – decodes and displays images included in news articles

Sorting and Threading
- Threading options available are: none, by subject, by author or by references
- Sorting options available are: by article number, author, subject, lines, date and filter score
- Multi-threading

Filtering – scans through the text of article headers
- Filter Editing
- Filter Junk Articles

Regular Expressions – system for matching patterns in text data
Finding and Searching
- Find, Find Again and Enter Selection features
- Search News Command
- Query Article Index command

Multiple Language Support

Speech Recognition – enables the program to respond to spoken commands

MIME in News Articles
AppleScripting

Plans & Pricing

You can download MT-NewsWatcher for free from their website. Currently, this program is on version 3.5.2, but it also has a beta version 3.5.3b3 which is available for MacOS X 10.5.

SeaMonkey Review

Wed, 25 Nov 2020 00:00:00 +0000

SeaMonkey is more known as an email client. Aside from that feature, it also has a built-in chat function and its own web browser. While it is considered more as an all-in internet suite, what most people don’t know is that this software also has some newsreader functions. It is capable of reading articles from Usenet and allows posting on threads and replying to messages.

SeaMonkey uses the same source code that Mozilla Firefox uses, which means it basically has the same functions as Thunderbird. But unlike Thunderbird, SeaMonkey can work on Linux, Mac and Windows. Thunderbird, on the other hand, only works on Mac and Windows devices.

Highlighted Features

SeaMonkey has several good features as an internet suite. However, it has limited functions as a newsreader. It only performs basic newsreader functions and does not support binaries and NZB files.

Browser:

Tabbed browsing – gives you’re a better way to surf the internet
Restore Session – opens all windows and tabs you’ve previously opened if SeaMonkey crashes
Add-Ons Manager – add additional functionalities and extensions
Data Manager – central management interface for all kinds of site-specific data
Lightweight Themes – customized your interface according to your preferred theme
Feed Detection – notifies when web pages offer RSS or Atom feeds
Feed Preview - lets you view their contents and choose a reader with which to subscribe to
Smart Location Bar - enables you to search your visited web pages as you type into the browser’s location bar and find what you want to re-visit
Pop-up blocker - lets you surf the web without interruption from annoying ads.
Find as you type - gives you another way to navigate a page. Just start typing to jump from link to link or to find a word or phrase within a page.
Safe Mode - helps you solve problems that might occur

Mail & Newsgroups:

Klibido Review

Tue, 24 Nov 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Initially released in 2004, Klibido supports multiple servers and is able to automatically join multi-part posts and decodes posts using an internal decoder or the uudeview library (yEnc supported). It can view any file supported by KDE and has a download queue management feature.

As mentioned on their website, Klibido is not a full-featured newsreader. While it is not capable of fully displaying articles from Usenet, you can download these encoded articles from newsgroups and save them on your device.

While this news grabber seems to offer good service, it is also important to note that Klibido’s most recent version was released way back in 2006 and since then no further updates has been made and is said to still be in its beta phase until today. That being said, some functions don’t work as expected. For example, unsubscribing to a newsgroup that has items in the download queue has been untested. You may benefit from exploring other Usenet newsreaders that have been recently updated or is in continuous development.

Highlighted Features

Klibido has some very basic features as far as binary downloaders are concerned. It has a file view, capable of newsgroup browsing and has a download queue manager which are essential but basic features.

Usenapp Review

Mon, 23 Nov 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Usenapp is a modern Usenet client for macOS that combines a newsreader, NZB search and downloader, SuperSearch, and MegaSearch in one package. It is a 64-bit client that supports both Intel and Apple Silicon Macs, and requires macOS v10.11 or higher. As of 2025, it runs smoothly on the latest macOS versions, including Sonoma and Sequoia 15.

Developed by Xorox Software, Usenapp has grown into one of the most capable Mac-specific Usenet clients. With built-in support for Spotweb and Newznab indexers, a polished interface, and automated features like Watchdog, it competes well with the top newsreaders available today.

Highlighted Features

Usenapp comes packed with functions that appeal to both casual and advanced users:

Newsreader function
- Browse newsgroups and join threaded discussions
- Download headers quickly and efficiently
- Threaded article grouping and archive joining
- Powerful filters for unwanted content

NZB Search
- Supports a large number of NZB indexers
- Spotweb and Newznab site integration
- SuperSearch included
- Option to upgrade to MegaSearch (€1.99/month) for access to 11+ years of retention

NZB Support
- Import/export NZB files
- Drag & drop or NZB watch folder

Fast Download Speed
- Downloads binaries at full speed
- Built-in speed limiter for scheduling
- Multiple servers and backup servers supported

Auto Repair & Extract
- Automatically repairs, merges, and extracts
- Keyword setup to delete unwanted extracted files
- Moves files to final destination disk
- Watchdog auto-download checks indexers and grabs files as soon as they’re posted

Plans & Pricing

Usenapp costs €29.98, which includes:

NZBServer Review

Sat, 10 Oct 2020 00:00:00 +0000

NZBServer.com is a publicly accessible NZB site that leverages Spotweb technology to facilitate the retrieval of NZB files. The platform boasts an extensive collection of content, encompassing everything from films and television series to books, adult material, music, games, and applications.

Often referred to as Spotweb online, NZBServer.com stands out as a user-friendly NZB site primarily focused on downloading. Unlike other NZB platforms, it lacks community features or additional enhancements that might enrich the user experience.

Nzbserver Search

Nzbserver Applications

Nzbserver Dutch Books

Key Features

Completely Open Site
No Registration Necessary
No Upgrade or Donation Options
Diverse Genres Available
Advanced Search Capabilities
Dutch Literature Accessible
Application Files for Various Platforms (Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, etc.)
Indexer Updates Every 10 Minutes
Retention Period: 3600 days
Absence of Forums
No Chat Support
Security: SSL Encryption

User Interface

As a Spotnet-based indexer, NZBServer.com adopts a straightforward and efficient method for locating NZB files. While it may not feature the extensive menu options seen on other sites, its intuitive interface significantly enhances the user experience.

PourCeSoir Review

Sat, 10 Oct 2020 00:00:00 +0000

PourCeSoir is a prominent French NZB indexer that primarily focuses on indexing French-language content sourced from a variety of newsgroups. This platform is currently open for new registrations and offers a free membership option, along with several paid tiers that provide additional benefits for users willing to contribute financially.

The site hosts an extensive range of categories, including films, television series, literature, gaming, music, and software applications. As one of the leading French NZB indexers, PourCeSoir also features some English-language content, catering to a wider audience.

Pourcesoir Browse Groups

Pourcesoir Raw Search

Pourcesoir Search Results

Pourcesoir Series List

Pourcesoir Tv Calendar

Pourcesoir Forum

Pourcesoir Membership Level

Key Features

Specialized French NZB indexing
Free account registration available
Several membership tiers to choose from
Unlimited NZB downloads across all account types
Crawls over 100 newsgroups
Retention period: 4000 days
Indexing updates every 15 minutes
Requires NZB-Monkey Software for optimal use
Compatible with NZBGet, SABnzbd, and other popular clients
Contains pop-up advertisements
Advanced search functionality
Regularly updated movie and TV show listings
Integrated TV calendar feature
Forum for user discussions
Secure browsing with SSL encryption

User Interface

Navigating the PourCeSoir interface is straightforward and intuitive. Users can easily view and access various categories, and the search functionality allows for filtering by specific file types. Built on the Newznab platform, the interface is familiar to many users, and API access makes it convenient for tech-savvy individuals to utilize.

Ninja Central Review

Wed, 07 Oct 2020 00:00:00 +0000

NinjaCentral is an open NZB indexing site that boasts a growing collection of indexed files from a variety of popular newsgroups. With a focus on enhancing user experience, the platform has transitioned from including torrents to primarily indexing NZB files. The site offers a straightforward interface, making it easy for users to navigate through well-categorized files based on genre.

Ninjacentral Search Results

Ninjacentral Tv Calendar

Ninjacentral Movie List

Ninjacentral Forum

Key Features

Open NZB site (currently available for a limited time)
Free Registration option
Multiple membership tiers
Donor invites available
Frequent updates to address glitches
Indexer operates every 15 minutes
Privacy: No guarantee
API Integrations: Compatible with Sickbeard, CouchPotato, etc.
RSS Feed functionality
Access to forums for all users
TV Calendar feature
IRC Network: irc.rizon.net
IRC Channel: #NinjaCentral

User Interface

Built on a Newznab platform, NinjaCentral features an intuitive interface that is user-friendly for both newcomers and seasoned users. The website is well-organized, allowing easy access to various menu options without feeling cluttered. Users can effortlessly browse NZB files and apply filters to refine their searches by specific subcategories. Additionally, NinjaCentral provides folders for users to queue NZB files for future downloads or collective retrieval.

NZBWolf Review

Wed, 07 Oct 2020 00:00:00 +0000

NZBWolf operates as a Usenet indexer, allowing users to efficiently search through newsgroups and download NZB files. The platform boasts a sleek, modern interface that is fully optimized for both mobile and desktop usage.

Users can discover content across three primary categories: TV, Main, and Adult content. While NZBWolf is an open NZB site that allows users to register without charge, it mandates an upgrade to a VIP membership for downloading capabilities.

It’s worth mentioning that the site has faced challenges in the past related to indexing, which led to temporary outages. Many users have reported issues with both login and registration processes.

✨

Editor’s Tip:

EDITOR’S NOTE: As of January 2022, the login and registration functionalities on the NZBWolf site have remained problematic. Please check back for future updates.

Nzbwolf Top Tv Shows

Nzbwolf Recent Tv

Nzbwolf Recent Movies

Nzbwolf Updates

Nzbwolf Upgrade

Key Features

Open NZB Site
No invitation necessary
VIP upgrade required for downloading
Search-focused functionality
Access to 4K/ UHD quality content
Synchronization with IMDb and Trakt
Listings of recent Movies and TV shows
Previews available for Adult content
Detailed video and scene descriptions
API Integrations: SABnzbd, NZBGet, etc.
RSS Feeds available

User Interface

The NZBWolf platform features a contemporary user interface that emphasizes a search-centric design. This streamlined website operates similarly to newznab-based platforms but is recognized for its custom interface. With a dark theme and user-friendly navigation, even newcomers will find it easy to explore NZBWolf. Users can initiate searches with just a few clicks, and results are displayed promptly. Additionally, the site features a list of recent movies and TV shows, catering to those interested in the latest uploads.

UseNight Review

Sat, 22 Aug 2020 00:00:00 +0000

UseNight is a relatively fresh Usenet service provider in the market. Launched July of 2020, UseNight is changing the game by introducing a brand new connection concept that allows for speedier downloads at significantly lower pricing. This is made possible through the platform’s Night Finder that allows users to download at an optimum speed every night. As it zones in on speedy connections at night, the platform can only offer low speed for users that download in the morning.

Quick Facts Section

Fast connection at night
2349 retention days
Maximum speed at night
Low speed in the morning
No free trial offered.
Based in Arnhem, The Netherlands

Retention

UseNight offers 2349 retention days.

Pricing

UseNight pricing is based on one’s subscription duration. There are no recurring monthly and annual fees. All plans offer unlimited speed with 50 connections every 00:00 (CET) and 11:00 (CET). UseNight’s Night Finder can determine one’s window for maximum speed as nighttime differs, depending on one’s location and time zone.

Name	Price	Download Limits	Connections	SSL
30 Days	€1.99	Unlimited	50	Yes	with TSL
180 Days	€10.95	Unlimited	50	Yes	with TSL
365 Days	€19.95	Unlimited	50	Yes	with TSL

Free Trial Info

UseNight does not offer users a free trial period.

UsenetAgency Review

Thu, 20 Aug 2020 00:00:00 +0000

UsenetAgency is a new player in the game. This Usenet service provider was introduced in the market in 2018 and it promises a solid Usenet experience for its users. On top of good speed and a decent retention period, it boasts of a reliable support team. It offers sound pricing plans to users and has remarkable privacy policies.

Quick Facts Section

User-friendly Control Panel
SSL tools across all plans
Highly compatible and fast on XS News
A highly secured payment platform
Limitless traffic
No automatic charging
2349 retention days
Based in Arnhem, The Netherlands

Retention

UsenetAgency’s retention increases by the day. To date, it can retain files for as long as 2349 days.

Pricing

UsenetAgency offers three plans: Junior plan, Medior plan, and Senior plan. All paid plans allow for 2349 retention days. Both Junior and Medior plans allow for 25 connections. Its Senior plan offers unlimited speed and 50 connections.

Name	1-month fee	3-month fee	1-year fee	Speed	Connections
Junior	€2.95	€7.95	€29.95	40 Mbit	25
Medior	€3.95	€11.50	€44.95	80 Mbit	25
Senior	€6.95	€19.95	€69.95	Unlimited	50

Free Trial Info

Users can avail of a 7-day free trial that allows for 50 connections and unlimited speed.

NovaUsenet Review

Tue, 04 Aug 2020 00:00:00 +0000

There are a lot of Usenet service providers available online, and there have been a lot of promises and claims on what they can offer. In Nova Usenet’s case, they dare to claim that they are “among the best that can be found”. With low rates, unlimited speed, more than enough connections and a safe and secure platform, Nova Usenet looks promising.

Nova Usenet runs their own Usenet platform. This means they control and operate everything with no third-party providers controlling what users can or cannot access. They also run on the latest generation servers, maxing out your broadband connection wherever you are.

Quick Facts

$4.17/ mo (for annual subscription) and comes with a 7-day money-back guarantee
Maximum speed
Built for speed and monitored 24/7 to avoid congestion
Unlimited, unmetered Usenet access
Use up to 40 connections
SSL encryption to protect privacy
3500 days retention for Usenet text messages and about 1000 days for all other messages
With its own Usenet platform. No third-party providers.

Retention

Nova Usenet’s platform currently retains Usenet text messages that are over 3500 days. All other messages are retained for about 1000 days. This binary retention is a lot lower compared to the best Usenet service providers.

StingyUsenet Review

Tue, 04 Aug 2020 00:00:00 +0000

StingyUsenet is relatively new Usenet service provider with just a few years being in the business. Although they are one of the new kids in town, StingyUsenet has competitive plans that users can choose from depending on how long you want to use their service. The longer the availed plan, the lower the price. It’s an all-inclusive service regardless of what package you select.

Quick Facts

€4,95 for 30 days
With monthly, semi-annual and annual plans
Unlimited speed with 50 connections
1900 days of retention
SSL Enabled
Bitcoin Accepted

Retention

StingyUsenet offers 1900 days of retention with a maximum of 1700 days.

Pricing

The Dutch company offers three plans. Each plan has an all-inclusive package. Download speed, number of connections and security do not vary regardless of which plan you avail.

Name	Price	Connections
1 month	€4	95	50
Semi-Annual	€28	95	50
Annual	€54	95	50

Free Trial Info

As mentioned on their website, “because we only have one package, NO TRYOUTS, mediocre service and an exceptional control panel, we can offer great prices.”

ViperNews Review

Tue, 04 Aug 2020 00:00:00 +0000

With a wide range of premium Usenet service providers available online, ViperNews presents itself competitively among some of the best there is. ViperNews’ goal is to provide a Usenet platform that excels in performance, usability, and reliability. By offering SSL encryption, a responsive support team, flexible packages, and a 7-day money-back guarantee, ViperNews has achieved their goal well.

Quick Facts

Tier 1 Usenet service provider
Up to 40 connections (depending on plan)
No download limit on unlimited plans
Speed capped at 10 Mbit/s (VIPER10), 50 Mbit/s (VIPER50), unlimited on VIPERUNL and block accounts
7-day money-back guarantee (no free trial)
SSL/TLS Encryption
3500+ days of retention for Usenet text messages
1500 days of retention for binary files
Cryptocurrency accepted
No logs
Free headers with full header compression
Posting access included
Unfiltered and uncensored newsgroups
Account sharing allowed (limited)

Retention

ViperNews currently retains Usenet text messages that are over 3500 days old. All binary messages are retained for approximately 1500 days.

Pricing

ViperNews has a variety of flexible plans that users can choose from. They offer both monthly “unlimited” plans and block accounts. All plans include SSL encryption and a 7-day money-back guarantee.

Unlimited ViperNews Plans

All unlimited plans have no download limit, but differ in speed and connections:

Usenet Independence Day Special Offers 2020

Tue, 30 Jun 2020 00:00:00 +0000

The 4th of July or Independence Day in the United States typically represents a time to get together for families and friends to enjoy the height of summer. While 2020 has not been a good year for the United States due to the pandemic, however, it’s not all bad news thanks to discounted Usenet pricing.

Top 4th of July Special Offers

Here are our top Independence Day 2026 Special Offers for Usenet Providers

#1 - Newshosting

Details: July 4th Week Usenet Savings

$3.99 Mo (12 plus Five Free Months) for High-Speed subscription
80% off compared to the regular monthly price.
Renewals are yearly afterward and include:
- Direct Tier-1 Usenet access
- Fastest network
- US & EU server farms
- Industry’s best binary and text retention (largest searchable Usenet archive)
- Free newsreader with Usenet search
- 100% Unlimited downloads (no download caps)
- 100% Unlimited speed (no speed caps or throttling)
- Free upgrade to 60 connections (normally 30)
- Free Zero-Log VPN account
- Free SSL encryption
- 110,000+ newsgroups
- 99.99%+ download completion
Timeline - Wednesday, July 1rst through Saturday, July 11th

Save With Newshosting

#2 - UsenetServer

$3.99 Mo (12 plus Five Free Months) for High-Speed subscription
80% off compared to the regular monthly price.
Renewals are yearly afterward and include:
- Direct Tier-1 Usenet access
- Fastest network
- US & EU server farms
- Industry’s best binary and text retention (largest searchable Usenet archive)
- Free newsreader with Usenet search
- 100% Unlimited downloads (no download caps)
- 100% Unlimited speed (no speed caps or throttling)
- Free upgrade to 60 connections (normally 20)
- Free Zero-Log VPN account
- Free SSL encryption
- 110,000+ newsgroups
- 99%+ download completion

Timeline - Wednesday, July 1rst through Saturday, July 11th

About Us

Sat, 30 May 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Welcome to UsenetReviewz.com. With more than 100 USENET providers competing for your attention, navigating the Usenet landscape can feel overwhelming. UsenetReviewz.com cuts through the noise to help you identify the best USENET provider, best NZB site, USENET search engine, and USENET newsreader best suited to your needs — turning complex technical decisions into straightforward ones.

If you have questions or would like to get in touch, please visit our contact us page.

Website Mission Statement

UsenetReviewz.com is dedicated to delivering thorough, impartial reviews of USENET providers, newsgroup clients and newsreaders, USENET-related software, free trial offers, and NZB sites — alongside practical tutorials to help you get the most out of Usenet. Our aim is to equip you with the honest, accurate information you need to choose the service provider that truly fits your situation.

Please read our disclosure — we may earn a commission if you purchase through our links.

We also offer an extensive library of video tutorials and written guides. Browse all of our content via the sitemap, or dive straight in from the homepage.

We invest considerable time and care in maintaining this resource, and we sincerely hope you find it valuable.

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Website Translations

French → Tout à propos de USENET en français — UsenetReviewz en français
English → All about USENET in English
German → Alles über USENET in Deutsch — UsenetReviewz in deutscher Sprache
Dutch → Alles über USENET in Niederländisch — UsenetReviewz auf Niederländisch
Portuguese → Tudo sobre USENET em Português — UsenetReviewz em Português

Hack and Data Theft at Usenext

Wed, 29 Apr 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Two Popular German Usenet providers - Usenext and Usenet.nl just announced a security data breach today. As they have no idea how infected their systems are, they have opted to go completely offline and the only way to contact them is via calling.

Going to their homepage, they have FAQ explaining what they know, which is little. Usenext claims that “Unauthorized persons have accessed our infrastructure via a security hole in a partner company. We are currently analyzing what damage may have occurred”.

The Risk To You

Usenext claims that there is a possibility that hacker have gained access to your account information. Most importantly Your Payment Data maybe compromised there is a risk of identity theft, fraud if you have been a subscriber to Usenext’s Usenet server.

Controlling the damage

Unfortunately, the burden is on your to take proactive measures. Here is a helpful list.

Change your account password immediately - Especially if you use the same password on Usenext and other websites.
Review your account settings - make sure there is no automatic forwarding of messages. This could apply to both your Usenext account and email accounts like Gmail.
Monitor your bank accounts - Keep an eye out for suspicious charges and debits.
Phishing Emails - Be hyper vigilant with phishing emails. Keep a cynical attitude with any request for personal data and always look at the address of URLs before your click on them.

Usenext Hack Details

Here is a FAQ below also note that both companies will be giving updates via their facebook page as well.

NZBIndex.in Review

Mon, 13 Apr 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Note: As of October 2020, NZBindex.in has decided to shut their site down

NZBindex.in is an NZB site that has been around since 2014. This indexer concentrates on getting videos indexed quickly and currently has no options for upgrades.

NZBindex.in is centered on binary groups with movies, tv, music and gaming files as well as adult content. This indexer limits the number of members they have in their system and does not offer any invites or free registration. But you should check their website once in a while for access to a free account through a partner Usenet service. As of writing, they have a free account offering with no detail with UsenetBucket.

Nzbindex.in Nzb Site

Nzbindex.in Many Nzbs

Highlighted Features

Registration closed
No invites
Free account available through a Usenet service
No upgrade options
Free account: 5 NZBs & 24 APIs
Only select newsgroups crawled
Indexer runs every 15 minutes
Retention: 2000 days of binary
Ads available
Integrations with Sickbeard, NZBGet, SABnzbd, Sonarr, etc
Privacy: SSL
Spam control
Movie list
TV Calendar

Interface

NZBindex.in runs on a newznab-based indexing platform, making user experience as easy and convenient as it can be. Files are indexed and categorized based on type and search results are generated with the files corresponding type, size, date of post and stats. When you get a free account with NZBindex.in, you also get access to sections that would enable you to save your favorite files on a My Movies or My Series folder. The site also features a scheduling option on your own movie list or TV calendar.

UsenetServer Review

Wed, 04 Mar 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Since launching in 1998, UsenetServer has established itself as a premier Usenet service provider, earning recognition for exceptional service quality, lightning-fast download capabilities, and aggressive pricing that challenges industry standards. The company maintains complete ownership of its server infrastructure across the United States and Europe, which translates to superior completion rates and dependable high-speed connections for users regardless of their global location.

UsenetServer maintains one of the deepest retention archives in the entire industry, continuously expanding this historical database without imposing price increases on existing access plans. This makes the service particularly valuable for users who need to retrieve older Usenet articles that other providers may have already purged from their systems. While many tier-1 Usenet providers implement retention caps and variable completion rates, UsenetServer currently maintains nearly 11 years of comprehensive content across all text and binary newsgroups. Their completion rate consistently hovers at an impressive 99.99%, meaning virtually every article remains accessible and intact.

Every subscription tier at UsenetServer, including the complimentary trial period, grants unlimited access to their Global Search platform. This powerful Usenet search engine enables users to explore over 100,000 distinct newsgroups and generate unlimited NZB files for immediate use in their preferred newsreader application. Additionally, annual subscribers receive a complimentary zero-log VPN service with unlimited monthly bandwidth, complete with native applications supporting Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android platforms—adding significant value to an already competitive package.

Easynews Review

Thu, 20 Feb 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Operating from its United States headquarters since 1998, Easynews has established itself as a distinguished Usenet service provider. The company’s reputation stems from delivering an all-inclusive Usenet solution that merges robust service infrastructure with a feature-rich web-based Newsreader, creating a seamless environment for searching, organizing, previewing, and downloading content.

Easynews Quick Summary

Exclusive offer for visitors of UsenetReviewz.com – 2-week free trial with 10GBs
Monthly subscription at $9.98 includes: Web Usenet, Unlimited NNTP downloads, and 256-bit SSL encryption
Industry-leading web-based Usenet newsreader refined through 15 years of continuous development
Rollover data for the web-based newsreader (unused data rolls over each month)
Seamless integration with popular Usenet automation tools such as Sonarr and CouchPotato
6442 days of retention and counting, among the highest in the Usenet industry
Distributed server infrastructure spanning US and EU locations
Support for 60 simultaneous connections
Round-the-clock customer support available

Visit Easynews ↗

How We Evaluate

When analyzing Usenet service providers, we focus on multiple critical factors that directly impact user experience and service quality. Retention stands as a foundational metric, determining how long posts remain accessible to users. Leading providers maintain extensive retention periods, which directly correlate with improved search results and enhanced user satisfaction. Equally important is the continuous expansion of retention capabilities, ensuring users maintain access to historical content.

abNZB Review

Tue, 31 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0000

abNZB commenced operations in 2017 and has quickly established itself as a notable player in the NZB indexing arena, primarily due to its appealing membership options. While the platform initially offered 100 API hits to free users, this has now been adjusted to 10 hits per day.

The interface of abNZB is designed for simplicity and ease of navigation, though it is worth noting that the site has limited space for users. Regular clean-ups are conducted to maintain an active user base. As stated on their website, “Spaces are limited. Regular inactive user clean-ups will be done to reduce numbers and make spaces for active users. Any non-supporting user account is at risk of deletion if the user does not log into this website at least once every 90 days. Supporters of the site are not affected.”

Overall, abNZB is recognized as a reliable NZB site, which is reflected in its substantial user base.

Abnzb Forum

Abnzb Search Result

Abnzb Tv Calendar

Highlighted Features

Open and free registration
Free users: 25 NZBs and 10 APIs daily
Privacy: SSL encryption, Stripe payment processing
Integrations: Compatible with SABnzbd, Couchpotato, Sonarr, and other leading Usenet software
Retention period: 500 days
Ad-free experience
Access to over 4 million NZBs across 25 newsgroups
Advanced search capabilities for paid users
Frequent updates every 15 minutes

Interface

abNZB operates on the Newznab platform, featuring a minimalist and user-friendly interface that is devoid of advertisements, making it easy to browse through the indexed files.

Army of Strangers Review

Tue, 31 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Like many other Dutch forums, the Army of Stranger does not host any NZB files, and they do not have integrations with the popular Usenet downloaders. What they do is to provide links to their users to search for NZBs available in their forum.

The website has a lot of multiple ways to share files within the community. They have Wetransfer, Workupload, Pass generator, and you can also enjoy playing arcade with some of their online members. Their former image uploading link, Mupload, has now been changed to postimages.org.

More than Movies and TV series, the website also offers a decent number of software and PC games links.

Registration with a VPN is forbidden. The site has a spam moderator, and they actively hunt for potential spammers within their website. You can turn your VPN settings on once you’re done with the registration.

Aos Advanced Search

Aos Arcade

Aos Homepage

Aos Top 20 Stats

Highlighted Features

Different style and themes available
Ads: Minimal
Privacy: SSL
Retention: undisclosed
Multiple sharing ways
Shoutbox and arcade games

Interface

Army of Stranger’s interface is powered by VBulletin (version 4.2.3). The Shoutbox feature is also provided by vBShout (version 6.2.17 Pro) and other custom designers.

DrunkenSlug Review

Tue, 31 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0000

DrunkenSlug provides tiered membership plans with configurable API rate limits and daily NZB quotas. A redundant backup server infrastructure underpins its reliability, with the indexer polling at 30-minute intervals across up to 50 newsgroups.

The platform includes automated tracking via personalized “My Shows” and “My Movies” watchlists, enabling straightforward integration into media automation pipelines such as Sonarr and Radarr. Access remains invite-only; new accounts typically require an invitation or a paid pass.

Drunkenslug Registration

Drunken Slug Continual Updates

Highlighted Features

Invite-only website
Free tier: 100 API hits and 5 NZBs per day
Privacy: HTTPS/TLS for secure connections
Retention: Over 3000 days for binary files
Integrations: Compatible with NZBGet, Sonarr, SABnzbd, and more
Ads: Minimal advertising for a clean interface
API and RSS: Available for enhanced usability
Up to 50 newsgroups crawled
Indexer updates every 30 minutes
IRC: Not available

Interface

DrunkenSlug runs on a Newznab+ platform, exposing a standard Newznab API endpoint compatible with all major automation clients. The UI is lean with minimal third-party ad scripts, reducing page load overhead.

EliteNZB Review

Tue, 31 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Note: EliteNZB released a statement on October 2020: After 8 years, 11 months and 21 days, the curtain falls for Elitenzb. The time for Elitenzb is over.

EliteNZB is known for its video content; movies and TV shows with Dutch subtitles. EliteNZB is not a well-known community. Establishing a community and a working NZB indexer especially for a Dutch audience is their primary purpose.

Elitenzb Chatbox

Elitenzb Houserules

Highlighted Features

Privacy: SSL connection
Open for registration
Follow content and block users
Sponsored: Hide Me VPN
Forum updates
Ads: minimal sponsor content
API: not disclosed
Retention: not disclosed
RSS: not disclosed
NZB: not disclosed

Interface

EliteNZB is a Newznab-based indexer, a platform commonly used by the leading NZB sites. The website is designed by jcdesign, and the languages available are Dutch and English.

Ease of Use

To access the website, you need to register an account by providing very basic information to get you on board. No invites are needed, and filling out the form will take you only seconds.

Once you are ready to download a file, type in the word you’re looking for in the search bar, or browse from their newsgroups list. Select the file and look for the link to start downloading. You will notice that the file available is locked.

FindNZB Review

Tue, 31 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0000

FindNZB was launched in 2011 and has offered good features to its users at no cost. FindNZB endorses NzbLord to automatically download the NZB files without the need for a traditional newsreader.

Findnzb Advanced Search

Findnzb Download

Findnzb Newsgroups

Highlighted Features

Advanced search engine
Suggest similar keyword
Privacy: undisclosed
Indexes over 2000 Usenet newsgroups
Integrated premium services for direct NZB download
Select retention rate of posts
Limit min and max file size
RSS feed: Available
Ads: Minimal
API: None

Interface

FindNZB integrates with the GetNZB newsreader.

Ease of Use

FindNZB has an advanced search engine that helps you find files by filename, author’s name, email, groups, size, and age of post. You can also choose how many results to display per page.

The retention to binary was not disclosed on the website. However, you can find a content result from up to 750 days ago across all newsgroups or to a specific group.

There are two ways to download an NZB file here in FindNZB:

NZBs2GO Review

Tue, 31 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0000

NZBs2GO is an open NZB site that allows you to download NZBs for free. They offer a VIP plan for their loyal users (available for 12 months and a lifetime membership), and it comes with more API hits and downloads.

Historically, NZBs2GO had a lot of downtime issues. The site had minimal activity back in 2014 until they were eventually considered a dead site up until 2015.

Luckily, this NZB site is now operating, and continually indexing a good number of NZBs.

Nzbs2go Advanced Search

Nzbs2go Contact

Nzbs2go Settings

Nzbs2go Search Results

Highlighted Features

Open for registration
Free: 5 NZB download and 10 APIs daily
Privacy: SSL connection
API and RSS: Available
Ads: No ads
Retention: N/A
Integrations: Sonaar, Sickbeard, CouchPotato
Over 300,000 NZBs indexed

Interface

NZBs2Go is based on a Spotweb program that gives us fast and easy to navigate pages. It has no advertisements, and the developers keep their homepage updated with situations happening on the website.

Pirates4All Review

Tue, 31 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0000

✨

Editor’s Tip:

Editor’s Note: Pirates4All has been offline since September 2021. Hence, we declare this site as a dead NZB site. The review below is kept for historical purposes

Pirates4All offers multiple ways to transfer files on its platform. They have PostImages option (image upload), Wetransfer (for sending files via email), Workupload (for large file sharing and storing), and Password generator for sharing secured content into the community. It also has an NZB Check option to upload files. However, upon our recent check, this resource could not be found. Pirates4All also recently added a Reverse Text tool which is basically a string reverser that allows you to get reversed text.

It has a daily unique visitor of 2700+ and the website is estimated to be operating since August 2018. Some of their users say that Pirates4All is the former enzetbee forum which was closed in the same year the Pirates4All operates, and while it is not yet proven to be true, their users are contented to think that enzetbee is back operating as Pirates4All.

Pirates4All has an active policy of not allowing spammers. You cannot also register while using a VPN since they tract and report IPs with malicious actions. You can see the list of spammers and their respective IPs in the lower-left corner of the homepage.

Spots.Xenetix.NL Review

Tue, 31 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Spots.Xenetix.nl offers no-frills service for its users. There is no registration needed, and you can start browsing and downloading once you enter the website.

This NZB site mostly indexes films and TV shows with Dutch subtitles, audios, images, games, and applications which you can access on both your desktop and mobile devices. The website is not written in English so you need to manually translate it with your settings.

✨

Editor’s Tip:

Editor’s Note: Spots.Xenetix.nl has been offline since April 30, 2021. We are declaring this site a dead NZB site.

Spots.xenetix.nl Download Nzb

Spots.xenetix.nl Filters

Spots.xenetix.nl Search Results

Highlighted Features

Privacy: Undisclosed
API and RSS: Available
Advanced search engine
Retention: Undisclosed
IRC: No
Able to see SPAM files easily

Interface

Spots.Xenetix.nl is run by a Spotweb program. This program is one of the most-featured Spotnet clients that has a lot of features. It is fast and supports multi-languages on the website. It enables the system to easily download multiple files and customize the filter system of the search engine.

Tabula Rasa Review

Tue, 31 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Tabula Rasa stands out as a premier provider in the NZB indexing landscape, boasting some of the highest download limits and API access available. Free users can enjoy 10 downloads and 100 API queries daily, making it an attractive option for casual users.

The platform features a dedicated section for news and updates, ensuring that all members stay informed about the latest developments.

Tabularasa Forum

Tabularasa Contact Us

Tabularasa Search

Tabularasa Search Results

Tabularasa Log In

Highlighted Features

Free and straightforward registration process
Free tier: 10 NZBs and 100 grabs daily
Paid tiers: Access up to 5000 API hits and grabs
Privacy-focused: SSL encryption for secure browsing
Indexes over 50 groups for diverse content
Seamless integrations with popular tools like Couchpotato, Sickbeard, and Headphones
Accepts cryptocurrencies and Amazon gift cards for payments
Impressive 1000 days of binary retention
API access available
Ad-free experience
No IRC support

Interface

Tabula Rasa operates on the Newznab platform, a widely used Usenet indexing application featured among our top NZB sites. The interface is sleek and user-friendly, making navigation and searching a breeze. The web application is built on the robust NNTmux Laravel framework.

AltHUB Review

Mon, 30 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0000

AltHUB is a robust NZB search engine designed for users to efficiently browse and search Usenet servers. It provides both automated and manual options for searching and downloading files, catering to a wide range of user preferences.

Originally launched as nMatrix.com.za in 2012, AltHUB has evolved into a fast and secure automated indexer for NZBs. Transitioning to its own domain in 2015, it now operates as a Newznab-based indexer, enhancing its capabilities and user experience.

To maximize your experience with AltHUB, utilizing a newsreader is essential for downloading files. Check out our list of the best Usenet newsreaders to complement your service effectively.

AltHUB offers a generous package for its users, featuring both free and paid membership options. Each account type has its own set of advantages and limitations, allowing users to choose based on their needs.

Althub Upgrade

Althub Contact

Althub Search

Althub Donate

Highlighted Features

Unlimited APIs and NZBs available at a competitive price
Free account with 5000 hits and grabs
Integrations with popular tools: SickBeard, CouchPotato, HeadPhones, SABnzbd, Sonarr, NZBGet, NZBVortex, and NZB360
Access to over 900,000 NZBs across 80 newsgroups
Frequent indexer updates every 15 minutes
Enhanced privacy with SSL encryption (no IP tracking or third-party tools)
Retention: not specified
No IRC support
Ad-free browsing experience
No invites required
Simple and intuitive search functionality
Excellent customer support

Interface

Like many NZB sites, AltHUB is built on Newznab, providing users with an optimal experience for browsing and downloading files from Usenet. The platform features a clean and straightforward interface that is easy for any user to navigate.

Comprehensive Review of Brothers of Usenet

Mon, 30 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Brothers of Usenet is a prominent NZB site that primarily serves users in German-speaking countries. This forum has gained popularity for allowing users to share NZB files efficiently. However, as of December 2019, Brothers of Usenet has ceased accepting new registrations. It appears that the site aims to cultivate a more manageable community focused on German-speaking members.

The site has faced challenges in the past, including a shutdown in 2017 due to piracy investigations and technical difficulties in 2020. Nevertheless, recent reports indicate that the platform has stabilized, boasting approximately four thousand registered users, with several hundred actively participating at any given time.

Bou Contact

Bou Info

Bou No Registration

Key Features

Currently not accepting new members
Security: SSL encrypted
Integration: Details not disclosed
Retention: Information not available
Languages: Primarily German

User Interface

The forum is powered by XenForo Ltd.’s software, which provides a user-friendly experience. The homepage displays key statistics such as the total number of topics, discussions, and members, while also providing essential information on Terms of Use, regulations, BB Codes, and cookie policies to ensure users are well-informed about their privacy rights.

NewZFinders Review

Mon, 30 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Once considered defunct, NewZFinders has successfully transformed into a functional Usenet newsgroup search engine, allowing users to access up to 2,500 search results per page.

Developed by ZProDuCTioN, NewZFinders initially focused on computer support, repairs, and website development based in Quebec. What sets this platform apart from typical NZB search engines is its custom design, offering a broader range of options and settings, along with support for three languages: French, English, and Portuguese.

However, it is important to mention that our latest review indicated that the website has not seen any updates since 2018, which raises concerns about the currency of the information provided on the site.

Newzfinders Contact

Newzfinders Comparison

Newzfinders Advanced Search

Key Features

Completely free and unlimited access
Security: SSL encryption for safe browsing
Retention period: Maximum of 1000 days
Total number of newsgroups indexed: 850
Open-access platform
No advertisements
Lacks API integration
Integrated RSS feeds sourced from Binnews.in
Offers a free Usenet account valid for 3 days, featuring 850 days of retention, no download limits, and support for up to 5 simultaneous connections.
Users can create a personalized list of favorite groups
Retrieves 250 search results in seconds
Option to search through pre-defined groups
Allows overview of search results with customizable font settings
Capability to view a collection of multiple files
User interface options: simple, specific, and advanced
Search suggestions and additional functionalities.

Moreover, users can utilize various custom search criteria, including searching by author, keywords, file sizes, and even excluding specific terms or filtering out spam articles. Color-coded labels enhance the search experience: blue for frequently downloaded files, green for popular articles, red for incomplete items, and pink for password-protected files.

NewzNZB Review

Mon, 30 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0000

NewzNZB operated from 2012 until its closure in 2021, utilizing custom software to provide users with clean releases and a spam-free environment. Access to the platform required an invite, and its membership pricing was on the higher side compared to some alternatives. However, NewzNZB offered a robust set of features aimed at enhancing user privacy and minimizing unwanted content.

✨

Editor’s Tip:

Editor’s Note: As of April 30, 2021, NewzNZB ceased operations. This site is now officially marked as inactive, and this review is preserved for historical reference.

Newznzb Recent Downloads

Newznzb Verified Downloads

Key Features (Historical)

Access was by invitation only
Completely free of spam
Compatible integrations included SabNZBD, Sonarr, NZBGet, among others
Up to 2 million available releases
Paid membership included unlimited NZB downloads and API access
Privacy was enhanced with SSL encryption
No advertisements
Accepted Bitcoin for payments
Community forums were accessible to all users
Decentralized server infrastructure

User Interface (Historical)

The NewzNZB platform featured a custom-designed interface that was compatible with various popular downloaders. The site was secured with SSL technology, ensuring user data remained protected, and it maintained an ad-free browsing experience.

NZB360 Review

Mon, 30 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Nzb360 is a robust NZB application designed to manage and optimize your file downloads efficiently. It integrates seamlessly with popular tools like Sickbeard, NZBGet, and SABnzbd, providing an exceptional experience for controlling Usenet downloads directly from your Android device.

Available exclusively on Android, Nzb360 supports a variety of connection types including SSL/TLS, HTTPS, reverse proxies, and URL rewrites, ensuring secure and flexible access to your Usenet services.

The official Nzb360 website boasts impressive user engagement metrics, featuring over 7,600 posts, 100+ topics, and more than 2,600 active members.

Nzb360 1

Nzb360 2

Nzb360 Google Play

Nzb360 Forums

Nzb360 Settings

Nzb360 Upgrade Pro

Highlighted Features

Android App
Compatible with diverse setups:
- SSL/TLS
- URL Rewrites
- Local connection switching
- HTTP Authentication
- Reverse proxies
- Wake-on-LAN (WOL)
Local and remote connection capabilities
Cloud save support
Retention: undisclosed
Ad-free experience
Instant notifications with no configuration required
Support for multiple servers
Regular updates
Support for attachments and polls
Friends and Foes lists
Bookmarking features
Integration with popular services:
- Download clients - SabNZBD, NZBGet, Deluge, Transmission, uTorrent, qBittorrent, rTorrent
- Search clients - Sonarr, Sickbeard, Radarr, Lidarr, Bazarr, CouchPotato, Headphones, Readerr
- Indexers - Newznab, Jackett, NZBHydra2, Prowlarr

Currently, NZB360 is on version 14, which has seen multiple sub-versions released in 2021. The application is consistently monitored and updated, introducing new features and enhancements, including:

NZBForYou Review

Mon, 30 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0000

NZBForYou offers a diverse selection of NZBs for download, encompassing movies, television shows, software, eBooks, and various applications accessible on both desktop and mobile platforms.

Upon visiting the homepage, users can view key statistics, including total downloads, member count, recent posts, and active topics. The site also displays the number of members currently online, fostering a sense of community.

Recently, NZBForYou experienced a significant loss of NZB files, which they have publicly acknowledged. In light of this, the site has issued warnings to visitors about potential spam accusations. It’s advisable for users to compare and check other NZB sites prior to committing to a VIP membership with NZBForYou.

Nzbforyou Donate

Nzbforyou Registration

Nzbforyou Terms

Key Features

Open registration for all users
Free access: 2 NZB downloads per day
Donor access: Unlimited NZBs
Security: SSL encryption
API: Not available
Ads: None present
Retention: Not specified

User Interface

The NZBForYou platform features a custom interface reminiscent of popular Newznab indexers. The site operates on phpBB forum software, which facilitates community engagement through easy-to-create forums. Additional design elements are customized by various contributors.

NZBgeek Review

Mon, 30 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0000

NZBGeek has carved a niche for itself as a reliable Usenet indexing service, standing out among its competitors. Through rigorous testing and comparisons with leading NZB providers, NZBGeek showcases commendable performance across various crucial metrics, though it does have some limitations worth noting.

Platform Overview

The platform delivers a consistent and efficient search experience, showcasing a diverse array of indexed content, including television shows, documentaries, and a rich selection of classic films. For casual Usenet users seeking dependability and user-friendliness, NZBGeek lays a robust foundation that holds up well against many of its rivals.

Content Availability

Despite its strengths, NZBGeek struggles with the timeliness of newer movie releases. Our tests indicate that fresh content tends to be slower to populate the index compared to other prominent indexers. Users who require immediate access to the latest media may find it beneficial to utilize additional indexing services alongside NZBGeek to achieve more comprehensive coverage.

Subscription Options

NZBGeek offers a range of subscription plans, including flexible monthly, yearly, and lifetime options. Given the unpredictable dynamics of the Usenet landscape, opting for a multi-year subscription, such as a five-year plan, may represent a more prudent investment than committing to a single year. Nevertheless, the platform’s consistent performance and reliability position it as a solid choice for users seeking a long-term indexing solution.

NZBGrabit Review

Mon, 30 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Since its inception in 2012, NZBGrabit has established itself as a community-driven NZB site favored by member uploaders. Registration is free, and the website features a well-optimized interface that enhances the overall user experience.

NZBGrabit prides itself on its vibrant and welcoming community. Like many other indexers, users are encouraged to express gratitude to uploaders before gaining access to file links. A brief introduction to the group is also necessary to facilitate the downloading of NZB files.

It is worth noting that NZBGrabit experienced a significant hosting disruption that led many in the Usenet community to believe the site had shut down permanently. However, the site subsequently migrated its infrastructure and moved to a new domain at nzbgrabit.org, resuming service with existing user accounts carried over. The transition was handled quietly, without a formal public announcement from the operators, and the site has maintained a lower public profile since the move. Current indexer listings continue to classify NZBGrabit as open and active.

Nzbgrabit Calendar

Nzbgrabit Arcade

Nzbgrabit Contact

Nzbgrabit Featured

Nzbgrabit Homepage Holloween

Highlighted Features

Privacy: SSL secured
Open and free to register
Retention of up to 3000 days
Download up to 200 NZBs per day
Unlimited invites for paid users
Five free .ZIP downloads with 10 days of retention
Index updates every 15 minutes
Arcade games and a photo editor available on-site
Custom interface with a unique design
Three membership plans available
Quick and easy checkout process
Hardware details: dedicated software
API: Not available
Ads: None

Interface

NZBGrabit operates on a custom version of VBulletin, extensively modified to streamline the uploading and downloading processes. VBulletin is a widely-used forum software, and its adaptation here enhances the functionality for NZB users.

NzbNDX Review

Mon, 30 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0000

NzbNdx is an active NZB site that welcomes new registrations and boasts an impressive index of over 1.8 million Usenet posts. It features a user-friendly search engine designed to accommodate both newcomers and experienced users alike.

As with many NZB platforms, NzbNdx does not oversee the content uploaded by its users. They do not entertain requests for specific postings and urge users to report any misleading or harmful material. By streamlining the downloading process, NzbNdx eliminates the necessity of downloading USENET message headers, making it easier for users to access content.

The site consistently refreshes its news and updates sections, ensuring that users are kept abreast of the latest developments in the Usenet community.

Nzbndx Contact

Nzbndx Forum

Key Features

Daily allowance of 10 free NZB downloads
Daily limit of 100 API calls for free users
Supporter plan offers 450 NZBs and 5000 API calls daily
Open registration, no invitations required
Minimal ad presence
Enhanced privacy through SSL encryption
API and RSS functionalities available
Indexing occurs every 15 minutes
Compatible with tools like Sickbeard, SabNZBD, RSS, etc.
Community forum accessible to all users
Crawls up to 30 groups
Continuously growing index of over 1.8 million posts

User Interface

NzbNdx operates using the Newznab indexing system.

NZBStars Review

Mon, 30 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0000

NZBStars is a robust indexing site built on the Spotnet platform. While they offer a sign-up option, it does not unlock any additional features compared to what free users can access. The site operates on an ad-supported model, displaying advertisements throughout its pages.

A maintenance report detailing the site’s status is conveniently located at the bottom left of the homepage, along with a list of reported abusers and their IP addresses.

Nzbstars Abuser Report

Nzbstars Download

Nzbstars New Upload

Nzbstars Report

Nzbstars Spots per Month

Nzbstars Statistics

Highlighted Features

Free and open for registration
Advanced search functionality
Spam reporting feature
Rapid search capabilities
Ads: Yes
Privacy: Fully HTTPS certified
Retention: 500 days
Indexer updates every 5 to 30 minutes
Integration: Compatible with Sickbeard, Couchpotato, SABnzbd, NZBGet

Interface

NZBStars operates as a Spotnet-based NZB site. Although it lacks traditional forums, users can still comment on files and engage in discussions regarding various topics with fellow members.

SimplyNZB Review

Mon, 30 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Editor’s Note: SimplyNZB is no longer operational as of 2024-2025. This review remains for historical reference and to document what was once a reliable mid-tier indexer that has since joined the growing list of defunct NZB sites.

Operating under the SimplyNZB name after rebranding from PirateNZB, this indexer distributed 10 invitations weekly to 50 randomly selected users. Those unable to obtain an invite through this lottery system could alternatively purchase access for a nominal fee.

The service maintained respectable binary retention and featured both automated processes and robust search capabilities within a secure environment.

Simplynzbs Request Invite

Simplynzbs Donate

Simplynzbs Contact

Highlighted Features

Operated as invite-only platform
Free tier included 10 API hits and 5 NZB downloads daily
Binary retention reached 2145 days
Compatible with Sonarr, Headphones, Couchpotato, NZBGet, SABnzbd, and similar tools
Full API and RSS feed support
SSL-encrypted connections
Minimal advertising presence
No community forum
Weekly distribution of 10 invites
Index updates executed every 15 minutes

Interface

Built on the Newznab platform, SimplyNZB provided users with a dedicated status page for monitoring site functionality and service health.

Binzb Review

Sun, 29 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0000

BiNZB is a user-friendly NZB platform that does not require any form of registration, thereby simplifying access for all users. With an impressive binary retention period of over 1550 days, it distinguishes itself as a generous choice among free indexing services. The platform features a sophisticated search engine, enabling users to refine their search results based on various parameters such as file size, upload date, poster identity, and newsgroup affiliation, which significantly enhances the user experience. Furthermore, users can access reports and community comments on files that may be flagged as potentially harmful, fake, or incomplete, adding an essential layer of security.

In addition to its primary functions, the site provides a rich array of technical articles and updates, as well as Usenet tutorials that are particularly beneficial for both novices and seasoned users alike. This educational focus helps demystify Usenet for those who may be unfamiliar with the platform.

Binzb Blog

Binzb Contact

Binzb Search Result

Key Features

No registration is necessary
Over 11 million NZBs indexed
Access to more than 2000 newsgroups
Extensive Usenet guides and terminology resources
Informative articles on various topics
Privacy: Not secured
Retention: 1550+ days
API: Not available
Advertisements: Minimal
Tools to help eliminate malicious content
Advanced filtering options by age, size, poster, and group

User Interface

BiNZB employs a custom-designed interface that sets it apart from the more commonly used Newznab layouts, offering users a distinctive browsing experience. The platform utilizes the RIAK system, which effectively distributes NZB files across multiple nodes, ensuring efficient access to content.

NZBIndex Review

Sun, 29 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0000

NZBIndex is a uniquely designed NZB indexer that differentiates itself from conventional Newznab interfaces. It is an excellent option for users who may not frequently download from Usenet but still desire a dependable search solution.

Based in the Netherlands, NZBIndex serves both Dutch and English-speaking audiences. Users can access the site through both nzbindex.com and nzbindex.nl.

Nzbindex Dutch

Nzbindex Newsgroups

Nzbindex Faqs

Key Features

Completely free access with no registration necessary
Fast and intuitive user interface
Privacy-centric with SSL encryption for secure browsing
Extensive search capabilities covering over 900 newsgroups
Noteworthy retention period of up to 1,900 days
Ad-free browsing experience
No API integration available for automated tasks
RSS feeds to keep users updated
Advanced search options for customized results
Direct NZB file generation from search results
Filters to sort by age, file size, and to exclude specific terms
Capability to search for cross-posts and NFO files
Displays up to 250 search results per page
Users can report spam to improve the NZB search index

User Interface

NZBIndex showcases a clean and user-friendly platform, available in both English and Dutch.

NZBKing Review

Sun, 29 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0000

NZBKing has successfully indexed around 3500 newsgroups, granting users access to an impressive repository of over 60 petabytes of content. Notably, it offers an extensive retention period exceeding 4000 days for binary files, positioning it among the top options available for users seeking free access.

As is common with NZB sites, NZBKing does not directly host files on its platform. The service is not entirely automated; hence, NZBKing strongly suggests that users utilize a dedicated newsreader as an essential tool for downloading files efficiently.

Nzbking Newsgroups

Nzbking Search

Key Features

Open for user registration
Completely FREE to search and download content
Access to a vast library of over 200 million Usenet posts
Specialized search engine designed for enhanced usability
Retention period exceeding 4000 days
Ad-free browsing experience
Utilizes a sophisticated pattern-matching algorithm
Indexing capabilities for over 3500 newsgroups
More than 60 petabytes of data available for exploration

User Interface

NZBKing boasts a custom interface crafted using Python. The indexing system is powered by a Sphinx database, which is capable of processing 10-15 MB of text every second. This search server, developed in C++, operates smoothly across various platforms including Linux, macOS, Solaris, and Windows.

NZBFinder Review

Fri, 27 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0000

NZBFinder is a community-driven NZB indexer covering a broad spectrum of content — audio, video groups, SD releases, books, and more. The service caters to casual users via a free tier and to power users through premium accounts with substantially expanded capabilities.

Like other Usenet indexers, NZBFinder prioritizes delivering high-quality NZBs. Free accounts provide basic search access with limited functionality, while paid tiers unlock higher API quotas and unrestricted downloads for users with more demanding workflows.

Nzbfinder Browse Groups

Nzbfinder Advanced Search

Nzbfinder Search Results

The platform has undergone continuous development, with interface refinements that reduce asset sizes for faster load times on slower connections. Notable features include two-factor authentication, a dark mode toggle, and a fully responsive design compatible with iOS and Android devices.

Highlighted Features

Open NZB site
High-quality content
Multiple membership levels (Free & Paid Accounts)
Unlimited downloads for paying members
Fast service
13+ years of history
Spotweb access for Elite Accounts
Retention of over 3600 days for binaries
Continuously running indexer
High level of deobfuscation
Advanced search capabilities
Newsgroup browsing
Popular downloads for premium accounts
RSS Feeds
Recommended Integrations: Sonarr (TV), Radarr (Movies), and Lidarr
100% SSL secured
Mobile support
Updated interface
XML & JSON API

Recent updates and fixes include:

USENET Crawler Throws in the Towel

Sun, 03 Nov 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Is USENET Crawler currently up? [see our uptime chart for USENET Crawler][1].

April 2020 – Usenet Crawler is back in business

November 2019 – Newsflash Usenet-Crawler has been down for a few weeks and may or may not come back up again. We love Usenet Crawler but the site goes down often.

USENET Crawler, a relatively new indexer, has thrown in the towel following pressure from BREIN. Reposed on Reddit, a complaint from BREIN cites alleged copyright infringement as the reason that the agency demanded that the site be taken offline.

The site owners apparently ignored requests from the agency but, after a time, BREIN contacted the webhost for the site. Within 24 hours of BREIN contacting USENET Crawler’s webhost, the site was taken down.

The site may not have officially given up as of yet, however. In talking with the site developers, they said that they may be setting up a site on another host and getting back online soon. The BREIN organization is known for attacking the owners of the sites that they take down, including seizing bank accounts, and the site developers are considering whether to start up again very carefully. The people behind USENET Crawler do still have possession of their domain and may move it over to another registrar outside of the Netherlands. - Also worth a look would be our [list of Best NZB Sites][2].

NZB-RSS Review

Wed, 16 Oct 2019 00:00:00 +0000

NZB-RSS has been down for several months now so we are declaring it a dead NZB site.

DeepCave NZB Review

Mon, 30 Sep 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Offline since July 2019, we are declaring DeepCave a Dead NZB site

Newzleech Goes Down Again

Sat, 07 Sep 2019 00:00:00 +0000

August 2019 – Newzleech mysteriously shutdowns without warning.

Instead of a publicized security incident Newzleech now shows a blank NGINX screen. Our recommendation: Look elsewhere for NZB Site options and USENET Search sites.

Newzleech, a popular NZB search engine hosted in Russia offering free access to over 600 plus days of binary Usenet posts, has been taken offline several times. Below is a history of Newzleech.

History of Newzleech shutdowns

August 2019 - Newzleech mysteriously shutdowns without warning. No police notice. Only a blank NGINX screen instead of a working Usenet Search Engine
January 2017 - Newzleech returns online after a hiatus of 6 year. See November 2009 date below.
November 2009 - Newzleech closed their doors from 2010 to 2016 due to an incident involving the Ukrainian Police and Security Services. The text below was taken from the Newzleech website while still briefly available: On Nov 19 2009 Newzleech ’s host in Ukraine Colocall got raided by the country ’s secret service. Newzleech wasn ’t targeted specifically. Every server in the building was removed as part of an unrelated criminal case. Why they took every server nobody knows. Lots of legitimate Ukrainian businesses have been affected. In case you ’re worried there was zero logs on the server so don ’t worry about that Unfortunately, there isn ’t a recent backup on the server scripts. I am currently rebuilding the site from the old backups that I have. Please be patient while the site is being rebuilt. We should be back before the end of the year.

Labor Day Special Offers

Mon, 19 Aug 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Labor Day, as celebrated in the United States, typically represents a time to get together for families and friends to enjoy the last few days of summer. Some of the original intent of the holiday has been obscured by time however Labor day was created as a tribute to American workers and unions which were formed in reaction to poor working conditions for the common worker.

Top 4 Labor Day Special Offers

Here are our top Labor Day 2026 Special Offers for Usenet Providers

#1 - Newshosting

$4.17 Mo ($50 / Year) for a yearly High Speed subscription
79% off compared to regular monthly price.
This discount applies for life and includes:
- Unlimited downloads
- Free newsreader with search
- Free zero-log VPN account
- Uncapped speeds
- 256-bit SSL-secured connections

Timeline - Thursday, August 29 through Thursday Sunday, Sept 5th

Save With Newshosting

#2 - Tweaknews

€5/month for a yearly High Speed subscription (Ultimate + VPN account).
Savings for (61% off regular €12,95/mo price)
This discount applies for life and includes:
Unlimited downloads
Free newsreader with search
Free zero-log VPN account
Uncapped speeds
256-bit SSL-secured connections

Timeline - Thursday, August 29 through Thursday Sunday, Sept 5th

Usenet Reviewz Sitemap

Sat, 17 Aug 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Below is a listing of all of the reviews and articles listed on this website - grouped in an easy to understand format.

Page summary

Recommended Usenet Providers

All Usenet Providers

Newsreader Reviews

NZBSite Reviews

Usenet Search Reviews

Miscellaneous Reviews

Dead NZB Sites

An always expanding list of Dead NZB Sites

Usenet News

Dutch Anti-Piracy Group Reveals Taking Down 349 Illegal Pirate Sites in 2021 - 2022-08-14
Usenet Forum, Dream of Usenet, Goes Offline - 2022-08-06
New Usenet Indexer Opens in Cooperation with House of Usenet - 2022-07-16
Thunderbird hits version 102 - gets major upgrades - 2022-07-10
UsenetDiscount Shutting Down - 2022-06-28
5000 days of retention for Newshosting, Eweka Easynews and UsenetServer - 2022-04-26
BREIN Successfully Shuts Down NZBXS.com - 2021-09-13
Usenet Indexing Site, Newzbin, Shuts Down - 2021-09-05
Usenet Big-8 Management Group Hosts AMA on Reddit - 2021-06-13
CUII Starts DNS Locking Campaign in Germany - 2021-04-28
USPTO Campaign on Combatting Pirated Products - 2021-04-27
AltBinz.net Servers Affected by Fire - 2021-03-15
Popcorn Time Faces Copyright Infringement Lawsuit - 2021-03-15
NZBGeek Hacked, User Data Compromised - 2021-03-01
Altopia Shutting Down - 2021-02-09
What is the Big 8? - 2021-02-09
Usenet Crawler Server Breached - 2021-02-08
Hack and Data Theft at Usenext - 2020-04-29
USENET Crawler Throws in the Towel - 2019-11-03
Newzleech Goes Down Again - 2019-09-07
DOGnzb Is Open for Registration - 2019-06-06
MegafilmesHD.net alternatives for Brazilians - 2019-04-01
German Police Shut Down USENET Sites - 2017-11-26
PayPal making problems for USENET - 2017-06-13
Hard Disk Issues Takes Binsearch.info Offline For A While - 2017-03-14
Perfect 10 Loses Appeal Against Giganews - 2017-03-01
Dump Truck Discontinued - 2015-11-11
USENET Contributes to the English Language - 2015-09-19
How Popular is Usenet ? - 2015-09-15
NZBFinder Improves Site - 2015-08-16
The Hacking Team, USENET and OpSec - 2015-07-12
USENET Is Big in South Africa - 2015-03-12
Will Netflix Crackdown Bring More Users to USENET - 2015-01-13
Alternatives to Pirate Bay - 2014-12-26
Popular Torrent Sites Change Domain Names - 2014-12-15
Giganews vs Perfect 10 – Victory for USENET - 2014-11-23
USENET Pot Farmers and the Deep Web - 2014-11-22
CITIZENFOUR Tells Snowden’s Story, Motivations - 2014-11-05
Is Giganews an FBI Front - 2014-09-25
Another Reason to Boycott Comcast - 2014-09-24
Dutch internet Surveillance and Censorship on the Rise - 2014-09-21
Join the Fight for Net Neutrality - 2014-09-14
Numbers Behind Copyright Alert System Revealed - 2014-08-11
Astraweb Starts Automated DMCA Takedowns - 2014-04-24
NSA vs TOR Network - 2014-02-10
USENET Targeted in Anti-Piracy Action - 2013-07-26
USENET Targeted in Anti-Piracy Action - 2013-07-26
Nzbsrus Closes Its Doors - 2013-07-23
NZB7 Shuts Doors - 2013-07-20
NZB-Matrix.eu Closes Its Doors - 2013-07-11
USENET Headers Making a Comeback - 2013-05-30
DMCA Takedowns Are Not Automatic - 2013-05-25
USENET Usage Post NZBMatrix - 2013-04-01
ISPs Launch New Copyright Alert System - 2013-03-27
UK High Court Rules that USENET Does not Offer Piracy Profits - 2013-03-10
USENET Targeted by Copyright Holders - 2012-12-20
Newzbin2 Is Gone - 2012-12-02
Unzbin is No More - 2012-11-30
ISP Monitoring Is Starting in the US - 2012-11-10
Floppy Disk Error Leads to USENET Data Loss - 2012-09-20
Horse_ebooks Is Nothing New to USENET Users - 2012-07-28
Your ISP and Your Logs - 2012-07-25
USENET in the Age of Internet Censorship - 2012-06-22
What is CISPA and How Does it Affect USENET Users - 2012-04-25
Merlin’s Portal Gone for Good - 2012-04-22
Rapidshare Ordered to Filter Uploads - 2012-04-07
NZBsRus Beats FACT CAD Letter - 2011-11-30
How Usenet Looked 30 Years Ago - 2011-09-30
Spain Fires on Pirates - 2011-09-08
Google USENET Service Drops - 2011-09-03
Usenet Compared To Social Networking - 2011-07-20
Newzbin Found Guilty - 2010-04-07
Newzbin Under Fire - 2010-02-05

Tutorials

Special Offers

Donnies NZB Review

Fri, 16 Aug 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Donnie’s NZB is closed as of 2014. The invitation-only NZB indexer formerly offered API access, excellent spam filtering and other features that made it an impressive indexer in its time. It ran on the Vbulletin platform, which isn’t as common as Newznab but offered a nice alternative for users who wanted something different. For a while, the site even offered free API calls, which was a standout feature and quite generous on the part of Donnie’s NZB developers.

Alternatives to Donnie ’s NZB

While Donnie’s NZB is gone, there are plenty of good options out there for people looking for similar features. If you’re looking for specific features—custom interfaces, Bitcoin membership payments, etc.—be sure to check our NZB site reviews. NZB sites come and go, but we keep a list of the best NZB sites available, so be sure to check it for alternatives to Donnie ’s NZB.

Free Usenet Server List

Wed, 14 Aug 2019 00:00:00 +0000

The cheapest way to get USENET access is through your Internet Service Provider (ISP) — but that option has become increasingly rare. The vast majority of ISPs have discontinued their USENET servers, and those that still offer access impose significant restrictions compared to dedicated USENET providers.

Below is a list of the top 100 ISPs in the USA ranked by subscriber count, showing each provider’s USENET service status. Of the 100 listed, only a handful ever offered free access, and most have since shut those services down.

✨

Editor’s Tip:

Before diving into the list, it’s worth knowing there’s a better option: Easynews offers a free 14-day trial with 50 GB of access and no speed limits. It includes a built-in Usenet search engine with file previews and works entirely through a web browser — no separate newsreader required, and it works on mobile too.

Claim the EasyNews 50 GB free trial for UsenetReviewz.com readers.

Top 100 ISPs in the USA with USENET Service Status

Rank	Provider	Population	Free USENET Access
1	HughesNet	308	745	538	Shutdown 2002
2	AT&T Wireless	306	461	488	No
3	Verizon Wireless	305	32	264	Shutdown 2009
4	Sprint	279	984	122	Shutdown 2009
5	T-Mobile	246	589	444	No
6	AT&T U-verse	120	698	372	Shutdown 2009
7	Exede Internet	114	412	179	No
8	XFINITY from Comcast	109	365	995	Shutdown 2009
9	Comcast Business	109	104	949	Shutdown 2009
10	Cricket Wireless	94	688	250	No
11	Time Warner Cable	65	271	476	Shutdown 2009
12	MetroPCS	54	308	583	No
13	Verizon High Speed Internet	49	559	491	Shutdown 2009
14	CenturyLink	48	89	588	Yes. See Below
15	Verizon Fios	32	722	584	Shutdown 2009
16	Frontier Communications	28	724	887	Shutdown 2016
17	Charter Communications	27	484	432	Shutdown 2012
18	dishNET	26	943	450	No
19	U.S. Cellular	25	83	868	No
20	Cox Communications	20	977	73	Shutdown 2009
21	Lightower Fiber Networks	19	225	335	No
22	Rise Broadband	16	103	60	No
23	Windstream	13	122	457	Yes. See Below
24	Optimum by Cablevision	12	213	255	Shutdown 2016
25	Agile Networks	11	536	504	No
26	Skyriver Communications	11	503	689	No
27	GHz Wireless	9	699	124	No
28	King Street Wireless	9	603	129	No
29	Monmouth Telephone & Telegraph	8	569	186	No
30	Bright House Networks	8	440	654	Shutdown 2016
31	WOW!	7	257	892	Shutdown 2011
32	CyberNet Communications	6	972	35	No
33	BelWave Communications	6	301	425	No
34	Suddenlink Communications	6	177	723	Shutdown 2014
35	Sunesys	5	913	20	No
36	Etheric Networks	5	852	582	No
37	Mediacom Cable	5	395	908	Shutdown 2015
38	TDS Telecom	5	77	333	Shutdown 2010
39	Startouch	5	53	403	No
40	Florida High Speed Internet	4	345	447	No
41	C Spire Wireless	3	993	826	No
42	Everywhere Wireless	3	916	796	No
43	RCN	3	809	880	Shutdown 2008
44	Sonic.net	3	711	539	Shutdown 2016
45	Wydebeam Broadband	3	661	286	No
46	FairPoint Communications	3	533	849	Shutdown 2010
47	Wi-Power	3	518	501	No
48	Pixius Communications	3	327	534	No
49	Ranch Wireless	3	294	333	No
50	Level 3 Communications	3	255	603	No
51	Cable ONE	3	225	624	Shutdown 2003
52	UnWired Broadband	3	132	772	No
53	BarrierFree	3	30	290	No
54	Cruzio Internet	3	24	653	Shutdown 2003
55	Phoenix Internet	3	23	649	No
56	WATCH Communications	2	978	692	No
57	E-Vergent Wireless	2	971	347	No
58	Zing Wireless	2	924	980	No
59	NextLink	2	920	402	No
60	TierOne Networks	2	827	432	No
61	MHO Networks	2	742	849	No
62	Time Warner Business Class	2	732	147	Shutdown 2013
63	GTT Communications	2	588	837	No
64	Nextera Communications	2	586	365	No
65	Wisper ISP	2	498	59	No
66	Wifi West	2	411	52	No
67	Earthlink Business	2	386	827	Yes. See Below
68	MegaPath	2	290	751	Shutdown 2002
69	Freewire Broadband	2	136	190	No
70	DirectLink	2	125	472	No
71	PenTeleData	2	21	477	Yes. See Below
72	Believe Wireless Broadband	2	16	20	Shutdown 2014
73	Global Capacity	2	15	306	No
74	US Signal Company	2	13	697	No
75	XO Communications	1	995	744	No
76	Cirra Networks	1	916	843	No
77	lv.net	1	878	128	No
78	Utah Broadband	1	865	241	No
79	STL WiMax	1	863	796	No
80	VRFuturenet	1	860	824	No
81	Brown Dog Networks	1	854	680	No
82	ERF Wireless	1	815	907	No
83	On-Ramp Indiana	1	810	926	No
84	Packet Layer	1	773	320	No
85	Wave Broadband	1	747	210	Shutdown 2011
86	airPowered	1	663	719	No
87	Air-Wans Wireless Broadband	1	640	596	No
88	EasyStreet Online	1	629	345	No
89	Hoosier Broadband	1	608	106	No
90	CellCom	1	607	399	No
91	Keystone	1	577	701	No
92	MetroSpan	1	557	914	No
93	Phoenix Broadband	1	555	648	No
94	Areyouonline.Net	1	538	762	No
95	TruCom	1	530	946	No
96	Internet Free Planet	1	483	708	No
97	Aerux Broadband	1	476	8	No
98	ZipLink Internet.com	1	462	886	No
99	Mercury Wireless	1	439	628	No
100	Internet Nebraska Corporation	1	386	776	No

Free USENET Services in the USA

ISP	Server Name	Free USENET Notes
CenturyLink (also known as Qwest.net)	news.qwest.net	Limited Support
Earthlink	news.earthlink.net	Only for Customers Prior to 2013
MegaPath	news.speakeasy.net	Only for Customers Prior to 2010
Windstream	news.windstream.net	Only for Customers Prior to 2016
PenTeleData	usenet.ptd.net	Capped at 10 GB/month

Global Coverage of Free USENET Services in 2026

Free ISP-provided USENET access was once common in the US, Canada, and the UK. Today it is largely gone. The providers below represent the remaining handful that still offer some form of access — though availability, retention, and reliability vary considerably.

Usenet Free Trial Offers

Wed, 14 Aug 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Usenet Free Trial offers or free usenet accounts are typically limited to news users who enter their credit card or paypal info and are limited to a number of days or gigabytes after which they will be charged.

Each provider has a different policy but all of the providers listed here are trustworthy and honor unsubscribe requests. Be sure to read the terms of service for each Usenet server free trial. On this page, underneath each usenet server free trial we have listed some details about the free trial.

Top 5 USENET Free Trial Offers 2026

#	Free Trial	Visit
1	14 Days / 30 GB	Visit Provider
2	30-Day Money Back Guarantee	Visit Provider
3	14 Days / 10 GB	Visit Provider
4	14 Days / 50 GB	Visit Provider
5	30-Day Money-Back Guarantee	Visit Provider

These are the best free trial USENET offers around but if you are interested in more details and other special offers be sure to sign up for our e course located on our USENET discount and special offers page.

Usenet Crawler Review

Sat, 10 Aug 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Usenet Crawler stands out as a premier destination for NZB grabs and API hits, especially for free users compared to other NZB sites. They also offer a lifetime plan that unlocks even more advanced features.

Since its inception in 2012, Usenet Crawler has rapidly ascended to the ranks of top NZB sites. With a generous free account option and the ability to upgrade to a VIP level, it has become a favored choice among users seeking reliable indexers. However, the site has recently faced some server issues, impacting load times. Nevertheless, once you access the Usenet Crawler platform, you can expect a robust feature set and an efficient searching and downloading experience.

Usenet Crawler also regularly updates its website with news and information pertinent to its services.

Usenet Crawler Good Selection

Usenet Crawler Addtional Features

Usenet Crawler Download Stats

Highlighted Features

Exceptional Free account among other NZB sites
Powered by Newznab
Open registration
Options for Free and VIP Accounts
Crawls over 500 newsgroups
Standard retention period: 2700 days
Retention upgrade for VIPs: 3900 days
Seamless integration with Sabnzbd and other popular services
Active Forum and Live Chat support
Fast indexing capabilities
Database exceeding 3TB
Enhanced privacy with SSL
Non-access logs maintained
Minimal ads for a non-disruptive experience

Interface

Usenet Crawler utilizes a Newznab-based framework, optimizing its indexing capabilities alongside community features. The interface is clean and user-friendly, with a color scheme that enhances readability.

Usenet Special Offers And Coupons

Sun, 04 Aug 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Welcome to our Usenet Special Offers page, where you’ll find our latest seasonal deals and discounts.

King's Day Special Offers

April 24, 2025

Black Friday Special Offers

November 18, 2023

Xmas Day Special Offers

December 2, 2020

Usenet Independence Day Special Offers 2020

June 30, 2020

Labor Day Special Offers

August 19, 2019

Spring Special Offers

April 9, 2019

Valentine’s Day Special Offers

February 9, 2019

UsenetReviewz.com’s Top 5 Special Offers 2026

#	Details	Visit
1	Best Overall Fastest Speeds Free Newsreader	Visit Provider
2	Leading EU Provider Exceptional Retention Outstanding Completion	Visit Provider
3	Unlimited Access NZB Search Fast Speeds	Visit Provider
4	Comprehensive Solution Usenet Search Capabilities Access to Usenet	Visit Provider
5	Exceptional Retention High Completion Rates Unlimited Accessibility	Visit Provider

In addition to the 2026 Usenet provider specials listed above, be sure to check out our full list of recommended Usenet providers. We also publish special offers for Black Friday and Cyber Monday each year. Bookmark both pages to stay up to date with the latest Usenet deals and discounts.

Privacy Policy

Wed, 31 Jul 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Short Version

Your visit to this website is held 100% confidential, however, Google analytics and clicky are used to determine where site visitors are coming from.

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Contact Usenet Reviewz

Tue, 30 Jul 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Send us an email and we will get back to you !

Disclosure

Tue, 30 Jul 2019 00:00:00 +0000

UsenetReviewz.com exists to provide you with clear, reliable information to guide you through the process of choosing and purchasing USENET services.

We do earn commissions on many of the products featured here when you purchase through our links.

Our philosophy is straightforward: by consistently delivering quality content, we build trust, grow our audience, and sustain the UsenetReviewz brand — all while helping you make more informed decisions about USENET.

UsenetReviewz.com Review Evaluation Process

All Usenet services recommended are rigorously tested against quality benchmarks, including network reliability, retention length and consistency, and sustained server connection speeds.
All NZB sites and related Usenet search platforms are likewise independently evaluated by our team.

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RSS Feed Page UsenetReviewz.com

Mon, 29 Jul 2019 00:00:00 +0000

A collection of RSS feeds for UsenetReviewz - Click on the orange button to subscribe to any RSS feed that you want. If you don ’t know what RSS means then read below our chart.

Here is our RSS Feed for UsenetReviewz.com on feedburner

What is RSS

If you are a Usenet user, I ’m assuming you are pretty tech savvy but just in case. Here is a good explanation of what RSS :

RSS (Really Simple Syndication) enables you to easily get fresh content sent directly to you whenever an update is made on any of the favorite sites you select. RSS uses XML to share and distribute content.

Typically, RSS technology is integrated into almost all modern browsers so presently (2026) it is very easy to subscribe to an RSS feed unless you have the Chrome browser, in which case you would need an online newsreader service like Feedly

In subscribing to an RSS feed you eliminate the need to surf the entire Web to find the information you desire. Instead, you can just receive the headlines and summaries of topics that interest you in one convenient location. Should you want to read more on a particular item, you simply click the link to access the full story.

Top 5 Best USENET Automation Tools

Sun, 21 Jul 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Top 5 Best USENET Automation Tools

Discover the best tools for automating your USENET experience, including the powerful “arr” family (Sonarr, Radarr, Lidarr, Readarr) and other essential apps for media, ebooks, and comics.

What is USENET Automation?

USENET automation tools help you automatically find, download, organize, and manage content from USENET newsgroups. These apps can monitor your favorite shows, movies, books, or comics, fetch NZB files from indexers, and work with downloaders like NZBGet or SABnzbd to handle everything in the background. The most popular and modern tools are part of the “arr” family, which specialize in different types of media.

The “arr” Family Explained

The “arr” family refers to a suite of open-source automation tools, each focused on a specific type of media:

Sonarr: TV series automation
Radarr: Movie automation
Lidarr: Music automation
Readarr: Ebook automation
Mylar: Comic book automation (inspired by Headphones)

These tools share a similar interface and philosophy, making it easy to automate your media library across multiple formats. They integrate with NZB downloaders, indexers, and media servers for a seamless experience.

#1 Sonarr (and the “arr” Family)

Sonarr is the leading USENET automation tool for TV series. It automatically monitors your favorite shows, searches for new episodes, downloads them, and organizes them in your library. Sonarr is part of the broader “arr” family, which includes Radarr (movies), Lidarr (music), and Readarr (ebooks). All these tools share a modern web interface, advanced automation features, and strong community support.

NNPBeta Review

Wed, 10 Jul 2019 00:00:00 +0000

NNPBeta is an NZB provider, but they’ve done something different with their service that makes them quite interesting. In order to access this NZB indexer, you’ll have to do it over TOR. In exchange for taking the time to use TOR, you’ll get access to a very comprehensive NZB indexer that offers one of the most generous packages for free users, and a great package for users who want to take it up a notch and donate to the service.

Update: as of September 2014

Currently the server at nnpbetabzsneptym.onion can ’t be found. Signup to our mailing list to be notified if they’re back online and open for registration— you will be also notified if there’s a new NZB site opened and available.

The Basics of NNPBeta

Once you get onto the service via TOR, you’ll find plenty to catch your interest. The service currently indexes 375 binary groups. They have full retention on these groups and have been backfilling for 2 months already. The site went up in November of 2013 and has been expanding since.

The service offers free and paid options. Free users get full access to the API, RSS feeds and can hit the API a whopping 1,000 times per day. They can also download 100 NZBs per day. This is, as anyone with a free membership to an NZB indexer knows, exceptionally generous.

Bintube Review

Mon, 08 Jul 2019 00:00:00 +0000

BinTube is a Usenet service provider that offers a very simple USENET access package with only one plan. The company takes Bitcoin, which might make it tempting for privacy-centered users.

Aside from Usenet access, BinTube also has a free Usenet client software and its own Usenet search engine.

Quick Facts

One Package
Unlimited Speed and Downloads
One stop Usenet shop - for access, usenet client and search engine
Accepts Bitcoin
SSL (Privacy Protection)
Software Included

Binary Retention

BinTube says it currently has 4710 days of binary retention on its servers.

Pricing

BinTube only has one plan, on a subscription basis at $9.16 per month. It includes the following:

Free Usenet Client Software
Unlimited Download Volume
Unlimited Speed
SSL Encryptions
30 connections
4710 days of retention

Free Trial info

There’s currently no free trial offered from this provider.

Special Offers / Coupons

There are currently no specials on offer from this provider.

Speed Test

BinTube did very well in speed testing, which is common with USENET service providers, most of which can easily max out most broadband connections.

Connections

Bintube allows you to use 30 connections with their service.

News Servers / Ports / Configuration

Server address: us.bintube.com
Encrypted Port: 443
Unencrypted Port: 119

Narkive Review

Mon, 08 Jul 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Narkive functions similarly to Google Groups, serving as an extensive archive of newsgroup posts accessible through your web browser. The platform is user-friendly, allowing users to easily navigate its features. Although the site has not undergone significant updates in recent years, it continues to support a vibrant community of users who actively engage with its resources. Below, we outline the key aspects of what Narkive has to offer.

The Service

Creating an account on Narkive is quick and straightforward, enabling you to establish a profile almost instantly. This profile grants you the ability to follow threads and contribute to discussions on the platform. Users can enhance their experience by opting for email notifications regarding replies to their posts, as well as on-site alerts, providing flexibility in how they wish to stay informed.

While the interface remains minimalistic, it encompasses all the essential tools for browsing through newsgroup archives and interacting with them. This simplicity is likely what many users seek when utilizing the service.

As of this review, Narkive boasts over 297 million threads and nearly 900 million messages, offering an abundance of content to sift through.

Conclusion

If you’re in search of a quick and efficient way to navigate newsgroup discussions, Narkive could be an ideal solution. With its straightforward search functionality and basic profile options, it includes most of the features necessary for a satisfying user experience. It is certainly worth exploring, especially for those looking for an alternative to Google Groups.

NZBsRus Review

Sat, 06 Jul 2019 00:00:00 +0000

NZBsRus was a popular, well-designed NZB site that closed its doors in 2013. The site offered a $15 per year membership, an IRC channel, a forum and, of course, a big index of NZBs to choose from. The site took Bitcoin for memberships, which undoubtedly contributed to its popularity with users.

Alternatives to NZBsRus

NZBsRus is gone, but there are alternatives to NZBsRus that are just as good. Check our list of best NZB sites to see what’s out there at present. If you’ve recently found your favorite NZB site off-line, don’t worry because we keep our list updated and make sure that the links you click on are live.

RhinoNewsgroups Review

Sat, 06 Jul 2019 00:00:00 +0000

RhinoNewsgroups is a Giganews reseller. Their plan prices are quite high for what they offer and they have features not at par with the best Usenet service providers today

Quick Facts

Three Subscription Plans
Unlimited Speed
North American and EU Servers
24-Hour Support
99% Completion Rate
Low Retention Rate
Up to 8 Connections

Binary Retention

RhinoNewsgroups currently offers 200 days of binary retention and 1000+ days of text retention. This is extremely low compared to our best Usenet service providersand not at all competitive with most of the providers out there.

Pricing

RhinoNewsgroups has three packages. The two top-tier packages are differentiated by the number of connections allowed.

Name	Price/month	Connections
20GB	$9.99	8
Unlimited	$16.99	6
Unlimited Rhino	$18.99	8

Free Trial info

There is currently no free trial available from this provider. If we get one, we’ll share it with our readers, so be sure to check back.

Special Offers / Coupons

There are currently no special offers on tap from Rhinonewsgroups, but we’ll certainly share any that we get in the future.

Speed Test

RhinoNewsgroups was fast in testing. Most USENET services are very fast these days and you shouldn’t have any trouble with getting your maximum broadband speed when downloading.

SABnzbd Review

Sat, 06 Jul 2019 00:00:00 +0000

SABnzbd is one of the most recognized NZB downloaders in the Usenet community. While it is frequently compared to similar applications like NZBGet, SABnzbd is often praised for its user-friendly interface and robust functionality.

SABnzbd is compatible with various platforms, including popular operating systems such as macOS, Windows, and Linux. It can also be accessed on smaller devices like tablets and smartphones, supporting multiple languages including French, Portuguese, German, and Spanish.

Although this newsreader is free to use, it does come with a slight learning curve. However, once you familiarize yourself with its features, you will find that it significantly enhances your Usenet experience.

SABnzbd consistently updates its software, with the latest stable release being version 3.5.0. Additionally, a pre-release (beta) version is available for those who want to test new features, but keep in mind that it may contain bugs. Users are encouraged to report any issues to help improve future stable releases.

Highlighted Features

SABnzbd is developed in Python, allowing it to support a variety of platforms, including Windows, macOS, Unix, and NAS devices. It does not have a dedicated interface for Windows or Mac but can be accessed via any web browser. This design allows SABnzbd to run quietly in the background, consuming minimal system resources.

WonderFox DVD Ripper Review

Sat, 06 Jul 2019 00:00:00 +0000

DVD Ripper Pro by WonderFox software makes DVD ripping easy as pie for the windows platform. It is compatible with Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, Vista, XP or lower versions. WonderFox DVD Ripper handled the DVD decryption and automatically selects the correct video files for a quick and easy DVD ripping.

After installing and running the program you will first see the first screen. Here we have to choose between the DVD, an iso image or a DVD folder.

Highlighted Features:

Compresses a DVD to digital video without losing quality
Fast DVD to digital conversion speed
- 20 minutes for DVD to MP4, AVI, MKV, MOV, WMV
- 5 to 10 minutes for DVD to MPG
Detects main title for DVD Movie and TV Show
ptimized parameters for all types of devices
- PC, Tablet, iPhone, iPad, TV, Xbox, Samsung devices, Microsoft devices, Android devices and more.
Also compatible with:
- Rip DVD to Plex
- DVD to Wii U
DVD Decryption technology
- Assist you in removing/bypassing DVD CSS, Region Code, Multi-angle, RCE, Sony ARccOS, UOP, Disney X-Project DRM and Cinavia Protection.
- Offer constant supports for latest & classic DVD Movie, TV show, Tutorial or Fitness(P90X/T25/…) DVD rip. Support almost all encrypted DVDs
- Remove DVD region code, instead of ordering a new DVD player when you buy a foreign DVD disc while its region code doesn’t match your player.
- Back up DVD for getting digital copies of movies you already own.

WonderFox DVD Ripper on Launch

In our tests, we selected a real encrypted and copy protected DVD because defeating the encryption process is a very important feature of whate DVD ripper pro offers. If you have experience with DVD decryption, you will be impressed with this program as DVD decryption hasn ’t always been as easy. 10 years ago the most popular DVD decryption program which may have been illegal under the DMCA.

TheCubeNet Review

Fri, 05 Jul 2019 00:00:00 +0000

TheCubeNet offers a variety of different plans, including block and subscription access. The Usenet service provider also includes VPN plans for all-around privacy protection.

Quick Facts

3000 Days Retention
Block Access
SSL (Privacy Protection)
US & EU Servers
Accepts Bitcoin, LiteCoin and Ether.

Visit TheCubeNet ↗

Binary Retention

TheCubeNet currently offers more than 3000 days of binary retention on all their plans.

Pricing

You can add VPN to any plan for $3.99 per month or $27.99 per year. For Usenet accounts, please see below

Unlimited Plans

Plan	Price	Connections
Unlimited 10	$11.99	10
Unlimited 30	$12.99	30
Unlimited 50	$9.99	50
12Mbps Unlimited	$10.99	20

Metered Plans

Plan	Price	Connections
Metered 30 GB	$4.99	50
Metered 60 GB	$5.99	50
Metered 125 GB	$7.99	50
Metered 250 GB	$9.99	50

Block Plans

Plan	One-Time Fee	Connections
5 GB	$2.99	50
25	$6.99	50
50	$10.99	50
75	$12.99	50
100	$14.99	50
200	$19.99	50
500	$39.99	50
750	$59.99	50

Block plans have no expiration date and is shareable to up to 3 users.

NZBGrab Review

Thu, 04 Jul 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Until September of 2014, NZBGrab was located at an Italian domain. The site went completely offline, but it was once a solid NZB indexer with thousands of new releases added every week. It also benefitted from the developers, who were an experienced, dedicated bunch that built quite an impressive site. It offered a VIP membership and other features that made it a good site at the time.

Alternatives to NZB Grab

NZBGrab might be gone, but you still have plenty of alternatives to choose from. We take the standout sites and add them to our list of best NZB sites. Have a look and you’ll find that, despite how it might seem that sites come and go rather quickly, there are more NZB sites than ever to choose from.

VyprDNS Review

Thu, 04 Jul 2019 00:00:00 +0000

VyprDNS is a VPN service from the same company that offers Giganews and VyprVPN. VyprVPN and VyprDNS together offers privacy services which avoids having your traffic spied upon by your ISP. It also prevents some of the more common types of attacks out there, so it does double duty in terms of protection. It works by encrypting and, thus, securing your DNS requests so they cannot be read by anyone save for the VyprDNS servers, which handle your requests.

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Editor’s Tip:

EDITOR’S NOTE: VyprDNS is now a standard part of VyprVPN. The review below is kept for historical purposes and as reference to what it does.

What it Does

The DNS system provides the means by which your requests to a name server are translated to numbers that can be used to route you to the right place. Normally, your ISP provides this service. If you’re on a VPN service, your provider offers the DNS, as well, though you might be leaking your requests to your ISP, even if you’re on a VPN. You can test for that problem here.

Routing through VyprDNS also allows you to get around many geo-restrictions on content. This means, for instance, if you happen to be in the Philippines, you could watch content that’s restricted to the US or other locations. This isn’t illegal, but it’s impossible to do unless you have some system like VyprDNS that handles your requests for you.

Newsservers Review

Wed, 03 Jul 2019 00:00:00 +0000

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Editor’s Tip:

Editor’s Note: Newsservers is no longer active and has no active website. The review below is kept for historical purposes. You can check out our top providers for Usenet access.

Newsservers is a world-Wide Usenet service provider, offering high speed Usenet access to more than 110,000 Uncensored Newsgroups.

NOTE:

Since Newsservers is no longer active, make sure you check out our list of the best Usenet service providers for Usenet access options.

Newsservers Binary Retention

Newsservers currently provides more than 550 days of binary retention, while the completion rate is 99%.

Newsservers pricing

Newsservers offers three metered accounts and one unlimited package. All packages come with free SSL encryption and 50 connections. Metered packages are available in three options: 3, 15 and 25GB of monthly bandwidth, while the prices for these packages are $2.95, $6.95 and $7.95 per month. The price for an unlimited option is $12.95 per month. All packages include over 550 days of binary retention, 50 simultaneous connections and 24/7 e-mail customer support.

Monthly accounts are automatically renewed at the end of the billing cycle, until the subscribers decide to cancel the service.

Newsservers Free Trial

The free trial provides unrestricted access for 7 days or 3 gigabytes, whichever is used first. After 7 days, the subscribers account will be activated at the chosen membership level.

CouchPotato Review

Tue, 02 Jul 2019 00:00:00 +0000

CouchPotato is a powerful tool that automates the search for desired video files across Usenet and select torrent sites, seamlessly integrating with popular NZB downloaders like NZBGet and SABnzbd. Once it identifies a specific file, CouchPotato can automatically dispatch it to your preferred downloader, streamlining your media acquisition process.

To leverage CouchPotato, you’ll need an account with a reputable Usenet service provider. The application is compatible with most Usenet providers and clients, making it an essential addition to your media toolkit.

Despite being a robust solution, the latest official release, version 3.0.1, dates back to August 2015. Since then, community-driven updates have been minimal, and development has significantly slowed. Users may want to explore alternatives like Sonarr, Radarr, and SickBeard, which offer similar automation features and enhanced integration with modern downloaders for an optimized downloading experience.

Key Features

CouchPotato boasts several features designed to enhance user experience:

Search and Manage Video Files
Download Renaming
Written in Python
Integration with Popular Downloaders: Supports NZBGet, SABnzbd, and various torrent downloaders.
Movie List Management
Scheduling: Automate searches for files at specified intervals.
User-Friendly Interface
Customizable Notifications: Get alerts on your Android device when a file becomes available.
Customizable Settings: Tailor download quality, preferred search engines, release groups, and more.

CouchPotato is compatible with Windows, macOS, Linux, Docker, and FreeBSD.

Unison Usenet Review

Tue, 02 Jul 2019 00:00:00 +0000

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Editor’s Tip:

Editor’s Note: Unison Usenet is no longer active and has no active website. Make sure you check out our list of best Usenet service providers for Usenet access.

Unison Usenet service offers a mediocre alternative for usenet service. The price is OK but the retention numbers and features don ’t make them a worthwhile - we suggest looking at our best usenet service provider list.

Binary Retention

Unison Usenet Service offer 300 days of binary retention, which is on the low end of things. You could do better with our recommended Usenet service providers.

Pricing

$9 a month for access plus the Unison Usenet Service software,. There are also some special offer upgrades to Unison 2 (the newer version of the client software used).

Unison Usenet Service Free Trial

No free trial here I am afraid, but for $9 you get to dip your toes in the water, try out the service and download the free client software.

Unison Usenet Service Coupons

None at present.

Speed

Unison Usenet Service do not actually post any information regarding their network infrastructure and therefore it is difficult to make an informed comment about their speed and reliability. Additionally, they only allow 8 concurrent connections from each client. Best advice would be to try them for a minimum period. There is nothing which indicates they might be slow, but there is also nothing to indicate they might be fast either!

Thunderbird Review

Mon, 01 Jul 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Mozilla Thunderbird is not a dedicated Usenet client but a full-featured, free email and newsreader application. It supports NNTP and can be used to subscribe to Usenet text groups, making it a reliable choice for those who want to mix email and Usenet in one client. Its reputation is solid thanks to Mozilla’s ongoing support and regular updates, though it is not optimized for binaries and lacks the automation features that modern Usenet users often demand. In 2025, Thunderbird continues to receive active development, mostly focused on email improvements, but its Usenet features remain intact and functional for those who primarily read discussions rather than download binaries.

Designed and developed by the same makers of Firefox, Thunderbird is a Usenet client capable of reading mail and articles off of Usenet. It is free to use and can run on multiple popular platforms, including Mac, Windows, and Linux.

Thunderbird has no Usenet search features and does not support NZBs since it is only meant for reading Usenet and not binary downloading. However, as a free newsreader, it does its main job well at zero cost.

If a simple newsreader is not for you and you are looking for either a free Usenet client with binary downloading features or a paid option, we have several listed on this website.

DumpTruck Review

Sun, 30 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000

DumpTruck was Golden Frog’s cloud storage product bundled with some Giganews and VyprVPN plans. It aimed to be a privacy-focused Dropbox-style sync and backup app.

Editor’s Note: DumpTruck is discontinued and no longer recommended as an active service.

Dumptruck in Action

Dumptruck Setup

Dumptruck Uploads

Dumptruck Finished

What DumpTruck Offered (Historical)

Before it shut down, DumpTruck focused on a few core features:

Cross-platform desktop and mobile clients
File sync and cloud backup
Link sharing with optional controls
Encrypted transfers and encrypted storage
WebDAV support for power users

For its time, it was a practical option for users already in the Golden Frog ecosystem.

Why This Review Is Archived

This page remains online for historical/reference purposes only. Pricing, signup paths, and support workflows from the original service are no longer relevant.

If you need cloud storage or backup today, use an actively maintained provider.

Current Alternatives (2026)

If you were looking at DumpTruck for secure syncing or backup, these are better modern options:

Proton Drive — strong privacy focus and end-to-end encrypted file storage
Sync.com — zero-knowledge cloud storage with solid sharing controls
pCloud — polished sync experience, optional client-side encryption add-on
Backblaze — simple, affordable cloud backup (especially for full-device backup)
IDrive — multi-device backup with broad platform support

Which One to Choose

Privacy-first file storage: Proton Drive or Sync.com
General-purpose cloud storage/sync: pCloud
Set-and-forget computer backup: Backblaze
Household/small business multi-device backup: IDrive

Final Thoughts

DumpTruck is part of Usenet history, but not a current recommendation. Keep this review as context, and choose an actively supported service for daily use and long-term data safety.

Nzbportal Review

Sun, 30 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Update as of May 2011- NZBPortal has closed their doors. We suggest choosing from another NZB site. NZBPortal closed their doors in May of 2011

Alternatives to NZBPortal

Please check our list of best NZB sites for alternatives to NZBPortal

UsenetHub Review

Sat, 29 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000

UsenetHub is sponsored by GetNZB. Although the service currently has a limited number of files, it is actively expanding its library daily, making it a fresh contender in the Usenet space.

The platform utilizes a self-developed indexing system, touted as an innovative and intelligent USENET browser. This system enables users to preview videos, view screenshots of images in binaries, and analyze files to ensure they are ready for download. Content moderation is a key feature, effectively filtering out spam and undesirable content from the index.

✨

Editor’s Tip:

Editor’s Note: As of now, the UsenetHub site is inactive and redirects to usenetbrowser.net, which primarily serves as an adult-focused Usenet search engine.

The Service

UsenetHub is operated by a group of four friends, all professional programmers with a long-standing camaraderie. Each member works in the IT sector for different companies, and UsenetHub serves as a passion project for them.

They take pride in their ability to eliminate fake and undesirable content from their indexes, simplifying the process for users seeking genuine binaries. The service also features filtering options for users who prefer to avoid adult content, which is clearly labeled and separated from general content. This makes it easier for families or those seeking non-adult material to navigate the platform.

Usenet.farm Review

Fri, 28 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000

UsenetFarm is a good and simple USENET service provider. They allow account sharing on two of their access options, which is a good way to reduce costs.

Quick Facts

Unlimited Accounts
Block Access
SSL (Privacy Protection)
Accepts Bitcoin
Account Sharing
Free Trial: 10 GB without payment info
Retention: 3000+ days text retention; binaries stored as long as frequently requested
Connections: Up to 50 (block plan); 40 on unlimited plans
With fair use policy. Speed: Unlimited until fair-use cap reached, then throttled to 24–48 Mbit/s depending on plan

Binary Retention

Usenet.Farm advertises more than 3000 days of text retention. Binary retention is handled differently: instead of storing all binaries for a fixed period, Usenet.Farm’s servers keep “frequently requested” binaries as long as possible. This makes it hard to give a fixed number for binary retention, but users can generally expect popular content to remain available for a reasonable time

Pricing Plans

Usenet.Farm currently offers three types of accounts:

Stingy Plan – €2.52/month (normally €4.95)
- Speed capped at 12.5 MB/s (100 Mbit/s)
- 5 TB fair-use policy
- No account sharing
- Up to 40 connections
To the Max Plan – €4.05/month (normally €7.95)
- Unlimited speed
- 10 TB fair-use policy
- Account sharing allowed
- Up to 40 connections
Block Plan – €15.00 prepaid (500 GB, with a 3000 GB option available)

100 Proof News Review

Thu, 27 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000

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Editor’s Tip:

Editor’s Note: 100 Proof News is no longer active and has moved to altbinaries.com. No new information or updates have been made by this provider. It is better to check out our best Usenet service providers.

100 Proof News provides web and NNTP access to newsgroups. This provider’s page is dated and their service is more expensive than our best Usenet service providers.

Quick Facts

Web access
Unlimited Downloads
Unlimited Speed
30 Connections
SSL (Privacy Protection)

Binary Retention

100 Proof News currently has 1,600 days of binary retention. The company says this is “industry leading” but it is not. Newshosting and most of our other providers have far higher retention figures than this.

Pricing

Maximum, which offers 80 GB and has the SSL encryption, 20 streams and unlimited picture interface, has the pricing of $12.95 per month
Standard, whic differs from the maximum only when talking about gigabytes and price; it offers 40 GB and has the pricing of $8.95 per month Basic package offers 10 GB and costs $4.25 per month

Name	Price	Connections
1 month	$12.95	30
Semi-Annual	$69.95	30
Annual	$139.95	30

Free Trial info

There is no free trial available for this provider.

Alibis Review

Thu, 27 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Alibis provides web and NNTP access to newsgroups. This provider’s page is dated and their service is more expensive than our best Usenet service providers. While they have been in the Usenet business for the past 15 years, they seem to have not kept up with the times and has not moved at the same pace in terms of service and improvements of that of some of the best Usenet services in the market today.

Quick Facts

Web access
Unlimited Downloads
Unlimited Speed
30 Connections
1600 days of Binary Retention
SSL (Privacy Protection)
Multiple Payment Options
24/7 Customer Support

Binary Retention

Alibis currently has 1600 days of binary retention. The company says this is “industry leading” but it is not. Newshosting and most of our best Usenet service providers have far higher retention figures than this.

Pricing

There’s only one package with this provider. You may purchase it on a monthly, semi-annual or annual basis.

Name	Price	Connections
1 month	$12.95	30
Semi-Annual	$69.95	30
Annual	$139.95	30

For the first month of the recurring monthly fee, Alibis only will charge you $6.95. After the first month, you will be rebilled at $12.95.

Mylar 3 Review

Thu, 27 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000

If you’re passionate about comics, Mylar is an essential tool for Mac users. This automated downloader for USENET simplifies the acquisition of CBR and CBZ files, making it easier than ever to build your digital comic collection.

Currently available for download, Mylar is consistently enhanced with new features that cater specifically to comic book enthusiasts. Its functionality is particularly appealing for those seeking a reliable way to access comic content.

Mylar is built on the foundation of Headphones, a program known for music downloads. While Mylar operates within the comic domain, its interface will feel familiar to anyone who has used Headphones, ensuring a smooth transition for users.

Since the discontinuation of the original Mylar project in January 2021, the development team has transitioned to Mylar3. This current iteration is a work in progress, yet it is stable enough for daily use. Recent updates have focused on minor bug fixes, reflecting the ongoing commitment to improving the user experience.

Features

A robust downloader is defined by its features, and Mylar certainly delivers in this regard. Users have the option to download via SABnzbd, NZBget, or utilize a Blackhole method for added flexibility.

Mylar efficiently handles post-processing tasks, whether you prefer to manage these manually or let a downloader like SABnzbd take care of them. For comic collectors, the ability to set up custom folders and assign personalized names to files is invaluable, and Mylar ensures these preferences are respected.

pwNZB.com Review

Thu, 27 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000

pwNZB was a Newznab-based indexer that went offline in 2014. The site ran on solid hardware—Xeon x3210—and offered an impressive list of NZBs. Unfortuantely, it’s gone for good, but there are other options.

Alternatives to pwNZB.com

If you’re looking for alternatives to pwNZB.com , our list of the best NZB sites is the place to check. We review sites for quality and give information about membership plans and terms, payment types accepted, the number of NZBs on their indexes and more. The site is regularly updated to remove dead NZB indexers.

Simply Usenet Review

Thu, 27 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000

✨

Editor’s Tip:

Editor’s Note: Simply Usenet is now closed. Their former website now redirects to Easyusenet.

Simply Usenet provides web and NNTP access to newsgroups. This provider’s page is dated and their service is more expensive than our best Usenet service providers.

Quick Facts

Web access
Unlimited Downloads
Unlimited Speed
30 Connections
SSL (Privacy Protection)

Binary Retention

Simply Usenet currently has 400 days of binary retention. The company says this is “industry leading” but it is not. Newshosting and most of our recommender Usenet service providers have far higher retention figures than this.

Pricing

There’s only one package with this Usenet service provider. You may purchase it on a monthly, semi-annual or annual basis.

Name	Price	Connections
1 month	$14.95	30
Semi-Annual	$79.95	30
Annual	$149.95	30

Free Trial info

There is no free trial available for this provider.

Special Offers / Coupons

The offers starting on the 1st February are as follows:

2 Mbps unlimited “ $5 /£3 a month
8 Mbps unlimited “ $8 / £5 a month
16 Mbps unlimited “ $10 / £6 a month
24 Mbps unlimited “ $11 / £7 a month
50 Mbps unlimited “ $18 / £11 a month

The prices for our 8Mb and 24Mb remain unchanged; however our 50Mb plan has been reduced further to £8.99 for February. Simply Usenet states that the above offers, are all “Lifetime Offers, we will not raise the price as long as your subscription remains active”. These offers will initially run til the end of February.

Stealthnews Review

Thu, 27 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Closed in March 2012 Stealthnews provided web and NNTP access to newsgroups. This review page is left as a historical reference and it is recommended to look elsewhere and choose from our our best Usenet providers page.

Quick Facts

Web access
Unlimited Downloads
Unlimited Speed
30 Connections
SSL (Privacy Protection)

Binary Retention

Stealthnews currently has 800 days of binary retention. The company says this is “industry leading” but it is not. Newshosting and most of our other providers have far higher retention figures than this.

Pricing

The package with an unlimited bandwidth costs $12.95 per month, while the metered options come with 3GB, 15GB and 25GB of monthly bandwidth whose prices are $2.95, $6.95 and $7.95 respectively.

Name	Price	Connections
1 month	$12.95	50
3 GB	$2.95	50
15 GB	$6.95	50

Free Trial info

There is no free trial available for this provider.

Special Offers / Coupons

We have no special offers or coupons at this time.

Speed Test

Stealthnews did well in speed testing. Any slow download issues you have with USENET services will usually be due to having too many or too few connections configured in your newsreader or downloader.

UseNext Review

Thu, 27 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000

UseNeXT is a Usenet service provider based in the UK, but offers tech support in German and English. The company has an interesting plan structure that combines elements of block and metered access.

Quick Facts

30,000+ Terabytes of content
Six Server Farms
SSL (Privacy Protection)
Multiple Packages
High Speed Usenet Access
SpyOFF VPN Included
Unlimited Speed
14-Day Free Trial
Flexible Plan Options

Binary Retention

UseNeXT currently offers 5005 days of binary retention time, which is lower than some of the best Usenet service providers today.

Pricing

UseNeXT plans offer a mix of high-speed and reduced-speed downloads:

Savings Plan (12 months):
- Rookie+: €7.95/month, 30GB at 800 Mbit/s
- Rockstar+: €9.95/month, 80GB at 800 Mbit/s
- Legend+: €19.95/month, 250GB at 800 Mbit/s
Entry Level Plan (1-month):
- Rookie: €13.95, 60GB at 800 Mbit/s
- Rockstar: €16.95, 120GB at 800 Mbit/s
- Legend: €26.95, 300GB at 800 Mbit/s

Free Trial Info

UseNeXT offers a 14-day trial with 300 GB of download, total. If you’re not happy with the service, cancel before the term is up and you won’t be billed.

Special Offers / Coupons

We currently don’t have any special offers from this provider, but be sure to check back often, as we do frequently get deals we can pass on to our readers.

JBinUP Review

Wed, 26 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000

EDITOR’S NOTE: Upon checking, the JBinUP website is no longer active, but while it is said to be no longer offered by its developer, it is still available for download on other websites.

If you’ve reached the point where you want to contribute to USENET rather than just downloading from it, you’ll need a utility that enables you to upload binaries to USENET through your service. JBinUP is one of your options for accomplishing this task. While it may not have the most modern interface, it effectively fulfills its purpose.

The Basics

JBinUP is a lightweight, Java-based Usenet binary posting client designed to simplify the process of uploading files to Usenet via NNTP. It runs seamlessly across platforms like Windows, macOS, and Linux due to its Java foundation, requiring a Java Runtime Environment (JRE) to operate. If you are tech-savvy, you likely already have Java installed.

To adhere to established etiquette when posting, you will need to package your files in RAR format and manually create PAR2 files using programs like Multipar or QuickPar. However, once you familiarize yourself with JBinUP and its template system, you can automate the RAR and PAR file creation process.

Once you have completed these steps, you can upload with JBinUP. The utility features a graphical user interface (GUI) that can handle multiple servers and allows for sequential uploading. It includes a variety of additional features, such as checking headers after uploads are completed.

PutDrive Review

Wed, 26 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000

✨

Editor’s Tip:

EDITOR’S NOTE: PutDrive is currently shutdown

PutDrive is a service that offers you a unique way to download content. It can download torrents, YouTube videos, USENET content and file host content completely anonymously. The downloaded information is stored in a cloud drive that comes with the service.

How it Works

PutDrive fetches, converts and stores content from the aforementioned services._ It comes with a downloading tool that you use to initiate your download. This is done very quickly once the download starts. Best of all, it’s completely anonymous. You’re not actually downloading from, for instance, a torrent link, so there’s no way to see any torrent activity on your Internet connection. The download goes right to your cloud storage.

The service uses Dropbox, Google Drive, Rapidshare and Skydrive for storage. You add your cloud service to the PutDrive service and it will move the files over to that drive for you.

The service currently supports 85 different file hosters and torrent sites, so there are plenty of routes for you to get the content that you want.

The payment is also anonymous. They accept credit cards, but they’re processed through a third party service.

What About the Service’s Anonymity

PutDrive is located in Cyprus. Cyprus has less severe restrictions on downloading than many other nations, so those located in nations where those laws are very strict might find this to be a particularly useful service.

Sanguinews Review

Wed, 26 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000

With so many different clients for Usenet uploads, it can be difficult making sense of them all and choosing which one makes the most sense for your needs. One popular version right now is Sanguinews.

This particular client uses a command-line interface (CLI), meaning it operates by taking commands through successive lines of text. As far as a poster for Linux, many have high hopes for Sanguinews when compared to other popular choices like GoPostStuff, newsmangler, and newspost.

To install it, you’ll have to use a C compiler like Apple’s clang or GCC because of some C code. However, you’ll find that installation is fairly streamlined as long as your system meets these modest requirements.

When you run this client for the first time, it will send you a sample of config directly to your home directory. You then open it in your text editor of choice so you can adjust it as you please.

Right now, Sanguinews is on version 0.70. It’s receiving attention for its speed, but also because of how feature rich and stable it is. A head check server is also in the works which, when released, will bring Sanguinews to 1.0.0. In its current incarnation, though, the developer ran Sanguinews on a low-end test machine and was able to hit 9MB/s (that was without SSL) and (again without SSL) 6.5MB/s. Greater levels could certainly be reached, but the developer’s machine couldn’t handle more, so if you upgrade, it will most likely be worth it.

GetNZB Review

Sun, 23 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000

GetNZB is quite different from other NZB downloaders in the market today. While other Usenet clients require you to have a subscription to a Usenet service provider, GetNZB provides its own free Usenet access. On top of that, all their premium account holders can download from Usenet unlimitedly. Currently, they offer up to 4000+ days of binary retention and give users access to the best NZB search engines, which are automatically built into their system.

GetNZB is considered as an all-in-one Usenet downloader since it is able to find, download, decode and repair binary files. And as mentioned, Usenet search is already integrated, so there is no need for any additional software. This Usenet downloader is only available for Windows operating system.

Highlighted Features

GetNZB currently supports multiple Windows platforms like Windows 7, 8, 10, Vista and XP. It has a user-friendly interface that supports multiple languages including English, French, German, Russian and Spanish.

GetNZB has a wide array of features that make it stand out from other NZB downloaders out there.

Intuitive content navigation and browsing interface
Integrated NZB Search Engine
Integrated PAR2 repair tool
Unlimited and Free Usenet access
Integrated NNTP Access
Unpacks all known types of archives
Preview all images and videos
Play all existing audio formats
Automatically opens .nzb files
Handles .nfo and similar Usenet files
User-friendly multilingual interface
4000+ days of binary retention
Free Trial with no credit card information required

Get NZB also allows users to get NZB files from other sites by entering the URL address of the NZB file. Its current version, 1.404, is capable of checking multiple sources for that file and keeps retrying until it finds all its parts. One of the key features that this client advertises is that it continues to look for missing parts of your files, ensuring that, if it cannot find them, the file is simply not there. The newsreader also allows you to search through verified files, making it easy to avoid the spam that tends to get uploaded to the USENET system sometimes.

NZBNation Review

Fri, 21 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Update: The NZBNation site has been down since the 7th of August 2020 so we are declaring this site a dead NZB site

NZBNation allows users to post and search NZBs. Users can also submit or request NZBs. The search features are very well-designed. When we last checked the site, premium memberships were temporarily disabled, but getting a free account required no more than registering.

NZBNation.com Highlighted Features

Custom NZB Search Site
Free Account: 15 NZBs per Day
VIP Account: Not Disclosed/Temporarily Disabled
Retention - 240 days of binary retention
No Ads
Request System
Invites: Not Required
IRC: No
Integrations: None. Custom site.
Privacy: No
Hardware details: Not Disclosed
Payment: PayPal, but temporarily disabled

Membership Levels for NZBNation.com

Name	Price	Nzbs	Forum
Free	$0	15	Yes
VIP	$12/Year	200	Yes

Conclusion

NZBNation.com, despite the temporary lack of a paid account option, has a lot going for it. The site lets you search for NZBs, posts, RARs, NFOs and other types of files. You can also request files from other users on a forum-type system. The layout is very good and easy to navigate. Being able to download 15 NZBs per day makes the free membership worth it. The paid membership comes with numerous additional features, many related to making downloading more convenient and faster. If it’s restored, it would definitely be worth considering.

PhoneNZB Review

Fri, 21 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000

PhoneNZB is an unapproved iOS app that allows you to download USENET content to your iPad or iPhone. It features a very easy to use interface that shouldn ’t make it difficult for anyone to set it up and start downloading. PhoneNZB allows you to do more than just control your USENET connection remotely or to access your account from your provider. With this software, you can actually download the files to your mobile device. If that sounds like something Apple wouldn ’t let you do, you ’re exactly right.

✨

Editor’s Tip:

EDITOR’S NOTE: While it seems like PhoneNZB still works, there have been no updates with this application since 2013.

Jailbreaking

You have to jailbreak your iPad or iPhone to install this app. Apple currently does not allow users full control of their devices, so you have to get rid of their restrictions to take advantage of PhoneNZB. There are programs that you can use to jailbreak your iPad or iPhone automatically, so don ’t think that you have to master iOS to accomplish this. In fact, you can even do it on a PC, so users who have an iPad or iPhone but who use Windows for their desktop platform can still get rid of the nuisance restrictions.

PureUSENET Review

Wed, 19 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Operating from the Netherlands, PureUSENET has carved out a reputation as a reliable USENET provider targeting the European market with aggressive pricing and robust performance. Their subscription tiers deliver unrestricted access across the board, while payment flexibility extends to cryptocurrency options alongside traditional European banking methods. Through our partnership, you’ll gain access to exclusive pricing not available through standard channels.

PureUSENET Quick Summary

European-focused USENET infrastructure with direct server connectivity throughout the region.
Full seven-day trial period without download caps or feature restrictions.
Industry-standard 256-bit SSL encryption included across all subscription tiers.
Tiered pricing structure with unlimited bandwidth options starting at €6.63 monthly.
4100 days of binary retention ensuring comprehensive content availability.
Seamless integration with automation platforms including Sonarr and SickBeard for streamlined content management.
Consistently delivers 99.99% completion rates on binary downloads.
Complete EU-based infrastructure eliminating cross-continental routing delays.
Connection allowances scale up to 20 simultaneous NNTP sessions depending on plan selection.
Multilingual support team fluent in English, Dutch, German, and French.
Cryptocurrency payment acceptance for users prioritizing transaction privacy.

Visit PureUSENET ↗

Our Testing Framework

Evaluating USENET providers requires systematic analysis of multiple performance vectors to determine real-world value. Retention depth fundamentally determines content accessibility—providers maintaining extensive archives enable users to retrieve older materials that competitors have already purged. The trajectory of retention growth over time signals a provider’s commitment to long-term infrastructure investment rather than short-term cost optimization.

UnlimiNews Review

Wed, 19 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000

UnlimiNews is a Usenet service provider that offers unlimited USENET subscription accounts. Their account prices are differentiated by speed and a custom USENET app.

Quick Facts

Price Determines Speed - up to 100 Mb/s
Unlimited Download Amounts
256-bit SSL (Privacy Protection)
US and EU Servers
Includes Software - PureNZB client
95,000 newsgroups uncensored
24/7 email support

Binary Retention

UnlimiNews currently offers 1000 days of retention.

Pricing

On UnlimiNews, the price you pay is determined by your maximum connection speed. The pricing is as follows.

Speed	Price	Connections	Download Amount
100 Mb/s	$14.99/month	50	Unlimited
10 Mb/s	$12.99/month	20	Unlimited
5 Mb/s	$9.99/month	12	Unlimited

Free Trial info

There’s currently no free trial available from this Usenet service provider.

Special Offers / Coupons

If you’re a Usenetreviewz.com member, you can get a special deal with UnlimiNews. After you choose to open your account, you’ll be given the option to select our special offer.

Speed Test

UnlimiNews delivers the speed it advertises. Remember, however, that UnlimiNews cannot provide you with a speed faster than your broadband’s maximum speed. Choose your plan accordingly.

Xnews Review

Mon, 17 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Xnews is a classic Windows-based newsreader that dates back to the early 2000s and became popular for its straightforward approach to reading text newsgroups and handling binaries. It is lightweight, freeware, and still respected among longtime Usenet users for its stability and simplicity, though it lacks modern polish and automation support. Its reputation today is mostly nostalgic, as development stopped long ago and it hasn’t been updated in years. Despite being outdated and Windows only, it continues to function for basic newsgroup access in 2025, though most users have migrated to more actively maintained software.

Xnews remains a free option for users who need a simple Usenet client without advanced features like NZB support or automation. The design is utilitarian and could be improved, but it still performs its core functions reliably. For more modern and regularly updated Usenet clients, see our list of the best Usenet newsreaders.

Highlighted Features

Xnews features are basic but functional. If you simply need a Usenet client to browse newsgroups and read articles, Xnews may suit your needs. Longtime fans appreciate its simplicity and reliability for text and binary downloads.

Support for multiple servers
Select messages by number
Header and article caching
Downloads binaries
Plonk file
Message filter
Score file for advanced filtering
Customizable .ini files
Plenty of online support via FAQ and manual pages

Xnews can support up to a maximum of 4 servers at once. It has an offline feature that acts like a permanent cache, allowing users to not have to load headers all over again when they come back. The following settings can also be overwritten and customized under a .ini file.

Z51 Review

Mon, 17 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Z51 is a partner of Unliminews that offers some advantages for European users, primarily the payment methods accepted. The pricing designs are similar and they offer a no contract, non-auto renewing service. Like Unliminews, this Usenet service provider has the PureNZB Newsreader client offering for their customers.

Quick Facts:

Unlimited Traffic
Multiple Plans
1250 days of binary retention
Up to 50 connections
SSL Encryption
24/7 Email Support
PureNZB newsreader included

Retention and completion

Z51 is well over 1250 days of retention at this point. The current figure is published on their site. Their retention rate is lower compared to the best Usenet service providers.

Pricing

The pricing for Z51 services is as follows. Except the free trial, all come with unlimited downloads and for 30 days of service. They do not renew automatically:

Trial offer for €0.99 1GB download, 25 slots
256 KB/s for €5.99, 4 Slots
640 KB/s for €7.99, 12 Slots
1280 KB/s for €11.99, 20 Slots
2560 KB/s for €13.99, 30 Slots
5120 KB/s for €15.99, 40 Slots
10240 KB/s for €19.99, 50 Slots

Z51 takes PayPal payments and credit card payments through the PayPal service.

Z51 Free Trial

The free trial is detailed above, with 1GB of service for €0 99.

News Rover Review

Sun, 16 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000

News Rover is a lightweight yet powerful newsreader that not only allows users to search for messages in Usenet newsgroups but also facilitates the posting of both text and binary files. It excels at managing multiple server connections, making it a solid choice for downloading various media files. Additionally, News Rover features a JPEG picture gallery, password protection, and file encryption to ensure user privacy.

With comprehensive support for NZB files and an integrated RAR/PAR processor for handling RAR file posts, News Rover stands out in its category. The built-in address book provides users with quick access to their frequent contacts, enhancing usability.

However, it’s important to note that News Rover appears to be outdated, with no significant updates in recent years. Users might want to explore the best Usenet newsreaders in the industry for more reliable alternatives. Furthermore, our recent checks indicate that the News Rover website is often inaccessible or slow to respond.

Highlighted Features

News Rover boasts several essential features that align with what users expect from modern newsreaders. Key highlights include:

Speed and Efficiency - Advanced Multi-Threading Capabilities
Multiple News Server Support - Connect to up to 32 servers
Enhanced Password Protection and Encryption - Keep newsgroups hidden from view
Customizable Display Filters - For example, filter to view only .jpg files
User-Friendly Configuration
SSL Support
Automatic Extraction of RAR and ZIP Files
Picture Gallery - View Thumbnail Images

Additionally, News Rover offers a range of features designed to enhance convenience and efficiency for Usenet users:

SpammedFish Review

Sun, 16 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Spammedfish.co.uk went offline in 2014. The site offered an easy-to-use, advertisement-free interface and compatibility with downloaders including SABnzbd and Sickbeard. The site was developed by a Usenet enthusiast following the closure of NZBMatrix.

Alternatives to SpammedFish

SpammedFish may be offline, but there are still plenty of NZB indexers to choose from. We keep a list of the best NZB sites available and it’s updated constantly. If you’re looking for a new place to download NZBs, take a look at our recommendations.

Alt.Binz Review

Sat, 15 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Alt.binz is a powerful Usenet software that has the same features as that of other newsreaders in the market. But while it has a lot of functions built into it and would be a good option for heavy downloaders and power users, its interface could use a lot of updating.

Despite this, Alt.binz does the job well in terms of its basic features and other add-ons like its scheduler option. And what’s good about Alt.binz, is not only does it work on Windows operating system, it can also work on your Linux or Mac device via the open-source and free program, Wine.

This newsreader is not attached or affiliated with any Usenet provider, so you can use this program with whatever Usenet service provider you want. It also supports multiple news server connections, so if you have more than one Usenet account, Alt.binz is worth checking out.

Please note that the latest version of Alt.Binz, 0.47.3, was released back in 2012 and no updates have been done since. Despite not being updated for quite some time, Alt.Binz still does its job well enough for a basic Usenet newsreader.

Highlighted Features

Alt.binz pretty much offers what most newsreaders offer. It is capable of downloading and managing articles from Usenet, so it supports NZB files and handles PAR and RAR files automatically. It is also capable of repairing damaged files.

UseNetNow Review

Sat, 15 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000

UsenetNow offers very simple subscription plans or, if you prefer, you can buy a non-recurring plan. This is a no-frills USENET service and you’ll have to bring your own newsreader and other apps. Currently, this Usenet service provider only offers one-week, 1 month and 3-month plans.

Quick Facts

Unlimited Speed
Unlimited Downloads
SSL (Privacy Protection)
US and EU Servers
Global Availability
High Retention rate
50 concurrent connections
Flexible pricing model
Accepts Money Order Payments
Accepts cryptocurrency payments

Binary Retention

Binary retention on this provider’s servers is at 3000 days.

Pricing

UseNetNow offers 1 week, 1 month and 3-month plan. These plans can either by subscription or non-renewing.

Duration	Price	Connections
7 Days	$3.99	100
1 Month	$7.99	100
3 months	$19.99	100

Free Trial info

There is no free trial available from this provider.

Special Offers / Coupons

There are currently no coupons or special offers available from this provider.

Speed Test

UsenetNow performed well in terms of speed. All USENET service providers should offer extremely fast connectivity.

Connections

UsenetNow offers up to one hundred connections to its servers at all account levels. You should not need anywhere near this many connections, however.

VyprVPN Review

Sat, 15 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000

VyprVPN is a sophisticated privacy protection tool that encrypts your online communications, ensuring that they remain unreadable during transit. By providing you with an alternate IP address, VyprVPN effectively masks your identity, preventing websites and servers from determining your actual location or identity. This tool is essential for anyone concerned about their ISP or government agencies potentially surveilling their online activities without consent.

What Is It

VyprVPN can be acquired as a standalone subscription service or bundled with USENET access from Giganews. The two companies are corporate partners, both renowned for their high standards in product quality and customer support.

The VPN service allows you to choose from a wide array of servers globally, enabling connections based on desired speed—closer servers yield faster connections—or specific geographic needs. For example, connecting to a German VPN server will make it appear as if you are browsing from Germany.

VPN Advantages

A VPN safeguards your privacy across all online activities. Instead of transmitting data openly, you are shielded by a robust layer of encryption that keeps your information secure.

Highlighted Features

Chameleon – A unique VPN protocol designed to bypass restrictive networks in countries that impose internet censorship.
VyprDNS – A DNS service that protects against potential man-in-the-middle attacks, with a strict no-logging policy for DNS requests.
VyprVPN Cloud – A user-friendly solution for deploying VPN servers, providing an extra layer of security for accessing cloud services like DigitalOcean, AWS, and VirtualBox.
Public Wi-Fi Protection – Ensures your connection remains secure, protecting you from hackers and snoopers on public networks.
Kill Switch – Automatically halts all internet and network traffic if VyprVPN disconnects or is disabled.

Additional features include an audited No-Log VPN policy, support for 30 simultaneous connections, high-speed streaming, IP address protection, 24/7 customer support, access to over 70 global server locations, and advanced encryption options.

XSUsenet Review

Sat, 15 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000

XS Usenet is headquartered in the Netherlands. This Usenet service provider offers an unlimited USENET access package, along with a VPN add-on.

Quick Facts

Free Usenet Access (metered)
Unlimited Speed and Downloads
Usenet + VPN Plan
VPN Add-on
EU Servers
1100 days of retention
Up to 50 connections
Bitcoin Accepted
SSL (Privacy Protection)
VPN Add-On

Binary Retention

XS Usenet offers 1100 days of retention on its servers. This is approximately half of the retention figures our best providers offer.

Pricing

XS Usenet provides a free, lifetime Usenet access with 2Mbit of speed and 25GB of data which you would have to renew everytime it expires. But for a more convenient and hassle-free package, you can subscribe to their Premium Usenet plan or their Usenet + VPN plan.

Name	Price	Connections	Max Speed	Data Limit
Premium Usenet	€7.99/mo	50	Unlimited	Unlimited
Usenet + VPN	€10.00/mo	50	Unlimited	Unlimited

Like other Usenet service providers, you can save costs if you subscribe to a multiple month service. XS Usenet has a per quarter, semi-annual and annual pricing. You can also purchase their VPN security as a separate service for €4.99 per month.

Best Free Usenet Clients

Fri, 14 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000

This page covers the top 5 free USENET newsreaders plus a full list of every free client currently available. If you want paid options too, see our roundup of the best USENET newsreaders.

To use any newsreader you’ll also need a USENET provider — check our Top 5 Recommended USENET Providers for 2026 — and a way to find content, either through an NZB site or a USENET search engine.

Top 5 Free USENET Newsreaders of 2026

#	Name	OS	Details
1			Best Usenet Search Interface Best Usenet Search Results File Previews Easy to Use Usenet Access Included
2			Cross-Platform Newsreader Integrated USENET Service Efficient Header Scanning Robust USENET Search Capabilities
3			Free and User-Friendly Binary Newsreader Leading NZB Downloader in the Market Intuitive Web Interface Advanced Automation Features
4			Leading NZB Downloader Cross-Platform Compatibility Intuitive Web Interface Advanced Automation Features
5			Essential Newsreader Functions Offline Reading Capability yEnc Support Multi-Server Connectivity

Details on the Top 5 Free USENET Newsreaders of 2026

First Place - Easynews

Pros

✔ Best Usenet Search Interface
✔ Best Usenet Search Results
✔ File Previews
✔ Easy to Use
✔ Usenet Access Included

Cons

✖ Bitcoin Not Available

Easynews keeps raising the bar for the Usenet community by combining high-speed Usenet access with a web based, mobile ready newsreader interface. Avoid the cumbersome process of setting up, registering and configuring Usenet service, newsreader software and an NZB index separately. Just open your preferred web browser to Easynews and you’re all set.

Newsleecher Newsreader Review

Fri, 14 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Newsleecher newsreader is available both as a standalone application and as part of the comprehensive Newsleecher Usenet access service. It boasts an impressive completion rate of up to 99% for downloads, leveraging various Usenet service providers to grant users access to millions of articles posted on Usenet.

Notably, Newsleecher was the first newsreader to embrace the NZB format, allowing users to import files through multiple methods for seamless downloading.

Additionally, Newsleecher supports both PAR and RAR formats, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of files.

The platform’s standout features include ‘Supersearch’ and ‘Superleech,’ which facilitate rapid searches for articles and binary groups on Usenet, alongside automated downloads of specific binaries as new results become available.

Newsleecher offers two versions of its software: a beta release that is frequently updated (currently at version 8 as of early 2025) and a stable final version, which was last released in June 2016 as version 7.0. For users eager to explore cutting-edge features, the beta version is an excellent choice, though it may lack the stability of the final release, which is better suited for those who prioritize reliability.

Highlighted Features

Article Spam Filters
- For subject, cross-post, and poster management
Download Scheduling and Speed Control
Superleech and Supersearch functionalities
No spyware or adware
- Safeguards your personal information online
Full NZB support
Binary and text article downloading (text posting only)
AutoRAR repair and extraction
PAR2 support for repairing missing or damaged files
RAR password handling
US and EU servers
- Multiple connections across various geographical locations
Long retention
- 2850 days for binaries and 4150 days for text
SSL connection support
Customizable interface with various skins
- Options include Modern Blue, Gray, and Dark themes
Pause and resume functionality for downloads
Comprehensive download manager and scheduler
Customer support via phpBB forum, FAQ, and online ticketing system
Support for multiple servers and connections in the USA and Europe
Public service status updates
- Includes detailed facts and graphs for transparency

Plans and Pricing

As previously mentioned, the Newsleecher newsreader can be bundled with Usenet search service plans, offering two primary options:

Watchily Review

Fri, 14 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000

✨

Editor’s Tip:

EDITOR’S NOTE: Unfortunately Watchily has been discontined. The review and developer interview below is kept for historical purposes

Watchily takes services like Amazon streaming videos, Netflix, iTunes and more_and combines them with media management tools including_CouchPotato, Sickbeard and NZB Drone_. The developers are putting all of this together in a very innovative way, making it easy to use these tools and to integrate your search results into an all-in-one affair.

How it Works

The developers say that anyone who uses CouchPotato, NZBDrone or Sickbeard is likely to find use for Watchily and to genuinely enjoy using it, as well. The tool can search for movies across several different services. The new design will take all the results and combine them into one, showing which sources have the video available. For instance, if you searched for The Avengers, you’d get a result that would show you which services it would be available on, but they’d all be grouped together to make everything easier to work with and keep organized.

Watchily has been in development for 2 years. The current developer bought the project and integrated it with his ideas. The site runs on PHP, JavaScript and other technologies, but the developers say that could change over time.

FileSharingTalk Review

Thu, 13 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000

FileSharingTalk is not your typical NZB indexer. It operates as both a structured NZB catalog and an active forum community, giving users access to a large organized index of NZB collections alongside a full discussion board for Usenet-related topics.

The platform separates these two roles clearly. The NZB section functions as a catalog-style index spanning tens of thousands of entries across paginated pages, organized by media type and other filters. Each listing includes metadata such as file size, poster name, and post age. The forum side, meanwhile, serves as the community layer where users discuss site features, troubleshooting, provider performance, automation tools, and broader Usenet topics. This dual structure makes FileSharingTalk a genuinely distinct option among NZB resources, combining the utility of an organized index with the depth of an engaged community.

Filesharingtalk Nzbs

Filesharingtalk Forum

Filesharingtalk Bittorrent Trackers

Filesharingtalk Advanced Search

Filesharingtalk Activity Stream

Highlighted Features

Open site with registration required
Structured NZB catalog organized by media type and other filters
NZB listings include size, poster, and post age metadata
Tens of thousands of NZB entries across paginated pages
Access to community forums for Usenet discussion and support
BitTorrent tracker access and trades
Ad-supported model
Up to 500 private messages for donors
Flexible membership plans
Advanced search functionality
Single or multiple content type searching
Recent Activity Stream feature
Ad services for promotions
Enhanced privacy with SSL

Interface

FileSharingTalk differs from standard NZB indexers in both structure and function. Rather than offering direct NZB file downloads through an automated index, it presents NZB content through a catalog-style section where posts are organized by category, making it straightforward to browse by media type or filter by other criteria. Each NZB listing displays relevant metadata including file size, the name of the poster, and how old the post is, helping users quickly evaluate entries before committing to a download.

NewsgroupDirect Review

Thu, 13 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Newsgroup Direct uses the same backend service as another reliable Usenet service provider. The company offers block accounts, which are good deals for some users. Recently NewsgroupDirect has partnered with Supernews and came out with a NewsgroupDirect + Supernews deal.

Quick Facts

Monthly, Bi-Annual, and Yearly Billing
Unlimited Accounts
SSL Encryption
Block Account Option
More than 6442 Days Binary Retention
Ghost Path VPN Included with Subscription Accounts
3 Backbones for the price of 1: Supernews + Usenet.Farm Access Available

Binary Retention

Newsgroup Direct currently offers 6442 days of binary retention. This is competitive with most other Usenet service providers.

Pricing

You have your choice of subscription or block accounts with this provider. The discounts are mostly seen when you sign up for a longer term of service.

Unlimited Plans

Plan	Price	Download Limits	Connections	VPN	Supernews Access	Usenet.Farm Access
NGD Triple Unlimited	$11.00	Unlimited	100	Yes	Yes	Yes
Unlimited 6 Months	$40.00	Unlimited	100	Yes	No	No
Yearly Unlimited Decreasing	$75.00	Unlimited	100	Yes	No	No

Block Plans

Plan	Price	Download Limits	Connections	VPN
50 GB Block	$5.00	50 GB	100	No
100 GB Block	$7.00	100 GB	100	No
250 GB Block	$10.00	250 GB	100	No
500 GB Block	$15.00	500 GB	100	No
1000 GB Block	$30.00	1000 GB	100	No
2000 GB Block	$45.00	2000 GB	100	No

Free Trial Info

Every plan from this Usenet service provider offers a 30-day, 15GB free trial. If you don’t want to get billed, cancel your account before the end of the trial period. Please note, however, that free trials are available only to customers paying by US credit card only.

nntpPoster Review

Thu, 13 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000

NNTPPoster is a specialized utility designed for bulk file uploads to Usenet newsgroups using the NNTP protocol. This tool is particularly favored by experienced users and uploaders who seek to automate their posting processes rather than merely downloading content. It boasts features such as automatic PAR2 file generation and the capability to split files, making it a notable choice within niche communities, despite its limited recognition among casual Usenet users. As of 2025, while the frequency of major updates has decreased, the software remains reliable for its intended functions.

If you are looking for a robust solution to upload large datasets to Usenet while also managing downloads, NNTPPoster could be a viable option. However, it is essential to possess a certain level of technical expertise to navigate its functionalities effectively.

The software has seen minimal but meaningful updates over the years. The latest significant enhancements were rolled out in January 2020, which included:

Enhanced slicing functionality to utilize explicit byte specifications
Upgraded the target .NET framework to version 4.7.1 for broader SSL/TLS compatibility
Resolved TLS 1.2 compliance issues with specific indexers
Improved tolerance in the settings loader for missing NZB post parameters

Ongoing development efforts are evident, particularly through the activity on their GitHub repository, where the latest packaged version was made available in June 2021.

Readnews Review

Thu, 13 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Readnews, now known as HW Media but running under readnews.com, is for USENET resellers and not for individuals. The global Usenet cloud access provider has been around since 1997 and, in that long company lifespan, they’ve managed to become one of the bigger brands out there. While we really can’t recommend them, as they only offer their service to resellers and individuals cannot sign up for service through Readnews, the service does power a lot of the big resellers out there.

Some of the Usenet Service Providers that you might be familiar with that resell Readnews access include:

Alibis
AnonyNews
BlockNews
Fast-Usenet
FrugalUsenet
NewsReader
NewsServers
Ngroups
SecretUsenet
Stealthnews
Uncensorednewsfeed
Usenet.se
UsenetCentral
UsenetMonster
UsenetNewsServer
UseNetNow
UsenetRocket

If you’re on one of these services, you’re getting Readnews service.

The company has servers located in the US and EU. They allow resellers to use their own infrastructure but the company points out that this is not always a money-saving strategy. They offer Gigabit Ethernet, a header feeder, a numbering master, a full newsfeed and spool access.

Their prices are set at $0.10 per mbit downloaded. They offer unlimited accounts for $7.50 per month, which have a 50 connection limit. The bandwidth is unlimited until it gets up to 300GB per month. After reaching that amount, the download speed might be limited to 4/mbit per second at Readnews’s discretion.

OmgWtfNZBs Review

Wed, 12 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000

✨

Editor’s Tip:

Editor’s Note: As of October 2021, OmgWtfNZBs appears to be offline according to uptimerobot. This review is preserved for historical reference.

OmgWtfNZBs is a sophisticated NZB site that has been operational for several years. As an invite-only platform, it specializes in indexing NZB files while also featuring an interactive forum for its users.

To register for OmgWtfNZBs, prospective members must secure an invitation from existing users, as it does not allow open registration. While the specifics regarding the number of invites available to donating members remain unclear, those who contribute financially enjoy unlimited access to NZB downloads and API usage, enhancing their experience significantly.

Omgwtfnzbs Login

Omgwtfnzbs Trending Info

Key Features

A robust and flexible indexing system
Options for both free and donator memberships
Invitation-only access
Impressive retention period of 500 days
Compatibility with popular tools like SABnzbd, Sonarr, and CouchPotato
Multiple API options: both custom and Newznab
Quick indexing capabilities
Ad-free browsing experience
Access to community forums for all users
Dedicated IRC channels on irc.servet.net: #omgwtfnzbs.support and #omgwtfnzbs (by invitation only)
Security: SSL encryption for user privacy

User Experience

OmgWtfNZBs leverages Newznab as its underlying platform for indexing NZB files, which significantly enhances the user experience. The site organizes NZB files into well-defined categories, allowing users to search efficiently based on file type, posting date, and size. Regular updates are communicated to members, ensuring they remain informed about the latest developments and features.

Tera News Review

Wed, 12 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000

✨

Editor’s Tip:

Editor’s Note: As of May 2019, Teranews has been shutdown and someone else owns the domain.

TeraNews offers several different account options, most of them more expensive than our best providers. The company’s thin information and lack of features make our best providers much better options.

Quick Facts

No Logging
SSL (Privacy Protection)
Bitcoin Accepted
Block Access
Sponsor Package Available

Binary Retention

Oddly, TeraNews doesn’t have retention figures published on its site.

Pricing

Plan	Monthly Price	6 Month Price
250 MB Daily	$7.95	$39.95
750 MB Daily	$11.95	$59.95
Unlimited Downloads	$14.95	$72.00
10 GB Monthly	$9.95	$49.75
30 GB Yearly	N/A	$29.95

Free Trial Info

This company offers a 50 MB per month account for free, following a $3.95 setup fee.

Special Offers / Coupons

We currently don’t have any special offers or coupons to share from TeraNews.

Speed Test

TeraNews, like most other USENET servers, does well in speed testing.

PureNZB Review

Tue, 11 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000

If you do not like complex newsreaders and NZB downloaders, then PureNZB might just be the program for you. It is available with a subscription to Usenet service providers, Unliminews and Z51, which means this newsreader is pre-configured to the server information of either of the two providers, depending on which one you are subscribed to. That being said, PureNZB may not be as flexible as other newsreaders out there. It is basically a value-added product of the two aforementioned Usenet providers. However, it is definitely worth considering if you want an all-in-one package that gets you USENET access and an easy interface for making the most of it.

Highlighted Features

PureNZB has several good features that make it an admirable newsreader. As mentioned, there is virtually nothing to configure with this newsreader if you have an account with Z51 and Unliminews. Aside from that, PureNZB also has an integrated search feature.

Ready to use after installation – nothing to configure
Easy to Use – Search, Find and Download in just a few clicks
Integrated and Simplified Search - can be extended by the possibility to add personal engines with personal Bookmarks
Automatic repair
Automatic decompression
It integrates a RSS reader to download directly from RSS feeds
Automatic updates – enjoy new and latest functionalities with its automatic updating
24/7 Email Support – average answer time is less than 2 hours

Unliminews also has rolled out a new version of PureNZB called PureNZB Black Edition, which has a more streamlined interface and enhanced multimedia capabilities that include:

Newsleecher Review

Mon, 10 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Newsleecher is a Usenet service provider that has their own newsreader which is definitely an advantage. However they don’t include a VPN option that some of the best Usenet service providers offer.

Quick Newsleecher Facts

Unlimited Downloads
256-Bit SSL (Privacy Protection)
Comes with Newsreader (current version V8.0 Beta available)
Fourteen-Day Free Trial
Diverse Plans

Binary Retention

Newsleecher is currently at more than 2850 days of binary retention and text retention of 4,150 days.

Pricing

The $3.99 package does not include USENET downloads from Newsleecher, only the use of their search service. The Pure Usenet package is USENET access only and the Ready-to-Go package offers both the search service and USENET access.

Name	Price	Download Limits	Connections
Client Plus	$3.99/month	Search Only	No Downloads	None
Pure Usenet	$9.49/month	Unlimited	30
Ready-to-Go	$11.99/month	Unlimited + Newsreader	30

Free Trial Info

Every package comes with a fourteen-day free trial. If you’re not happy with the service, cancel before your trial ends and you won’t be billed.

Special Offers / Coupons

There are no special offers or coupons from this provider at the moment.

LazyLibrarian Review

Sun, 09 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000

LazyLibrarian is designed to be the equivalent of CouchPotato, SickBeard, and Headphones, but specifically for eBooks and audiobooks. Users familiar with those other programs will find LazyLibrarian intuitive, thanks to its customizable features.

This open-source software operates under the GNU GPL license. Originally developed by a single creator who eventually stepped back, the project has since been taken over by Itsmegb, who continues to enhance the software. Recent checks indicate that LazyLibrarian receives weekly updates, whether major or minor, reflecting an active development cycle.

Highlighted Features

Import an existing Calibre library (optional)
Find authors and add them to the database
List all books by an author and mark eBooks or audiobooks as ‘wanted’
Search for NZB files, torrents, or magnet links for those books
Automatically send found NZB/torrent/magnet links to a download client or save them in a black hole for later retrieval
Process downloaded books by saving cover images (if available) and storing all metadata in a Calibre-compatible format (metadata.opf)
A responsive new theme allows access from devices with smaller screens, such as tablets
AutoAdd feature for book management tools like Calibre, which requires a flattened directory structure, or use Calibre to import your books into an existing library
Search for and download magazines, while monitoring for new issues

Where it Stands

Currently, users of Headphones will find the interface for LazyLibrarian very familiar. This similarity arises because the data tables used in Headphones are also employed to generate the book tables for LazyLibrarian, as noted by the developer.

6Box.Me Review

Fri, 07 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000

6box.me was a lesser-known NZB indexer that offered automated searching of binaries and allowed members to download or integrate NZBs with tools like SABnzbd. It was never widely adopted and remained under the radar of mainstream Usenet communities. Its reputation was neutral to weak, mainly because of limited visibility and few unique features. No updates or new developments have been reported in years, and in 2025 it appears inactive and defunct, having joined the long list of small, short-lived Usenet indexers.

Newzb.co Review

Fri, 07 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Newzb.co’s servers went offline in September of 2014. The site was one of several that opened up directly following the closure of NZBMatrix and, while it was available, it offered quite a bit to visitors. Newzb.co had a VIP membership option for $15 per year, but even free users could download 25 NZBs per day from the site. It had a large index, which the site operators regularly cleaned to get rid of spam listings. All-in-all, Newsb.co had a good thing going, but it is no more.

Alternatives to Newzb.co

There are many NZB sites out there still and we take the time to review the best of them. Check out our list of best NZB sites to see what other options you have for downloading NZBs. We offer information on the platform, membership benefits and more!

NGIndex Review

Fri, 07 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000

NGIndex closed up in early 2011. The site offered a VIP membership for just over $1 per month, 1,200 newsgroups and integration with the most popular downloaders out there. Though the site went offline, there are still many different NZB indexers to choose from.

Alternatives to NGIndex

Alternatives to NGIndex are many and varied in terms of features and the platforms they run on. We’ve compiled a list of the best NZB sites out there so you don’t have to sort through them all. Our reviews include payment methods, membership plans and other information that’s vital to anyone looking for alternatives to NGIndex, so take a look and see what’s out there!

NZBPlanet Review

Fri, 07 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000

NZBPlanet has solidified its reputation as a premier NZB site, renowned for its premium features, including a built-in calendar and notifications for upcoming releases. As a Newznab-based platform, it fosters a vibrant community that significantly enhances the quality of discussions within its NZB forum.

For several years, NZBPlanet has maintained a top ranking among NZB sites, primarily due to its robust features and competitive pricing. The platform offers a limited access free membership level alongside VIP accounts that unlock full access to the site’s extensive features. With over 200,000 members and more than 2 million NZBs indexed, NZBPlanet currently operates on an invite-only basis. To fully download NZB files through a Usenet client, ensure you have a subscription with a reliable Usenet service provider.

Nzbplanet Search Results

Nzbplanet Free 5 Nzbs Daily

Nzbplanet Registration

Highlighted Features

Invite-only access
0 NZBs available for Free members
Free trial limited to 24 hours
Multiple paid account options - VIP, Platinum, Lifetime
Bitcoin accepted for payments
Over 2 million NZBs indexed
Crawls more than 300 newsgroups
Ads are present for free accounts
Seamless API Integrations with SabNZBD, NZBGet, etc.
Fully automated and operates on the Newznab platform
Indexer updates every 15 minutes
Security: SHA-1 SSL Certificate
Built-in Calendar feature
Displays upcoming releases

Interface

NZBPlanet operates on the Newznab platform, a widely-used Usenet indexing web application that includes community features. The interface is user-friendly, equipped with essential tools to facilitate convenient searching for NZB files. One of the standout features is the forum, organized into various discussion boards for easy navigation. NZB files are categorized by file type, allowing for straightforward browsing.

DOGnzb Is Open for Registration

Thu, 06 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000

DOGnzb occasionally is offering registrations for new users, something they do just every now and then. This registration comes with a 30-day free trial of the system. After that, you can get full access for a lifetime by paying a $10 fee.

This site doesn’t give out offers for registrations often, so you’ll want to take advantage of it now that it’s available. The registration only takes a few minutes but, if you decide to pay the $10 fee, the service lasts as long as the site is up.

With so many different NZB indexers being taken offline, it’s a good time to take a look at those sites that have private registrations, which definitely offer quite a few perks, including faster access to new releases, in most cases.

Important Links

Alternatives to DogNZB

NZBFinder : Free 5 NZBs & 25 API Calls. Affordable Plans Starting at €10
UsenetCrawler : Exceptional Free Account Offering. Crawls Over 500 Newsgroups
BluRayNZB : Cutting-Edge NZB Indexer. Affordable Membership Plans
NZBgeek : Open Registration Available. Offers Both Free and Premium Services
NZBGrabit : Five Free .ZIP Downloads. Includes Arcade Games and a Photo Editor
NZB.su : No Invites Required. Robust API Integrations
FileSharingTalk : Forum-Based Community. Donation Options Available
GingaDaddy : Open NZB Site With Extensive Indexing. Unlimited NZBs and APIs for VIP Members
abNZB : Flexible Membership Options. Over 4 Million NZBs Indexed
Tabula Rasa : Advanced Search Engine With Intuitive Navigation. Supports Cryptocurrencies and Amazon Gift Cards

MediaDog Review

Wed, 05 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Editor’s Note: MediaDog has been discontinued and prohibited from the Google Play store since 2019. The last update was in 2014. We recommend you instead look at NZB360 for Android Mobile Usenet.

MediaDog was an app for Android that allows you to control some of the most popular USENET apps around. It includes support for SABnzbd, CouchPotato, SickBeard and Headphones. This is, in fact, the first app in the Android family to offer Headphones support, and that does give it something of an advantage over apps such as NZB360, another great option for Android users.

The Reviews

On Google Play, the reviews for this app were overwhelmingly good, with the majority giving it four- or five-star reviews. The components have brought up a few alleged bugs.

One review mentions that the app has presented some problems for the reviewer with that Headphones support, in fact. The user complained that the app had some issues adding artists.

The same user, however, did mention the Headphones support as one of the reasons that he chose the app, referring to it as “quality”. ( Also see our list of best NZB sites )

What Makes it Different

The biggest difference between MediaDog and NAB360 is that Media Dog does have the Headphones support. Other than that, these apps provide a similar range of features that should appeal to any USENET user.

Newsgrabber.nl Review

Wed, 05 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Operating from the Netherlands, NewsGrabber.nl delivers Usenet access through a connection-based pricing model that distinguishes it from many competitors. Their European infrastructure provides an alternative for users seeking EU-based servers, with payment flexibility designed to accommodate various customer preferences across multiple countries.

Quick Facts

Connection-Based Plan Structure
Encrypted SSL Access for Privacy Protection
European Server Infrastructure
Round-the-Clock Support Availability
Diverse Payment Method Acceptance

Binary Retention

This provider maintains 4000 days of binary retention, which positions them in the mid-range category. Though this represents roughly 50% of what industry leaders provide, it exceeds many budget-tier alternatives and proves adequate for most users’ needs. Those requiring extended retention should consult our comprehensive guide to the best Usenet service providers for options offering longer article availability.

Pricing

The pricing structure at Newsgrabber.nl revolves around three key variables: connection count, bandwidth allocation, and subscription length. This approach allows users to precisely match their service tier to their actual usage patterns.

Package/Speed	Connections	1 week	1 Month	3 Months	6 Months	1 Year
10 Mbit/s	20	€2.00	€6.00	€16.20	€30.60	€54.00
30 Mbit/s	25	€2.50	€7.50	€20.25	€38.25	€67.50
60 Mbit/s	30	€3.00	€9.00	€24.30	€45.90	€81.00
120 Mbit/s	35	€3.50	€11.00	€29.70	€56.10	€99.00
200 Mbit/s	40	€4.00	€13.00	€35.10	€66.30	€117.00
Unlimited	45	€5.00	€16.00	€43.20	€81.60	€144.00

Every subscription tier includes these standard features:

Tretflix Review

Wed, 05 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000

✨

Editor’s Tip:

EDITOR’S NOTE: Tretflix is now discontinued but it was formerly a decent option to set up many USENET applications quickly and correctly on a Linux platform.

If you’re looking for an all-in-one solution for your USENET usage, Tretflix might be something to take a look at. This is a virtual appliance, which is a software solution that comes with all the components to fill a particular need. In this case, Tretflix comes with most of the popular USENET downloading software and the ability to function as a networked device, allowing you to watch any content that you download on any computer with which the Tretflix server shares a network.

What is a Virtual Appliance?

A virtual appliance is a pre-built software solution, comprised of one or more virtual machines that is packaged, maintained, updated, and managed as a unit. Virtual appliances are fundamentally changing how software is developed, distributed, deployed, and managed.

Virtual appliances are packaged, deployed, managed, and maintained as a unit. They will run on VMware vSphere, VMware Infrastructure (VI), VMware Workstation, VMware Fusion, VMware Server, and VMware Player.

Tech Specifications

To run Tretflix, the developer recommends Ubuntu Server 12.04.4 LTS. You can configure Tretflix as a standalone or as a network solution. The VM requirements include 3GB of RAM for an x86 machine or 4GB for an x64 build. You’ll need 30GB of disk space and a 1 TB storage disk for the standalone solution. A single core vCPU is recommended. You can then provision the disk. You can use VMware ESXi v5.0+, VMware Player 5+ and Oracle VirtualBox 4.3 if you want a free solution. If you want to pay, you can use the VMware Fusion 5 and VMware Workstation 9 products.

5 Alternatives to Popcorn Time

Tue, 04 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000

This article presents five alternative streaming platforms to Popcorn Time, focusing on technical features and factual information for users seeking reliable software for streaming movies and TV shows.

TorrenTV

TorrenTV is a cross-platform application (Windows, Linux, Mac) designed for streaming magnet and torrent files directly to devices such as AppleTV, Roku, and Chromecast. It features a drag-and-drop interface for ease of use. The software supports streaming without pre-buffering and is compatible with multiple streaming devices. Users should note occasional bugs reported in user feedback.

Immediate streaming of torrent files
Supports Chromecast, Roku, AppleTV
Drag-and-drop interface for magnet and torrent links

SonArr

Sonarr is a personal video recorder (PVR) application that automates the downloading of TV content from Usenet and torrent sources. It monitors RSS feeds for new releases and downloads content based on user-defined criteria. Sonarr can import existing TV show collections, identify missing episodes, and facilitate their retrieval. The software is highly customizable and benefits from an active development community.

Automated downloads from Usenet and torrent sites
Identification and retrieval of missing TV episodes
Extensive customization options

CouchPotato

CouchPotato is a PVR solution for automating movie downloads from Usenet and torrent sources. Available for Windows, Mac, and Linux, it allows users to specify desired titles, which are then added to a watchlist. The application searches multiple NZB and torrent sites daily for the best available matches and downloads them using integrated download software. Browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox are also available.

Sickbeard Review

Mon, 03 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Sickbeard was once a leading personal video recorder application, packed with features that allowed users to automatically find and manage video files. It integrates smoothly with popular download clients like SABnzbd and NZBGet, making it easy for users to configure and utilize alongside their existing setups. While it does offer limited torrent capabilities in addition to its robust Usenet support, the software has not seen any updates since 2010, raising significant concerns about its reliability.

The lack of maintenance has led to various issues, including broken metadata fetching, SSL errors, and compatibility problems with modern indexers. Users have increasingly turned away from Sickbeard, seeking more actively developed alternatives. For those comparing options, similar applications like Sickrage and CouchPotato are worth exploring for their more robust support and ongoing updates.

Highlighted Features

Sickbeard monitors for new video files, automatically downloading, sorting, renaming, and generating metadata as soon as they become available. It supports various Usenet search providers and a select few torrent providers, retrieving video information from sources like TVDB.com and TVRage.com.

Key features of Sickbeard include:

Automatic Video Downloads – Automatically locates and downloads new video files using your preferred download client.
Metadata Generation – Fetches detailed video information, including screenshots and posters.
File Renaming – Users can specify naming conventions, and Sickbeard will rename files accordingly.
Notifications – Alerts users of newly downloaded files via platforms like XBMC, Growl, Prowl, Twitter, and Notifo.
Missing Episode Detection – Identifies and automatically downloads missing episodes.
Quality Monitoring – Continuously searches for higher-quality versions of files.
Support for Special Episodes – Handles special and double episodes effectively.

Plans & Pricing

Sickbeard remains free to use, although the developers encourage donations via PayPal to help cover maintenance costs. However, the absence of updates since 2010 raises concerns about its viability as a long-term solution.

Maraschino Review

Sun, 02 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Maraschino was designed for Linux users who want to manage their home theater from anywhere. This web-based HTPC front-end integrates multiple media applications into a single dashboard-style interface, allowing users to monitor and control media centers like XBMC (now Kodi), SABnzbd, SickBeard, CouchPotato, and more. The program is completely open source and can be accessed from any device with a web browser, making it convenient whether you’re at work or relaxing on your couch.

However, it’s important to note that there have been no significant updates to this software for the past several years, and its GitHub repository has seen little to no recent activity, indicating that it may now be outdated and potentially insecure for modern use. Some sources suggest that Maraschino has been discontinued. Users looking for alternatives might consider modern solutions like Plex, Organizr, Heimdall, Dashy, Flame, or Homer, which offer active development and broader integrations with current tools like Sonarr, Radarr, Jellyfin, and Plex.

The Features

Maraschino boasts a variety of features designed to simplify the downloading, organizing, and viewing of your media content. Downloading is facilitated through SABnzbd+, one of the most popular Usenet downloaders, known for its efficiency. This program not only downloads content on demand but also serves as a search tool for new releases, streamlining the process of finding the latest media.

NZBsToday

Sat, 01 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000

As of June 2019, Nzbs.today is a dead nzbsite. This review is kept up just in case. nzbs.today reopens under the same name.

NZBs.Today is currently closed for new registrations. The site periodically announces open memberships on various discussion boards. Your best bet for getting in at the site might be contacting an NZBs.Today VIP for an invite.

NZBs.Today Highlighted Features

Newznab NZB Site
Free Account: Invite Only
VIP Account: Not Disclosed
Retention - unknown
No Ads
Invites: Required
IRC: Not Disclosed
Integrations: Sickbeard, Couchpotato, Headphones, etc.
Privacy: SSL
Hardware details: Not Disclosed
Payment: Not Disclosed

Membership Levels for NZBs.Today.com

Name	Price	Nzbs	Apis	Forum	Invites
Free	$0	5	?	No	No
Free	$12/Yr	1000	?	No	No

Conclusion

NZBs.Today is currently closed to new memberships. However, if you want in at this Newznab-based indexer, be sure to check forums and other places where the admins periodically post. This site will integrate with the most popular downloaders out there, so those using PVRs and other software should find it suitable for their needs.

Binsearch Review

Fri, 31 May 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Binsearch has emerged as a leading Usenet search engine, providing users with completely free access to an extensive archive of binary Usenet data, boasting a remarkable retention period of up to 1100 days. Users can immediately utilize all site features without the hassle of registration, ensuring a smooth and efficient experience right from the start.

With its indexing of over 400 popular newsgroups, Binsearch facilitates rapid search results as users type, making it an essential tool for the Usenet community. Its well-earned reputation stems from its user-focused design and straightforward accessibility, which cater to both novices and seasoned users alike.

Binsearch Search Results

Binsearch Newsgroup List

Binsearch Advanced Search

Binsearch Watchlist

Key Features

Free access to the Usenet search engine with no registration needed
Indexes more than 400 popular newsgroups
Capability to search across an additional 3000+ groups
Retains binary files for up to 1100 days
Supported by advertisements
User-friendly custom interface
Advanced search options for detailed and specific queries
Watchlist feature to keep track of preferred files

User Interface

The design of Binsearch prioritizes user experience, featuring a clean and intuitive layout. The minimalistic menu structure minimizes clutter, allowing users to navigate easily. The platform offers both basic and advanced search functionalities, enabling users to customize their search experience effectively. Results are quickly generated and categorized according to age, poster, and newsgroup, enhancing the overall usability.

Newzleech Review

Thu, 30 May 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Editor’s Note: Newzleech is considered a dead NZB search engine

Newzleech, a notable NZB USENET search engine based in Russia, provides free access to an extensive archive of over 1500 days of binary Usenet posts. Users can efficiently search through specific newsgroups or execute a comprehensive search across all available groups simultaneously.

Newzleech Rapid and Quick Search Engine

Newzleech Many Newsgroups

Newzleech Advanced Search Options

Newzleech Highlights

High-Speed USENET Search Engine
Unlimited Free Searches: Supported by advertisements
VIP Level: Just $6 per year for unlimited NZB downloads and up to 6,000 API calls daily.
Near Real-Time Indexing: Multi-threaded indexer that updates continuously for rapid results.
Indexing over 850 newsgroups.
Aiming for a comprehensive 2000-day index.
Anonymous Search: Ensures good privacy with no logs kept and HTTPS encryption.

Conclusion

Although Newzleech had been offline for several years, it has made a comeback with an improved technical infrastructure. The indexing speed has significantly increased, allowing for faster updates of new posts. Highly Recommended.

Mimo Review

Wed, 29 May 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Mimo is a Usenet browser and newsreader that was designed to be as flexible as possible. It runs on different versions of Mac and Windows but is not compatible with Linux. This newsreader is easy to use and has a simple and modern looking interface that can be enjoyed by almost every Usenet user. If you are not familiar with Usenet and newsreaders, then Mimo might be what you’re looking for.

The tabbed interface has an intuitive design, and you can search for the binaries and articles you want and get a results screen that can be sorted according to different criteria.

Mimo was built to accommodate long retention times and has two search engines integrated in its system: Mimo Usenet Search and NZBIndex Search.

✨

Editor’s Tip:

EDITOR’S NOTE: Updates have been ceased for Mimo since 2012 and were said to be eventually phased out by Usenet service provider, Giganews, in the future.

Highlighted Features

As a full featured newsreader, Mimo has several good features that provide users the best Usenet experience possible.

Optimized for Faster Downloads, Searches, and Browsing
Optimized Search for Long Retention News Servers
Integrated Image Thumbnail Viewing
Filtering on Text, Binaries and Images
Auto unRAR and PAR technology
Integrated Giganews Accelerator Technology
Integrated Golden Frog Usenet Search
Servers Optimized for Speed
Binary Searches Across All Groups
Subject-Based Binary Searches

Mimo indexes Giganews’ full retention of 3+ years of binaries and 17+ years for text. And while Mimo is optimized for speed and can utilize multiple connections, please note that the number of connections you use does not mean faster downloads.

UberNZB Review

Wed, 29 May 2019 00:00:00 +0000

UberNZB ceased to exist in 2014

Before that, it was a rather impressive NZB indexer, with plenty of features, free membership and more. It had thousands of members at its peak. The site was developed by pros and it showed, with constantly-updated servers and fast search features that made it stand out. There are other options out there today that are just as good, but UberNZB did live up to its name.

Alternatives to UberNZB

Whether it’s free membership, fast indexing or low spam figures that attract you to an NZB site, we’ve got plenty for you to choose from. Our list of best NZB providers offers alternatives to UberNZB and beyond, so check it out and you’re sure to find something that suits your needs!

CasstormNZB Review

Tue, 28 May 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Casstrom was a simple Australian Newznab based NZB site that lasted for a short time. The site was not big on design. CasstormNZB allowed 10 api hits per day for free users and unlimited for VIP at a cost of AUD$15 per year. VIPs were the only members that had access to adult material.

Membership Plans

Membership was $15 Austrailian per year.

Alternatives to CasstromNZB

Please check our list of best NZB sites for alternatives to CasstromNZB

LiftCup Review

Tue, 28 May 2019 00:00:00 +0000

✨

Editor’s Tip:

Editor’s Note: No updates have been done on this software for the past 10 years.

One of the frustrations of torrents is that, if the content is older, there oftentimes aren’t very many seeders. LiftCup allows you to do something about that via USENET and, in fact, for you to make life a lot easier for people who need rare or hardly-seeded files. And while no updates have been done on this software for the past 10 years, this application can still be used. Please note, however, that this is considered outdated and there are apps that are more well-kept and recently upgraded.

How It Works

LiftCup is a python script. It takes content that you downloaded from torrent sources and automatically uploads them to your USENET service. You’ll have to use software like Newsmangler to complete the process. There is some support for post-processing via Windows clients such as uTorrent, however.

The program will take the content, give it a standardized file name and indicate the quality—for video—and source information. It automatically RARs the film and creates an NFO. It then takes your RARs, converts them to PARs and uploads the RAR, PAR and NFO files at once. Essentially, it takes care of all the particulars of uploading to USENET for you, eliminating a lot of extra steps.

Unison Review

Tue, 28 May 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Unison is a macOS newsreader that was developed by Panic Software. It has won several awards in its heyday, including the Apple Design Award for Best Mac OS X User Experience in 2004 and was a contender in the Best Product category.

Unison was previously a paid application, but since the discontinuation of the development of this software back in 2014, Panic Software has made Unison free for download and use. The final version of Unison automatically unlocks and requires no serial number for it to be used.

According to its developers, since its discontinuation, “it is not practical for them to open source Unison. But if major problems arise in the future, they will definitely check them out”. While it has been discontiued, Unison still works fairly and decently well.

Highlighted Features

Unison was designed for downloading binaries and reading Usenet newsgroups, and at the peak of its popularity Unison was considered as one of the best newsreaders for MacOSX users.

While Unison can search downloaded message headers, there is no online search included that will scour all the newsgroups as seen in Newsbin, Grabit and Newsleecher. That said, you can use the Search Browser to find files and NZBs.

DUTPlanet Review

Mon, 27 May 2019 00:00:00 +0000

DUTPlanet is now closed as November 2016. DUTPlanet was a Spotweb-based NZB indexer. The site had video, music, game, app, eBook and adult categories. DUTPlanet was most notable for the easy interface.

Alternatives to DUTPlanet

Please check our list of best NZB sites for alternatives to DUTPlanet

Fanzub Review

Mon, 27 May 2019 00:00:00 +0000

For enthusiasts of anime, Fanzub once represented an intriguing option. This NZB indexer was tailored specifically for anime and Japanese media, catering to both expatriates longing for a taste of home and global fans seeking to indulge in their favorite content. Its specialized focus aimed to streamline the search process, potentially saving users considerable time compared to broader NZB platforms.

The Site

It’s important to note that Fanzub did not host any actual content. Instead, it served as a repository for NZB files, which users could leverage to download content through their USENET providers.

Fanzub functioned as an indexer for USENET, meaning it lacked the ability to fulfill specific content requests. The site merely indexed existing content from the USENET network, operating without control over the available offerings.

Despite these limitations, the content was systematically organized. Each NZB file was automatically categorized based on the original USENET group, simplifying the search process for users looking for specific titles or genres.

While Fanzub provided a reliable service with smooth download capabilities, it fell short in terms of content variety compared to other USENET search engines. Due to its niche focus, users were unlikely to find a wide array of content types beyond Japanese media. However, this specialization made it a valuable resource for individuals primarily interested in a range of Japanese offerings, including games, music, dramas, and anime. - Also see our list of best NZB sites here.

FindNzbs.info Review

Mon, 27 May 2019 00:00:00 +0000

FindNzbs.info went offline in October of 2013. FindNzbs.info boasted compatibility with a wide variety of different Usenet tools. It started out with open registration, but eventually moved over to an invite-only system. The site also offered SSL security and other enhancements that made it promising, though the operation eventually shuttered and is no longer available.

Alternatives to FindNzbs.info

FindNzbs.info might be long gone, but there are plenty of other options out there for downloading NZBs. We keep an updated list of the best NZB sites at present. Each review offers the platform, membership prices and levels and plenty of other information, so finding an alternative to FindNzbs.info is easy.

Please check our list of best NZB sites for alternatives to FindNzbs.info

Astraweb Review

Sun, 26 May 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Astraweb was once one of the giants of the Usenet world, popular in the 2000s and early 2010s for offering cheap unlimited accounts and long retention. However, its reputation declined sharply in recent years due to reliability issues, incomplete binaries, and slow or unresponsive support. By 2020, many users had abandoned Astraweb in favor of more stable providers, and as of 2025, community reports indicate it is effectively inactive or unreliable. No new updates or improvements have been announced, and Astraweb is considered a provider of the past rather than a viable option today.

Historical Features

Unlimited and block accounts (various plans)
Reduced prices for longer terms of service
Up to 50 connections
Accepted Bitcoin, iDeal, major credit cards
SSL privacy protection
Ran its own servers

Binary Retention (Historical)

Astraweb advertised long retention for binaries, but reliability and completeness became major issues in later years.

Pricing (Historical)

Astraweb offered both unlimited and block accounts, with access to 50 secure connections and unlimited speed (in theory). Pricing was competitive in the past but became less attractive as service quality declined.

Unlimited Plans

Plan	Price	Speed	Connections
1 month	$15/month	Unlimited	50
3 month	$13/month	Unlimited	50
12 months	$8/month	Unlimited	50

Block Plans

Plan	Price	Download Limits	Connections
25 GB	$10	25 GB	50
180 GB	$25	180 GB	50
1000 GB	$50	1000 GB	50

Free Trial Info (Historical)

Astraweb did not have a free trial period, but offered a 24-hour refund window for new accounts. Other providers may offer more generous trial options.

SmackDownOnYou Review

Sat, 25 May 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Smack Down on You is a VIP-only site. Registration is open for the moment, but there are no free account options at this NZB indexer. SmackDownOnYou.com offers lifetime and yearly memberships with farm-level access. Open registration may close down on this site in the near future.

SmackDownOnYou.com Highlighted Features

Pay Only NZB Indexer
Free Account No Free Membership
VIP Account Varies, Up to Farm Access and Unlimited API
Retention - over 1065 days of binary
Approximately 150 groups crawled
Indexer runs every 30 seconds
No Ads
Dead/Passworded NZB Reporting
Invites: Not Required
IRC: No
Integrations: Sickbeard, Couchpotato, Headphones, etc.
Privacy: SSL
Hardware details: Not Disclosed, Located Offshore
Moderated Forums
Payment: Credit Cards

Membership Levels for SmackDownOnYou.com

Name	Price	Nzbs	Forum
Free	$0	3 / Day	No
Donation	$60/Year	Unlimited	No

Conclusion

For most casual users, SmackDownOnYou.com might be a bit over the top in terms of access. The site goes all the way to unlimited API hits and farm access. However, if you’re a very heavy NZB downloader, this site might be for you. This is a moderated, spam-free, pay-only indexer with extensive downloader integration and customized software.

SpotLite Review

Sat, 25 May 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Spotnet provides a way that you can get the content that you want from the USENET system without using NZB files. With so many NZB indexers being shut down, the protocol provides an alternative to having to hunt around for new indexers whenever you want to download content. The protocol is becoming very popular and is compatible with some of the best USENET service providers out there.

The latest version of SpotLite, version 2.0, was released in December 2011. While it would seem like an outdated program, it still is a good alternative to Usenet indexers and NZB sites. Please note, however, that the SpotLite website is no longer active. If you encounter sites that claim to have a newer version of SpotLite, do not trust it immediately. We recommend looking at Binaries4all for the latest information and news on the SpotLite program.

Spotnet vs SpotLite

Speed - Spotnet is slower than the faster SpotLite
Platforms - Both Spotnet and SpotLite runs on all (Win, Mac, Linux) Platforms
Read Only - SpotLite is read only - You can only view Spots versus SpotNet you can add Spots
Storage - Spot data is stored on Usenet with SpotLite and with Spotnet

The Basics

Spotnet articles show up in text groups. To read them, you’ll need one of the clients that works with the Spotnet protocol. Two of the most popular are Spotnet and SpotLite. These replace the FTD protocol.

UsenetServer Search Review

Sat, 25 May 2019 00:00:00 +0000

UsenetServer has made significant strides with the latest iteration of their Global Search, now in version 2.0. This update enhances the user experience, allowing for seamless searches across their extensive retention range. The interface is designed for efficiency, enabling users to generate NZB files for easy downloads of their desired content. This feature is included with your subscription, ensuring no additional costs for accessing this powerful tool. UsenetServer boasts indexing capabilities for over 110,000 discussion groups, encompassing both text and binary files.

Visit UsenetServer ↗

This article outlines how to utilize the UsenetServer (UNS) Global Search feature, which is available to subscribers of UsenetServer’s various plans. The UsenetServer Global Search allows you to:

Search UsenetServer’s entire retention range, currently set at 6442 days
Generate NZB files from your search results
Download the NZB files and open them in your preferred newsreader or downloader

For those seeking a quick overview, refer to the “TL;DR Version” section below for a concise step-by-step guide.

How to Use the USENET Global Search

Log in at https://globalsearch.usenetserver.com/ using your UsenetServer username and password. Note: Manual entry of credentials may be necessary; copying and pasting might not work.

The Global Search interface is straightforward, providing all necessary fields. In the Subject field, enter the title of the binary you wish to locate. For instance, we are searching for Night of the Living Dead, a public domain film that is legal to download. The To field is set to “2 Years Ago” to capture older uploads. However, setting the To field to “Max” allows you to search UsenetServer’s entire retention time of 6442 days. For this example, we’ll limit our search to “2 Years Ago.”

FileBot Review

Thu, 23 May 2019 00:00:00 +0000

FileBot is the perfect tool to organize your messy video and audio files. It not only renames your media but also allows you to download cover art and subtitles, ensuring your entire collection is easy to navigate.

Filebot Rename Files

Filebot Organize Episodes

Filebot Download Subtitles

How it Works

FileBot takes your files and finds the correct titles based on data from your preferred sources, such as TheMovieDB, TVmaze, or OpenSubtitles. You can even customize how your files are named to match your organizational scheme, keeping everything consistent.

Renaming is easy: just drag and drop your files into the FileBot interface, and the software will handle the rest. For more advanced users, FileBot also provides a command-line interface for automation.

Features

Simple Interface: Drag-and-drop functionality for easy renaming.
Cross-Platform: Compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Batch Rename: Rename hundreds of files in seconds.
Subtitle Management: Download and match subtitles from OpenSubtitles.
Customizable Naming: Create your own naming schemes for better organization.
Advanced Automation: Full-featured command-line and scripting interface.
Music File Support: Identify and rename music files using AcoustID and MusicBrainz.
Archive Extraction: Extract files from ZIP, RAR, and ISO images.
Checksum Verification: Verify file integrity using sfv, md5, sha1, and sha256.

Getting the Software

FileBot can be downloaded for free from the official website, but to unlock all features, a license is required:

SABConnect Review

Wed, 22 May 2019 00:00:00 +0000

SABconnect++ is a fork of the now unmaintained Chrome extension

This is for the Google Chrome browser and has a similar function as SABDrop, but adds a few functions that many had wished were in SABDrop. For those that don ’t know or remember, SABDrop is a Chrome Add-On that sends your nzb downloads to SABnzbd.

You can install SABconnect++ by visiting their chrome web store page. However, it is important to note that nobody is maintaining the codebase of this program right now. Those who would need a fix will need to submit a pull request via their github page to request for the required changes. Based on the information we’ve gathered from their chrome store and github page, the most recent version 0.6.33 was released in September of 2021. Minor fixes has been done since our last review on this application.

Highlighted Features

SABconnect++ mainly adds a one-click “Send to SABnzbd” button to popular NZB sites.

One-click NZB downloads for the following sites:
- insearch.info (binsearch.net)
- bintube.com
- dognzb.com
- fanzub.com
- nzbclub.com
- nzbindex.com (nzbindex.nl)
- omgwtfnzbs.me
- yubse.com
- animezb.com
- animenzb.com
- Any Newznab-based indexer
Context menu option for sending links to SABnzbd
Options page that looks consistent with Chrome’s own options layout
Download speed graph
Pause individual downloads
Pause all downloads
Remove individual downloads
Desktop notifications (Download Complete/Failed)
Storage sync for settings

Supports API Keys and User name/Passwords.

Binreader Review

Mon, 20 May 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Binreader is a simple and secure newsreader capable of downloading NZB files from Usenet. It works on Windows, Mac and Linux platforms, and also has a portable version that allows users to start the application via a USB stick and plug on other portable devices. Binreader provides security to its users by supporting SSL encryption and IPv6. It is also able to handle RAR and PAR2 files and also gives you the option to preview files while downloading.

✨

Editor’s Tip:

EDITOR’S NOTE: Binreader’s former website is no longer running. Their website may be declared dead, but the Binreader program can still be found on different software websites and other Usenet-related pages.

Highlighted Features

Binreader has most of the features most users require from an NZB downloader. It can also work with any popular Usenet service provider granted that the user has an active subscription with their desired Usenet service.

Binreader’s Key Features include:

PAR2 File Handling
RAR Handling (three options available)
- Disabled
- Start extracting while you download
- Extract after download plus repair
Media Files Preview while downloading
Multi connection support (up to 50 connections)
If post is incomplete, it is possible to download only PAR2 repair blocks
Using PAR2, Binreader can automatically repair
Set network time-out
Set “retry after waiting” value
Accepts parameters: -noidx, -quiet, -vo direct3d, -fs

Pricing and Plans

Binreader is completely free to install and use. While their website is no longer active, the software can still be found on various Usenet-related websites like Binaries4all.

NZB.ag Review

Mon, 20 May 2019 00:00:00 +0000

NZB.ag appears to be down as of early 2019. NZB.ag has a history of extended downtime. After NZBMatrix went down, the developers at NZB.ag got a bit upset and decided that they didn’t want to replace NZBMatrix; they wanted to make something that picked up where that site left off and offered something truly revolutionary. Currently, NZB.ag is running on a heavily modified version of Newznab but, to give some idea of how much the developers are shooting for with this NZB site, they’re developing their own software which they say should be debuting soon.

Read on for more details and if you find this helpful then be sure to check out our list of Best NZB sites

Update as of March 8, 2019

Appears to be currently down.

Update as of August 30, 2014

The site currently offers both free and Paid account.
They are currently Open for registration.

Account Type

Free – Limited access
Paid – $10/Yr – Subscribed to get a full access of the indexer

You can pay your subscription using your Card.

The service focus on console, movies, audio, PC, TV, XXX, Books, and more.

What the Site Offers

NZB.ag already has over 1 million NZBs in its indexes, but the developers say that this number is “super inaccurate” because they happen to have five different servers backfilling their database. In fact, one of those servers has 9 million NZB files on its own.

Usenet.to Review

Mon, 20 May 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Editor’s Note: Usenet.to has been discontinued and now redirects to UseNext.com.

Usenet.to is a German USENET service provider that offers an interesting plan structure. Rather than choosing between block, metered or unlimited access, this provider offers plans that combine elements of all three subscription types.

NOTE:

Since Usenet.to is no longer active, you can check out our review on UseNext.

Quick Facts

Flexible Plan Pricing
256-Bit SSL (Privacy Protection)
2000 Days Binary Retention
30-Day Free Trial
Plans Are Rechargeable Between Cycles

Binary Retention

Usenet.to is currently at 2000 days of binary retention. This is a good figure and is certainly competitive with other Usenet serviceproviders.

Pricing

Free Trial Info

Usenet.to offers a 30-day or 10 GB free trial. Be Careful with this free trial however as if you go over you will be billed for the whole year!

Special Offers / Coupons

We don’t have any special offers for Usenet.to right now, but be sure to check back, as we do share those offers with our readers.

Speed Test

Usetnet.to has plenty of speed. The company advertises that their servers should be able to max out your broadband bandwidth, and they seem to live up to that claim.

Connections

Usenet.to doesn’t have the number of allowed connections on their site. This should not be an issue, however, given the speed of their servers.

DogNZB Review

Sun, 19 May 2019 00:00:00 +0000

DogNZB has established itself as a leading NZB site since its inception in 2013, renowned for its intuitive interface and a vast library of high-quality content. As an invite-only platform, DogNZB has cultivated a strong reputation among users, making it a sought-after destination for NZB files.

As of early 2026, DogNZB continues to operate but has shown intermittent availability and irregular behavior that can make the service appear offline. Notably, the primary domain (dognzb.cr) sometimes returns a 404 on its main homepage while deeper routes — for example the login path at https://dognzb.cr/login — remain reachable. Users should be prepared for occasional API timeouts and slowed responses. To use DogNZB effectively, secure Usenet access from one of the best Usenet service providers and pair it with a good newsreader.

Dognzb Browse Groups

Dognzb Discussions

Dognzb Popular Shows

Highlighted Features

Invite-only NZB site
High-quality content
User-friendly interface
NZB Retention: 4819 days
Crawls over 400 groups
Active community forum (access may be intermittent)
Indexer updates every 15 minutes (when fully operational)
IRC Channel on SynIRC - #dognzb (may vary)
Watchlist functionality
Listings for Popular Shows
API integrations with NZBGet, SabNZBD, etc. (note: users report intermittent API reliability)
IMDb/Trakt Watchlist Sync for VIPs
Remote Push or Remote Queue Functionality for VIPs
Custom Search RSS for VIPs
Desktop or Mobile Push Notifications for VIPs
Bookmarks purged after 30 days unless VIP

Because the site has exhibited inconsistent availability (e.g., main homepage 404s while internal pages are live), expect occasional delays or failures when using the web UI or API. Community reports across 2024–2026 describe periodic slowdowns, timeouts, and temporary feature failures rather than a full shutdown.

Groundhog Review

Sun, 19 May 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Groundhog is a mobile newsreader developed by Almarsoft company and is free and available on the Android market. Its source code is freely available and has an interface that works well on a lot of touchscreen, mobile devices.

However, while this app is useful and convenient, we have recently found that the developer’s website is no longer active. Groundhog was formerly available on Google Play, but as of writing, you will no longer find it on their list of applications. Also, Groundhog has not been updated since 2011 and from previous checking, this mobile newsreader was still on its beta phase.

If you are fortunate enough to find an installer for this app, make sure you have a valid Usenet service subscription from a reliable Usenet service provider.

Highlighted Features

Groundhog has some pretty decent features as far as mobile newsreaders are concerned. It functions as a basic newsreader without the capabilities of downloading files. And while Groundhog has not been updated since 2011, we have found forums that have been talking about this application up to 2016 regarding its noteworthy features.

Works well with touch screen mobile devices and tablets
Adjustable text sizes
Group Search
Supports multiple languages: English, Chinese, Japanese and Russian
Online and Offline mode
Color-coded threads
Multi-part and Uuencoded attachments are both supported

Plans & Pricing

Previously found on Google Play, Groundhog was available to download for free. There are also other websites where you can download Groundhog from. Make sure to download this app from a reliable Android app website so as not to put your device at risk.

UsenetBucket Review

Sun, 19 May 2019 00:00:00 +0000

UsenetBucket is a Dutch Usenet service provider with a lot going for them. They accept Bitcoin and have a good privacy policy and they’ve been good about updating their services to keep pace with the times.

Quick Facts

Unlimited Traffic
Multiple Speed Options
24-Hour Support
EU Servers
SSL (Privacy Protection)
1600 day of Binary Retention
Up to 25 connections
No logging
Multiple Payment options
Accepts Bitcoin

Binary Retention

UsenetBucket is currently at 1600 days of binary retention. This is a bit lower than our best Usenet service providers, but certainly still competitive.

Pricing

All of their subscriptions come with SSL support, which protects your privacy online.

Name	1-month Fee	3-month Fee	1 year Fee	Speed	Connections
Basic Bucket	€2.95	€8.40	€31.85	15 Mbit	10
Comfort Bucket	€4.95	€14.10	€53.50	60 Mbit	10
Ultimate Bucket	€12.95	€36.90	€139.85	400 Mbit	25

All plans come with a 7-day return policy.

Free Trial info

You can try out their best plan, Ultimate Bucket, for free for 7 days with a 20 GB limit. If you’re not interested after testing, just cancel before your payment method is charged.

Xsnews Review

Sun, 19 May 2019 00:00:00 +0000

XSnews is a Usenet service provider headquartered in the Netherlands. They offer several levels of USENET access, with the maximum allowable speed varying by package. With XSNews you will have access to over 30,000 Terrabytes of high quality user generated content. All their subscription plans contain 99.5% completion, 2300 days of retention, access to over 200,000 newsgroups, SSL encryption and flatrate access.

Quick Facts

Netherlands-Based Usenet service provider
Multiple subscription plans
Unlimited Speed Option Available
Block Accounts Available
Multiple connections
SSL Access
99.8% completion
134,000 newsgroups
Accepts Credit card and Paypal payments

Binary Retention

XSNews currently has 2300 days of binary retention.

Pricing

Name	1 mo fee	3 mo fee	6 mo fee	Annual fee	Connections	Speed
Basic	€4.95	€13.95	€25.95	€44.95	8	8 Mbit
Pro	€6.50	€17.95	€33.95	€59.95	20	20 Mbit
Super	€7.95	€21.95	€41.95	€69.95	20	50 Mbit
Elite	€9.95	€26.95	€49.95	€89.95	30	Unlimited

XSNews also offers Block access plans with unlimited speed and 20 connections.

Nbinz.eu Review

Sat, 18 May 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Nbinz.eu has been offline since 2013. The site offered a Newznab+- based index, a large selection of NZBs and excellent speed. It was developed by individuals who decided to put up their own site after their preferred NZB indexer went offline. Nabinz.eu had a particularly fast update cycle, just over five minutes, and the standard Newznab+ features that make the platform still popular today.

Alternatives

There are plenty of great NZB indexers out there and we keep a list of the best NZB sites, along with detailed reviews, to help you choose what’s best for you. There are many alternatives to Nbinz.eu, so take a look at the ones we’ve reviewed and you’re sure to find something suitable.

Unzbin Review

Sat, 18 May 2019 00:00:00 +0000

✨

Editor’s Tip:

EDITOR’S NOTE: On our most recent check, the Unzbin website is no longer active which seems like the software has already been discontinued and no longer maintained. There are several software download sites that still carry Unzbin, however.

As an NZB downloader, Unzbin has appealed to a lot of users for its similarity with Utorrent clients. Unzbin’s primary focus is on NZB downloading and processing – and it does its task very well. It is a lightweight program that is easy to use and appears to be more competent than Grabit and Alt.binz. However, since 2017, Unzbin has not been updated. While it may appear to be better than the previously mentioned newsreaders, users may benefit from looking at our list of other Usenet newsreaders and choose which best suit your needs. There are both paid and free options on the said list.

Highlighted Features

Unzbin was written specifically to support NZB file downloading and extraction. While it does not have a Usenet search function, it has other features that make it a good choice as far as NZB downloaders are concerned. You can search for NZB files from other Usenet search engines or free NZB sites and then extract and download them through Unzbin.

NZB.cc Review

Fri, 17 May 2019 00:00:00 +0000

NZB.cc was a minimalistic NZB search engine, having two simple goals; simplicity and efficiency. On their website, there are no fancy features, but only search box is available. NZB.cc is different from other NZB search engines due to fact that it sorts the results according the relevance, unlike other search engines that sort results by date.

NZB.cc Quick Overview

Servers are indexing 3000 groups
Supporting 800 of search data.
Only a 2 hour delay before newly posted content is searchable.
The search result list will only contain posts that have finished uploading and are at least 50 MB.
Additionally, PAR2 repair blocks are shown.
NZB.cc does not index posts that are password secured. Yes, those annoying RAR encrypted and password protected files will not be shown.

Appearance

Regarding its appearance, its clean look is similar Binsearch but even simpler. As stated in the introduction, it has minimalistic user interface.

Additional filters

There are no additional filters; search can be performed only by the post name.

Price

NZB.cc is free; there are no hidden fees for better search results.

Speed

From what we have tried, NZB.cc has superb speed, bringing the results back instantly.

Conclusion

We like NZB.cc as it has great speed, ease of use and it brings out highly relevant results. Maybe you can ’t always find what you want with it but in many cases you can and it couldn ’t be easier to use. We also like that password protected files are not shown saving you time. Check them out. Also check out our list of the best newsgroup search engines and our list of best nzb sites.

Usenet Access Review

Thu, 16 May 2019 00:00:00 +0000

✨

Editor’s Tip:

Editor’s Note: Usenet-Access.com is no longer active and now redirects to Centaur Networks LLC, which provides access to various internet services and applications.

UsenetAccess provides several different packages, differentiated by daily or monthly download limits. There are no unlimited accounts, making this service seem rather dated.

Since this service is no longer active, you may benefit from checking out our list of the best Usenet service providers.

Quick Facts

T3 Backbone
Daily/Monthly Download Limits
Bring Your Own Newsreader
200 Days Retention
24-Hour Support

Binary Retention

Binary retention at this provider is very low, with only 200 days offered to subscribers. This is not competitive with other Usenet service providers.

Pricing

All prices are monthly, but make sure to note the way different plans allocate download amounts. Some are allocated by the day, others by the month.

Name	Price/month
500MB/Day	$2.95
1 GB/Day	$5.95
2 GB/Day	$11.95
4 GB/Day	$19.95
20 GB/Month	$6.95
50 GB/Month	$12.95
100 GB/Month	$22.95

Free Trial info

There is currently no free trial available from this provider.

UsenetDiscounter Review

Thu, 16 May 2019 00:00:00 +0000

UsenetDiscounter, just as the name says, sells USENET access at a reduced rate. With this Usenet service provider, you can also get bundled VPN service. The company is based in the Netherlands.

Quick Facts:

Metered Usenet plans
Includes Night Accounts
VPN add-on option
Up to 70 connections
SSL Encryption
24/7 Support
Free Trial: 25GB
1200 days of binary retention

Binary Retention

All UsenetDiscounter plans come with 1200 days of retention.

Pricing

UsenetDiscounter offers plans that allow access during regular and overnight hours. The pricing is as follows.

Flat Fee Accounts

Plan	1 mo. fee	3 mo. fee	6 mo. fee	12 mo. fee	Speed	Connections
5 flat fee	€2.50	€6.75	€12.00	€18.00	5 Mbit	5
20 flat fee	€3.75	€9.30	€17.40	€33.60	20 Mbit	10
100 flat fee	€6.75	€18.30	€35.40	€64.80	100 Mbit	30
250 flat fee	€5.75	€16.50	€31.50	€54.00	250 Mbit	40
500 flat fee	€14.75	€40.50	€76.80	€147.60	500 Mbit	50
1000 flat fee	€7.75	€22.50	€37.50	€66.00	1000 Mbit	70

You can add VPN access along with your Usenet account for €7.00 per month. Pure VPN access can also be purchased for €7.50 per month. SSL encryption is available on all accounts. Account sharing is allowed, as well.

Giganews Review

Wed, 15 May 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Giganews stands as one of the longest-running Usenet service providers in the industry, delivering consistent reliability and strong performance metrics. While their service quality remains solid, their premium pricing positions them at the upper tier of the market, making cost-conscious users consider alternatives that offer comparable features at lower price points.

Quick Facts

Operating for More Than Two Decades
SSL Encryption Ensures Secure Connections
Industry-Leading Server Performance
Advertises Near-Perfect Article Completion
Maintains Independent Server Infrastructure
VyprVPN Bundled with Every Subscription

Binary Retention

With over five years of binary retention available, Giganews provides one of the more substantial retention periods in the industry. This extended archive access proves particularly valuable for users who need to retrieve older content or maintain access to historical newsgroup posts. The retention depth ensures that even older files remain accessible long after their initial posting.

Pricing

The company has modernized its pricing tiers to better compete with current market leaders. Every subscription tier now delivers:

Unrestricted data downloads and connection speeds
Up to 100 concurrent connections – unmatched by most competitors
Complimentary VyprVPN access for all subscribers
Substantial discounts when committing to yearly billing cycles

Name	Price
1 Year	$8.33/month (save 54%)
6 months	$9.17/month (save 49%)
1 month	$9.99/month (save 44%)

Free Trial Info

New users receive a 14-day trial period with each Giganews subscription, providing ample time to evaluate the service firsthand. The trial includes 10 GB of data transfer, and cancellation before the first billing date ensures no charges are applied. This risk-free evaluation period lets you test server speeds, retention quality, and overall service performance before making a financial commitment.

Gygan Review

Wed, 15 May 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Editor’s Note: Gygan is currently shutdown and is no longer active. The review below is kept for historical purposes.

Check our list of best usenet service providers and best nzb sites for alternatives.

In the file sharing world, the possibilities are numerous. You can choose between RapidShare, USENET, BitTorrent, numerous P2P file sharing services (and their supported programs) and this is just for starters.

Gygan was a peer-assisted file-sharing service that emerged in the early 2010s, aiming to bridge the gap between traditional Usenet and file-hosting platforms like RapidShare and Mega. It distinguished itself by functioning as a standalone Windows client, providing a user-friendly drag-and-drop interface that simplified the process of uploading and downloading large files.

Gygan’s architecture allowed users to leverage a private sharing network on Usenet, which facilitated very fast uploads and downloads through its own centralized servers. However, users faced limitations on download capacity—newly registered users received 4GB of free download traffic in the first month, which subsequently dropped to 1GB per month. For those needing more, Gygan offered a tiered pay-as-you-go model, charging between $.33 and $.50 per GB depending on the package selected.

While unlimited downloads were not available without payment, Gygan did allow for unlimited uploads at no cost. Additionally, users could earn money through Gygan’s Reward program if their uploaded files gained traction among other users.

Nzbsooti Review

Wed, 15 May 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Dead site as of 2015

Nzbsooti was moderately popular NZB site that lasted approximately three years (From December 2012 to November 2015)

Some stats on former NZBSooti

Importing/backfilling over 3 million releases
Completely FREE. Everyone had access to some level of VIP features.
They accepted donations via US credit cards and/or paypal.
Nzbsooti is for scanning the Usenet Alt Binaries Groups for Console, Movies, Audio, PC, TV, Books and more
Hardware stats: 500GB hard drive, 1.5GHZ dual-core atom processor server. They have 5TB of bandwidth. Server in France
Focused on Spam Control

Alternatives to NZBSooti

Check out our list of top NZB sites and usenet search sites for alternatives to NZBSooti

nZEDb Review

Tue, 14 May 2019 00:00:00 +0000

nZEDb is a fork of Newznab. Those who are running a server might want to look at what this USENET indexer has to offer. It has been compared directly to Newznab by some users, offering insight into it performance. It is also compatible with some of the most popular technologies with downloaders, so it is possible that nZEDb could meet all of your needs, even if you’re accustomed to Newznab and loathe changing.

✨

Editor’s Tip:

EDITOR’S NOTE: No significant updates have been done on nZEDb for several years now. However, based on forums, there is still an active community of members using this indexer.

The Basics

nZEDb is a fork of Newznab, so users can still employ many of the technologies they use to automatically search and download. The API is compatible with Sickbeard, CouchPotato and many of the other most popular programs out there, so there isn’t necessarily any diminishing in quality of service that you’ll have to worry about if you make the change.

There are some differences with Newznab, according to the developers, that may make it more convenient for some administrators, as well.

nZEDb allows the creation of releases without having to create a regex. It also allows advanced searches, such as searching by the date, by the name, and so forth, making it flexible.

NZBFriends Review

Mon, 13 May 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Editor’s Note: NZBFriends has been down since July 30, 2020, so we are currently classifying NZBFriends as a defunct Usenet search engine.

NZBFriends positions itself as a USENET search engine with a proprietary algorithm designed for efficiency. The platform features an intuitive search interface equipped with advanced functionalities that seasoned USENET users will find beneficial. By clicking on the link for additional search options, users can filter results based on various criteria, including post age, specific keywords in file names, and even file sizes, making it a versatile tool for finding desired content.

Features

NZBFriends boasts 1,200 days of newsgroup retention, though it appears that less popular newsgroups have not received regular updates. However, the more active groups are frequently refreshed, which should suffice for the majority of users.

As of now, the site hosts over 8 million NZB files sourced from more than 2,000 groups. This extensive library is undoubtedly impressive and makes the site worth exploring for those seeking diverse content.

Technical Details

With an impressive 5PB of indexed data, NZBFriends allows users to search using a variety of parameters, including post age, author, and file size, enhancing the search experience significantly.

Differences from Other Sites

A notable distinction between NZBFriends and many other USENET search sites is its lack of a community forum. This can be both advantageous and disadvantageous. While community-driven sites offer a platform for users to discuss service-related issues and share insights on binaries, the absence of a community at NZBFriends mitigates the risk of internal disputes affecting user experience.

Sonarr Review

Mon, 13 May 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Formerly known as NZBDrone, Sonarr is a powerful PVR designed to automatically download video files from Usenet. It seamlessly integrates with various newsreaders and NZB downloaders, such as NZBGet and SABnzbd, allowing users to effortlessly obtain their desired video content. Once configured, Sonarr continuously searches for and downloads your shows as they become available, minimizing manual intervention.

Sonarr boasts a suite of features that enhance your download management, keep track of upcoming releases, and streamline the automation process.

One of the standout aspects of Sonarr is its commitment to active development. As of 2025, the project continues to receive regular updates and improvements from contributors on GitHub. The latest version, Sonarr V4, is available across multiple platforms, with clear upgrade instructions provided for users transitioning from Sonarr V3.

Highlighted Features

For those passionate about downloading video files, Sonarr is an ideal solution. It offers Usenet users the convenience of automated downloads and effective organization of video content. Here are some key features that allow you to relax while the software works its magic:

Cross-Platform Support
- Compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux, including FreeBSD and Raspberry Pi.
Manual Search Functionality
- Allows users to manually search for releases, select their preferred options, and send them to their download client.
Automatic Failed Download Handling
- Automatically blacklists password-protected releases or those with missing repair blocks, continuing to search for alternative files until a successful download is achieved.
Efficient RSS Feed Processing
- Automatically downloads the latest content related to your configured feeds.
Comprehensive Calendar Feature
- A centralized location for tracking upcoming releases.

In 2015, Sonarr transitioned from using Trakt to TVDB due to compatibility issues with metadata collection. It aggregates data from various sources, including TVDB, TVRage, and TMDB, providing users with detailed information about specific video files, such as current release counts and synopses.

Anorak Review

Sun, 12 May 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Update: Anorak has been discontinued. The GitHub repository has not received updates since September 2022 and appears to be inactive.

Anorak is a lightweight Usenet automation tool built specifically for anime fans. Developed in Python 2 by GrandfatherTetrapod, it earned a solid reputation for doing one thing well: automating the download of anime series from Usenet with minimal fuss. It won’t hold your hand through the Usenet ecosystem, but experienced users who know what they’re doing will find it gets out of the way and just works.

What It Does

Despite its minimalist approach, Anorak covers the essential bases well. You specify the series you want to track and the release group you prefer, and Anorak handles the rest — finding new episodes, grabbing the NZB, and sending it to SABnzbd with proper categorization.

Download quality is configurable, so you can dial it back to save bandwidth or go full quality if storage isn’t a concern.

Highlighted Features

Automatically retrieves new episode NZB files.
Sends NZBs directly to SABnzbd, ensuring proper categorization.
Cross-platform compatibility with a simple HTTP interface.
Notifies Plex when new episodes are downloaded.
Supports post-processing scripts to move episodes to designated folders.
Allows users to specify download quality preferences.
Lets users choose their preferred release group for subtitles.
Provides an easy override for search terms if the release name differs from the official AniDB title.

Anorak screenshot of a basic listing for a series by GrandpaTetrapod.

Miatrix Review

Sat, 11 May 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Miatrix stands as an open NZB site that effectively integrates with a variety of popular downloaders, offering users an extensive selection of newsgroups for file retrieval.

Since its inception in 2013, Miatrix has been focused on expanding its community at a measured pace. This strategy helps maintain high-quality posts and content, while simultaneously minimizing the risks of spam and hacking attempts. Currently, registration is open for a limited time, but the site has plans to transition to an invite-only model in the future.

In a statement on their website Miatrix noted: “If you attempt to log in and find yourself unable to access your account, it is likely that it has been flagged for abuse and subsequently banned. If you believe this is a mistake, please reach out to us at support@miatrix.com.”

Miatrix Browse All

Miatrix Forum

Miatrix Browse Groups

Miatrix News

Miatrix Search Results

Miatrix Top Downloads

Miatrix Tv Calendar

Highlighted Features

Expanding NZB site
Limited Trial Membership
Multiple Paid Membership options
Over 5 million releases indexed
Crawling more than 150 groups
Retention period: 2000 Days
Compatible with SABnzbd, Sickbeard, CouchPotato 2.0, and Headphones
IRC Chat available on SynIRC: #miatrix
Privacy-focused: Enforced HTTPS & No IP logging
Ad-free experience
Features like TV Calendar & Top Downloads
Active forums for community engagement

User Interface

Miatrix is built on the Newznab framework, a well-known Usenet indexing application that incorporates community features. The interface is designed to be clean and user-friendly, with clearly visible links that facilitate easy navigation. Users can search for files using the search bar located at the top right corner of the site, with options to filter results by genre for more efficient searches.

NZBSearch Review

Sat, 11 May 2019 00:00:00 +0000

NZBSearch serves as an alternative USENET search engine, catering to users seeking something beyond the mainstream options. While it primarily competes with established platforms like Binsearch, it has not quite reached the same level of quality. Nevertheless, it can still be a viable resource for those looking to navigate the USENET indexes, especially for former users of sites that have recently gone offline.

Simple

The interface of NZBSearch is notably straightforward, which you can explore further by visiting NZBSearch.net. However, there are some important considerations to keep in mind that can enhance your experience and help you avoid potential frustrations.

Upon initiating a search, you might encounter a “Download for Free” link. Be aware that this link does not directly lead to the desired file; instead, it redirects you to Usenext. To maximize your experience, it’s advisable to bypass this link entirely and opt for the direct download of the NZB file. This approach prevents unnecessary detours to unrelated sites, which can be quite bothersome. While it’s understandable that the site aims to promote its affiliate, this aspect can detract from the overall user experience.

Tech Specs

NZBSearch boasts some noteworthy technical specifications. It indexes over 1618 days of retention, making it competitive with many other NZB sites. The developers have indicated that this retention period is continuously improving, which is a positive sign for users.

Binverse Review

Fri, 10 May 2019 00:00:00 +0000

✨

Editor’s Tip:

Editor’s Note: Binverse has been shutdown since 2015.

We have received too many complaints and pressure from other Usenet providers and other websites to keep advertising Binverse. Instead of Binverse we are recommending that you choose from the best Usenet service providers. (Hint: UsenetServer , Newshosting or Eweka for unlimited download speeds for about $10/month and they accept ideal payments).

Conclusion / Recommendation

Choose among our best Usenet service providers . For about $10 / month you have UsenetServeror Newshosting which all will give unlimited high speed downloads.

Other Suggestions

If you are looking a brainless easy to use Usenet service for viewing photos, you might want to check out Easynews. They have plans starting around $10 and have a VERY easy to use interface.

Binverse keeps Usenet simple but if you even slightly techy you can break Usenet down into three simple steps

Finding a Usenet Provider - best Usenet service providers list
Choosing A Usenet Newsreader — Top Usenet Newsreaders
Choosing a Good Usenet Search Site or NZB Site

Learn more about about Usenet signup via our special offers list where we send you information and you can about Usenet and receive special offers.

Binverse binary offers easy to use Usenet service and Usenet client that is popular for beginners. ? Without the client Binverse is a Usenet service provider and they are not competitive. However if you like the client then thinking about Binverse may change. Typically in Usenet the difficulty is understanding what to do with files, how to downloading them correctly and how to unpackage them. The binverse newsreader can make this easy.

FTDWorld Review

Tue, 07 May 2019 00:00:00 +0000

FTDWorld was a Spotweb site that went offline in 2014. The site offered the convenient categorization of its many listings that the platform is known for, along with other benefits. Registration at the site was free and, while it was around, it managed to get a pretty good following going. It’s gone today, but there are still plenty of options out there.

Alternatives to FTDWorld

Whether you want another Spotweb site or something different, you can find plenty of options on our list of best NZB sites. There are many alternatives to FTDWorld out there and we make them easy to find, providing information about membership terms and more to help you make a decision.

Newzbin2 Review

Tue, 07 May 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Newzbin2 has been offline since 2012. The site was innovative in its time, offering a hand-picked index that made it easy to avoid wasting bandwidth downloading spam. The site peaked in popularity during 2006. Newzbin originated the NZB file format and, though Newzbin2 is long gone, the format remains one of the most popular options for downloading binaries. Newzbin2 offered features that would become standard for NZB sites, including VIP membership options and streamlined search features.

Alternatives to Newzbin2

There are plenty of great NZB sites out there and it would be remiss to say so without pointing out that they all owe something to Newzbin. If you want to download NZBs, take a look at our list of the best NZB sites of today. We constantly update our list and recommendations and include the platform, VIP options and other features that each site offers.

Red Orb News Review

Mon, 06 May 2019 00:00:00 +0000

✨

Editor’s Tip:

Editor’s Note: Red Orb News is now a closed Usenet service provider. Their website is now owned by a different company. The review below is kept for historical purposes.

Red Orb News is a Usenet service provider, with news servers located in the United States and Europe. They are associated with slyck.com as Red Orb came out of nowhere this year to be promoted.

NOTE:

As mentioned, Red Orb News is no longer online. You can check out our list of the best Usenet service providers for Usenet access options.

Red Orb News Binary Retention

Binary Retention is more than 630, while text retention is over two years. The completion rate is 99.9%.

Servers

Red Orb News offer high speed servers, both in the United States and Europe.

Red Orb News pricing

Red Orb News offers 7 monthly plans; 6 of them are metered, while one package has an unlimited bandwidth. All packages include 20 connections and 256 bit SSL. Prices for 3, 6, 10, 30, 50 and 75GB packages are $1.99, $3.99, $5.99, $8.99, $10.99 and $12.99 per month respectively, while price for an unlimited package is $19.99 per month.

Red Orb News Free Trial

Red Orb News does not offer a free trial option.

Sunny USENET Review

Mon, 06 May 2019 00:00:00 +0000

SunnyUsenet is a Usenet service provider headquartered in Iceland. SunnyUsenet provides a variety of USENET access packages, which are priced according to the maximum speed allowed. This provider offers SSL and accepts Bitcoin.

As an additional selling point, Sunny Usenet also gives away an additional 20 connections for free if you enable auto-renew on any of their plans.

Quick Facts

SSL (Privacy Protection)
4100 days of retention
Up to 40 connections
Metered and Unlimited Speed
Accepts Bitcoin
Free Seven-Day Trial
EU Servers
Unlimited Downloads

Binary Retention

SunnyUsenet currently has approximately 4100 days of binary retention. That’s close, but not quite up to the level of our best usenet providers.

Pricing

SunnyUsenet has a simple range of plans, which vary according to the speed you’re allowed. The number of connections provided varies by plan, as well. You can subscribe to an annual service to get about 20% of savings per month.

Name	Price per month	Price per year	Speed Limit	Connections
Sunny 20	€3.79	€3.03/mo	20 Mbps	30
Sunny 60	€5.79	€4.63/mo	60 Mbps	35
Sunny UNL	€7.79	€6.23/mo	Unlimited	40

To be able to gain an additional 20 free connections, you can enable the auto renew feature when subscribing to their plans.

NewNZB Review

Sun, 05 May 2019 00:00:00 +0000

NewNZB closed up shop as of May 2013. NewNZB was an automated NZB indexer that offered a simple interface. The site was developing technology designed to reduce the amount of spam downloads users had to deal with but the site eventually had to shut its doors.

Alternatives to NewNZB

NewNZB might be gone, but we keep a list of the best NZB sites available. We update it frequently, allowing our readers an easy way to find alternatives to NewNZB or any other site that might have shut down since they last used it.

NZB.su Review

Sun, 05 May 2019 00:00:00 +0000

NZB.su is a prominent NZB site recognized for its robust hardware capabilities and efficient Newznab-based indexing. Over the last few years the service has been undergoing an active transition in practice: while nzb.su remains registered and accessible, the project and the automation ecosystem have increasingly moved toward nzb.life as the preferred endpoint for API and automation use. The api.nzb.life endpoint is live and is now commonly recommended in client configurations; several third-party tools (for example, Prowlarr and NZBHydra2) have updated presets and fixes to reflect the nzb.su → nzb.life rename.

The site continues to be used in automation setups, but community reports through late 2025 and early 2026 describe intermittent outages, API rate-limiting, captcha friction, and occasional unreachable periods on both domains. During the migration some users expressed phishing concerns when encountering unfamiliar domains, so it’s prudent to verify endpoints (official announcements, forum posts, and updated presets in automation tools) before entering credentials.

As an open NZB site, NZB.su historically did not require invites for registration and continues to allow public sign-ups on the nzb.su domain; however, for automated integrations and API configuration many users and tools now point to api.nzb.life. Paid accounts still unlock additional functionalities, including higher NZB grabs and more API hits. While the free tier has limitations, it remains usable for casual use and testing.

Popcorn Time Review

Sun, 05 May 2019 00:00:00 +0000

✨

Editor’s Tip:

Editor’s Note: As of January 1, 2022, Popcorn Time has shutdown. The review below is kept for historical purposes.

Popcorn Time enables users to stream movies with bittorrent, in much the same fashion—or at least using a similar interface—as they would using a subscription movie service. Popcorn Time runs on several platforms which includes:

Android – 4.03 and above
AndroidTV – 5.0 and above
Windows – 7 and above
MacOS – 10.7 and above
iOS
Linux 32 and 64 Bit

The biggest advantage of this program is the interface, which is very easy to use and which looks a lot like subscription service interfaces. Anyone who’s used one of those services should have no problems figuring out Popcorn Time. However, please be reminded that downloading copyrighted material may be illegal in your country. Use at your own risk.

There are also several different forks of this program available including versions that include extensions for Firefox, Chrome and Smart TV devices. There are also versions designed to work with television programs. However, unlike before, they no longer publish the source code on Github. You can download existing codes from their website.

Its previous website is no longer active but this program is now available on two other websites:

Gebruikhet.net Review

Sat, 04 May 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Gebruikhet is a Usenet service provider located in the Netherlands. The company offers a mix of speed-limited and block access accounts. They offer support both in English and Dutch.

Quick Facts

Numerous Plans
Block Access
EU Servers
Dutch & English Tech Support
1100 Days Binary Retention
Multiple Payment Methods

Binary Retention

Binary retention at Gerbuikhet is currently at approximately 1100 days. This is lower than our best providers offer.

Pricing

Flat Rate Accounts

Name	Price	Speed Limit	Connections
6 mBit	€ 4.99	6 Mbps	4
8 mBit	€ 5.99	8 Mbps	6
10 mBit	€ 6.99	10 Mbps	8
15 mBit	€ 7.99	15 Mbps	10
20 mBit	€ 9.99	20 Mbps	12
60 mBit	€ 14.99	60 Mbps	15
120 mBit	€ 19.99	120 Mbps	20
200 mBit	€ 24.99	200 Mbps	20

Block Pricing

All block accounts are divisible and have no runtime limit. You can use up to 20 connections with these accounts.

NZBGet Review

Sat, 04 May 2019 00:00:00 +0000

What Happened Between NZBGet.net and NZBGet.com?

In late 2022, the original NZBGet project at nzbget.net was declared deprecated by its long-time maintainer, hugbug, due to a lack of time and resources to continue development. For a period, the project appeared to be abandoned, and users were advised to seek alternatives.

However, in 2023, a new group of developers revived the project under a new domain, nzbget.com. This new team forked the original codebase, resumed active development, and began releasing updates and new features. The revived project at nzbget.com is now the main source for NZBGet downloads, documentation, and support. The new maintainers have also established a Discord channel for community support and have introduced features such as an extension manager.

Key points:

nzbget.net: Original site, now deprecated and no longer maintained.
nzbget.com: New official site, actively maintained and updated by a new team.
Users are encouraged to download and use NZBGet from nzbget.com to ensure they receive the latest updates and support.

Updated Review

NZBGet is a versatile binary downloader for Usenet that operates across a variety of platforms, including desktops (Windows, Linux, BSD, Mac), mobile devices (Android), routers, NAS devices, and media players. Its lightweight design allows it to excel on low-powered hardware, making it an ideal choice for users with older computers or devices like the Raspberry Pi. Built in C++, NZBGet is optimized for minimal resource consumption.

Usenet.net Review

Fri, 03 May 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Usenet.net has been in business for approximately fifteen years. This Usenet service provider offers two packages, both unlimited, along with SSL encryption.

Quick Facts

Over 1200 Days of Binary Retention
No Speed Limits
No Download Limits
SSL Encryption (Privacy Protection)
Up to 30 connections
24-Hour Support

Binary Retention

Binary retention at Usenet.net is over 1200 days as of the time of writing and 17+ years of text retention.

Pricing

There are only two plans with this Usenet service provider, which makes signing up rather easy compared to some other providers. The main difference between them is that the encrypted option offers privacy protection while the non-encrypted option does not. We recommend always using encryption with your USENET connection.

Name	Price	Download Limits	Connections
Encrypted	$19.99	Unlimited	30
Non-Encrypted	$14.99	Unlimited	15

During the first month of the two plans, you get a discounted rate. For 30 connections, you only pay $9.99 for the first month. And for 15 connections, pay only $7.49 for the first month.

Free Trial Info

Both plans come with a free five-day, 10GB trial. Cancel before your trial expires to avoid being billed for the service.

FastUsenet Review

Thu, 02 May 2019 00:00:00 +0000

FastUsenet is a Usenet service provider that offers unlimited and metered accounts. They include a version of the Grabit newsreader with your subscription. FastUsenet has servers in both the US and EU and also offers a good amount of SSL connections.

Quick Facts

4904 Days Binary Retention
SSL (Privacy Protection)
US & EU Servers
50 connections
Newsreader Included
Accepts PayPal
Web/Mobile Gateways

Binary Retention

FastUsenet currently has more than 4904 days of binary retention, which is competitive with most Usenet service providers.

Pricing

Name	Price	Download Limits	Connections	Misc
6 Gigabytes	$2.95	6 GB Limit	50 SSL	Grabit Newsreader
15 Gigabytes	$3.95	15 GB Limit	50 SSL	Grabit Newsreader
35 Gigabytes	$5.95	35 GB Limits	50 SSL	Grabit Newsreader
Unlimited	$6.95	No Limits	50 SSL	Grabit Newsreader

The packages come with GrabIt with Search newsreader, 50 SSL connection and use of US & EU servers.

Free Trial Info

FastUsenet allows you a fourteen-day free trial before you commit to buying. This 14-day trial is limited to 15GB. Cancel your account before the fourteen days are up if you’re not happy with the service.

Newsgroups Review

Thu, 02 May 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Editor’s Note: Update: May 2019 - Newgroups.com has been shutdown.

Newsgroups.com was a Usenet service provider offering high speed Usenet access to customers around the world. They have servers located across multiple geographic locations, featuring redundant article storage and Tier 1 Internet access.

Since Newsgroups has been shutdown we are recommending the best Usenet service provider instead, Newshosting.

Newsgroups.com Binary Retention

Newsgroups currently provide more than 600 days of binary retention, while they maintain a 99.9% of completion rate for their newsgroups.

Newsgroups.com Servers

The server address is news.newsgroups.com, available on ports 119 and 563 (SSL port). The address for SSL-based server is secure.newsgroups.com.

Newsgroups.com pricing

Newsgroups offer metered accounts and unlimited package. All packages provide free SSL encryption and 50 connections. Metered packages are available in two options: 3GB and 25GB. The first one costs $2.95, while the latter has a pricing of $7.95. Unlimited package costs $10.95 per month.

Newsgroups.com Free Trial

Newsgroups offer 7 days of free Usenet access, providing 3GB of bandwidth.

Newsgroups Special Coupons

Currently, there are no special coupons for service discounts, but you might want to try their free trial option.

Newsgroups Speed

They do not limit the download speed. In other words, they allow the subscribers to connect at whatever speed they are capable of. Naturally, the speed will be determined by Internet traffic, Internet connection speed, and finally by the route to their servers.

Newsoo Review

Thu, 02 May 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Newsoo went online in 2015 only to go offline in later 2016. The company was headquartered in France and ran a network that spread across three datacenters. It offered USENET access and a drive feature that allows you to have all your files downloaded to their storage. You could download the uncompressed, assembled and repaired files once they’re completed. Their webpage was notably slick compared to many other USENET services, full of graphs that show you the current activity on the Newsoo system.

Since Newsoo is no longer active, make sure to check our list of the Best Usenet service providers for better options.

Binary Retention

The binary retention at Newsoo is currently set at 1000.

Pricing

The pricing structure at Newsoo was a bit different than you’ll find at a lot of other providers; no surprise there, given that they had a product that differs from the norm. The pricing is as follows:

50GB USENET: €5, up to 1,000Mbps speed with ten connections
250GB USENET: €20, up to 1,000Mbps speed with 10 connections
USENET Max: €8, unlimited traffic, up to 1,000Mbps, 10 connections
Drive 200GB: €15, same as USENET Max but including a 200GB online drive, Bittorrent access and OwnCloud access

All prices will have French VAT added to them.

NewsUp Review

Thu, 02 May 2019 00:00:00 +0000

NewsUp is a fully featured high performance binary usenet uploader/poster written in Perl 5 and is licensed with GPLv3

It’s a command line program that will upload a file or folder to the usenet. If it is a folder it will search for files inside of the folder. It can obfuscate the uploads. A NZB file can be generated for later retrieving. NewsUp could be a good way to share your own content on Usenet or backup your personal data in an encrypted / obfusticated manner.

✨

Editor’s Tip:

Editor’s Note: No updates has been made on NewsUp since August 2020.

Supports the following

SSL
Multiple Server Connections
Header Check (including to a different server from the one the article was uploaded)
NZB Creation
Obfustication
7zip Archive Creation
Multiple nzb checking

Additional Features

Requiring Additional Programs

RAR creation (you need rar command in your path)
PAR2 creation (you need par2cmdline command in your path)

The header check is well developed and will check different servers from the one which the article was uploaded to in order to verify integrity.

Header Check (including to a different server from the one the article was uploaded)

Any time you use NewsUp to upload binary files or folders to the Usenet, the program will automatically generate an NZB file for later retrieving. This 7zip archive could consist of numerous 10MiB files. The “compressed” (compression rate is really 0) version will be in 7z format. This program can also generate parity files.

FrugalUsenet Review

Wed, 01 May 2019 00:00:00 +0000

FrugalUsenet presents a straightforward pricing structure, featuring just two plans that boast unlimited speed and download capacity. This Usenet service provider stands out for its affordability and has significantly enhanced its binary retention period to 3000 days.

Moreover, FrugalUsenet now offers a complimentary bonus server, Blocknews, included with all annual subscriptions.

Quick Facts:

Transparent pricing model
Global server availability
Up to 100 simultaneous connections
Free SSL encryption
Additional EU backup server
Extra 300GB Block Account from BlockNews for yearly subscriptions

Binary Retention

FrugalUsenet has successfully extended its binary retention to 3000 days while maintaining its competitive pricing. With an annual subscription, users can access binaries that date back even further, thanks to a complimentary 300GB block account from BlockNews. This retention period is approximately half of what is offered by our top Usenet service providers.

Pricing

FrugalUsenet features uncomplicated plans, offering both monthly and yearly unlimited options. These can be acquired either as one-time purchases or through subscription. In addition to standard benefits, the monthly plan provides access to a bonus EU server. Conversely, the yearly plan not only includes this bonus server but also grants a 300GB high-retention block account.

At present, the monthly plan offers retention for only 3000 days.

Newznab Review

Wed, 01 May 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Newznab is a robust web application designed for processing Usenet data and constructing an index. Built using PHP, PEAR, and MySQL, it operates seamlessly on various platforms, including Linux, Windows, and macOS, and is offered in two distinct versions.

For those interested in launching their own USENET indexing site, Newznab presents an appealing option. As an open-source solution often likened to Nzbs.org, it enables users to create a USENET index even on less powerful servers. Numerous established sites utilize this software, and given the dynamic nature of USENET indexing, the demand for new index sites remains high.

The Software

Newznab is designed to function on an Apache server, making it accessible to virtually anyone with some server resources. However, users with limited server capabilities should carefully consider the feasibility of hosting a USENET index. Many individuals attempting to set up their own USENET indexer have reported that backfilling groups over extended periods can be a time-consuming process. For those who wish to experiment without the intention of public sharing, Newznab serves as an excellent platform for personal use.

Newznab Features

Message Grouping
Sphinx Integration
SEO Optimization
NZB File Creation
User-Friendly CMS Features

Free vs Paid

Free Classic Newznab Version

Newznab is available in two versions. The Classic version, which is free, includes all the essential features required to establish a Usenet indexing site. Distributed under the GPLv3 license, you can download it at no cost (link below) and start indexing Usenet immediately.

LuluNZB Review

Mon, 29 Apr 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Update: LuluNZB has been offline since September 02, 2020. We are currently calling LuluNZb a dead NZB site

LuLuNZB is a closed and private community. The site does not take new members without an invite, so you’ll have to find someone with a LuLuNZB membership if you want to get in on the site. The site offers little information as to what it provides.

LuLuNZB.com Highlighted Features

Private and Closed
Free Account No Free Membership
VIP Account Invitation Only
Retention - over 1000 days of binary
Invites: Required
IRC: Not Disclosed
Integrations: Not Disclosed
Privacy: SSL
Hardware details: Not Disclosed
Payment: Not Disclosed

Membership Levels for LuLuNZB.com

Name	Price	Nzbs	Apis	Forum
Invite		5 Daily	1000	No
VIP	$12/Year	Unlimited	10000	No

Conclusion

LuLuNZB is about as closed off as NZB sites get but, if you can get an invite, that’s sometimes a good thing as far as keeping the site up and running, if in a restricted fashion. The site has no known plans to open up registration, but you might try your luck on forums and other gathering places for NZB downloaders to see if you can get an invite.

NZB-Matrix.eu Review

Sun, 28 Apr 2019 00:00:00 +0000

NZB-Matrix.eu closed down in 2013. The site had good hardware, more than 200K NZBs and indexed more than 62 groups. It also did a great job of keeping spam off of the indexes. The site had free membership for everyone, but it did take donations from those who wanted to support it. The plan was to switch over to an invite-only design, but the site went offline and, today, there’s nothing at the domain. There are plenty of other options, however.

Alternatives to NZB-Matrix.eu

Free and paid, big and small, there are many options for NZB sites out there. If you want an idea of which of them might suit you, take a look at our list of the best NZB sites. We keep our list updated to remove dead sites and give comprehensive information on all the NZB indexers we review. If you want an alternative to NZBMatrix.eu, start with our list!

Grabit Review

Sat, 27 Apr 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Grabit is a Windows-only newsreader that was once one of the simplest ways to get started with Usenet. Its main appeal was browsing Usenet without downloading massive headers and letting the software automatically repair and extract downloaded binaries.

It still offers SSL support, NZB integration, multiple server handling, and a clean interface. However, development has slowed. The last official release (GrabIt 1.7.5 Beta 3) dates back to 2020, and while Shemes.com continues to maintain its search service, the program itself feels dated compared to more modern Usenet apps that offer cross-platform support, integrated automation, and better indexing.

The GrabIt Search service is still paid—$2.49/month, $6/3 months, or $24.99/year—but in 2025 that pricing looks less attractive given the range of free and premium NZB indexers available today. A small update in 2022 improved search indexing by moving away from Giganews servers, but since then there hasn’t been much visible progress.

Highlighted Features

Easy to use, beginner-friendly interface
SSL support
Automatic repair and extract
Multiple server support
Up to 8 connections free; up to 50 with paid search
Built-in NZB import support
Automatic shutdown after downloads
Posting allowed from inside the reader
US and EU search servers (with subscription)

Plans & Pricing

The search service is optional but remains central to GrabIt’s offering:

AnonNZBs Review

Fri, 26 Apr 2019 00:00:00 +0000

April 2020 - Dead NZB site - Anonnzbs has been offline for about a year now so we are declaring it dead unfortunately

AnonNzbs.com was formerly known as Abbeygirl. The site has been online since 2013 and offers a bit more than the standard features expected of NZB sites. Free memberships are quite limited, but VIP memberships are priced low and have generous terms.

Anonnzbs Membership Plans

Anonnzbs Usenet Binaries

Anonnzbs Search

AnonNzbs Highlighted Features

Formerly Abbeygirl. Custom interface, great search.
Free Account - 3 NZBs per day/No API
VIP Account Unlimited NZBs and API hits-
Retention - over 1000 days of binary
24 groups crawled
Indexer runs every 15 Minutes
No Ads
No forum
Invites: 5 with VIP
IRC: No
Integrations ie SabNZBD, Sonarr, CouchPotato, Sickbeard, etc.
Privacy: SSL
Hardware details: T1 to Dedicated Blade Server
Payment Options: Credit cards via Stripe

Membership Levels for AnonNzbs

Name	Price	Nzbs	Apis	Forum
Free	$0	3		Yes
Donator	$10/Yearly	Unlimited	Unlimited	Yes

Conclusion

AnonNzbs has been online for several years and offers a great interface. Their search engine is particularly impressive, offering plenty of information on the NZBs it retrieves. Combine that with the low-cost VIP membership and the very generous privileges it offers and this site is a winner all around. We highly recommend AnonNzbs.

NZB Tortuga Review

Thu, 25 Apr 2019 00:00:00 +0000

January 2020 - NZB Tortuga declared dead

While NZB Tortuga was a promising and popular NZB lasting from 2016 to 2020, we are now declaring it dead.

November 2019 - Registrations are currently disabled

Nzb Tortuga launched in early November 2016 and quickly grew to be one of the top indexing sites. Indexing almost 600 groups with more than 3 million posts to date and a solid 1000 day retention it’s not surprising Nzb Tortuga is popular.

Screenshots of NZB Tortuga in action

Nzb Tortuga Vip Plans

Nzb Tortuga Big Selection

Nzb Tortuga Forum

The unlimited 7 day full trial allows user to fully test there API integration and NZB download from site before making any dissections to support them.

Over the last year 12 months Nzb Tortuga has had a 95% uptime (see our uptime chart below) and has consistently updated the site throughout. They have added a new theme, phpBB forum integration, movie quality filters and custom user notifications for easy API key access and messages. We are looking forward to seeing what they bring to the Nzb community.

FastNZB.info Review

Wed, 24 Apr 2019 00:00:00 +0000

FastNZB was a German site that specializes in books, videos and audio content. FastNZB is now down due to German police action. More details read here.

FastNZB offers both a free and paid membership but you’ll need an invite to register. Because the site really focuses on German content, it could be perfect for people who speak it as their first language. For those who aren’t German speakers, however, the selection might be more limited.

FastNZB.info Highlighted Features

German NZB Site
Free Account 50 API Calls and 50 NZB Grabs
VIP Account 100 API Calls/ NZB Grabs per Day
Retention - over days of binary
Mostly German Groups
Indexer runs every 15 Minutes
Some Ads
Forum for paying users
Invites: Not disclosed
IRC: Not disclosed
Integrations: SabNZBD, NZBGet, Sonarr, CouchPotato.
Privacy: No
Hardware details: Not disclosed
Payment Options: Credit cards, PayPal

Membership Levels for FastNZB.info

Name	Price	Nzbs	Apis	Forum
Free	$0	3/Day	100	Yes
VIP	$10/Year	100/Day	10000	Yes

Conclusion

FastNZB.info is likely to be more well-received by German speakers who want access to a good range of content. It’s closed for memberships right now, so you’ll need to get an invite if you want to give it a try. It’s a Newznab-based site, so you shouldn’t have any trouble with using any of the popular downloading software with FastNZB.info.

MysterBin Review

Sun, 21 Apr 2019 00:00:00 +0000

MysterBin is a relatively new binary Usenet newsgroup search engine. Mysterbin currently supports 1269 of header files. Mysterbin was under constant development in 2011 and appears to have stopped or at least slowed down in 2012. Sign up for their Twitter account to inform about changes and updates. twitter.com/#!/mysterbin_com

Feature Overview

MysterBin takes best of search technologies for binary newsgroups. Therefore, their search engine provides the following features (as written on their official website):

Query refinement: let you reduce the scope of your search to a specific size or data type (picture, video, executable…)
Search and look inside rar archives: let you find some results you could not find otherwise, and preview the files inside the archive before downloading them. You can even know if the archive is password protected before starting the download.
Extended queries: using the star notation: abc* will match any word starting by abc. *abc will match any word ending with abc. Simple, efficient. You may also exclude a word by attaching a dash right before it: abc -def will return results that contain abc and does not contain def.
Collection clustering: the default view merges collections from a same group together and show them as one result.

Non-yEnc ignored

MysterBin ’s bot ignores Non-yEnc lines. Although they do consider implementation of a less strict policy in the future, they recommended that Usenet users use the yEnc format if they want to make sure that their posts will be correctly indexed.

NZBHangout Review

Sun, 21 Apr 2019 00:00:00 +0000

NZBHangout is a dead NZB site as of May 2016

NZBHangout has some pretty interesting features on it that might be irresistible to some users. Registration is currently open at the site, USENET users may very well want to take a look at what it has to offer.

About NZBHangout as of September 2, 2014

Currently CLOSED for registration.
Offers both free and VIP account.
NOTE: they do not support API
Forum and Chat support

Available Subscriptions for VIP Account

1 Month – $4.50 or €3
3 Months – $9.20 or €6
6 Months – $12 or €8
1 Year – $18.30 or €12
15 Years – $40 or €35

The site used Paypal as their payment method. Once you upgraded your account to VIP, you will have the following privilages;

Unlimited Downloads Per Day
No Avatar or signature limits
10 Invites
Unlimited Requests
1000 Messages PM storage
Private VIP Forum Access
XXX Access
Note: NO REFUNDS

Human Edited

NZBHangout is built as a forum. It’s edited by human beings and that means some real advantages for users. Importantly, it means that the password-protected RAR spam that tends to clog up the USENET isn’t to be found among the NZBs here, and that means that finding the content that you’re looking for could be much easier and less frustrating.

NzbNoob Review

Sun, 21 Apr 2019 00:00:00 +0000

NzbNoob is an open-source NZB indexer built on Newznab+, aggregating files from numerous newsgroups. It is compatible with a wide range of downloading software, making it a versatile choice for users.

As a fast NZB platform, NzbNoob provides free user registration alongside VIP membership options that unlock additional features. The site boasts an engaged community that consistently refreshes its content with the latest posts and files sourced from various newsgroups.

Nzbnoob Browse All

Nzbnoob Forum

Nzbnoob Movie List

Nzbnoob Rules of Engagement

Nzbnoob Search Results

Nzbnoob Tv Calendar

Key Features

Rapid Newznab+ Indexer
Complimentary and Open Registration
VIP membership upgrades starting at $12
API integration with tools like Sonarr, CouchPotato, NZBGet, Sabnzbd, Sickbeard, NZBVortex, and more
Strictly no illegal content hosted
RSS Feeds for updates
Enhanced Privacy with SSL
Retention period: 4000 days
Accessible forums for all users
Presence of Advertisements
TV Calendar and Movie List features
Indexer updates every 15 minutes

User Interface

NzbNoob features a user-friendly interface typical of Newznab-based sites. It includes community functionalities and a straightforward navigation menu. Search results can be filtered by file name, category, posting date, size, and other metrics. Users can also browse files categorized in the menu, with easy access to top movie lists and a TV calendar. The site’s dark theme enhances readability and provides a pleasant browsing experience.

NZBtor.cr Review

Tue, 16 Apr 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Dead Site as of 2015

NZBtor.cr an nZEDb based NZB site tried to bridge the gap between NZB files and torrents. While they were open they ran an TOR service.

Alternatives to NZBtor

Please check our list of best NZB sites for alternatives to NZBTor

Nzbx.co Review

Tue, 16 Apr 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Dead NZB Site as of 2013

Nzbx.co came and went rather quickly during 2013. The site offered a free and paid membership option, a great API and other features that made it grow very quickly; over 100,000 members at it’s peak! Unfortunately, it did close down but there are still plenty of alternatives to Nzbx.co available.

Alternatives to Nzbx.co

If you’re sad to find out that Nzbx.co is gone, don’t fret, because we have a list of the best NZB sites for you to explore. We update the list constantly, so you don’t have to worry about dead sites. If you’re looking for an alternative to Nzbx.co, our list is exactly what you need!

NZB.is Review

Mon, 15 Apr 2019 00:00:00 +0000

June 2019 - NZB.is now is a dead NZB site. Look elsewhere for a good nzb site

Currently down NZB.is has been online since 2015, nzb.is has an excellent privacy policy and flexible payment options. NZB.is offers several different means of purchasing a membership. The free account is limited, but gives full access to the site’s forums.

Nzb.is Nzb Site

Nzb.is Dead Site

NZB.is Highlighted Features

Privacy-friendly, frequently-updated Newznab+ indexer
Free Account - 5 NZBs, 10 API Hits
VIP Account 100 NZBs, 1000 API Hits
Retention - over 500 days of binary
50+ groups indexed
Indexer runs every 15 Minutes
No Ads
Forum for all users
Invites: Not specified, open membership
IRC: None
Integrations SABNZBd, NZBDrone, Sickbeard, Couchpotato, more
Privacy, SSL, Apache logs deleted every 15 minutes
Hardware details: Not specified
Payment Options: Bitcoin, Amazon Gift Card, Paysafe Card, Wire Transfer, more

Membership Levels for NZB.is

Name	Price	Nzbs	Apis	Forum
Free	$0	5	100
Donator	$20	100	1000

Conclusion

NZB.is gets points for being easy to join and for their extensive payment options. They also have excellent privacy protection. Combined with the generous API hits and NZB grabs for members, it’s a good deal.

Kwooty Review

Sun, 14 Apr 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Kwooty is a free NZB binary downloader specifically designed for the K Desktop Environment (KDE). This software operates seamlessly on any Linux-based system, providing users with a powerful tool for accessing Usenet content.

Kwooty is completely free to download and use. It boasts several impressive features, including automatic file verification and repair, multi-server support, and built-in YEnc and UUEncode decoders.

You can primarily find Kwooty at the KDE store. However, it’s recommended to download from reputable sources to ensure safety. Always verify downloaded software with antivirus tools before installation.

As of now, Kwooty is at version 1.1.0, with the latest update noted on its GitHub page in December 2018.

Highlighted Features

Kwooty includes a variety of robust features. It supports Unrar 5, which allows for automatic verification and repair of files, along with automatic extraction for multiple archive formats, including split file archives.

This downloader is designed to optimize bandwidth usage, featuring a watch folder and a favorite transfer folder for easy management.

When you download an NZB file, Kwooty can be configured to automatically fetch the corresponding binaries. It supports SSL connections, ensuring that your privacy remains intact while using your Usenet provider. Additionally, the built-in system shutdown scheduler enhances automation, allowing for seamless operation.

NZB Club Review

Sun, 14 Apr 2019 00:00:00 +0000

✨

Editor’s Tip:

Editor’s Note: NZB Club has been a defunct NZB search engine since 2019.

NZB Club was a NZB search engine that offered a fast and customizable way to search the top 300 Usenet newsgroups, quickly returning NZB files. NZBClub automatically indexed Usenet binaries, making them accessible for download in NZB format.

Quick Overview

Swift keyword-based search
Advanced filtering and sorting options by group, poster, time, size, etc.
Capability to browse newsgroups
Automatic NZB file generation
Limited to the top 300 newsgroups, updated daily
Free to use
Optional registration (recommended for enhanced features)
Save searches (for registered users)
RSS feed for saved searches (for registered users)

How to Use NZBClub

If you’re interested in exploring NZBClub, registration is free and allows you to save your searches, maintain a search history, and create an RSS feed from your saved searches. After registering, you can utilize NZBClub in two primary ways:

Classic Search: Simply enter your keyword and optionally adjust several search parameters, such as group filter, poster filter, results per page, age, file size, and more.
Browse Newsgroups NZB: Access a list of binary groups and their corresponding NZB files. Click on the “Browse Newsgroups NZB” menu item to view the index of available newsgroups. Once the list appears, select your desired group to see the associated NZB file list.

Additional Features

Search history tracking
Watch list (up to 25 collections can be added)
SafeSearch option (when enabled, searches will exclude adult newsgroup results)

Popularity / History

NZBClub was relatively popular according to Alexa.com rankings. However, alternatives like Binsearch.info and nzbindex.nl have gained more traction, often providing superior response times.

NZB7 Review

Sun, 14 Apr 2019 00:00:00 +0000

NZB7 closed in 2014

The site indexed around 100 groups and was focused on video and audio files. NZB7 also boasted a continuously-updated index and more than 10,000 users. It was more than just an NZB indexer; there was a forum for socializing and the site had a pretty active community at its peak.

Alternatives to NZB7

There are plenty of good NZB sites online. We keep a constantly-updated list of the best NZB sites out there, so you don’t have to search and search to find one worth joining. Take a look at our list and you’ll find a huge range of options; enough to keep anyone busy downloading NZBs!

SportsDevil Review

Sat, 13 Apr 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Overview of SportsDevil

SportsDevil is a robust Kodi add-on designed to provide users with access to live sporting events directly on their XBMC devices. This versatile add-on covers a wide array of sports, making it a go-to choice for enthusiasts of Football, Boxing (including WWE and UFC), Basketball, Ice Hockey, Baseball, Tennis, Motorsport, Rugby, Darts, Snooker, Golf, and many others.

The add-on aggregates content from prominent sports leagues, such as the NBA, NFL, UFC, and the US Open Tennis Championships, ensuring that fans can find live streams and even replays of their favorite events. SportsDevil also includes coverage of local games and college sports, offering video stream options ranging from 480p SD to 1080p HD, catering to various viewing preferences.

Legal Considerations for SportsDevil

Residents in countries like the UK, Ireland, Germany, France, Australia, the USA, and Canada should be aware that using SportsDevil could lead to potential legal complications. To mitigate risks, it is advisable to use a VPN for protection, which can offer an additional layer of security for a modest monthly fee.

Step-by-Step Guide to Installing the SportsDevil Kodi Add-On

SportsDevil is readily available across various repositories on the internet, many of which are actively maintained and frequently updated. The installation instructions below reference a repository that received its last update in June 2020.

NZBMegaSearch Review

Fri, 12 Apr 2019 00:00:00 +0000

If you’ve ever wanted to search all your favorite NZB indexes from one program, NZBMegaSearch might be what you’re looking for. This program is designed to allow you to utilize a meta-search function to look at all of the listings on your favorite NZB indexes from one spot. Obviously, this has a great deal of convenience built into it and should make it easier for people who end up searching several different indexes looking for NZB files to get access to good links much more quickly. However, it is also important to note that no updates have been made on this program since 2015. Consider checking out NZBHydra2 as an alternative.

Read on for more details and if you find this helpful then be sure to check out our list of Best NZB sites

Features

NZBMegaSearch is configurable with Newznab and Spotweb indexes. It also supports several others, according to the developer. It allows you to retrieve videos that are trending, as well, making it convenient as far as being able to access the most popular content of the moment.

NZBMegaSearch will give you search suggestions based upon what you’re looking for, giving it a nice, full-featured feel. It has recently been updated and functions on Windows, Macintosh and Linux.

NZBMatrix Review

Wed, 10 Apr 2019 00:00:00 +0000

NZBMatrix was once a leading provider of NZB indexing services, highly regarded in its heyday, as reflected in its ranking on Alexa.com. The platform utilized a customized forum software to facilitate user interactions. Unfortunately, the service ceased operations in December 2012, marking the end of an era for many users.

Today, NZBMatrix is fondly remembered as a hallmark of its time, often referred to as a “golden era” indexer that established benchmarks for usability and user access. Despite its legacy, there have been no attempts to revive the brand, and discussions surrounding it are often nostalgic, as users compare contemporary services to the reliability NZBMatrix once provided

Originating from the UK, NZBMatrix catered to a wide audience. For those seeking alternatives to this now-defunct service, we recommend exploring our compilation of the Best NZB sites.

The platform provided users with a free basic membership option, alongside a $10 lifetime VIP membership for enhanced features. Additionally, NZBMatrix offered RSS feeds and was known for its impressive uptime.

The Rise and Fall of NZBMatrix

At its peak on May 1, 2012, NZBMatrix held an Alexa ranking of 4855, indicating its status as the 4855th most visited website globally. However, it’s important to note that Alexa rankings may not always accurately reflect true popularity.

Newsflash Plus Review

Tue, 09 Apr 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Update (September 18, 2025): As of today’s date, Newsflash Plus appears to be abandoned. There have been no updates in 6 years, and the official website has many non-functional parts. Users should be aware that support and development seem to have ceased, and the software may not work as expected.

Newsflash Plus is a rich-client newsgroup binary downloader built on C++. This newsreader comes in 64-bit Windows and Linux versions, and has several impressive features including multiple search features, a tabbed interface, full download control and tool integration.

While this newsreader is not compatible for MacOS, it was once considered one of the more reliable Usenet newsreaders. With its simple and streamlined interface and an easy installation and configuration process, users were able to enjoy Newsflash Plus with ease and comfort.

Highlighted Features

Newsflash Plus is currently on its version 4.3 and is able to handle large volumes of data while providing maximum throughput at all times. Newsflash Plus has a range of impressive search features. It allows you to use RSS, headers and a search tab to find the binaries you want and can manage them for you when they download. It has several different performance-enhancing features built into it, as well, including memory management.

NZBMovieSeeker.com Review

Tue, 09 Apr 2019 00:00:00 +0000

News Updates

August 2019 Nzbmovieseeker has been down for several months. We are declaring it a dead NZB site.
March 2019 nzbmovieseeker.com appears to be down. For now look at the uptime chart below and if the website is down then check elsewhere — see our list of best NZB sites

NzbMovieSeeker.com has a custom interface that offers powerful search and spam-control features. Fast, plenty of NZBs and easy NZB browsing make this site a nice alternative to newznab sites, and the VIP option is very generous.

NZBMovieSeeker.com Highlighted Features

Custom NZB indexer
Free Account - 3 NZBs/day
VIP Account Unlimited NZBs, enhanced search
Retention - over 1000 days of binary
Many different categories
Detailed info on search results
Eliminates most passworded releases
Custom, powerful interface
Invites: No
IRC: No
Integration: N/A.
Privacy: No
Hardware details: Not available
Payment Options: Credit cards

Membership Levels for NZBMovieSeeker.com

Name	Price	Nzbs	Forum
Free	€0	3	No
Donator	€ 10 / Year	Unlimited	No

Conclusion

NZBMovieSeeker.com is quite a different experience than using a newznab site and, for some users, that might make NZB hunting a lot more enjoyable. The site is really all about its search engine; NZBMovieSeeker.com made a great one. If you want something intuitive, powerful and that can keep the spam under control-who doesn’t?-give NZBMovieSeeker.com a shot.

OzNZB Review

Tue, 09 Apr 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Oznzb, a platform grounded in Newznab technology, has been operating since 2013. Over the years, it has made significant strides in enhancing its services by focusing on delivering quality releases and implementing innovative features.

Having established itself as a prominent player in the NZB site arena, Oznzb relies heavily on its user community to maintain the integrity and quality of its offerings. Users actively participate by reviewing releases and voting on content, which helps ensure that the site remains valuable to its audience.

✨

Editor’s Tip:

Editors Note: Despite Oznzb’s uptime status indicating that the site is operational, numerous users have encountered difficulties connecting to the database since 2021. Many have reported seeing messages such as “Connection error: could not connect to database! Database maintenance currently being performed.”

Oznzb Forum

Oznzb Top Downloads

Highlighted Features

Custom NZB site built on Newznab
A variety of membership tiers
Crawls over 140 newsgroups
Indexes more than 2.5 million NZBs
Retention period of 2000 days
Indexer updates every 10 minutes
RSS Feed and API access available for VIP members
Compatible with Sonarr, Radarr, NZBGet, CouchPotato, Sickbeard, and more
IRC channel accessible from the menu
Preview videos and audio before downloading
User-friendly and straightforward interface
Rating system for releases
Technical infrastructure: 8 CPUs, 2GB RAM, and 800GB storage
Enhanced privacy through SSL encryption

Interface

Utilizing Newznab as its foundational indexing application, Oznzb fosters a vibrant Usenet community. The platform encourages users to rate and comment on files, thus providing assurance to fellow users regarding the quality of downloadable content.

Spring Special Offers

Tue, 09 Apr 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Its springtime in the nothern hemisphere and its time to celebrate with some savings on some selected Usenet providers.

Check out list of spring Usenet special offers and save!

Top 4 Spring Special Offers

Here are our top Spring 2026 Special Offers for Usenet Providers

#1 - Newshosting

$4.17 Mo ($50 / Year) for a yearly High Speed subscription
79% off compared to regular monthly price.
This discount applies for life and includes:
- Unlimited downloads
- Free newsreader with search
- Free zero-log VPN account
- Uncapped speeds
- 256-bit SSL-secured connections

Timeline - April 10th to April 14th

Save With Newshosting

#2 - Tweaknews

€5/month for a yearly High Speed subscription (Ultimate + VPN account).
Savings for (61% off regular €12,95/mo price)
This discount applies for life and includes:
- Unlimited downloads
- Free newsreader with search
- Free zero-log VPN account
- Uncapped speeds
- 256-bit SSL-secured connections

Timeline - April 10th to April 14th

Save With TweakNews

#3 - UsenetServer

$3.95 a month for a yearly subscription (Usenet + VPN account).
Savings for (48% Off regular Price)
This discount applies for life and includes:
- Unlimited downloads
- Free newsreader with search
- Free zero-log VPN account
- Uncapped speeds
- 256-bit SSL-secured connections

Timeline - April 10th to April 14th

XLned Review

Tue, 09 Apr 2019 00:00:00 +0000

XLNed stands out as a leading Usenet service provider based in the Netherlands, offering exceptional features such as strong SSL encryption, the option to pay with Bitcoin, and support in both Dutch and English. For users located in the United States, XLNed presents a compelling option for seamless access to European servers.

XLned Quick Summary

Servers Located in the EU
256-Bit SSL Encryption for Enhanced Privacy
Compatible with Various Usenet Automation Software
99.99% Completion Rate for Downloads
Supports Up to 12 Concurrent Connections
Diverse Pricing Plans to Suit Different Budgets
Accepts Bitcoin Payments
Customer Support Available in Dutch and English

Visit XLned ↗

Evaluation Process

Selecting the ideal Usenet service provider necessitates a comprehensive assessment of various critical factors to guarantee a superior user experience. One of the most significant metrics is retention, which indicates the volume of content available to users; top-tier providers often boast extensive retention times, thereby improving both search capabilities and user satisfaction. The ongoing enhancement of retention rates is vital for ensuring access to older materials.

The quality of the provider’s infrastructure plays a crucial role in determining service performance. Providers that own and manage their networks and servers while investing in high-quality bandwidth tend to deliver reliable and fast services. Essential features such as unlimited access, high completion rates, and substantial header storage are key to optimizing user experiences. Security is also a top priority, with SSL encryption being essential for protecting user privacy and anonymity.

RedUsenet Review

Mon, 08 Apr 2019 00:00:00 +0000

RedUsenet is a dead NZB site as of 2017

RedUsenet is an NZB indexer with powerful browse and search features that make it very convenient to use. RedUsenet is free, so invites and memberships aren’t a concern. The site focuses heavily on movies, so it’s perfect for cinephiles who aren’t necessarily newznab fans.

Redusenet Content Selection

Redusenet Faq

RedUsenet Highlighted Features

Easy to browse movies
Free AccountUnlimited
VIP Account N/A
Retention - over 1000 days of binary
Very large library of films
Frequent updates
Ad Supported
Support link provided
Invites : N/A
IRC: N/A
Integrations: None
Privacy: No
Hardware details: Not available
Payment Options: N/A

Membership Levels for RedUsenet

Name	Price	Nzbs	Forum
Free	$0	3 / Day	No
Donation	$10/Year	Unlimited	No

Conclusion

RedUsenet is slick, easy to use and has great browsing features. Downloading is at the click of a button. If you’ve been a bit put off by the learning curve involved with Newznab sites and downloaders like sabNZBd, give RedUsenet a shot. It’s not for USENET purists, but it’s great for people who don’t mind using USENET in a different way.

XDM Review

Mon, 08 Apr 2019 00:00:00 +0000

XDM stands for eXtendable Download Manager. The program is based in the Python language and is designed to offer a way to organize your media. It works with plugins, allowing you to expand its capabilities quite a lot. The plugins provide ways to handle television shows, movies, books, games, music and other media.

The most basic definition of the program is given by the site. It’s a framework and provides a way for you to manage data trees and to perform automated tasks.

✨

Editor’s Tip:

EDITOR’S NOTE: The latest version, XDM version 0.15.19, was released in August 2015 and since then no updates on this program have been done.

Features

XDM allows you to use a single plugin for multiple similar services. For instance, you can use one Newznab plugin to connect to however many individual indexers you want. It also allows you to handle different types of downloads based on plugins, extending your program to handle SSH downloads and other types.

The Framework

XDM is just a framework, so the real power comes from the plugins that you use with it**. There are multiple types of plugins available that you can use to extend the capabilities of the framework.

PFMonkey Review

Sun, 07 Apr 2019 00:00:00 +0000

As of June 2019, PFMonkey appears to be inactive. This review remains available in the event that the site resumes operations.

Currently, PFMonkey has halted new registrations. Historically, the site has opened its doors to prospective users, but right now, access is restricted to those who possess an invitation. PFMonkey tends to keep its offerings under wraps, providing minimal information about its features or the specifics of VIP account pricing.

Key Features of PFMonkey.com

Newznab NZB Site
Free Account: No API Access, Invite Only
VIP Account: Contact Admin for Details
Retention: 400 days
Indexes over 50 Groups
Indexer operates every 15 minutes
No Advertisements
Forum-Based Support, IRC Access
Invitations: Required
IRC: Yes, available at irc.synirc.net:6667 #pfmonkey
Integrations: Compatible with Sickbeard, Couchpotato, Headphones, etc.
Privacy: SSL Encryption
Hardware Specifications: Not Disclosed
Moderated Forums
Payment Method: Bitcoin Only

Membership Options for PFMonkey.com

Name	Price	Nzbs	Forum
Free	$0	10/Day	Yes
Donation	$15/Year	Unlimited	Yes

Final Thoughts

PFMonkey has earned a strong reputation among Usenet enthusiasts; however, obtaining a membership can be quite challenging. Interested users must either receive an invite from a current member or be fortunate enough to catch an announcement when PFMonkey opens for new sign-ups on various discussion platforms. The site operates on a Newznab framework. It is important to note that unpaid accounts that do not log in—API logins are excluded—will be deactivated after a period of thirty days. This restriction does not apply to paid memberships.

NZB Unity Review

Sat, 06 Apr 2019 00:00:00 +0000

NZB Unity allows you to send and control NZB files directly with SABnzbd or NZBGet download clients. Allows monitoring and control of your download queue (pause, resume), optionally intercepts NZB downloads, and allows 1-click downloading from a handful of membership NZB sites. Tested in Chrome and Firefox, but should be compatible with any web extension compatible browser.

Firefox Extension
Android Application
iOS App Store Application

The name NZB Unity has been used for three different USENET application projects. The most recent version, 1.16.2, was released last December 2021 with minor updates and bug fixes.

NZBUnity is the solution so many have been looking for. In the past, you may have had a number of NZB apps on your phone, but no central version to manage them. This made using the NZB apps needlessly difficult.

NZBUnity has an expansive list of popular applications it can work with. Some of these include:

SABnzbd
NZBGet
CouchPotato
Headphones
Mylar

With NZBUnity, you have automatic API getting operating from the palm of your hand. The same can be said for reverse proxy and it will even download the artwork of the TV shows and movies you want to watch.

Furthermore, this app is supported by an service called SyncSettings. It was created by the same developer of NZBUnity, so it works with the app seamlessly to allow users the ability to share settings between various devices. This makes it easy for all your iOS devices to use NZBUnity in the exact same way, without you having to invest a lot of time in setting your preferences.

NGroups Review

Fri, 05 Apr 2019 00:00:00 +0000

NGroups provides several different options for USENET access, some with VPN included. This company Usenet service provider is based in Sweden.

Quick Facts

Data centers in both US and EU
Usenet newsgroups access
High retention rate - 3000 days of binary retention and 10 years of text retention
High completion
SSL access to both server farms
Up to 60 simultaneous connections
Unlimited download plans available
24/7 support
Multiple Payment options
VPN service included

Binary Retention

NGroups has more than 3000 days of binary retention. This is competitive with other providers and better than many however not at the same level as our listed best Usenet service providers.

Pricing

Ngroups has quite a few options for service. Some of the services come with a VPN included. With the Unlimited Eco, the VPN has limited speed and usage limits every month.

Plan	Price per month	Price per quarter	Transfer Limit	Connections
Light	$5.99	N/A	10 GB	30
Unlimited Eco	$10.99	$29.97	Unlimited	30
Unlimited Extra	$19.99	$54.97	Unlimited	60

Block accounts are available from this provider, as well. You can opt for a “manual” account, which requires that you manually renew it at the end of your subscription period. Full pricing details below:

Thundernews Review

Fri, 05 Apr 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Thundernews has been a player in the Usenet landscape for over a decade, providing a range of service options that cater to both casual users and more dedicated downloaders. With servers strategically located in the United States and Europe, this provider aims to deliver competitive pricing alongside robust performance.

Quick Facts

Subscription Options: Unlimited and metered plans available, alongside various block access choices
Diverse Selection of Block Plans
Metered Access Available
SSL Encryption for Enhanced Security
Live Chat Support for Immediate Assistance
6442 Days of Binary Retention
Complimentary Newsreader Software Included

Binary Retention

As of the latest assessment, Thundernews boasts 6442 days of binary retention, positioning it favorably against many competitors in the market.

Pricing

Thundernews offers flexibility with its subscription models, allowing users to select between unlimited plans and metered access options, including block access. Notably, the unlimited plans come with an optional VPN add-on for added security. For those seeking more economical choices, there are block access plans available that do not include SSL, making them slightly more affordable than their premium counterparts. It is highly advisable to utilize Usenet through an SSL port to safeguard your privacy effectively.

Visit Thundernews ↗

Premium Plans with SSL Servers

Name	Price	Download Limits	Connections	SSL
Unlimited	$8.99/month	None	50	Yes
Unlimited + VPN	$12.99/month	None	50	Yes
30 GB/mo.	$4.99	30GB	50	Yes
60 GB/mo.	$5.99	60 GB	50	Yes
100 GB/mo.	$7.99	100 GB	50	Yes
250 GB/mo.	$9.99	250 GB	50	Yes

Block Plans (SSL and Non-SSL)

Name	Price	Download Limits	Connections	SSL
25 GB Block	$3.99	25 GB	50	Yes
25 GB Block	$2.99	25 GB	10	No
50 GB Block	$6.99	50 GB	50	Yes
50 GB Block	$5.99	50 GB	10	No
100 GB Block	$10.99	100 GB	50	Yes
100 GB Block	$9.99	100 GB	10	No
200 GB Block	$19.99	25 GB	50	Yes
200 GB Block	$18.99	200 GB	10	No
500 GB Block	$38.99	25 GB	50	Yes
500 GB Block	$36.99	500 GB	10	No
1000 GB Block	£41.01	1000 GB	50	No

Free Trial Information

Currently, Thundernews does not provide a free trial. However, for those interested in sampling the service at a low cost, opting for one of the budget-friendly block plans can be an excellent alternative.

Usenet Resource Downloader Review

Fri, 05 Apr 2019 00:00:00 +0000

✨

Editor’s Tip:

EDITOR’S NOTE: Usenet Resource Downloader has beeb discontinued since 2011.

Usenet Resource Downloader was an web-based application for downloading usenet binaries. It was written entirely in PHP and stored all the information it needed in a generic database. Downloading files required only a few mouse clicks, and when the download is finished it can automatically be verified and extracted.

URD was developed by Gavin Spearhead and the main selling point of URD is that downloading from Usenet can be as easy as using p2p software!

Also you dont need to rely on an external websites like NZB indexing websites and it should simply the whole process of Usenet. If this sounds a bit complicated it does look a bit that way but also think of how complicated bit torrent is getting with seed box and protocol encryption, etc. Also with URD it is possible to create and download an NZB file from specified articles as well.

Here is a picture of URD in action.

UsenetCentral Review

Fri, 05 Apr 2019 00:00:00 +0000

✨

Editor’s Tip:

EDITOR’S NOTE: UsenetCentral has been acquired by FastUsenet

UsenetCentral is a reliable Usenet service providers however they are no longer accepting new members since they have been acquired by FastUsenet so please look at the Fastusenet review for more info.

Quick Facts

256-Bit SSL (Privacy Protection)
Limited and Unlimited Accounts
Free Grabbit Newsreader, Preconfigured
Web Browser and Mobile Reader
Servers in US and EU

Binary Retention

Binary retention at Usenet Central is currently set at 2575 days.

Pricing

Usenet Central offers plans that are priced according to the amount of data you are allowed to download every month. Each of these plans comes with access to secure, SSL servers and 50 connections.

See Fastusenet review

Free Trial info

Usenet Central offers a free trial that lasts for 14 days. This comes with the preconfigured Grabbit newsreader, SSL security, and 50 connections. This should be plenty of time for you to test out the service and to see if it’s what you’re looking for.

Special Offers / Coupons

There currently aren’t any coupons or special offers available from this provider, but make sure you come back and check, as we do share these if we get them.

Speed Test

Usenet Central did very well in speed testing. Most USENET service providers these days offer speeds that are far in excess of what most people’s broadband connections offer, even when they’re maxed out, so you shouldn’t have any trouble downloading very quickly.

MegafilmesHD.net alternatives for Brazilians

Mon, 01 Apr 2019 00:00:00 +0000

MegaFilmesHD.net is gone, but there are alternatives to the site out there. Not all of them, of course, will have the vast selection of Portuguese films for which MegaFilmsHD was known, but there are options, nonetheless.

Where Did MegaFilmesHD Go

MegaFilmesHD.net was taken down by Brazilian authorities in November 2015. The site, which had boasted as many as 60 million visits per month, specialized in the Portuguese market, offering a huge range of films that could be streamed for free.

The authorities arrested the couple that ran the site, along with several of the site administrators. They ’re now awaiting indictment on charges related to the site. Several bank accounts were also blocked.

If the charges stick, the people involved in the site could face as many as eight years in prison for running a criminal enterprise and up to four years for criminal copyright infringement.

If you want access to streaming media, however, there are still a lot of places to check out online.

#1 - The Pirate Bay

Since 2003, the Pirate Bay is an online index of digital content of entertainment media and software made freely available via the Bit Torrent protocol.

Pan Newsreader Review

Mon, 01 Apr 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Pan is a robust newsreader designed for multiple platforms, catering to both novice users and seasoned veterans. It successfully combines essential newsreader functionalities with advanced features like yEnc support, offline reading, article filtering, and multiple simultaneous connections.

According to their website, Pan is the only Unix newsreader to achieve a perfect score on the Good Net-Keeping Seal of Approval Evaluation, a recognition that signifies compliance with usability and formatting standards set by Good Housekeeping Magazine.

While Pan is not tailored for NZB handling, it remains an excellent choice for users seeking a straightforward Usenet newsreader without the additional complexities offered by some of the best newsreaders today.

Highlighted Features

Pan newsreader is particularly adept at managing both text and binary articles. It boasts several fundamental yet effective features that appeal to newsreader purists.

Compatible with Linux, Windows, and macOS (including BSD systems)
Supports reading and writing news, threading articles, and replying via email
Offline reading capability
Sophisticated sorting options
Multiple connections allow for simultaneous reading of articles while binaries download
Articles can be filtered using regular expressions, read/unread status, binary/text categorization, etc.
Keyboard shortcuts for efficient navigation
Built-in message organization features
Customizable notifications based on message content, subject, etc.
Local caching of article headers for rapid group loading
Mouse-free navigation with keyboard shortcuts
Supports decoding of uu, base64, and yEnc-encoded binaries
Compatible with uuencode, MIME, and yEnc attachments
Groups multipart articles effectively
Robust download task management
Inline image display capabilities
Filters out non-binary, incomplete multipart, and previously saved messages from the article list
TLS protocol for encrypted connections
Supports multiple servers and concurrent connections
Configurable main window layout
NNTP authorization support

The latest version, Pan 0.149 “Bellevue,” was released in December 2021, featuring significant updates to address app errors and introduce minor enhancements.

Sickrage Review

Mon, 01 Apr 2019 00:00:00 +0000

If you are a fan of Sickbeard, then Sickrage is a must-try. This advanced video library manager actively monitors and manages your desired video files, seamlessly integrating with popular downloaders like SABnzbd and NZBGet, which are among the top NZB downloaders available today.

Sickrage supports both Usenet and Torrent downloaders, catering to a diverse user base. While it often draws comparisons to CouchPotato, Sickrage distinguishes itself with a more intuitive interface and an impressive automatic subtitle feature.

Highlighted Features

Sickrage boasts a robust array of features. In addition to its video content monitoring capabilities, it can automatically upgrade your existing files when higher-quality versions become available. The software also downloads poster art, general information about the video files, and more.

Comprehensive support for Usenet and Torrent providers
Anime support
Automatic subtitle downloading from Addic7ed, OpenSubtitles, Podnapisi, TVSubtitles, and more
Multi-platform compatibility
Integration with Kodi/XBMC for library updates, poster/banner/fanart downloads, and NFO/TBN generation
Configurable automatic episode renaming, sorting, and processing
Clear visibility of missing episodes, upcoming airings, and more
Automatic torrent/NZB searching, downloading, and processing at your preferred quality
Notifications to Kodi, XBMC, Growl, Trakt, Twitter, and more when new episodes are available
Searches TheTVDB.com and AniDB.net for shows, seasons, episodes, and metadata
Episode status management allows for mass failing seasons/episodes to force retries
DVD order numbering for returning results in DVD order instead of air-by-date order
Customizable indexer selection for show info during import
Automatic XEM scene numbering/naming for seasons/episodes
Available on any platform with a simple HTTP interface
Support for specials and multi-episode torrents/NZBs
Enhanced handling of automatic subtitle matching and downloading
Improved failed download management
DupeKey/DupeScore support for NZBGet 12+
Real SSL certificate validation

Plans & Pricing

Sickrage is free software, but its developers encourage users to support the project through OpenCollective. You can make a one-time or recurring contribution, with various contributor levels ranging from $2 to $25 per month.

AlbumsIndex Review

Sun, 31 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000

June 2019 — AlbumsIndex became inactive and is now classified as a defunct NZB site. This review remains available for historical reference.

AlbumsIndex.com was launched in the early 2000s as a dedicated platform for MP3s, featuring an extensive index of NZBs. The site was designed with strong search capabilities, seamless integration options, and offered a completely free membership experience.

Key Features of AlbumsIndex.com (Historical)

MP3 NZB Indexer
Free Membership: Was accessible via Google Friend Connect
VIP Membership: Was not available
Retention period exceeded 300 days for binaries
Crawled data from over 30 different groups
Indexer updated every 15 minutes
Minimal advertisements were present
RSS feed integration was available
No invites were required for registration
IRC support: Was absent
Compatible with SabNZBD and RSS
Privacy policy: Was not specified
Hardware specifications: Were not disclosed
Community forums: Existed
Payment options: Not applicable

Membership Options for AlbumsIndex.com (Historical)

Name	Price	Nzbs
Free	$0	?

Final Thoughts

AlbumsIndex.com did not provide extensive details regarding membership restrictions or additional features, but it stood out as a completely free resource. Registration was facilitated through Google Friends Connect, ensuring a straightforward onboarding process. The platform was specifically tailored for music enthusiasts, making it an attractive option for those seeking MP3 NZBs. The combination of a free membership and an uncomplicated sign-up process rendered it a favorable choice for users interested in music-related content—while it was active.

HelloNZB Review

Sun, 31 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000

HelloNZB can download from Usenet servers via NZB index files. It is completely free to use and has several good features that other paid options out there would gladly charge you for.

HelloNZB is rather simple to use and has an interface that is both modern-looking and can easily be navigated through even by the most beginner of users. This newsreader is capable of automatic archive verification via PAR2, automatic RAR archive extraction, and has a built-in yEnc and UU-decoding.

In 2019, the developer of HelloNZB came out with several versions of this software with the latest one being version 1.5.1. Since that year, no further updates have been made.

Highlighted Features

HelloNZB has a lot of features similar to that of other Usenet clients in the market today. And while HelloNZB may not be considered the best there is, it is still considered a reliable and decent option as far as quality newsreaders are concerned.

Load binary files from Usenet servers via NZB files
Java-based, runs on many platforms (tested on Windows and Linux systems)
Small footprint: Only one .exe or .jar file needed to download, no installation required
Built-in web server for remote access (BETA)
Automatic PAR2 and MultiPAR checking and repairing
Automatic RAR archive extraction
Extract RAR archive while files are being downloaded
Support for parallel download from alternative Server
Support for multiple concurrent connections
Support for server authentication
Support for secure connections (via SSL)
Built-in yEnc- and UU-decoding
Drag’n’Drop of NZB file(s) into the HelloNzb window
Localization (currently available languages: English, German, Dutch, Turkish, Greek)
Max. Download Speed limitation
Automatic computer shutdown after all downloads have been finished

Plans & Pricing

While HelloNZB is completely free to download and use, its developers also encourage donations so they can continue with upgrading the software and provide support to its users. Donations can be done via PayPal.

NNZBZ.org Review

Sun, 31 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000

NNZBZ.org is usually private, but they do occasionally open up and let new people onto the site. If you’re interested in joining, you’ll want to check during holidays to see if they have a special deal going when you can get membership. Otherwise, to get in on this site, you have to know somebody who has a membership. The site itself offers quite a bit for free users and is considering adding a paid membership program in the near future, as well.

About NNZBZ.org as of September 1, 2014

Registrations are currently INVITE ONLY
Has API
SABnzbd integration
Couchpotato integration
Sickbeard integration

A user can donate using Bitcoin to keep the site alive. You can also choose your own amount to donate. The site is excellent for those who use applications such as:

Signup to our mailing list to be notified if NNZBZ.org is open for registration— you will be also notified if there’s a new NZB site opened and available.

The Basics

Currently, NNZBZ.org developers claim to have more than 1,500,000 NZB files available on their service. Their archive extends back for five years and they index a total of 67 sites at present. They’re not currently backfilling any groups, but all of them do go back the full five years that is standard at NNZBZ.org.

Supernews Review

Sun, 31 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000

With over two decades in the Usenet industry, Supernews has built a reputation as a reliable service provider offering straightforward access with strong privacy measures. While their service delivers on core functionality and maintains competitive rates, you’ll find that several alternatives in today’s market provide superior value propositions. Their no-frills approach appeals to experienced users who prioritize simplicity, though it may leave power users wanting more advanced features.

Quick Facts

Three-day trial period available
No speed throttling or caps
Download without limits
Operating since before 2000
1100 days of Binary Retention
Text retention spanning 17+ years
No hidden fees or complex tiers
Encrypted SSL connections available
Support for 30 concurrent connections
Works seamlessly with popular Usenet clients

Binary Retention

With 1100 days of binary file retention and an impressive archive of text posts exceeding 17 years, Supernews maintains a substantial historical database. This extensive retention period ensures access to both recent releases and older content that many competitors have already purged from their servers.

Pricing

The pricing model from Supernews eliminates confusion by offering just one comprehensive plan with monthly or annual billing options. Both subscription tiers feature unlimited bandwidth and unrestricted download speeds, simplifying direct comparisons with competing unlimited offerings. Before committing to an unlimited plan, evaluate your actual usage patterns—many users discover that metered plans from alternative providers adequately meet their requirements while costing significantly less.

TheHive Review

Sun, 31 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000

The Hive serves as a community-centered NZB indexer with a primary emphasis on gaming content. While the free account is heavily restricted, users have the option to enhance their access by making donations to the site.

This NZB platform thrives on community engagement, valuing member participation. To unlock certain features as a free user, individuals must either contribute financially or actively engage in the forum to gain recognition and climb the ranks.

Thehive New Posts

Thehive Forum

Thehive Contact Us

Thehive Chat

Thehive Calendar

Highlighted Features

Community-driven indexer
Free user: 1 download per day
VIP Account: Unlimited downloads
Restricted forum access for free users
Full forum access for paid members
Manual content posting
Gaming-centric focus
Quiz, Gameroom, and Arcade sections
Contains advertisements
On-site chat feature
Radio and TV access exclusively for VIPs
Calendar functionality
Crawls over 50 newsgroups
Retention period: 500 days
Lacks privacy settings

Interface

The interface of The Hive resembles that of other Newznab-based platforms, but it distinctly caters to gamers compared to its counterparts. Options for non-gaming genres are limited, and there are no dedicated categories for movies or music. However, VIP members can access a separate Radio and TV section, adding some variety. New users may find the extensive menu items somewhat overwhelming, contributing to a cluttered appearance that stands in contrast to more streamlined forum sites.

Newshosting Newsreader Review

Fri, 29 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Primarily a Usenet service provider, Newshosting developed a newsreader client to meet the demands of users seeking a robust and efficient newsreading experience. Since its inception, the Newshosting newsreader has undergone continuous enhancements, improving its performance and user interface. This versatile newsreader is compatible with multiple platforms, including Mac, Windows, and Linux.

The Newshosting newsreader is offered free with a Newshosting subscription and has gained popularity due to its integrated search functionality and user-friendly interface.

Highlighted Features

The Newshosting newsreader is packed with impressive features designed to deliver an optimal experience for Usenet users and downloaders. During testing, this newsreader performed flawlessly, making it a valuable addition to an already exceptional Usenet service provider.

Free & User-Friendly
- Comes at no additional cost with a Newshosting subscription
- Simply download the appropriate software for your device and start using it immediately
No Setup Required
- Download, log in, and start using right away
Built-in Search Functionality
- Effortlessly search Newshosting’s backend servers
Unlimited File Previews
- Integrated image viewer for quick file assessments
Advanced Filtering Options
- Filter by language, category – e.g., Audio, Images, Video, ISO
Unrar and Unpar Capabilities
- Neatly presents downloaded files
Easy NZB Import
- Supports drag-and-drop functionality for NZB files
Download Scheduler
SSL Support
- Ideal for bypassing traffic shaping restrictions
Cross-Platform Compatibility
- Supports Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems
File Repair Feature
- Automatically repairs broken downloads
Alternate Port Usage
Configurable Connection Speed Limit

The Newshosting Newsreader features a sleek and intuitive interface, free from unnecessary clutter. Navigation is straightforward, allowing users to transition seamlessly between functions. Settings are highly customizable to suit individual preferences.

NZBRoyalty Review

Fri, 29 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000

NZBRoyalty was a popular and easy site to join.

Unfortunately in 2014 NZBRoyalty closed down.

In their own words - they say Retired In Peace. 2007-2014.

A sad farewell we will bid to NZBRoyalty. Their website, now shuttered, has the following message displayed:

“What a sad sad day 🙁 I’m really sorry for this news. With great sadness and regret we have had to close the forum.

F.A.C.T have today 12/02/2014 @ 4.15PM contacted us with a Cease & Desist notification.

Here is the email with a PDF attached…. (I’ve not included the ref case number as I have not received permission at the time this went live. If I get permission I will include it (awaiting on an email reply) )”

The page then displays a FACT Cease And Desist Notification which openly threatens the recipient with the possibility of jail time. The letter cites the conviction of Anton Vickerman, (Owner of surfthechannel.com) who got four years in jail for facilitating copyright infringement.

According to the site admin, they attempted to rectify the situation, but that the FACT regulations were just so impossible to follow that this was the next, best solution.

Membership Levels for NZBRoyalty

Name	Price	Nzbs	Apis
Free	$15/Year	5	1000
VIP	$15/Year	Unlimited	Unlimited

Conclusion

Look elsewhere

NZBs.org Review

Fri, 29 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000

NZBs.org was not an easy site to join. The only way to get a membership was through an invite, but they did have free memberships available if someone can get you in the door. For people without the invite, there’s was really nothing to see at NZBs.org.

Now in 2019 NZBs.org has closed down.

In their own words - they say Retired In Peace. 2007-2019. Thank you to all the users, coders, posters, friends, and everyone that made this possible. I love you all but it’s time to go. Going to the beach bar & not coming back.

NZBs.org Highlighted Features

Invite-Only Indexer
Free Account Invite Only
VIP Account Unavailable
Retention - over days of binary
Newznab-based Indexer
Invites: Required
IRC: Not Disclosed
Integrations: SabNZBD, Sickbeard, etc..
Privacy: SSL
Hardware details: Not Disclosed
Payment Options: Not Disclosed

Membership Levels for NZBs.org

Name	Price	Nzbs	Apis
Free	$15/Year	5	1000
VIP	$15/Year	Unlimited	Unlimited

Conclusion

There’s really not much to recommend about NZBs.org. If you have an invite, you can see for yourself if it’s for you. Otherwise, it’s very closed off. The site has a good reputation, however, so it’s likely worth joining if someone sends you an invite and you want a Newznab-based indexer.

UsenetLink Review

Fri, 29 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000

✨

Editor’s Tip:

Editor’s Note: As of November 2021, the UsenetLink site does not seem to be active. For future updates, check back with us.

UsenetLink is a new USENET service provider. They have 4000 days of retention, a simple pricing model but rates that are a bit higher than many providers. They offer a 24-hour free trial that you can take advantage of by signing up at their site. The company states that their vision is to provide a USENET service that eliminates the need to have a backup account.

Quick Facts

Unlimited Usenet Access
4000 days of binary retention
SSL encryption
30 connections
Bitcoin payments accepted

Binary Retention

UsenetLink currently boasts 4000 days of retention.

Pricing

UsenetLink is a bit pricier than many other USENET service providers. All UsenetLink packages come with unlimited access and thirty connections. The difference between one plan and the next isn ’t in terms of the service you get. Longer commitments net you lower prices.

One month for $15
Three months for $40
Six months for $75
Twelve months for $140

Free Trial Info

You can sign up for a 24-hour test on the UsenetLink site. This allows you full access so that you can decide whether or not this is the service that ’s right for you.

A1NZB Review

Thu, 28 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Update: September 2020 - As of August 28, 2020, A1NZB has been down so we are currently calling A1NZB a dead NZB site

A1NZB offers a Newznab-based site and a fair selection of movie and TV groups. A1NZB is currently open to free memberships. Free members can upgrade their status to VIP, which vastly expands their access to A1NZB’s features. The forums on the site weren’t very active when we checked, but joining is easy and credit card payments are accepted.

A1nzb Active Forum

A1nzb Many Categories

A1nzb Series List

A1NZB Highlighted Features

Newznab-based movie and TV show indexer
Free Account - 3 API Hits/3 NZB Grabs per Day
VIP AccountUnlimited API Hits and NZB Grabs
Retention - over 1000 days of binary
Approximately 25 groups crawled
Indexer runs every 15 Minutes
Some ads
Forum for all users
Invites: Not Stated
IRC: No
Integrations: SABnzbd, NZBGet, NZBVortex, etc.
Privacy: SSL
Hardware details: Intel Xenon CPU E3-1240 V2 @ 3.4GHz, 4 cores
Payment Options: Credit cards

Membership Levels for A1NZB

Name	Price	Nzbs	Apis	Forum	Invites
Free	$0	3	3	Yes	O
Donation	$15/Year	Unlimited	Unlimited	Yes	Unknown

Conclusion

A1BNZB has a good selection of groups and, because it’s a Newznab site, people using downloaders including SABnzbd, Sonarr and other popular options should have no trouble interfacing with the site. The site is somewhat sparse on information and the forums weren’t active when we visited. All in all, though, for $15 you get a VIP membership with all the standard features and there are easily visible contact options for the site admins should you need assistance.

Qouch Review

Thu, 28 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000

✨

Editor’s Tip:

EDITOR’S NOTE: This program has been dead since 2012.

Qouch has been pulled from the App Store for IOS devices, leaving people who love this feature with no way to manage their downloads; or so it would seem. You can still make Qouch work on your iPhone and you don ’t have to jailbreak the device to do it. Previously you could go to the unofficial app store to download plug-ins from the unsupported App Store , which enables you to get the app running the way it used to before Apple decided to take it away from users.

The Fix

One solution was to use Safari with the web interfaces for whatever download manager you ’re using. You could get the system working again, however, by using Plex iOS, as well.

As of 2019, it is recommended to after that, go into that App Store and install the plug-ins for Sickbeard, CouchPotato and SAB.

Once you have all of this installed, go to Plex and turn on the applications. From there, you should be able to manage your downloads right from your iPhone or your iPad, allowing you to enjoy the kind of conveniences that Apple apparently doesn ’t want to make available to you without jumping through the aforementioned hoops.

Newsguy Review

Wed, 27 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000

✨

Editor’s Tip:

EDITOR’S NOTE: Newsguys has filed for bankruptcy in August 2021 and has sent out emails to their email box account holders to download important mails to user’s local computers. They also encouraged any website or file storage account holders to download copies of files. Their website is also no longer active.

The review below is kept for historical purposes.

Newsguy has been around for a long time, but their offerings don’t really seem to have kept pace with the times. Based on their website, no changes or updates have been made on their service, featured and on their site itself since 2016. And while web access to USENET and email is available from this Usenet service provider, we feel that our readers would do well to spend their money elsewhere.

Quick Facts

SSL (Privacy Protection)
Bandwidth on Demand Option
Web Access
Email Service Available
14-Day Free Trial

Binary Retention

Newsguy offers 300 days of retention. This is a lot less than most of what our best Usenet service providers offer.

Pricing

The pricing models on Newsguy are straightforward enough. You get 15 GB of data for $10 per month. You can add to that if you wish. You’ll get a 33% discount if you sign up for 12 months of service. Any plan comes with free email service.

NZBZombie Review

Wed, 27 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Dead NZB site as of 2016

Zombies seem to be everywhere these days and now they ’re in the world of NZBs, too. NZBZombie is a NZB indexing site that offers always open registration, API and phpBB3 forums to its users. It ’s a customized Newznab site that indexes some of the most popular newsgroups and that has good retention rates.

As of Aug 19, 2014 registration is currently open and they are also looking for moderators.

“We are currently under development and appreciate any and all feedback. Registrations will stay open during our development process and most likely switch to invite-only after we have a polished site. We are looking for moderators, if you are interested please post in the forum.”

The Service

NZBZombie has only been around since December 12, 2012, but it already has over 1,000,000 NZB files in its indexes. There are 55 newsgroups that in total being indexed by the site. The side administrators say that they ’re not currently backfilling, but that they will be in the future.

The updates are continuous. The updates, in essence, come as fast as the technology allows, making this a good choice for people who want their NZB indexes updated as quickly as possible.

Merlins Portal Review

Mon, 25 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Overview

Merlins Portal was a very popular NZB indexer that went offline for good in 2012. The site ran on the Vbulletin platform and indexed a wide range of groups.

Alternatives to Merlin ’s Portal

You dont have to be a wizard to conjure up an alternative to Merlins Portal. We keep a list of current NZB sites and its updated frequently. For other NZB sites and forums check out our list of top NZB sites here.

BinnewZ Review

Sun, 24 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000

BinnewZ (often referred to as “Binnews” by old-school francophone users) has traditionally been less of a slick “indexer” and more of a community signal amplifier: humans flag posts, annotate releases, and keep a searchable archive of what’s worth pulling from French-heavy groups. When it’s online, it’s still one of the cleanest ways to discover FR content without wading through raw header soup.

That said, early 2026 hasn’t been kind to the service. The primary domain and forum endpoint have been throwing gateway errors and showing signs consistent with hosting or domain-renewal turbulence, with community chatter pointing at registrar/expiry limbo for related domains. In practical terms: expect intermittent downtime and treat it as not reliably reachable right now.

If you can reach it, the workflow is the same as it’s always been: search/browse → open the post page → grab the NZB → feed it into your downloader of choice. Automation folks should note the biggest limitation hasn’t changed: no API, so you’re not wiring this cleanly into arr stacks beyond “RSS + manual sanity checks.”

Binnewz Browse

Binnewz Forum

Binnewz Calendar

Binnewz Chat

Binnewz Contact Form

Highlighted Features

French-language NZB Indexer
Free NZB site
Registration required
No invites required
No VIP upgrades
Open for donations
Over 100 newsgroups crawled
300 days of binary retention
Multiple categories & Multiple search options
Forum access for all users
Chat/ Shoutbox available
Minimal advertisements
Privacy: SSL
Integrations: RSS

Interface

BinnewZ runs on a classic forum stack (Vbulletin), and it shows—in a good way if you like “scene-adjacent” communities, and in a bad way if you want polished UX. The forum + shoutbox culture is the product: release notes, comments, and quick community feedback are what makes it useful.

Comprehensive Review of NewsDemon

Sun, 24 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000

NewsDemon has emerged as a notable player in the Usenet service landscape, presenting users with an array of pricing structures and options tailored to diverse needs. Beyond the traditional subscription models, they offer adaptable block access plans, making it easier for users to select what suits them best. Each plan is bundled with a free VPN, which significantly enhances user privacy and security.

NewsDemon Quick Summary

Unlimited Access: Enjoy unrestricted downloads without any speed limitations.
Customizable Block Account Choices: Ideal for users who prefer a pay-as-you-go model.
Global Server Locations: With servers in the US and Europe, users can expect optimal speed and reliability.
Privacy-Focused: Experience top-tier security with 256-bit SSL encryption and a rigorous privacy policy.
Free VPN Included with Every Plan: Utilize SlickVPN to further enhance your online security.
24/7 Customer Support: Multilingual support available, including English, Dutch, German, and Spanish.
Student Discounts: Students can take advantage of a 25% discount on their subscriptions.
Diverse Payment Options: Accepts Bitcoin, SEPA, iDeal, and all major credit cards.
IPv6 Enabled: Guarantees future-ready connectivity.
Compatibility: Works seamlessly with popular Usenet automation tools.

Visit NewsDemon ↗

Evaluation Criteria

In assessing the quality of a Usenet service provider, several critical factors come into play. Retention—referring to the time posts remain accessible on servers—is arguably the most significant aspect. A longer retention period means users can access a broader range of articles and achieve better search results. For instance, providers like Newshosting offer over 13 years of retention, which greatly enriches the Usenet experience. It’s essential to confirm the retention rates of your chosen provider, as vague claims can be misleading.

Wombles NZB Review

Sun, 24 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Dead NZB site as of 2016

Wambles was a decent NZB site that lasted several years starting in 2013 and died in late 2016.

Features

Wombles offered many features.

## Alternatives to Wombles

If you are looking for alternatives to Wombles index please check our list of best nzb sites.

BlockNews Review

Sat, 23 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000

BlockNews is a Usenet service provider that specializes in block accounts only—no subscriptions, no rebilling. You pay once for a set amount of data, and the account never expires until you use it. They operate worldwide servers (US, EU, Australia, Asia, and South America), making them one of the most globally distributed block providers available.

Quick Facts

Privacy Protection (Free SSL)
Block Access, No Subscriptions
Accounts Never Expire
Multiple Payment Methods
Accepts Cryptocurrency
Up to 200 Connections Allowed
Servers in USA, EU, Australia, Asia, and South America

Binary Retention

BlockNews advertises leading retention that grows daily. Their spool is constantly expanding, putting them in line with top Usenet providers in terms of article availability. Binary retention is competitive (nearly 5,000 days), and text retention extends for many years.
That said, providers like Eweka still hold the crown for the very best retention and completion rates.

Pricing

BlockNews offers block accounts only, so you’ll never face auto-renewals or recurring charges. All blocks include SSL encryption, full retention, and access to all six worldwide servers.

Block Account	Price	Connections	Price per GB
5 GB	$1.99	200	$0.40/GB
10 GB	$2.49	200	$0.25/GB
25 GB	$3.39	200	$0.14/GB
50 GB	$5.49	200	$0.11/GB
100 GB	$8.99	200	$0.09/GB
200 GB	$14.49	200	$0.07/GB
500 GB	$24.99	200	$0.05/GB
1	024 GB	$39.99	200	$0.04/GB
3	072 GB	$99.99	200	$0.03/GB

Free Trial Info

BlockNews does not offer a free trial.

Usenetbinaries Review

Sat, 23 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Editor’s Note: May 2019: UsenetBinaries is offline. Look elswhere for Usenet Service.

Usenet Binaries offers a different experience than most USENET service providers. Their service can be accessed entirely from a browser or with a newsreader, if you prefer the latter.

NOTE:

Since Usenet Binaries is now offline, you can check out our list of the best Usenet service providers for other options.

Quick Facts

Non-Renewing Plans
Easy Image Browsing
Generous Free Account
Web-Based Interface
Easy to Use

Binary Retention

Usenet Binaries only offers 90 days of retention. This isn’t even close to what our best Usenet service providers offer, but it may suffice for very casual users.

Pricing

Usenet Binaries has entirely non-renewing access plans. Any of these plans, upon expiration of the stated time period, will require that you manually renew them.

Name	Price
24-Hour Membership	$10
5-Day Membership	$25
12-Day Membership	$29
1 Month	$42
3 Months	$119
6 Months	$209

Free Trial info

Usenet Binaries allows you to access up to 20 USENET groups for free. There’s a five-video-per-day download limit. Images from the past five days can be downloaded for free without limitations. You may not use an NNTP newsreader with the free account.

Altopia Review

Fri, 22 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Editor’s Note: As of March 2021, after more than 25 years Altopia has turned off their Usenet NNTP Service. This review is kept for historical purposes. Make sure to check our list of best usenet service providers.

Altopia has been around for 25 years as of 2020. This Usenet service provider has some attractive features and competitive pricing to offer. It doesn’t have all the features that come with some of the best Usenet service providers, however.

Quick Facts:

Unlimited Speed
No download limits
SSL Encryption
Up to 20 connections
Connections-based pricing
Low retention rate

Binary Retention

Binary retention from this provider is shorter than most of our preferred Usenet service providers. For text articles and binaries up to 15 parts, the retention time is 140 days. For multi-part binaries with more than fifteen parts, the retention time is 11 days.

Pricing

Altopia prices its service based on the number of connections you’re allowed per IP address. It offers unlimited data and transfer speed for all subscriptions, and SSL is included with all accounts. The pricing is as follows:

Two connections per IP for $6 per month
Five connections per IP for $9 per month
Ten connections per IP for $12 per month
Fifteen connections per IP for $15 per month
Twenty connections per IP for $20 per month

Be aware that the pricing might be slightly different when you go to the site and, in fact, from what the site itself says. The administrators say that they try to keep their pricing page up to date, however.

Newztown Review

Fri, 22 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000

June 2019 – Newztown appears to be a dead NZB site. There has been no update on twitter since December 18th when the were rebuiling there site.

Newztown has been around since 2012 is currently (as of May 2019) undergoing maintence. The site features a filtered, very selective collection of NZBs. Newztown.co.za is only available via an invite from a site member, but you can buy invites when you register and help the site grow. This is a Newznab-based indexer with good spam exclusion.

Newztown Nzb Sites

Newztown Membership Plans

Newztown Popular Nzbs

Newztown.co.za Highlighted Features

Invite-only indexer
Free Account - Invite only
VIP AccountFive different levels -
Retention - over 300 days of binary
87 groups crawled
Indexer runs every 15 Minutes
No Ads
Forum for all users
Invites: With payment
IRC: On site
Integrations: SABnzbd, Sickbeard, Couchpotato, Sonarr, Radarr, etc.
Privacy: SSL
Hardware details
Payment Options: PayPal, Bitcoin, Litecoin, Dogecoin, EFT in SA

Membership Levels for Newztown.co.za

Name	Price	Nzbs	Apis	Forum
Free	$0	10	200	No
Donator	$1.5	1000	10000	Yes

Conclusion

NewzTown.co.za is currently invite only. If you do have a membership, however, you can choose three different donation levels and, the more you donate, the more friends you can bring along with you. The hardware for NewzTown.co.za is located in several different areas and, given that this site has been up for four years, it’s resilient. If you’ve got a membership, don’t forget to send out some invites!

NZBin Newsreader Review

Fri, 22 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000

✨

Editor’s Tip:

Editor’s Note: NZBin has been discontinued. As mentioned on their website, you may check out their new Usenet client for MacOS, Usenapp.

NZBin is an NZB client tailored for Mac OSX. While the selection of NZB clients for OSX is limited compared to Windows, NZBin stands out as one of the more effective options available.

This application is packed with features designed to streamline the process of obtaining content from Usenet. Key functionalities include robust repair and extraction capabilities, along with advanced spam filtering to enhance user experience.

Installation

You can easily download NZBin from the iTunes Store. Simply install it, and you’re ready to go.

Using the Program

NZBin boasts an appealing interface that simplifies the sorting and management of your NZB files.

To initiate a binary download, you can either manually import the NZB file into NZBin or launch the NZB directly. The download process begins immediately.

As you discover NZB files, you’ll appreciate the thoughtful features integrated into NZBin.

The program quickly detects when binaries are taken down, allowing it to seamlessly transition to the next file on your list if needed.

NZBin automatically extracts binaries and repairs any damaged files.

Nzbs4u.net Review

Thu, 21 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000

NZBS4U.net closed as of 2015

The site offered a selection of hand-picked NZBs, which gave it a significant advantage over many NZB indexers in terms of reducing the amount of spam one had to search through to find a worthwhile download. The site offered VIP memberships, but users could opt to donate, instead. VIP membership offered two different options for file downloads: ZIP or uncompressed NZB.

Alternatives to NZBS4U.net

While NZBS4U.net might be gone for good, there are still plenty of great NZB sites out there. We keep an updated list of the best NZB sites around. If you want an alternative to NZBS4U.net, be sure to take a look at our reviews!

Newz-Complex.Org Review

Tue, 19 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000

NOTE: As of April 2021, Newz-complex has been offline for a month. We are currently declaring this indexer a dead NZB site.

Newz-complex.org mainly indexes German NZBs, but also has a lot of files available for gamers. Currently, their administrators have disabled registration on their website.

Newz-complex.org was previously offline back in November 2017 and has recently been up and running again. However, this NZB site does not allow new members to register to their site. To be able to get into Newz-complex.org, you would need to contact their site admin. Once you are able to get in, you can get access to a decent number of NZB files mainly from German newsgroups.

Newz Complex.org Homepage

Newz Complex.org Disabled Registration

Highlighted Features

German NZB Indexer
Registration disabled
Invites: Inquire with Admin
German Newsgroups crawled
2 Membership levels: Free & VIP
No Advertisements
Integrations: SabNZBD, NZBGet, Sonarr, CouchPotato, NZB Vortex, etc.
Active Forum
Spam-free Indexes
Privacy: SSL

Interface

Newz-complex.org has a very simple interface that can easily be navigated through even by new users. Files are categorized well and includes a lot of NZBs that cater to gamers. Mainly focused on German NZB files, Newz-complex.org has several German newsgroups crawled on their website. They also have a forum page that can be very useful for their members.

Hitnews Review

Mon, 18 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Hitnews is a Netherlands-based Usenet provider known for offering very cheap unlimited plans, often under €8/month, and emphasizing affordability. Its reputation is decent among price-sensitive users, though some reviews note that completion and retention may not always match premium providers like Eweka. For casual or budget users in Europe, Hitnews has remained a popular choice. As of 2025, Hitnews continues to operate actively, maintaining its reputation as one of the most affordable unlimited Usenet providers, with no major changes or new features recently announced. The provider offers multiple USENET access plans, including special nighttime and short-term accounts at discounted rates, unlimited Usenet search and downloads, SSL encryption, up to 30 connections, and 2100 days of binary retention.

Quick Facts

Multiple download speed plans
Speeds up to 1000 Mbit
Nighttime account option
Short-term account option
Discounts for long-term subscriptions
SSL privacy protection
Unlimited 3-day trial
Around 2100 days binary retention
Claimed 99.9% completion

Binary Retention

Hitnews provides about 2100 days of binary retention, which is lower than what some top Usenet providers offer.

Pricing

Hitnews offers several plans based on download speed, available for monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, and annual terms. All plans include unlimited downloads, Usenet search, and SSL-secured connections.

Plans	50 Mbit	250 Mbit	1000 Mbit
1 month fee	€3	0	€5	0	€7	0
3 month fee	€8	0	€14	0	€19	0
6 month fee	€14	0	€26	0	€36	0
Annual fee	€26	0	€50	0	€70	0
Connections	50	50	50

There is also a nighttime account option at a reduced price, providing up to 1000 Mbit download speed for €4.50 per month or €49.99 per year. Nighttime Usenet access is available Monday to Friday from 12AM to 4PM CET, and Saturday/Sunday from 12AM to 10AM CET. Outside these hours, download speed is limited to 1Mbit.

Home of NZB Review

Mon, 18 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Home of NZB was a free NZB indexing service that aimed to be user-friendly and compatible with a variety of popular PVR and download managers. The website featured a visually appealing interface, showcasing thumbnails for the latest indexed content. Users could easily navigate through a comprehensive log section that displayed recently uploaded articles and content.

Overview of Home of NZB as of September 2014

Defunct NZB Indexer
A no-cost indexing service.
Integrates seamlessly with SABnzbd.
Excludes adult content and releases.
Community forum available.
Supports RSS feeds and API access.

Membership Options

The platform provided a completely free service, requiring no subscriptions or payment. As a straightforward Usenet indexing site, Home of NZB was designed to facilitate community engagement, indexing various categories such as Console, Movies, Audio, PC, TV, Books, and more. It was particularly beneficial for users of applications like:

Features

Unfortunately, the FAQ section on the site is currently not accessible, limiting the information available to users unless they reach out to the developers directly. The site imposed a restriction of 500 API calls per day, with a 24-hour period defining the daily limit.

Users have noted that the platform functioned effectively with SABnzbd, Sickbeard, and other well-known download managers, ensuring satisfactory performance for those utilizing these applications.

Usenet.nl Review

Sun, 17 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Usenet.nl is a Usenet service provider that hails from the Netherlands. They offer plans that have very fast download speeds up until a specified limit, after which your connection speed will slow down, and they throw in their own newsreader.

Quick Facts

Very Simple Plan Structures
256-Bit SSL Privacy Protection
Five Server Farms
3800 Days Retention
Free Usenet Software
16 simultaneous connections

Binary Retention

Usenet.nl has more than 3800 days of binary retention, putting them in the same league as other good providers.

Pricing

Usenet.nl has a very simple package structure. There are only two packages. They offer the same features, but you’ll get a discount with the “Relax” version, which gives a discount for subscribing for twelve months. Yearly debiting for Relax Plan is at $99.00. You can subscribe to SpyOff VPN for an additional fee, but this VPN access is already included for free with their Compact Plan.

Plan	Price	Download at Maximum Speed
Compact	€14.00/mo	70 GB/mo
Relax	€8.25/mo	35 GB/mo

Usenet.nl offers a free newsreader software that you can download from their website. They have multiple options that would fit your Windows, Mac, Linux or Mobile device.

NZBDrive Review

Sat, 16 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000

NZBDrive is a free newsreader that excels in streaming media files directly from your preferred Usenet service provider using your favorite media player. Given the rapid download speeds typical of Usenet services, the need for live streaming is minimal, but the ability to stream on-the-fly certainly enhances the user experience by eliminating the wait for complete video downloads.

While primarily designed for Windows operating systems, NZBDrive is also compatible with Linux platforms. However, it’s important to note that this newsreader has not seen significant updates in recent years. The latest version, 2.0, can be downloaded from the NZBDrive website, which is managed by ByteFountain. This version was released in December 2018 and continues to receive maintenance from its developer.

Highlighted Features

The standout feature of NZBDrive is its ability to stream NZB files while they are being downloaded. It also includes several other functionalities that align with what is offered by competing newsreaders in the market today.

Mounts NZB Files – emulates a drive on your computer, allowing you to mount NZB files on this virtual drive.
Supports Split Files – files that are divided into parts are treated as a single complete file.
Multiple Server Support – configure multiple servers to enhance bandwidth and ensure failover or redundancy. Fill servers can also be set up to retrieve missing file parts from other servers.
Download on Demand – only the parts of files you are accessing are retrieved when needed, eliminating the need to download large amounts of data upfront.
Media Streaming – depending on your connection speed, you can stream media files while the content is being downloaded.
RAR and ZIP Support – archived files in RAR and ZIP formats are displayed as individual files, including multipart archives.
32 and 64-bit Application – supports both 32-bit and 64-bit Windows devices. The installer will automatically select the appropriate NZBDrive version for your Windows setup.
SSL Encryption Support – ensures a secure connection for safety and anonymity.
Share Files with Your Media Center – utilize Windows file-sharing capabilities to share the emulated drive with your media center, allowing playback on your TV.

Plans & Pricing

NZBDrive is entirely free to download and use.

ForteAgent Review

Fri, 15 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Since its inception in 1995, Forte Agent has carved a niche in the Usenet landscape as a pioneering developer. Long-time Usenet enthusiasts recognize Forte Agent as both a reliable Usenet service provider and a distinguished newsreader application.

The latest iteration, version 8.0, introduces a suite of enhanced features, including sophisticated spam filters and seamless multiple server support. Users can effortlessly download files split across different servers, as Forte Agent intelligently combines them without hassle. The new version also leverages automation capabilities, allowing users to schedule and manage tasks with ease, significantly reducing the manual effort required for downloading and other Usenet activities.

Highlighted Features

Forte has engineered its Agent 8 newsreader to excel with large Usenet binaries. Users can select, download, and view extensive Usenet binaries with a single click, eliminating the need for third-party software for downloading, joining, or repairing binaries.

Streamlined One-click Downloads
- MegaJoin for Usenet and NZB Binaries – consolidates related Usenet headers into a single “Mega” message, drastically reducing the number of messages in a binary newsgroup.
- Automatic Joining of RAR and Split Binaries – facilitates automatic downloading and joining of archived RAR or split files.
- Automatic Repair of Damaged Binaries – intelligently downloads only the necessary PAR files to repair corrupted files.
Comprehensive Binary Preview and Protection
- Video File Previews – allows users to download and preview a small sample of a RAR archive.
- Password Detection and Notification – samples media files to check if a password is required for extraction.
- Picture Preview – enables users to preview binary images during download.
- Attachment Management – provides users with control over file saving locations on their devices.
Advanced Usenet Automation
- Multiple News Servers – retrieves headers and bodies from various servers.
- Virtual News Servers – aggregates content from multiple servers automatically.
- Optimized Downloads – maximizes the number of connections for efficient downloading.
Integrated Discussion and Email Reader – supports text newsgroups, multiple email accounts, secure internet email, and safe HTML messages.
Identity Protection – offers routing by identity, multiple personas, persona protection, and adaptive junk filtering.
Excellent Customer Support – includes 90 days of free email support, access to tech support, and comprehensive FAQs.

Plans & Pricing

The Forte Agent 8 newsreader is priced at $29 for 1 to 9 copies. For bulk purchases of 10 to 99 copies, the price is reduced to $20 each. For orders of 100 copies or more, users can contact Forte Agent directly for pricing. This purchase includes a complimentary 3-month Agent Usenet account, capped at 15GB per month.

CamelSystem Powerpost Review

Thu, 14 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000

CamelSystem Powerpost is a user-friendly binary uploader for USENET, designed to maximize efficiency and streamline the posting process. Its intuitive interface simplifies the complexities of uploading binaries, making it accessible even for those new to USENET.

Despite its advantages, the latest version of this uploader, version 2.4, was released in January 2012, and it appears that further development has ceased. The official CamelSystem Powerpost website is no longer operational, but various software repositories still host installers for this tool.

The System

CamelSystem Powerpost is built in C++, which ensures efficient memory usage and a lightweight footprint on system resources. The setup process is straightforward, requiring only a few entries in a setup wizard. Users input their server address, configure connection and security settings, and they are ready to start uploading. The software also allows users to specify bandwidth limits for uploads, which is particularly useful for managing data usage.

Additionally, CamelSystem Powerpost offers practical advice for maintaining privacy on USENET, such as recommending the use of a disposable email address to avoid spam.

Once configured, CamelSystem Powerpost is remarkably user-friendly, even for those who are new to USENET.

Configuring the System

To configure the system, follow these steps:

Click on the Setup button

Server settings

Header Settings

Newsgroup Settings

General Settings

Using CamelSystem Powerpost

In terms of usability, CamelSystem Powerpost is on par with JBINup. Users with moderate to advanced technical skills will find it easy to navigate. Once familiar with the interface, the software operates swiftly.

Cinemax Go Review

Thu, 14 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Cinemax Go, previously branded as MAX GO, was a streaming service from Time Warner that provided access to Cinemax’s extensive library of films and television series. The service was accessible on mobile devices through dedicated apps for iOS and Android, as well as on computers via MAXGO.com. However, as of July 31, 2022, Cinemax Go has been officially discontinued and is no longer available on any platform.

To enjoy Cinemax content now, users must have an active subscription to Cinemax through a participating cable, satellite, or live TV streaming provider. Many providers offer Cinemax as a premium add-on, which grants access to both live channels and on-demand content. For example, services like Hulu allow subscribers to seamlessly integrate Cinemax into their plans, enabling direct streaming of Cinemax content through the Hulu interface.

Moreover, select Cinemax original series and films can be found on other streaming platforms. Notably, HBO Max (now rebranded simply as Max) includes a variety of Cinemax originals in its library, such as “Warrior” and “Banshee.” This consolidation is part of Warner Bros. Discovery’s broader strategy to unify content across fewer platforms.

For the latest information on accessing Cinemax content, visit the official Cinemax website or reach out to your TV service provider. If you are located outside the USA and wish to access region-restricted content, consider signing up for a VPN Service, which may assist in bypassing geographical limitations.

ABook Review

Tue, 12 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000

May 2020 - offline since July 2019 we are declaring Abook a dead site

The platform features a forum-style layout, making it straightforward for users to connect, ask questions, and engage with one another. While browsing the forums on Abook.to is free, accessing NZB downloads necessitates a membership. This site caters specifically to audiobook enthusiasts, offering a unique niche for users.

It is important to note that the website has undergone a domain change; it was previously accessible at abook.ws and is now found at abook.to.

Abook Abook

Abook Chat

Abook Invite Only

Abook.to Key Features

Audiobook NZBs via Forum
Basic Account: Limited Downloads
Premium Account: Unlimited Access
Retention period exceeding 300 days for binaries
Exclusively for Audiobook Groups
Download capabilities from forum threads
Advertisements: Present
Community Forum for all users
Invitations: Not currently available
IRC: Available on the site
Integrations: Forum-centric
Privacy: SSL secured
Hardware specifics: Not disclosed
Payment Methods: Bitcoin accepted

Membership Options for Abook.to

Name	Price	Nzbs
Free	$0	5
Donator	Invite Only	10

Final Thoughts

Currently, ABook.to operates on an invite-only system. Should this policy change, we will provide updates accordingly. The site is ideal for those focused solely on audiobooks, and since forum posts are fully accessible, users can evaluate the available content before deciding whether to pursue an invitation.

FileFactory Review

Mon, 11 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Editor’s Note: Filefactory no longer offers USENET access in their packages

FileFactory is a file sharing service that also offers USENET access. The basic service comes with unlimited downloads, 100TB of TrafficShare — a service that allows you to let other downloaders access your files—and a resume feature. The resume feature will pick up downloads if they happen to get dropped before they complete.

The basic service costs $19 per month. The company takes credit cards and other major payment forms, so there’s little hassle in getting set up. According to the company, the downloads are entirely unmetered, so unlimited actually means unlimited in the case of this provider.

30 Days - $19.00
90 Days - $39.00
180 Days - $59.00
365 Days - $99.00

Around the Internet, reviews of the service have been mixed. Some users have reported getting very fast download speeds from FileFactory and others have complained that the value isn’t there for the service. Whether or not you’re impressed with it will largely depend upon what you really need out of a service like this and whether the features particular to FileFactory meet those needs or not.

The service advertises that it’s compatible with games, documents, movies and music, so there are really no restrictions on what you can share on the service and how much you can download over it.

Newsbin Review

Mon, 11 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Newsbin stands out as a highly advanced and frequently updated software solution for Usenet enthusiasts. With a legacy dating back to 1997, it has evolved into a feature-rich platform that caters to both seasoned Usenet users and newcomers eager to maximize their Usenet experience.

As one of the first newsreaders to embrace the NZB format, Newsbin has consistently provided robust functionality and an intuitive interface. Its ongoing development ensures that users benefit from the latest enhancements and features.

Security is a priority with Newsbin, as it employs sophisticated filtering mechanisms and duplicate file detection to safeguard users from potentially harmful files, including malicious content and spam.

The integrated search functionality allows users to sift through millions of results across Usenet newsgroups, boasting one of the longest retention periods for both text and binary files—over 3000 days.

Furthermore, Newsbin offers a plethora of automation features that can be tailored to individual preferences. Its efficient search and download capabilities, combined with a user-friendly interface, continually improve the overall user experience.

Highlighted Features

TLS and SSL connection support
- Newsbin defaults to a TLS connection for secure communications. If your server lacks TLS support, an SSL connection is available.
Supports NZBs
- Newsbin was among the first newsreaders to adopt the NZB format, enhancing its usability.
Built-in Scheduler/Speed Limiter
- The smart speed limiter allows users to manage bandwidth usage effectively, enabling simultaneous downloads and web browsing. Users can also schedule download pauses.
Integrates with Popular Programs
- Newsbin seamlessly integrates with well-known applications like Sonarr, Sickbeard, and Sickrage.
Enhanced AutoPAR Functionality
Built-in Watch List
- The watch list feature enables users to monitor specific uploads and posters, automatically downloading from designated groups. Users can also specify topics of interest and adjust folders for downloaded files.
Built-in Image Database and Viewer
- Users can preview images as thumbnails while browsing or downloading.
Built-in PAR/RAR and Split File Processing
- Automatically processes downloaded RAR files, repairing missing or damaged files. It utilizes AutoPAR to combine Master splitter and RAR files for extraction.
Advanced Spam Filtering
- Newsbin’s spam filtering capabilities help segregate malicious content from search results. Users can hide unwanted posts, block RAR password-protected files, and create custom filter rules based on file size, age, and more.
Compressed Header Support via XFeature header compression
Download Special (on top of all downloads)
Supports Multiple Servers (Proxy)
- Newsbin supports SOCKS 4, SOCKS 5, and HTTP proxies.
Binary and text retention of up to 3500 days
Download prioritization and automatic shutdown (More on Scheduling and Automation Section)
Duplicate Detection (Bypass Filters)
- Newsbin maintains a signature database (signature.db3) to identify previously downloaded files.
Comprehensive Newsbin Tutorials
- Newsbin offers a dedicated tutorial page catering to all user levels, fostering community engagement and support.
Customizable Interface and Newsgroup Organizer

The current version of Newsbin is 6.82, featuring:

UsenetStorm Review

Mon, 11 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000

UsenetStorm is the new name for AltBinaries, a well-known USENET service provider. This provider includes the Newsbin newsreader, but new users might want to look for something simpler, like Easynews.

Quick Facts

Fast Downloads
Unlimited Packages
SSL Encryption (Privacy Protection)
Up to 50 Connections
Four Years of Binary Retention

Binary Retention

UsenetStorm currently claims to have four years of binary retention; certainly competitive with other providers but not at the same level as the best Usenet service providers out there.

Pricing

The lower-priced options from UsenetStorm includes data limits. The unlimited plan is unlimited in all regards.

Name	Price	Download Limits	Speed Limit	Connection
Starter	$4.25/month	20 GB/month	Unlimited	50
Standard	$8.95/month	50 GB/month	Unlimited	50
Unlimited	$12.95/month	Unlimited	Unlimited	50

Free Trial info

There is no free trial with this provider.

Special Offers / Coupons

There are currently no special offers or coupons from this Usenet service provider. Check back soon, however, as we pass along coupons to our readers when we get them.

Speed Test

UsenetStorm is fast, as are most USENET service providers. You should be able to max out your Internet speed with this provider.

NZB Hydra Review

Sun, 10 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000

✨

Editor’s Tip:

Editor’s Note: Although the current iteration of NZB Hydra continues to function adequately, the developers strongly advocate for transitioning to the more advanced version launched in 2018, known as NZBHydra 2.

Are you exhausted from navigating numerous NZB sites in your quest for content? NZB Hydra could streamline your search experience significantly.

Functioning as a meta search engine, NZB Hydra targets both newznab indexers and torznab trackers. For enhanced access to these indexers and trackers, users can also leverage Jackett, a complementary tool that simplifies the process.

It is worth noting that this version of NZB Hydra has not seen updates since 2018. In alignment with its creators, we recommend exploring NZBHydra 2 for a more robust experience.

Overview of the Program

NZB Hydra excels at searching across a variety of NZB sites. The developer describes it as a “spiritual successor” to NZBMegasearch. However, it remains in the alpha phase, which means users should anticipate potential bugs and glitches.

In addition to NZB searches, the software allows users to query IMDB, TVRage, and other platforms to locate NZBs for the binaries they seek.

This application is built on Python 2.7 and is designed to work with reverse proxies. However, similar to its other functionalities, users may encounter some operational hiccups that need resolution before achieving optimal performance.

EasyUSENET Uploader Review

Thu, 07 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000

If you’re looking to enhance your Usenet experience without getting bogged down by complexity, EasyUSENET Uploader could be the ideal tool for you. This uploader stands out for its simplicity, making it one of the few options that cater effectively to novices. While it does come with some limitations, they are relatively minor compared to its overall utility.

EasyUSENET Uploader is a freeware application designed exclusively for Windows, and it serves as a streamlined alternative to yEncBin Poster, which is another tool for uploading binary files. The latter became increasingly complex due to numerous feature requests, leading to the development of EasyUSENET Uploader as a simpler solution.

However, it’s important to note that the latest version of this software, 1.0.73, was released back in June 2010, and there have been no updates or developments since then. The original EasyUsenet Uploader website is no longer operational, but the program can still be found on various software distribution sites.

The Software

EasyUSENET Uploader has two standout features: its user-friendliness and its support for SSL. This combination offers both convenience and security, which is essential for any Usenet software.

For beginners, EasyUSENET Uploader is one of the most accessible uploaders available. Its interface is designed to be intuitive, allowing users to navigate the software with ease. It also maintains a log of your uploads and can handle up to 25 simultaneous threads, although most users may not require that many.

GoGo Usenet Review

Tue, 05 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000

✨

Editor’s Tip:

Editors Note: As of May 2019 GogoUsenet is currently closed until further notice.

Quick Facts (Historical)

Web-based USENET access
No newsreader required
SSL included
Limited retention (not listed on provider’s site)
Thousands of newsgroups
Online downloading

Pricing (Historical)

GogoUsenet offered a single plan. The first month was billed at $19.95. Payment was by credit card only. No free trial was available.

Term	Price
One Month	$14.95

Support & Contact (Historical)

Support was available via an online form on the provider’s website. No other contact information was listed.

Security & Privacy (Historical)

The website was secured with SSL. The provider stated that information collected was protected, but details on privacy policy were limited.

Service Details (Historical)

GogoUsenet was accessed through a web interface, so no newsreader configuration was required. Binary retention was not specified. No anonymous payment options were available.

Frequently Asked Questions (Historical)

Q: Why was there so little information on the GogoUsenet website?

Most Usenet providers offered detailed websites with information about their services, packages, and privacy policies. GogoUsenet’s site was minimal, making it difficult to assess the service before purchase. Some details, such as retention and technical specifications, were not disclosed publicly.

HummingBoard HTPC

Tue, 05 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000

If you’ve been using Raspberry Pi as your home theater PC, you might want to consider the HummingBoard, a compact and fanless single-board computer (SBC) developed by SolidRun. Originally designed as a more powerful and modular alternative to early Raspberry Pi models, the HummingBoard supports several open-source operating systems, including Ubuntu, Android, and XBMC. Its compact size matches that of the Raspberry Pi, allowing you to use existing Raspberry Pi cases with the HummingBoard.

What It Offers

The HummingBoard features a faster processor than the Raspberry Pi, which enables it to handle a wider range of operating systems and applications. This performance boost is particularly appealing for users who have been using Raspberry Pi as a dedicated Usenet machine. The device’s enhanced processing capabilities allow it to manage automated downloads, unpacking, and other tasks more efficiently than the Raspberry Pi. If you’re weighing the option of using a Raspberry Pi or repurposing an old computer for your HTPC, the HummingBoard presents a compelling middle ground that offers superior performance at a reasonable cost.

HummingBoard offers several models with varying pricing and features:

Edge - from $120
Gate - from $104
CBI - from $183
Pro - from $112

Convenience

The board comes with all necessary schematics and layout information, allowing users to modify it according to their preferences. It enjoys robust support from the global digital maker community, making it an attractive option for hobbyists eager to explore the capabilities of digital devices.

NZBid Review

Tue, 05 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Online since 2013, NZBid was a free site that offered Newznab access to a good selection of groups. NZBid.org currently is down however during the height of popularity they boasted of more than two million NZBs, RSS integration and quite a few other features. The site is ad supported, so there’s no need for memberships; joining only takes a couple of minutes.

NZBid Highlighted Features

Free NZB Search Site
Free AccountAll accounts are free
VIP Account N/A
Retention - over 1000 days of binary
More than 50 groups crawled
Indexer Frequency not Specified
Ad supported
No Forum
Invites: N/A
IRC: No
Integrations: NZBVortex, SABnzbd, etc
Privacy: No
Hardware details: Not given
Payment Options: N/A

Membership Levels for NZBid

Name	Price	Nzbs	Apis	Invites
Free	$0	5/Day	100	No
VIP	$12/Yr	Unlimited	10000/Day	Yes

Conclusion

NZBid is Newznab based, so it integrates with the most common downloaders available. It provides an RSS feed and an API for users upon registration. The site can also be searched manually. NZBid is worth joining, given that it’s completely free, but it doesn’t have the same extensive features that some paid sites offer. Nonetheless, a free NZB indexer with open memberships is always welcome and a nice addition to anyone’s resources.

GingaDaddy Review

Mon, 04 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000

GingaDaddy is an open NZB site that has been a staple in the Usenet indexing community since 2008. The platform efficiently indexes over a million NZB files from more than 50 newsgroups, making it a go-to resource for users seeking a wide array of content.

As a free Usenet indexing site, GingaDaddy also offers VIP accounts that unlock additional features. It stands out in the crowded NZB landscape due to its extensive file index and user-friendly interface. Built on the Newznab+ framework, GingaDaddy ensures that its indexes are free from spam, allowing users to dive straight into the content without the hassle of waiting for invitations.

Gingadaddy Browse

Gingadaddy Forum

Gingadaddy Search Results

Gingadaddy Contact Form

Gingadaddy Vip Upgrades

Highlighted Features

Newznab+ NZB indexer for superior performance
Free & VIP Accounts available
Open registration—no invites required
Crawls over 50 newsgroups
Indexes more than 1 million NZBs
Offers 100,000+ additional NZBs for VIPs
Retention periods ranging from 200 to 2000 days
API Integration with popular tools like Sickbeard and Sabnzbd
Customized RSS direct download feeds
Active forum and community support
Personal bookmarking for NZBs
Ad-free experience for VIPs
Enhanced privacy with SSL encryption
Advanced search result sorting options

Interface

GingaDaddy’s interface, powered by Newznab+, is designed for ease of navigation and exploration. Users can search by title, IMDB, or IGN URL, and browse categories that include Apps, E-books, Games, Movies, Music, TV, and Phone Applications. The platform also allows users to filter files by latest uploads, most popular posts, recommended files, or recent user comments.

Cheapnews Review

Sat, 02 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Cheapnews offers block and standard subscription USENET access. This Usenet service provider also offers VPN access for an additional fee.

Quick Facts

Block and Unlimited Access

EU Servers
Bitcoin Accepted
SSL (Privacy Protection)
Free Block Access Trial
VPN Add-On Available or as a standalone product
7-day, 40GB Free Trial
Up to 48 connections
Usenet + VPN option
- 3 simultaneous logins
- 256-bit data encryption

Binary Retention

Binary retention is currently at 2000 days and has been holding steady for the last few years. As the Internet grows and Usenet gets more popular this is quite a feat.

Pricing

Cheapnews has both Flat Fee and Block accounts:

Flat Fee Accounts

Name	Price per month	Connections	Max Speed	Data Limit
Basic	€3.50	10	20 Mbit	Unlimited
Premium	€6.25	12	60 Mbit	Unlimited
Ultimate	€8.50	18	120 Mbit	Unlimited
Stellar	€8.75	24	160 Mbit	Unlimited
Legacy	€9.25	40	250 Mbit	Unlimited
Legend	€9.75	48	Unlimited	Unlimited

Block Accounts

Name	Price	Connections	Max Speed	Data
Starter	€7.95	24	Unlimited	50 GB
Small	€14.95	24	Unlimited	100 GB
Standard	€24.95	24	Unlimited	250 GB
Medium	€34.95	24	Unlimited	500 GB
Large	€64.95	24	Unlimited	1000 GB
Pro	€119.95	24	Unlimited	2000 GB

VPN can also be added to subscription plans for € 5,50 per month or as a standalone product for €8,25. Their VPN account comes with the 3 multi log ins and uses the following protocols: PPTP, IPSec, OpenVPN and IKEv2. Their VPN service is compatible with Windows, Mac, iOS and Android.

Snelnl Review

Sat, 02 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000

SnelNL is a Usenet service provider that has a free newsreader that allows you to stream as you download. They also offer three different levels of USENET access, all with unlimited downloads.

Quick Facts

Available for Windows and MacOS
Free Usenet downloading software
Usenet streaming freeware
Free Trial
Accepts Bitcoin
Unlimited Downloads

Binary Retention

SnelNL is currently offering 1238 days of binary retention. This is less than our best Usenet service providers, but competitive with many USENET providers.

Pricing

SnelNL allows you to download their newsreader software for free. You can get a subscription to their USENET access or configure the newsreader to access USENET via another company’s servers, your choice.

Name	Monthly Fee	Annual Fee	Download Limits	Speed
Slow	€3.95	€47.40	Unlimited	5 Mbit
Basic	€6.95	€83.40	Unlimited	60 Mbit
Fast	€8.95	€107.40	Unlimited	1000 Mbit

SnelNL subscription comes with their one-of-a-kind Usenet streaming software which allows you to stream on their in-app player as soon as your download starts.

NZBCat Review

Wed, 27 Feb 2019 00:00:00 +0000

NZBCat is an exclusive, invite-only NZB site that boasts an impressive catalog of over a million indexed files. Free account members can access 5 NZBs daily and make 100 API calls, making it a practical choice for dedicated Usenet users.

Leveraging advanced automated algorithms, NZBCat efficiently indexes content on Usenet. Users can utilize the intuitive web-based interface to search and browse for specific NZBs, which can then be seamlessly integrated into any Usenet download application for efficient content retrieval. Since its establishment in 2014, NZBCat has solidified its reputation as a reliable NZB indexer within the Usenet community.

While the site consistently updates its releases, the overall design may feel somewhat outdated, particularly in the news section, which has not seen updates since 2014. Nonetheless, NZBCat continues to maintain a substantial library of indexed NZBs.

Nzbcat Browse Groups

Nzbcat New Releases

Nzbcat Advanced Search

Nzbcat Donate

Highlighted Features

Exclusive invite-only NZB indexer
Built on the robust nZEDb platform
Invites available with VIP membership
Multiple membership tiers (Free & VIP)
Donation options for contributing members
Retention period exceeding 600 days for binaries
Ad-free browsing experience
Access to trending content for contributors and VIPs
Forum access for contributors and VIPs
File organization with folders for contributors and VIPs
New releases across all genres
Dedicated chat page
Advanced search functionality
API integrations with Sickbeard, Sonarr, CouchPotato, SABnzbd, NZBGet, etc.
RSS feed support
Enhanced privacy with SSL encryption

Interface

NZBCat operates on a nZEDb-based framework, a fork of newznab+, which automatically scans Usenet in a manner similar to how Google search bots index the web. The user interface is designed for convenience, featuring well-categorized files. Users can organize their files into custom folders like “My Movies” and “My Shows,” and search results are generated swiftly through the site’s efficient search functionality.

NZBVortex Review

Tue, 26 Feb 2019 00:00:00 +0000

NZBVortex remains a fast Usenet client that boasts several features designed for optimal performance and efficiency. Available in both free and paid versions, the latter unlocks advanced functionalities that enhance the user experience.

This newsreader excels at skipping unnecessary PAR2 files and sample downloads, ensuring that users can focus on the content they want. The SmartCheck feature quickly determines if a PAR2 check is necessary, optimizing the downloading process. Compatible with macOS X 10.7 and later, the application is lightweight at just 10.6 MB.

The latest iteration, NZBVortex 3, reflects significant updates and improvements to its software, although it has not seen updates since version 3.4.3 in early 2018.

Highlighted Features

NZBVortex is a fully-featured Usenet client that combines newsreader functions with robust downloading capabilities. Key features include:

Multi-connection and threaded downloading
Optimized downloading with automatic PAR2 skipping
PAR and PAR2 verification and repair
Automatic decompression of downloaded files
SmartCheck functionality
RSS feed support for automated downloads
Cleanup of unwanted files
Manual post-processing options
Separate folders for downloads and completed files
Automatic shutdown upon completion of all downloads
NZB watch folder for monitoring new content
Option to skip sample files
Automatic file cleanup
Simultaneous transfer options
Support for yEnc encoded articles
Intuitive native macOS UI (Cocoa)
Low HDD usage with memory caching, ideal for SSDs
SSL server support
Zipped NZB file compatibility
Download throttling and limiting
Growl notifications
Sparkle auto-update feature

The latest release, version 3.3.10, introduces several enhancements aimed at improving user experience, including a 10% reduction in interruptions caused by damaged content. New features include:

PowerUsenet Review

Tue, 26 Feb 2019 00:00:00 +0000

PowerUsenet is a US-based Usenet service provider that offers encrypted and unencrypted USENET access. Their service is comparable with their competitors, though their prices are a bit higher than many.

✨

Editor’s Tip:

EDITOR’S NOTE: While PowerUsenet seems to still be active and can be used, there has been close to no activity on their website or changes on their service for the past few years.

Quick Facts

Unlimited Access
SSL Encryption Option
Fast Speeds
Over 2000 Days Binary Retention
Up to 30 Connections
Five-Day, 10 GB Free Trial
Backbone: Multi-gigabit

Binary Retention

PowerUsenet offers 2000 days of binary retention at the time of writing. Text retention is at 18+ years.

Pricing

PowerUsenet offers two different account levels: one with encryption and one without. Both of them come with unlimited downloads and speed, though the unsecured “Power User” account is limited to fifteen connections.

Name	Price	Download Limits	Connections
Secure Power User	$19.99	Unlimited	30
Power User	$14.95	Unlimited	15

Free Trial info

Both account types come with a five-day free trial, with a maximum download limit of 10GB. Cancel before the trial ends and you won’t be billed for the service.

ExtremeUsenet Review

Sun, 24 Feb 2019 00:00:00 +0000

ExtremeUsenet is a Dutch Usenet service provider that offers multiple packages from their normal plans to discounted prices for off-peak hours. They have good tech support and competitive prices on their products.

Quick Facts

Discount Rates for Off-Peak Hours
SSL (Privacy Protection)
Good Prices
Account Sharing Allowed
Unlimited Downloads
Speeds up to 200 mbit
150,000 newsgroups

Binary Retention

ExtremeUsenet currently offers 2200 days of retention. This is a bit less than our best usenet service providers.

Pricing

ExtremeUsenet prices their packages differently than most usenet service providers. They have both average speed plans and high-speed plans which you can subscribe to on a monthly, quarterly, semi-annual and annual basis.

Normal Plans	4 Mbit	8 Mbit	12 Mbit	20 Mbit	30 Mbit	60 Mbit	120 Mbit
1 mo. fee	€4.00	€5.00	€6.00	€6.50	€7.00	€8.00	€10.00
3 mo fee	€11.40	€14.30	€17.10	€18.53	€19.95	€22.80	€28.50
6 mo fee	€21.60	€27.00	€32.40	€35.10	€37.80	€43.20	€54.00
Annual fee	€38.40	€48.00	€57.60	€62.40	€67.20	€76.80	€96.00
Connections	4	4	8	12	12	12	20

High-Speed Plans	150 Mbit	200 Mbit	300 Mbit
1 mo. fee	€12.00	€14.00	€17.00
3 mo. fee	€32.00	€40.00	€48.50
6 mo. fee	€60.00	€75.00	€90.00
Annual fee	€110.00	€140.00	€170.00
Connections	20	20	30

You’ll notice that the 12/7 packages are steeply discounted. These allow you to download during one of three different off-peak times—you pick which one—and to get a lower price for doing so. None of these subscriptions are recurring; ExtremeUsenet will ask you if you want to renew at the end of your subscription period.

Newseros Review

Sun, 24 Feb 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Former Spanish NZB site Newseros is now closed down and the domain is for sale as of early 2019.

NewsEros is a Spanish-language NZB forum. It’s moderated and invites are required if you want to register. NewsEros runs on the Simple Machines Forum software. It’s a good option for Spanish-language content and for those who want an alternative to Newznab-type sites.

NewsEros.com Highlighted Features

Simple Machines Forum NZB Site
Free Account: Not Disclosed
VIP Account: Not Disclosed
Retention - 500 days of binary
No Ads
Invites: Required
IRC: No
Integrations: None, forum-based
Privacy: No
Hardware details: Not Disclosed
Payment: N/A

Membership Levels for NewsEros.com.com

Name	Price	Nzbs	Apis	Forum
Free	$0	5	No	No
Paid	$10 Year	Unlimited	Yes	Yes

Conclusion

NewsEros.com required an invitation. The site content is in Spanish, so this should be a good option if you’re having a hard time finding Spanish-language NZBs. The forums appear to be well moderated and the platform has a range of features, from personal messages to calendars and beyond.

Newz69 Review

Sun, 24 Feb 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Newz69 serves as a Newznab-based indexer that offers complimentary access to its users. By simply registering on the site, members can unlock a variety of features and services.

Available at newz69.keagaming.com, Newz69 provides its users with a substantial number of API hits and NZB downloads. The site’s open registration policy allows anyone to join, and once registered, users can experience a streamlined interface that caters to both beginners and experienced NZB site aficionados.

News69 Browse All

News69 Forum

News69 Raw Search

News69 Search Results

News69 Contact

Key Features

Open registration, no invites needed
Completely free account membership
Absence of VIP account tiers
Daily limits: 300 API hits and 40 NZB downloads
Clean, user-friendly interface devoid of advertisements
Actively moderated community forums
Compatibility with popular tools like Sonarr, NZBGet, and Sabnzbd
RSS feeds available for effortless updates
SSL encryption for user privacy
Indexer updates every 15 minutes
Crawls over 50 newsgroups

User Experience

The design of Newz69 prioritizes user-friendliness, making it accessible even for those new to NZB sites. The layout is straightforward, featuring clearly labeled and organized menus. Users can easily navigate through recent NZB files or utilize the raw search function. Results are displayed in an organized manner, categorized by file name, type, date posted, size, and other relevant metrics. The site encompasses a diverse range of categories, including films, television shows, audio, software, adult content, console games, and literature.

Valentine’s Day Special Offers

Sat, 09 Feb 2019 00:00:00 +0000

According to Britannica.com , this holiday it has origins in the Roman festival of Lupercalia, held in mid-February. The festival, which celebrated the coming of spring, included fertility rites and the pairing off of women with men by lottery.

According to legend, though no one has pinpointed the exact origin of the holiday, one good place to start is ancient Rome, where men hit on women by, well, hitting them. Young women would actually line up for the men to hit them, Lenski says. They believed this would make them fertile.

The brutal fete included a matchmaking lottery, in which young men drew the names of women from a jar. The couple would then be, um, coupled up for the duration of the festival — or longer, if the match was right.

Top 4 Valentines Day Special Offers

Here are our top Valentine 2026 Special Offers for Usenet Providers

#1 - Newshosting

$4.17 Mo ($50 / Year) for a yearly High Speed subscription
79% off compared to regular monthly price.
This discount applies for life and includes:
- Unlimited downloads
- Free newsreader with search
- Free zero-log VPN account
- Uncapped speeds
- 256-bit SSL-secured connections

Timeline - February 10 to February 14th

Link To Us

Sat, 26 Jan 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Best Deal Banners

Please feel free to link To UsenetReviewz.com with any of these banners

German Police Shut Down USENET Sites

Sun, 26 Nov 2017 00:00:00 +0000

A series of raids conducted by German law enforcement authorities, along with law enforcement agencies in several other nations, ended up netting a total of 42 suspects associated with several popular USENET binary sites, which authorities claim were used as venues where people could get free access to copyrighted material, including movies, music, and more.

Following complaints by more than 100 copyright holders who claimed their intellectual property was made available illegally on the sites, German authorities launched an investigation. In the end, authorities would raid data centers in several nations, including Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, San Marino, Spain, and Switzerland. According to a press release from German authorities, the online portals they shut down provided access to between 400,000 and 1,200,000 titles. Authorities claim that Town.ag and Usenet-Town.com, both taken offline in the raid, were two of the largest online destinations for people searching for everything from television and film binaries to newspapers and magazines.

While Usenet-Town.com and Town.ag were the two largest sites taken down in the raid, German authorities said that the facilities and operators associated with the USENET portal UsenetRevolution.info were also caught up in the operation, which took place on 11 September, 2017. Fastnzb.info and the site SSL-News, home to a USENET reseller, were also taken down during the raids.

PayPal making problems for USENET

Tue, 13 Jun 2017 00:00:00 +0000

PayPal hasn’t allowed USENET providers to process payments through them for years now. And in 2017, the company recently took aim at another vital set of Internet services, and for the same reasons they stopped taking USENET subscriber payments.

According to PayPal, it’s all about copyright infringement.

More of the Same from PayPal

PayPal prohibits products that facilitate copyright infringement in its terms of service. They stopped processing payments for USENET providers in 2012, and have always refused to do business with any company that provided products for using BitTorrent and other file-sharing services.

In 2017 PayPal cut off processing services for UnoTelly, a Canadian SmartDNS and VPN provider, saying that the company’s products were advertised as a means to violate copyrights.

What PayPal claimed isn’t necessarily untrue. UnoTelly did advertise its service as a way that one could get around region restrictions on streaming services. Plenty of companies do.

SmartDNS and VPN services, however, are also used for privacy protection, and that means that PayPal won’t be available for people who want a VPN to protect themselves from people snooping on their data. While the company hasn’t made any large-scale cutoffs of services to VPN providers as of yet, VPN companies quite often advertise their services as being suitable for torrenting, and PayPal seems to have gone on something of a mission.

Hard Disk Issues Takes Binsearch.info Offline For A While

Tue, 14 Mar 2017 00:00:00 +0000

For a couple of hours this last week the usenet search engine Binsearch.info had a few hardware problems that took them off the internet. As of this moment they have the problem fixed…for the most part. It will take them a bit to get all the headers and data that was lost back up to date and current.

What The Heck Happened

It seems that a pair of their solid state disks weren ’t as solid as the manufacturer made them out to be, so they both failed at the same time. A occurrence that is highly unusual and goes against most all odds. It didn ’t take the guys long to get the failed disks replaced, but they had to use backup copies that weren ’t current to replace all the data that was lost…this is the reason it will take them a couple of days to get everything updated and current.

Often “ Not Really

HDD failure is something all of us do the best we can do to anticipate, and it isn ’t easy to do sometimes. Malfunctions can occur to even the best of us, and at the oddest times. We have to commend the team though, for their fast action, and getting the site back online so quickly. The data loss was an unfortunate loss though, but also a small problem that is easily fixed…though not quite as quickly as the disk replacement.

Perfect 10 Loses Appeal Against Giganews

Wed, 01 Mar 2017 00:00:00 +0000

Notorious copyright troll Perfect 10 lost its appeal against Giganews in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. This marks another major loss for the ostensible porn company which, over the years, has become more famous for its frivolous lawsuits that it has for any sort of entertainment production.

Giganews Continues Its Wins

Giganews had already dealt Perfect 10 a stinging defeat in 2015, when Perfect 10 was ordered by the courts to pay $5.6 million to the USENET access provider to cover Giganews’ attorney’s fees. The lawsuit Perfect 10 filed against Giganews was similar to the lawsuits it had filed against other Internet companies over the years, including Amazon, Google, Microsoft and Tumblr, among others.

In a statement on the Giganews website, Co-CEO Ron Yokubaitis said that the company decided that it was “important to stand up to Perfect 10 and not be bullied by its abusive litigation tactics.”
Yokubaitis described Giganews’ decision to get aggressive with Perfect 10 as a “stand” for USENET, technology and online platforms, as well as for the public and “rational copyright law.”

Perfect 10 had the backing of the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), a copyright-holder advocacy group that pushes for more aggressive and expansive copyright infringement.

Dump Truck Discontinued

Wed, 11 Nov 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Dump Truck, the encrypted file storage service that comes with some Giganews USENET accounts, is going away. The last day for the service will be December 19, so you’ll need to clear out your files before that day comes.

Golden Frog, the company behind the service, said that they decided to focus their efforts on Cyphr, an encrypted messaging program, and VyprVPN , their popular VPN service.

They said that the storage market has “changed significantly over the past several years,” which also contributed to their decision to end the service. With so much storage being available, and oftentimes for free, Dump Truck isn’t garnering the demand it once did.

You can remove your files using the Dump Truck app.

Golden Frog is not leaving its customers without options, however.

You can use DigitalSafe, another encrypted storage program, at a fifty-percent discount through Golden Frog. They haven’t provided the link yet, but check back soon. We’ll make it available when they provide it.

You can also use SpiderOak, recommended by no less than Edward Snowden. After the trial is up, the service only costs $7 per month. This offer is only available for Golden Frog users.

You can also encrypt files locally with VeraCrypt . It’s an open source program and you can download it for free. It’s available for Windows, Mac and Linux.

USENET Contributes to the English Language

Sat, 19 Sep 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Anyone who has participated in a flame war on USENET knows that it can produce some interesting language. It turns out that, on the more academic end of things, it also contributes new words to the English language.

Contributing to the Ultimate Source

If there’s one almost universally accepted source for which words are and are not parts of the English language, it’s The Oxford English Dictionary. The collection is updated quarterly and, according to reporting on Flavorwire, more than 500 new words were added during the last round of updates.

According to Assistant Editor Jonathan Dent, “[the] OED currently makes use of nearly 2,500 quotations from Usenet, with quotations from its newsgroups providing the first available evidence for use in more than 400 senses or entries.” In fact, the more you look at the specific words that are sourced from (or contextualized by) Usenet, the more obvious it becomes that much of our online and offline culture is derived from the factional world of 1990s newsgroups:

Usenet provides early evidence for many computing and Internet-related terms (defrag, the verb to email, http, mp3, p2p, XML) and vocabulary from the shadowy world of hacking (black-hat and white hat, darknet, hacktivism)…‘geek culture’ (cosplay, LARP, retcon, alpha geek, anime, and the newly added ship), identity politics (LGBT, cisgender), and sexual subcultures (BDSM).
In his note on the quarterly update, Dent suggests that what elevates Usenet over and above other potential online sources is its emphasis on shared communities — as opposed to, say, diffuse, rage-based networks — which more easily generate context (and therefore meaning). So when it comes to producing meaningful language, Twitter, even with its 500 million tweets a day, is still catching up to a technology that found its identity in the 1980s and 1990s.

How Popular is Usenet ?

Tue, 15 Sep 2015 00:00:00 +0000

If you think the heyday of USENET has passed, you’re wrong. The venerable system is still widely used and, at least according to some sources, has been quite active lately.

It’s Not a Wasteland, Even if it Seems that Way

If you log onto USENET and check some of the newsgroups, it’ll become readily apparent that a lot of them are more or less abandoned. Some of them haven’t seen a new post in years, and some of them are nothing more than one spam post after another.

That doesn’t mean the system’s past its prime, however. In fact, a recent discussion post on a popular Internet board from one provider said that they had logged over 60 million messages during the first week of September. This marked an increase of 1.5 million over the previous record, which was set roughly a month earlier, and those messages accounted for more than 24 terabytes—that’s right, not gigabytes, terabytes—of information.

What Makes it Popular

There are actually some pretty active groups on USENET. If you want to get away from the banality of most Internet forums, it’s still a good place to go.

However, the binary newsgroups are really what’s driving the popularity. “Binary” is just USENET-speak for a file that can be downloaded from the newsgroups. The file could be video, audio, a program or anything else, really.

NZBFinder Improves Site

Sun, 16 Aug 2015 00:00:00 +0000

The site formerly ran on a customized NewzNab installation. Now, it runs on nZEDb. The developers say that they’re catching double the releases they were before the upgrade.

Other Improvements

It’s also a bit easier to get service from NZBFinder. The company switched over their payment provider, and they can now take MasterCard, Visa, AmEx and prepaid gift cards from any of those brands.

They take Bitcoin, as well, so if you want the most anonymous transaction possible they can provide it. The developers are currently exploring adding Paysafe as an option.

NZBFinder’s premium options include:

Basic, with 5,000 API hits and infinite downloads for €10 per year.
Pro, with 20,000 API hits and infinite downloads for €20 per year.
Elite, with unlimited API hits, infinite downloads and Spotweb for €35 per year.

They also have a free membership with 10 API hits and three downloads that you can use to try out the service.

Important Links

Alternatives to NZBFinder

NZBFinder : Free 5 NZBs & 25 API Calls. Affordable Plans Starting at €10
UsenetCrawler : Exceptional Free Account Offering. Crawls Over 500 Newsgroups
BluRayNZB : Cutting-Edge NZB Indexer. Affordable Membership Plans
NZBgeek : Open Registration Available. Offers Both Free and Premium Services
NZBGrabit : Five Free .ZIP Downloads. Includes Arcade Games and a Photo Editor
NZB.su : No Invites Required. Robust API Integrations
FileSharingTalk : Forum-Based Community. Donation Options Available
GingaDaddy : Open NZB Site With Extensive Indexing. Unlimited NZBs and APIs for VIP Members
abNZB : Flexible Membership Options. Over 4 Million NZBs Indexed
Tabula Rasa : Advanced Search Engine With Intuitive Navigation. Supports Cryptocurrencies and Amazon Gift Cards

The Hacking Team, USENET and OpSec

Sun, 12 Jul 2015 00:00:00 +0000

The Hacking Team, an Italian company that sells hacking software to governments, suffered a major hack itself during the first week of July.

Hackers leaked documents they said were taken from The Hacking Team, but the documents have not been authenticated as of yet. The 400GB worth of information, available over Bittorrent, reveals that The Hacking Team could be working with some of the most repressive regimes in the world, providing them with software that allows government snoops to get into computers without being traced while doing so.

Ironically enough, the CEO of the company, David Vincenzetti, has an impressive history of helping everyday people to secure their data against exactly the type of intrusion his company now makes possible.

In fact, Vincenzetti even hosted one of the early versions of PGP on his own server in the early 1990s, according to Ars Technica.

The young programmer also spent quite a bit of his time trying to improve security software. He even published an academic paper on his work in 1993.

So, how does The Hacking Team make a buck?

According to the documents that were leaked, by doing exactly the opposite type of work that the younger Vincenzetti put his efforts into.

USENET Is Big in South Africa

Thu, 12 Mar 2015 00:00:00 +0000

USENET is a big deal in South Africa. According to a recent report, quite a few South Africans use it or Bittorrent on a regular basis.

Hitting the Newsgroups

In 2015, MyBroadband.co.za reported that fifty-eight percent of 3,444 IT professionals surveyed said they use USENET or Bittorrent to get entertainment.

Another twenty-eight percent said that they use streaming services to get their entertainment.

Where comparisons between USENET and Bittorrent are concerned, there’s usually a vast difference in privacy and speed.

Most USENET services, including our preferred providers, offer SSL encryption, which protects your traffic from being snooped upon by governments and other agencies.

By contrast, Bittorrent users have to use a third-party service, a VPN, to get the same level of security.

USENET also provides very fast downloads, as the download is directly from the server to the user. Torrents are downloaded from multiple sources and, in some cases, it may take a long time for enough sources to be available to enable a fast download.

Getting USENET

You can check with any of our preferred providers for good deals on USENET access. Many of them offer servers in multiple regions of the world, so you can pick one that’s close to you for the best performance.

Will Netflix Crackdown Bring More Users to USENET

Tue, 13 Jan 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Netflix may be one of the most popular services for streaming movies on the planet, but that doesn’t mean everyone on the planet gets the same service. Depending on which country you live in, Netflix provides you with various movies and TV shows. This differs from one country to the next, though, due in large part to the deals they have worked out with the studios and distributors behind these videos.

Many have worked around this barrier, though, by using VPNs (virtual private networks). These networks have allowed users to bypass Netflix’s geo-blocker, so, say, a British user could watch shows reserved for American audiences. Obviously, this means a lot of people in countries where Netflix isn’t even available no longer have to wait for that day to come in order to stream videos.

Over the past few weeks, though, it looks like Netflix may have wizened up. Many users found that they had to use Google DNS before they could watch Netflix, which usually neutralizes attempts to trick the geo-blocker.

Although Netflix insists nothing has changed about its service, it’s tough to otherwise explain why VPN service providers like TorGuard would all of a sudden start fielding so many complaints starting around mid-December. Some suspect, though, that Netflix is only testing out new methods for blocking IP addresses and simply focusing on users with excessive login attempts.

Alternatives to Pirate Bay

Fri, 26 Dec 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Since 2003, the Pirate Bay has been one of the most popular sites to go for file-sharing purposes. However, that came to a screeching halt back on December 9th when Swedish police carried out a raid on the famous company.

Reportedly, they seized servers, computers, and other types of equipment essential to operations. Though the Pirate Bay has always been a lightning rod of controversy, it was able to thrive behind the protection of Swedish laws. While we still don’t know what led to the raid, it would appear that the Pirate Bay may have finally gone too far this time.

So where does that leave people who still want to take part in file sharing? For many, they’ll be spending more time on KickAss Torrents. Founded in 2008, the website has its own robust history of assisting the file sharing community. It runs on a BitTorrent protocol, which has helped make it the most popular torrent directory on the planet.

While registration is free, you’ll want to use a VPN if you live in any country where file sharing copyrighted material is a punishable crime. With a virtual private network, you’ll be able to keep your online business private for the most part. This is also a great way to stave off an ISP from cutting your streaming capabilities down to a slower rate. VPNs are always a smart addition to your file sharing practices, even if you do live in a country where copyrighted material isn’t protected.

Popular Torrent Sites Change Domain Names

Mon, 15 Dec 2014 00:00:00 +0000

To anyone who knows the industry, torrent sites have never had an easy time staying online. Though many have survived for more than a decade, it hasn’t been without constant barrages by authorities attempting to take them down.

Recently, however, this battle took on an interesting development. Earlier in the year, Demonoid returned to operation. Despite being one of the oldest torrent communities, the tracker had been down for almost two years, following legal issues in Ukraine and DDoS attacks.

Although, it’s been back for less than a year, the Demonoid tracker has been making up for lost time by already becoming one of the most visited torrent sites online with millions of visitors every month.

Demonoid Torrent Site

This isn’t to say that Demonoid hasn’t faced some familiar problems though. In November, ISPs blocked the site and many in the UK were ordered to do the same. Even its visibility on Google has suffered. A takedown notice has erased Demonoid.ph from search results altogether.

Presumably, this is what prompted Demonoid to change domain names on December 2nd. Without any announcement, the site started redirection visitors to Demonoid.pw, which runs on Palau’s TLD .pw. Located in the Western Pacific, the Republic of Palau is a United States Associate State.

Giganews vs Perfect 10 – Victory for USENET

Sun, 23 Nov 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Giganews scored a nice victory against Perfect 10, a notorious copyright troll that may want to consider changing their name to Perfect Zero, considering their win/loss record for filing frivolous lawsuits against various types of service providers.

On the surface, Perfect 10 might seem to be one of the innumerable porn companies on the Internet, but they have a long history of filing lawsuits against companies for copyright infringement, losing, and, in the process, establishing that some of the arguments made by the copyright cartels are absolutely ridiculous.

In this case, Giganews was sued over allegations of copyright infringement on its USENET service. The way the law stands now, in order to sue someone for copyright infringement, you have to establish that the company had some sort of direct financial benefit from that copyright infringement. Perfect 10 failed to do so and, in bringing their lawsuit, used some of the same failed arguments they’ve already tried in the past. Needless to say, Giganews scored the proverbial flawless victory in this case.

Really Sloppy

Not only did Perfect 10 utterly lose this case, the judge in the case also pointed out that Perfect 10 sends DMCA takedown requests that are invalid. The reason for this appears to be because Perfect 10 wants to file a lawsuit and, because the DMCA requests are incorrectly worded, there’s no way for the provider to comply with them, thus opening up the opportunity for a lawsuit, at least in the eyes of Perfect 10.

USENET Pot Farmers and the Deep Web

Sat, 22 Nov 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Alex Winter is probably best known for his role in Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure. The former film star, however, is now working on a documentary that’s based in his own experience with the Deep Web. In making this documentary, Winter is hoping to show how the Deep Web represents something truly rare these days: a community of people and an economy unfettered by government restrictions.

The Inspiration

In his talk with VICE, Winter revealed that he’s always had an interest in technology and, as early as the mid-1980s, was participating in USENET and BBS groups. The forums he worked on were largely hidden from public view and among their users were pot farmers.

For Winter, and many others who participate in or just have an interest in, the Deep Web, these early days of BBSs and USENET newsgroups were really the foundations of the Deep Web as we know it today. According to Winter, those early days weren’t much different than the Deep Web today. The participants were well versed in and used encryption, there was the obvious drug trade connections and, of course, radical social beliefs were a big part of it.

Where Winter is concerned, those radical beliefs seem to be very much in effect.

CITIZENFOUR Tells Snowden’s Story, Motivations

Wed, 05 Nov 2014 00:00:00 +0000

If you’re interested in learning more about Edward Snowden, CITIZENFOUR is a new documentary from Laura Poitras that gives new insights into the whistleblowing that changed the world.

The film follows along as Snowden, in his Hong Kong hotel room, starts revealing the breadth and depth of illegal NSA surveillance to Glenn Greenwald and Poitras. According to the filmmakers, it’s likely to change a viewer’s understanding of the implications of what Snowden revealed. Poitras herself has been the target of government surveillance. Snowden contacted her in 2013, using the name CITIZENFOUR, as he was aware that she was being watched, had been harassed in the past but had never been intimidated by the government spies and harassment.

Understanding Snowden’s Motives

Pundits, government shills and other talking heads have endlessly—and often breathlessly—debated the motives behind and implications of the Snowden leaks. NSA officials have claimed that the leaks put their operatives at risk and risked US intelligence efforts. The documentary, however, reveals that Snowden’s motivations were more grounded in wanting to preserve the Internet as it originally was—and privacy in general, for that matter—rather than simply lashing out at the US intelligence apparatus.

Snowden talks about the freedom the Internet originally embodied; a venue where people on one side of the world could talk to people on the other, without filters, limitations or the fear of being watched. Those days, of course, are gone, as the NSA spying Snowden revealed to the world is pervasive, ceaselessly vacuuming up massive amounts of data from people all over the world, whether there’s any reason to suspect them of wrongdoing or not.

Is Giganews an FBI Front

Thu, 25 Sep 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Conspiracy theories can do real harm to people and companies that simply do not have it coming.

The website Crytome.org ran a post that made a slew of allegations against the USENET provider Giganews and the VPN service, VyprVPN, which can be purchased as a package along with the service or on its own. The allegations, distilled down to their main points allege that Giganews, Data Foundry, VyprVPN and a host of other providers are all actually part of a massive FBI data gathering operation.

The writer claims to have been recruited to be a part of this massive conspiracy to gather data on Internet users after he discovered its existence and had a conflict over deleting illegal pornography from the USENET system.

This story got a bit of traction on the Internet. Fortunately, on several Internet forums, more reasonable people began dissecting the statements and realizing that they sounded quite a bit like just about every conspiracy theory that has ever been posted on the Internet. Unfortunately, rather than targeting an anonymous, shadowy organization, this conspiracy theory targets a VPN provider, a USENET access provider and the companies associated with them in particularly vicious ways.

Not only that, the accusations made are absolutely contrary to the way the most visible faces of the accused companies have behaved and the way the companies themselves have treated their customers over a long history of providing the services that they offer. In short, like many conspiracy theories, this one makes absolutely no sense on the face of it, and only gets more ridiculous when one delves into the details.

Another Reason to Boycott Comcast

Wed, 24 Sep 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Comcast is denying it, but reports from several sources claim that some Comcast customers have been told that using the software Tor is illegal and that using it is against Comcast company policy. While the company is denying telling people that they cannot use Tor, the company’s own policies actually do prohibit using proxy servers (see links below). In their own terms of service, they prohibit other equipment, and specify that their list of prohibited equipment is not limited to what they spell out.

Oddly enough, in a blog post, Comcast denied that they restricted anybody using Tor and they are free to use the Xfinity Internet service to visit any website that they want and use any app that they want and “so forth”.

Nonetheless, more than one customer has made this claim. Not only have they claimed that Comcast customer service representatives asked them to stop using Tor, but that the also demanded that the usertell them what websites they had visited on Tor.

The customer service representatives have also said that they have the right to suspend accounts, terminate accounts or even fine the user if they violate the terms of service and that users who use such software are probably doing something illegal.

Dutch internet Surveillance and Censorship on the Rise

Sun, 21 Sep 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Dutch Internet users have, though it has required more than one court battle, enjoyed a relatively high degree of privacy on the Internet. Now, however, copyright organizations in the Netherlands are proposing a new scheme that looks a lot like ones already in place in the United States and in the UK.

Under this new plan, Dutch Internet users would be monitored and, if they are found downloading copyrighted material, they would be sent warning letters. These warning letters wouldn’t be followed by any particular type of action, but would point out that there are legal alternatives on the Internet for getting that same content.

As they did in the US and the UK, privacy advocates argue that this gives the ISPs the obligation to spy on their users on the part of copyright holders. The movie industry in the Netherlands is calling it an educational endeavor, providing consumers with a way to find legal versions of the content that they are pirating.

The Netherlands does have a reputation for having a great deal of Internet piracy, but has also garnered a reputation as a nation in which the ISPs do try to protect the privacy of their customers. The ISPs are not convinced that they should go along with the scheme and, in fact, have already said that these types of programs are not effective. Also individual users are fighting back against this loss of privacy by employing privacy protection services like the Tor Browser and VPN Services.

Join the Fight for Net Neutrality

Sun, 14 Sep 2014 00:00:00 +0000

On September 10, 2014, millions of people took action to protect net neutrality. This included 2.1 million emails being sent to members of Congress, more than 300,000 phone calls being made to representatives and over 700,000 comments made to the FCC. Since March 1, 2014, nearly 5,000,000 comments have been made to the FCC regarding net neutrality.

On September 10, more than 10,000 websites, according to Battle for the Net, put a spinning wheel graphic on their pages to encourage people to take action. The wheels were referencing one of the potential outcomes of an Internet landscape without net neutrality regulations in force. Streaming services, which stand to be greatly affected by whether or not net neutrality is maintained, did some of the most creative work, with streaming site Vimeo posting a video designed to look as if it was playing on a slowed down connection, a real threat that could become the norm if net neutrality is not protected.

For people who enjoy using the USENET system and other services that employ encryption to protect privacy, net neutrality should be a particularly troublesome issue. When ISPs can pick and choose which traffic across their networks gets priority treatment, people who use services that are frowned upon by the ISPs or thecompanies who oftentimes direct their actions these days may find themselves suffering significant downgrades in service.

Numbers Behind Copyright Alert System Revealed

Mon, 11 Aug 2014 00:00:00 +0000

One of the more controversial moves by the entertainment industry to enforce copyright laws is the six-strikes policy that ISPs adopted_._ This involves the ISPs—five of them, the largest—and copyright enforcement groups watching Internet users, tracking their usage and looking for indications that they might be pirating content. If they are believed to be pirating content, they’re sent out notices.

There are myriad privacy concerns with this, including the fact that the MPAA and RIAA can get subpoenas for user information when they’re repeatedly sent warnings.

Controversies over privacy aside, this type of an operation doesn’t come free, or cheap. TorrentFreak recently got the tax information for the Center for Copyright Information (CCI) —see image below, which oversees the entire program, which is collectively known as the Copyright Alert System.

That Alert System cost the ISPs approximately $2 per notice sent out to each user suspected to have been infringing upon copyright. This, according to the tax filings reported on by TorrentFreak, cost participants almost $3 million dollars last year. This is only part of the cost borne by the ISPs to keep the program running, the article points out.

Costs might go down this year, at least for CCI’s services, as more notices are expected to be put out. In the meantime, anyone using a participating service is having a lot of their information shared with the CCI. There are ways to reduce the risk of this.

Astraweb Starts Automated DMCA Takedowns

Thu, 24 Apr 2014 00:00:00 +0000

A bit of controversy on USENET related forums prompted an Astraweb employee to respond directly to posters. The criticisms were in regard to Astraweb seemingly acting instantly upon receiving a DMCA takedown notice about a binary on their USENET servers. Posters charged that Astraweb must have a staff working around the clock on taking down anything that was the subject of a DMCA complaint. The Astraweb employee told a different story, which got reposted on several sites.

Automation

According to the employee, Astraweb has little choice in the matter. In his post, he writes “we have to comply or get shutdown”.

Critics charge that Astraweb could process the requests manually, avoiding frivolous DMCA takedown requests. The DMCA has been implicated in abusing the takedown system in the past and, according to many USENET users and many users of other filesharing services, some of their complaints are nothing more than hot air. Astraweb is reacting instantly, utilizing the automated process, and critics claim that this is not the right way to go, though they seem to understand why the company may choose this route.

Legal Issues

The US government has already sued and taken down domains on behalf of copyright holders. MegaUpload was likely the most famous case and one that is currently still very controversial due to the way that the arrest and the investigation were conducted. Seeking to avoid being shut down, companies such as Astraweb are reacting to DMCA takedown notices instantly, not bothering to process them to see whether or not they are frivolous requests that have no basis or if they are legitimate requests being issued on behalf of a copyright holder who does own the property in question.

NSA vs TOR Network

Mon, 10 Feb 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Documents leaked by Edward Snowden as part of his massive document dump on top-secret NSA programs reveal a targeted effort to get around the TOR anonymity network. TOR is used worldwide by political activists and even those who work with US intelligence agencies outside the US. According to the NSA, it’s also used by terrorists. The NSA documents consist of a PowerPoint presentation that demonstrates a weakness that the agency has successfully exploited.

Flipping the Script

TOR comes packaged in a bundle that’s designed to be idiot proof. It contains a specific build of Firefox, which comes equipped with the NoScript extension. NoScripts allows the user to shut off any scripting language—including Java, Flash and so forth—on websites to increase their levels of anonymity.

Those scripts present security holes that intelligence agencies can use to identify TOR users. According to the PowerPoint presentation, the agency has already done so. The vulnerability has also been used by the FBI, allegedly to bust a child porn ring.

Taking it Wider

The NSA has been trying to weaken the TOR network by exploiting a number of security flaws in the system. Some of these are related to user errors, such as disabling the NoScript extension, thereby allowing compromised sites to serve information to the browser, revealing the identity of the user. In the Washington Post, one of the developers behind TOR said that the vulnerability would only likely be something that could be exploited against a very small number of users. Many users who are more knowledgeable would avoid any site that required a scripting language, being aware of the vulnerability.

USENET Targeted in Anti-Piracy Action

Fri, 26 Jul 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Two USENET users have been targeted by publishers over allegedly pirating hundreds of books. The USENET users, who go by the online identities Hockwards and Rockhound have, according to the publishing companies and several articles, uploaded hundreds of books over the USENET system.

The publishers of some of the books that were allegedly pirated, Cengage Learning, McGraw-Hill and John Wiley and Sons, have obtained a subpoena from the US District Court of Columbia and presented it to the USENET providers for these users. The subpoenas demand that all of the information about the users be handed over.

In addition to this, the publishers are asking the USENET providers to take down a variety of different files, which they claim infringe upon their copyrights. This is not particularly new or unexpected. DMCA requests against USENET providers have become very common over the last year and, quite often, automated systems are employed to take on files that are tagged as offending by copyright enforcement agencies.

Catching Pirates

While the publishers can, obviously, get a subpoena to demand information from USENET providers, that doesn’t necessarily mean that they will get any useful information out of the effort. Using false names is nothing new on USENET. In addition to this, anybody pirating materials is quite likely to take rather complex actions to protect their identities.

USENET Targeted in Anti-Piracy Action

Fri, 26 Jul 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Catching Pirates

Nzbsrus Closes Its Doors

Tue, 23 Jul 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Nzbsrus is closing its doors effective immediately. The site has no plans on reopening and, according to a post on Reddit, was made to close by the British anti-copyright agency F.A.C.T. The post details what happened that led to the shutdown of the site and why it’s likely that it will never be online again.

The Shutdown

The owners of the site, posting on Reddit, said that they had gotten notices from F.A.C.T that named the owners and operators of the site, but that also named several staff members on the site. This was different from previous notices that they had received, which only targeted the owners themselves.

The notices gave the site owners the option of either shutting down and, by doing so, avoiding any further legal action or keeping the site up and running and facing legal action against the owners and the staff members who were named by F.A.C.T. The owners of the site opted to shut it down, rather than exposing their staff to any legal action.

Nzbsrus has been online for 12 years and had a very active community. In the notice that they had been shut down, the owners thanked everybody who had participated in the community and said that they would be sending refunds via bitcoin to all of the subscribers who had paid for a membership.

NZB7 Shuts Doors

Sat, 20 Jul 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Yet another NZB indexer (NZB7) has shut down its site because of being intimidated by tougher copyright laws being passed in nations that were formerly more oriented toward permitting free speech. NZB7, a Norwegian NZB indexer, has shut its doors as of one week ago. The shutdown was announced on Reddit and on the site itself.

Norway’s Laws

On July 1, 2013, a new set of laws and regulations will be in place in Norway. These laws will make it much more difficult for people to operate sites such as NZB indexers in the nation without ending up becoming the target of copyright enforcement agencies. This means that Norway, even though it long functioned as one, is no longer a safe haven for free speech on an Internet that is ever more becoming beholden to the interests of the entertainment industry, publishers and others with a copyright axe to grind against particular sites.

The VIP Debate

On forums where users discuss the shutdown of NZB indexers, the question of having paid a VIP membership fee naturally comes up quite a lot. Some recently shut down sites have offered to refund the money to users so that it is not a complete waste.

NZB-Matrix.eu Closes Its Doors

Thu, 11 Jul 2013 00:00:00 +0000

NZB-Matrix.eu is officially gone. The NZB indexing site had become a favorite among USENET users but, according to a statement published on the website itself, the service has officially shut down to avoid lawsuits and other legal hassles and, according to the statement, “just cut our losses and comply”.

According to the statement, NZB-Matrix.eu believed it was operating within the boundaries of Dutch law. Stichting BREIN, however, sent the website an email claiming that they were violating the law and, after having received that, the website decided to pull their service for good.

The authors of the statement said that they did enjoy running the service. Users on the service will receive an email to the email address that they registered with NZB-Matrix.eu explaining the details of the shutdown and why the action was undertaken. NZB-Matrix.eu advised users to make certain that the email didn’t end up going to their spam folder and that, because of the queuing system on their servers, users may actually receive that email later.

It is still possible to contact NZB-Matrix.eu. The email address info [at} NZB-Matrix.eu will still be live for one more week, but the site administrators advise allowing eight hours for a reply to be received if you do send a question.

USENET Headers Making a Comeback

Thu, 30 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000

USENET headers seem to be making a comeback. Some of the most popular USENET access providers, including Newshosting and UsenetServer, have both recently announced that they have significantly increased their header retention times. USENET headers provide one of the ways that you can search for text content or binaries, and they may become very important due to some recent developments among NZB indexing sites.

Disappearing Indexers

NZB files allow you to get the information contained in many different headers in one file. Using this single NZB file, you can download all the content related to a particular binary or series of articles that you want. These files are usually created by USENET search services.

Over the past few months, some of the largest and best NZB indexers have gone offline. NZBMatrix was one of the best out there, but it’s no longer available. There have been sites showing up online to fill the void, but some of them come and go very quickly. So many NZB sites have gone that we have a listing of Dead NZB Sites on our Sitemap page.

Others require memberships and, among that number, some of them are closed to new memberships, making it harder and harder for people to find the NZB files that they want. This creates a gap that could be filled by better retention times for headers on USENET access providers.

DMCA Takedowns Are Not Automatic

Sat, 25 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000

USENET users might be getting used to incomplete downloads due to DMCA takedown requests. These requests and the automatic removal of binaries that get complaints, however, are not automatic and are not universal. In fact, the policy varies from nation to nation, though cooperation between nations regarding copyright laws does make it likely that takedown requests will be honored.

The Dutch Example

BREIN, the copyright enforcement agency based in Europe, has gotten news services taken offline for not complying with takedown requests, but these requests are not enforced consistently across borders.

Some Dutch users have complained about takedowns having more of an effect on their USENET experience. The law in the Netherlands is different than it is in the US, however. Dutch providers generally will not respond to takedown requests. Dutch providers do not have to remove content if there is not a court order mandating it. The court order would require that the content of the takedown request be checked, as well. This means, according to some sources, that the automated process isn’t an issue with Dutch providers as it is for provider in the US.

Risk

According to sources, there is still risk for providers who do not remove content when the takedown request is valid. There is the potential for a lawsuit over the content, but that would require that the agency suing has an attorney that works in the nation where the takedown request is not being honored. Of course, the entertainment industry has no shortage of lawyers, so there is likely little preventing them from going ahead and filing a lawsuit over such matters, if they were so inclined. For providers, it may be too risky to not honor a takedown request.

USENET Usage Post NZBMatrix

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0000

The loss of NZBMatrix was a huge blow to the USENET. That being said, however, the USENET has recovered and in a big way. In the end, with the huge number of new NZB indexing sites that have come online, NZB index site access has proven itself to be something of a hydra. One had may have gotten cut off, but two more pop up in its place immediately. In fact, it seems that killing off NZBMatrix may have had exactly the opposite effect that the architects of the demise of the popular NZB site had in mind.

USENET Goes Up

NZBMatrix was the most well-known and among the most popular NZB indexers out there. When it went offline, a flood of new NZB indexing sites came online, offering users quite a few options. Many of these sites are also breaking the mold of the traditional NZB indexing site in several ways.

For instance, some of the most popular NZB sites are closed to membership or require payment to become a member. This had the effect of turning the USENET into something of a member’s only club and making it difficult for new users to experiment with the platform enough to learn how to use it. That isn’t the case any longer.

ISPs Launch New Copyright Alert System

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0000

The CCIs formal announcement was posted on their website on Monday Feb. 25^th. In the announcement, Jill Lesser, the Centers’ Executive Director, said that each of the individual providers would be launching their individual versions of the Copyright Alert System, or CAS. It was shortly afterwards the internet providers started publishing their individual policies to the internet. We’ve been waiting…patiently…in the background, for the providers to publish their policies surrounding the CAS.

Here’s What We Have Found (So Far)

A couple of the companies, (Comcast and Verizon in particular,) made things real easy for us. But, the other two providers that have published their policies, (AT&T hasn’t as of this writing, and will be added when they do publish something,) weren’t quite as proud to be participating in the program. The first four alerts are virtually identical among the providers, so here’s what we found out about alerts #5 and #6:

Cablevision, (aka Optimum,) made things a little difficult by explaining the new CAS in the “Support” section of their website. A quick search using the keyword “copyright” revealed their policy. Their customers can expect to be suspended 24 hours on the fifth and sixth notice, unless the customer contacts a number that is given them in the notice.
On their website, Time Warner, makes mention of the use of the CAS on their copyright infringements complaints reporting FAQ, but only mentions the exact “Mitigating Measures” on a page with sample alert letters. They will be demanding acknowledgement on receipt of alert number five, and on six a temporary suspension will be imposed, unless an appeal is filed, and won, by the subscriber.
Verizon let their customers know about their policies on the CAS in a FiOS internet FAQ, In their FAQ they explain that they will be reducing their customers’ access speed for a period of 48 hours on the fifth alert, and 72 hours on the sixth.
Comcast published their CAS policies in a FAQ in their XFINITY support section. Their system will use persistent alert pop-ups in the browser requesting the customer contact their offices, but they are quick to say that in no way will the pop-up affect any essential services, like email.

None of the providers we have looked at so far have agreed to complete termination of service, one thing that many people were worried about, and personally identifying data being exchanged was another worry of many. On this point ISPs assured their customers in their policies that no identifying data would be exchanged by the Internet Provider without a court order.

UK High Court Rules that USENET Does not Offer Piracy Profits

Sun, 10 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0000

The UK High Court ruled in a recent decision that the MPAA could not go after the owners of USENET indexing site for alleged profits they made off of piracy. The argument put forward by the MPAA alleged that the owners of these sites had profited by offering material that infringed on copyrights. The Court found, however, that piracy is more akin to trespass than it is to theft. Because the copyright owner retains their rights to the materials that have been infringed upon, in essence, the Court found that infringement differs from theft, in that a victim of theft actually loses possession of what was stolen.

Technical Considerations

This action was brought against Newsbin, which did not provide any access to the files that may or may not have infringed upon anyone’s copyright. Newsbin was never a USENET access provider, something that users have pointed out on various forums.

USENET has come into the crosshairs of the MPAA and other entertainment industry groups lately over allegations of copyright infringement. Many USENET access providers have automatic systems in place that remove files that are the subjects of DMCA requests, as well.

Another major consideration within this case brought up on Internet forums is the fact that not all USENET content—in fact, not even most USENET content—infringes on anyone’s copyright. The USENET system is quite often used to distribute content that is not copyrighted. Everything from distress of Linux—which is completely open source and free to distribute—to Grateful Dead bootlegs, which are not copyrighted, are distributed over the system. In addition to those resources, the USENET is one of the best available resources for public domain books and videos, scientific information and more. Despite it becoming a target of the MPAA and other groups, there is much on the USENET that has nothing to do with copyright infringement of any kind.

USENET Targeted by Copyright Holders

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 00:00:00 +0000

DMCA takedown requests are nothing new for Internet users. Sometimes they are legitimate and sometimes they are simply the results of automated systems making takedown requests for material that isn ’t even copyrighted. Nonetheless, USENET services are finding themselves flooded with DMCA requests more than ever before and that is having an impact on the service they ’re able to offer to their clientele.

Why USENET Matters

There are many different reasons why USENET has remained popular and speed is one of the principal ones. Users on USENET systems pay for their subscriptions, and are therefore allocated a lot more bandwidth than they would be able to get downloading video or audio off of an Internet-based service such as bit torrent. Increasingly, however, USENET users are complaining that content they find indexed on NZB sites and on other resources is being taken down almost instantly.

Part of the reason for the speed of these takedowns is the fact that USENET is largely automated. Most of the large USENET companies receive automated requests for DMCA takedowns and, once those requests are received, the takedown is automatic, as well. This means that not all of these requests may be looked at by human beings, who may actually determine that the takedown notice is invalid and that there is no reason to remove the content.

Newzbin2 Is Gone

Sun, 02 Dec 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Newzbin2 has gone off-line for good, paralleling the fate of the original Newzbin. Newzbin2 never got the same subscriber numbers that Newzbin had, and even the subscriber numbers for the original site were too low to make it a viable enterprise for site administrators.

According to information published by Newzbin2, the site went off-line because of a variety of different reasons. The majority of the editors on the site had dropped out and Newzbin2 was unable to replace them. User numbers were a fraction of those on the original Newzbin site, partially due to a rumor, which Newzbin2 maintains is untrue, that the site was an MPA trap. According to the statement, the site never got its user base back after that rumor floated around the Internet for a while.

The information also lamented the fact that many of the payment providers for the site dropped out due to pressure from the MPA. This happened in spite of the fact that Newzbin2 made efforts to be 100 percent compliant with DMCA complaints. According to their statement, if something was found to be infringing upon a copyright and a DMCA complaint was lodged, that report was taken down immediately and was inaccessible from the site. Nonetheless, payment providers fled the site and, according to the statement, bitcoin is just too complex for most people to use, taking it out of the running as a viable replacement for the payment providers.

Unzbin is No More

Fri, 30 Nov 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Unzbin has been around long enough to make it very popular with USENET users. As of November 2012, however, Unzbin is no more. This particular newsreader did have its advantages, though there are other newsreaders out there that offer many of the same advantages. Taking a look at what Unzbin users will likely miss about the option reveals the strength of some of the other newsreader choices available.

Lightweight

Unzbin had a reputation for being lightweight and easy on resources. There are plenty of other options out there, however, that meet this criteria quite well. For example, SABNzbd is well known as a very lightweight program that makes it easy to download binaries and that works with both Macintosh and Windows computers.

Likewise, some of our top USENET providers offer newsreaders that are very lightweight and easy to use.

Free

Unzbin was free, but that doesn ’t always define a newsreader as the best option out there. Of course, the newsreaders that come attached to a particular service are not actually free.

Newsbin has a paid and free version and, for many years, users have found the paid version of this particular newsreader to be well worth the money. Newsbin is, in fact, one of our favorite newsreaders and comes highly recommended. Like most paid newsreaders, Newsbin may not be as lightweight as free competitors such as Unzbin, but the extra heft comes with a lot of features that are indispensable for the most advanced USENET users out there.

ISP Monitoring Is Starting in the US

Sat, 10 Nov 2012 00:00:00 +0000

At this point, it ’s pretty much a given that your ISP is going to start monitoring your Internet connection for signs of copyright infringement. A new program, called the Copyright Alert System, will be in place by the end of 2012. It will apply to any and all Internet traffic.

Most of what the entertainment industry is concerned with has to do with bit torrent. USENET users, however, need to be wary, as well. Remember that USENET traffic goes over the same Internet connection as does all of your other traffic and, if that traffic is not protected by encryption, it is subject to monitoring.

What USENET Users Can Do

If you take a look at our top USENET providers, you ’ll see that they offer SSL encryption. SSL encryption is the same type of encryption that is utilized to protect credit card transactions and other high-security interactions on the Internet. It prevents anybody from being able to snoop on your traffic and see what you ’re downloading, what you ’re uploading or what you ’re looking at.

The top USENET providers out there offer this service as a way of enhancing their user ’s privacy. It ’s also useful because some ISPs throttle the amount of bandwidth allotted to USENET, and SSL prevents them from identifying that traffic.

Floppy Disk Error Leads to USENET Data Loss

Thu, 20 Sep 2012 00:00:00 +0000

If you ’re an avid USENET user, you ’re probably aware of the fact that the system has been around for over 30 years. In that time, many data storage formats have come and gone. Unfortunately, floppy disks and magnetic tapes have inherent flaws that make them poor archival media. The loss of some data on those types of media has resulted in holes in USENET history that, unless somebody finds another copy, cannot be repaired.

Flakey Format

On magnetic tapes and floppy disks, information is contained on iron oxide. Over time, this oxide could flake off. In fact, when recovering some of the data from data tapes, the people performing the operation frequently had to stop and clean off the reading heads because so much oxide had flaked off on them as the tape passed over the heads. Unfortunately, once this data is gone, it is gone forever. This means that there are parts of the USENET that will never be recovered. Whether or not that information is particularly useful is another matter entirely, but it is sad to see something so integral to what became the Information Age lost due to a faulty storage medium.

Horse_ebooks Is Nothing New to USENET Users

Sat, 28 Jul 2012 00:00:00 +0000

The @Horse_ebooks bot has successfully been driving the people at Twitter crazy for quite a while now. The way the bot works involves going to random websites, grabbing a little bit of text here and there, creating something unique out of it and then tweeting the results at regular intervals.The program is rather similar to the USENET phenomenon known as Mark V. Shaney. If you happened to be a USENET user during the first years of the service, you might remember it and, in fact, you might have been fooled by it more than once.

The Idea

Mark V. Shaney and @Horse_ebooks both have an ability to create snippets of text that people find rather compelling. Mark V. Shaney was used to reply to USENET postings in ways that were quite humorous. Sometimes the text that appeared in the posting would be incomprehensible but, as is characteristic of human brains, people would generally find meaning in it in one way or another and, sometimes, they took genuine offense to what seemed to be snide remarks.

The program was based on what ’s called a Markov Chain. This is a statistical tool that allows for the creation of new content based on previous content. The program was originally designed by Bruce Ellis and Rob Pike. The program was used on the Internet starting in 1984 and caused quite a ruckus among the newsgroups where it was used.

Your ISP and Your Logs

Wed, 25 Jul 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Your ISPs may be holding onto people ’s IP address logs for a very long time.

It ’s for the Children

The article notes that the author of the much maligned and Internet protest inducing SOPA bill, Lamar Smith, as already introduced another bill that will influence how people ’s ISPs keep track of them online. The new legislation would require ISPs to hold onto IP records for a minimum period of one year, according to the article. This is being justified as a way to protect children and, in fact, the act itself is titled the Protecting Children from Internet Pornographer ’s Act.

Like many other privacy infringing pieces of legislation and corporate policies, this one conflates legal, harmless and consensual activities with the activities of the worst people imaginable. Whether it ’s terrorists, Internet pirates or anyone else, there ’s been no shortage of scapegoats to justify infringing on the Internet privacy of everyday users and even the USENET has not been immune.

IP Log Retention Times logs

Time Warner Cable: 6 months
Comcast: 180 days
Verizon: 18 months (the longest)
Qwest/Century: 1 year
Cox: 6 months
AT&T: Not disclosed

Qwest/Century has a policy of not disclosing IP address data unless they are presented with a subpoena for the information. In fact, the company was one of the few ISPs to resist attempts to access user data by the government earlier in the decade.

USENET in the Age of Internet Censorship

Fri, 22 Jun 2012 00:00:00 +0000

While Internet privacy advocates in the United States were congratulating themselves for defeating the SOPA and PIPA legislation in 2012, similar legislation was in the works in many other nations. Most recently, Russia passed a law that allows the government to blacklist any site that it finds to be distributing illegal materials. The exact definition of illegal materials and what kinds of materials would trigger a blacklisting were contentious in the Russian parliament but, nonetheless, the legislation passed. USENET has not been heavily targeted by such legislation as of yet, but it is always a risk.

Constant Treats

By and large, the most frequent targets of legislation claimed to be directed at copyright infringement have been bit torrent sites. ACTA in the European Union, PIPA and SOPA in the United States and the current ISP policy in the United States of monitoring user traffic on behalf of the entertainment industry are all largely tied to trying to get bittorrent sites off of the Internet however possible. USENET presents users with some options that may make it a safer choice if they want to increase their overall levels of privacy.

Combination Packages

It ’s common for USENET providers to offer SSL encryption to their users whenever they download or browse on their USENET servers. Beyond this, some USENET providers also combine their services with VPN privacy protection. The combination of the two provides a lot of privacy enhancement for users and makes it very unlikely that they would ever have their traffic throttled or otherwise disrupted by their ISP because their ISP found something they didn ’t like in the user ’s traffic logs.

What is CISPA and How Does it Affect USENET Users

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000

It seems to have become almost routine for bills to be introduced into Congress that seek to break down the barriers between private companies and law enforcement online. Sometimes the justification is piracy, as in the cases of PIPA and SOPA. In other cases, the justification is national security. CISPA is a bill that has been introduced in the Congress and that is supported by many large Internet corporations. Like PIPA and SOPA, privacy advocates find it to be onerous, lacking in sufficient protections for user privacy and potentially an invitation to violate people ’s guarantees of being safe in their possessions and, in this case, in records of their browsing. In fact, CISPA has even been panned by national security experts and representatives of official agencies.

The Bill

Once again, CISPA seeks to make it easier for law enforcement and national security agencies to raid the records of ISPs without having to get the type of court approval to which these requests for information would be normally subjected. Under the provisions of CISPA, ISPs would freely give information to agencies such as the NSA, simply because the NSA claimed that there was a national security interest in sharing that information.

Merlin’s Portal Gone for Good

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000

For many years, Merlin ’s Portal was one of the most popular destinations on the Internet for USENET users. This NZB site had a rather large following that kept it alive. Like many sites, however, the following was partially centered on what the site had to offer and partially centered on the individual who ran the site. Following the departure of the site ’s founder, m3rl1n, the site was taken over by another user going by the handle SiD. SiD posted a rather long and, arguably, rather bitter explanation as to why the site eventually did shut down.

Blame and Apology

SiD offered apologies for not being able to keep up with the site and to maintain the level of user interest and quality to which site visitors had become accustomed. According to SiD ’s letter, published on Merlin ’s Portal and republished by various blogs, internal conflicts between the administrators of the site, declining user membership and interest and a simple lack of time on the part of the people who took over the site resulted in the site eventually declining and becoming a shadow of its former self.

Harsh Words For Some

SiD had some harsh words for spinout, one of the people who had become involved with running the site. SiD made allegations of unprovoked attacks and other behavior that led to people moving away from Merlin ’s Portal and seeking out other sources for NZB files. Of course, there are plenty of NZB sites available on the Internet and, if the level of user service that site visitors expect is not rendered by any of them, it ’s a certainty that that those users will simply go somewhere else. Eventually, according to SiD, only the very hard-core users of Merlin ’s Portal remained and, because their number was so few, there was no sense in doing the extensive work required to keep the site running.

Rapidshare Ordered to Filter Uploads

Sat, 07 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000

A German court has ordered that Rapidshare, a popular file sharing service, has to monitor user uploads for pirated material. This is only one of the very aggressive actions being taken to protect copyrighted material online, but like many of the others critics say that this one infringes on privacy rights. The German court ruling hasn ’t been issued in its written form yet and Rapidshare has yet to say whether or not they intend to appeal the ruling, according to reports on Ars Technica.

Workload On Rapidshare

Rapidshare would be required to block the uploads of 4,000 files that are known to be infringing on copyrights. Currently, these services are required to take down infringing materials, but are not required to monitor that content. It ’s routine for large file sharing sites to remove content that is found to be infringing but it is not required for them to actively monitor the content that is uploaded for any acts of copyright infringement.

Rapidshare and services like it have constantly been in the crosshairs of the RIAA and other corporate interest groups that represent the entertainment industry. While the US does not require these services to monitor their content, the German court ruling holds that they do have that responsibility. According to reports, this may be in contradiction to the very strict privacy rules that the EU provides for the protection of its citizens.

NZBsRus Beats FACT CAD Letter

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Almost taking a cue from Newzbin2, the Usenet indexing website, NZBsRus, has circumvented a Cease and Desist (CAD) letter from the anti-piracy group Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT.) Earlier this month, the website had been taken down by the owners, to accommodate their request, but in less than a week they had secured other hosting in a friendlier region. A little faster than Newzbin2, but they didn ’t have to redesign a browser, and VPN

Service Is A Little Rough, But Getting Better

For the first few weeks the service will be a little on the rough side, and in the beginning they were only allowing their VIP members access for a bit, but even this is only to lighten the load a little while the rough edges are smoothed. On their Twitter, they said that they had encountered a few hiccups during the migration, but if you have ever moved a website you understand this is a normal thing. All told, the guys managed to move more than 100 GB…nice job guys, very nice.

Their official announcement was short and simple. It said Guess Who ’s Back? But, even at that point, they were still solving issues. The move involved bad RAID configurations, and partitioning issues, but the transfer was finished in about 3 days. Presently the site is back up, with all the old glory, and maybe a little more polish. The forums are running as smoothly as ever, and we even went so far as to register a new free access account to test the system…All systems are a go.

How Usenet Looked 30 Years Ago

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000

We ’ve told you about how Usenet preceded the internet by years, if not decades. And that the history behind their newsgroups is very long…decades in fact. And in the natural course of events, almost like our own human evolutionary ladder created a special branch for technology. the internet has evolved and expanded into a force that drives the world economy and affects governments globally for both good and ill. If the inventors would have only known the scope of their concept.

But, evolutionary history has a way of leaving the old, outdated, and unused by the wayside to be forgotten. The new generations using the internet now understand the concept of making a search query, but todays ’ average internet user can ’t, (or isn ’t old enough,) to remember the days of old…when the internet was a black screen and green text. You picked your files then downloaded them to find out what was inside. The internet required a lot more know how and skill to use it, but all that has changed now, and nobody remembers the old days.

Until now. The guys over at Olduse.net have found a way to bring back the old dys for those of us who miss them. There may even be a few educators around that would love to see more of this kind of thing. It ’s good to know how difficult it used to be, you will begin to appreciate the things you do have all the more. At olduse.net the proprietor runs the posts that were posted from 30 years ago, and updates the posts daily. In other words, if you posted today, you would have to wait the 30 years to see your post scroll past.

Spain Fires on Pirates

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000

A Spanish law called the Sinde Law is being forwarded by Angeles Gonzalez-Sinde as a means of curbing the nation ’s rampant piracy problems. Of course, it ’s Internet piracy being discussed and the booty is purely digital, though the dollar figures and amount of material that is actually pirated every year is impressive. To put an end to it, laws like Sinde ’s”who is the cultural minister of the nation”have been put forward many times. Many of the people who make their living on and who love being on the Internet however find this type of legislation far too restrictive.

Services like USENET and torrent sites have been labeled in the media and by lawmakers in many nations as inherent problems, even though the file sharing capabilities of these services is not all of what they ’re used for. The file sharing capabilities are also not inherently illegal. There are many gigabytes worth of public domain film, independently produced films and other materials, and a great deal of other content, that is free to share and distribute for anyone. Users oftentimes use these services for these purposes and punishing legitimate users on behalf of the entertainment industry ’s interests seems unacceptable to many Internet freedom advocates.

Google USENET Service Drops

Sat, 03 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Google has the largest Internet archive of USENET articles. At the beginning of August, 2011, however, the service had gone down and stopped archiving information from the many USENET groups. The service is relied upon heavily by fans of the USENET system and is also used by educators and other professionals as a way of finding information on a variety of topics. The service currently hosts literally 100s of millions of articles.

Google is working on the problem of getting the USENET service back online. The archive, called Google Groups, provides a valuable service. Most USENET services today are private ones that are purchased on top of one ’s ISP agreement. In the past, the USENET used to be included with most Internet subscriptions but, over time, those services were discontinued by ISPs. The services that they were replaced with, however, are generally much faster and more powerful than the services that were once provided free with an Internet account.

The USENET system as archived on Google goes back many years. This archive represents a huge treasury of information. Of course, there is plenty of silliness and other material in this information, but there is also a lot of valuable information to be had. USENET has a large community of users who are actually professionals in the field related to the groups that they post in. The science newsgroups, for instance, have a lot of scientists in them and they routinely give people great answers to questions that they pose in the forums. They also routinely engage in interesting debates and discussions that are useful for learning new information.

Usenet Compared To Social Networking

Wed, 20 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

While the USENET system is something that most people access over the Internet, it has actually been around a lot longer than the Internet has. In fact, when USENET debuted, most people didn ’t even own a personal computer.

Over the years, the system has continued to evolve and is still in heavy usage today. In many ways, the system shares similarities with the modern social networking sites that have come to define Web 2.0. However, USENET has a different structure in terms of how its communications are carried on and is a much broader and freer environment that are social networking sites.

USENET is a system that combines the capacity for people to communicate from all over the world and the ability to share files. The structure of the system is much different than the Internet forums and social networking sites that most people are familiar with, however.

USENET is based on newsgroups, which are conglomerations of people who share posts, called articles in USENET speech, within forums that are designed to keep everyone on the correct topic. One of the notable characteristics of USENET is that there are so many newsgroups available that it is actually difficult to fail to find one that addresses any particular topic in which you may have an interest.

Newzbin Found Guilty

Wed, 07 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000

If you have been following Usenet or just generally following discussions on file sharing technology in general then it ’s been hard to miss the news that Newzbin has been found guilty in March 2010 of disseminating copyrighted material in a High Court in the UK.

Newzbin is now in the process of implementing changes to their website required by the court.

Here is a statement from Newzbin:

The next hearing in court is mid April. Until then we are required to implement a default policy of blocking movies and TV reports. These will need to be manually authorised by us before they are published. This is cumbersome and, we appreciate, deeply unwelcome. Rest easy that it is temporary and will only last until we can get into court or until we implement a less onerous automatic filter. As of now registrations have been enabled - You will no longer need an invite to signup for a new account. In view of the, temporary, greatly reduced functionality of the site for many users we are freezing the credits of premium users. Any credits you currently have will remain at the current amount until further notice. This will include any new premium members that signup.

Newzbin Under Fire

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Newzbin has been around a long time, it was one of the very first Usenet indexing services to spring into existence. It also designed and developed the popular .NZB file format, which has made Usenet so much easier to use for a wide range of people.

Newzbin operated for years without any problems at all, as the MPAA seemed to entirely target the growing threat of torrent sites such as www.thepiratebay.org. However, these fine times were not to last, and in 2008 Newzbin received a letter from the MPA (Motion Picture Association), which stated it had been found that Newzbin had been linking .NZB files to binary postings containing copyrighted movies.

Public Statements

The owner of Newzbin publically stated that, Newzbin has recently received two serious complaints regarding the indexing we perform, and raising doubts as to its legality. It is likely that we will in the coming weeks be presented with a court case and have to defend our rights.

The owner of Newzbin, Caesium, were quick to add that had never promoted or condoned the distribution of copyrighted content, and would remove any which was found. However, Caesium also stated quite clearly that it would defend itself, and that its lining to content on Usenet was entirely legal, since it had procedures in place to prevent copyright infringement.

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