Best Usenet Service 2024:
Usenet Providers Tested by Our Experts

The world of Usenet is a vast landscape waiting to be explored, with fascinating discussions and unique articles waiting around every corner. However, identifying the best Usenet service can be difficult – there are so many different providers, each offering different features, speeds, and retention rates. Our team of experts set out to review the best Usenet services in 2024 so that our readers can find the right provider for their needs. 

Table of Contents

What Is Usenet?

Operating on a decentralized network of servers that host a collection of articles and discussion groups, Usenet is a platform that prioritizes freedom of communication and sharing information with users around the world. 

Launched in 1980, Usenet is the earliest form of social networking and predates the World Wide Web as we know it today. This popular service allows users to read and share messages without a central authority that moderates and censors activity. The structure of Usenet helps facilitate open communication and emphasizes the importance of community. 

Since it was created, Usenet has been a bastion for those who want to avoid the overly restrictive nature of modern social media to share and gather information alongside like-minded individuals from around the globe.

Our Criteria for the Best Usenet Service 2024

The team of Usenet experts at BestUsenetReviews worked together to review and test popular Usenet service providers, and we determined that the following features are the most important to delivering high-quality Usenet access:

  • Speed
    • Working with a Usenet provider that has a fast network connection is important. We operate exclusively on the fastest possible Internet connections so we can more accurately determine the quality of speed offered by popular providers.
  • Retention Rates
    • Having a high retention rate is the bedrock of a good Usenet provider. Without solid retention levels, users are more likely to miss out on the articles and newsgroup discussions they’re searching for. Our reviewers focus on retention as one of the core features that makes a Usenet provider notable and worth your investment. 
  • Completion Rates
    • Similar to retention, completion rates are central to a satisfying Usenet experience. Higher retention rates often come coupled with better completion, which means that the articles you need are not missing important pieces. 
  • Privacy Features
    • Our team focuses on Usenet privacy features to ensure that users can get the safest, most secure experience possible. We also investigate whether popular Usenet services offer additional protection with features like a VPN.
  • Price
    • Examining pricing from popular providers is an important aspect of reviewing Usenet services. Identifying brands with a mix of essential features and affordable pricing is integral to many users, and we reviewed over 15 different services to find the ones that had the best combination of both.
Usenet Providers Tested by Our Experts

Best Usenet Service 2024

Newshosting

4.8 Stars

FEATURES: VPN Add-On, Free Newsreader, 30-100 Connections, 5,824+ Days of Retention

Newshosting stands out among other Usenet providers for several reasons, including extensive retention rates, the highest article completion, and the largest growing Usenet archive of any provider. With servers in the US and EU, Newshosting also guarantees incredible speeds – in fact, during our speed tests, Newshosting came out on top as the provider that offered the most consistently fast connections. 

Our testing showed that Newshosting delivered the most accurate search results, no matter how obscure or dated the article was, making it a great choice for those looking to explore older posts. Coupled with years of retention, Newshosting is a no-brainer for users who depend on Usenet to find obscure articles and discussions. 

In terms of additional offerings, Newshosting has a free newsreader with search that is extremely easy to use. They also have a VPN option, a feature that is especially important for those looking to mask their activity. 

Overall, Newshosting is the most powerful, affordable, and reliable option for anyone looking to get more out of Usenet.

Eweka

4.8 Stars

FEATURES: VPN Add-On, Free Newsreader, 50 Connections, 5,821+ Days of Retention

For many years, Eweka has stood out as a premier Usenet service provider that offers great reliability and high retention rates. Delivering almost 16 years of binary and text retention, their huge archive of posts from the daily Usenet feed makes it a valuable resource for anyone browsing across more than 125,000 newsgroups. 

Eweka shines when it comes to offering unbeatable speeds and access to high-capacity servers distributed across several locations in Europe. No matter how large the articles were, Eweka was able to handle them quickly with ease. Additionally, our team encountered no speed throttling or data caps during our testing.

The process for getting started was straightforward and simple, which guarantees that Usenet fans of all experience levels can access the platform to find what they need. Eweka also has fairly competitive pricing, making it an excellent choice for anyone looking to sign up with a reliable, efficient, and comprehensive Usenet provider.

Easynews

4.7 Stars

FEATURES: Free Web-Based Search Tool, VPN, 60 Connections, 5,824+ Days of Retention

Usenet enthusiasts the world over adore Easynews, and it’s not hard to see why. Since it entered the scene, Easynews has been a top-rated provider that delivers access to incredible features, namely its web-based search tool and vast retention rates. The user-friendly interface lets anyone browse Usenet directly from a web browser of their choice, which means that Usenet articles and discussions can be accessed from devices like tablets and smartphones. This is a game changer for Usenet fans, and it has earned Easynews a reputation for being one of the best providers around. 

Easynews excels at offering high retention rates, giving users access to 5,824 days of binary and text retention at the time of this review. These rates are among the best in the industry, giving them a competitive advantage over other providers who routinely clear out their archives to make room for new Usenet articles and newsgroup discussions. 

Finally, Easynews stood up well to our speed tests, offering unlimited speeds even during the busiest times of the day. Their expansive server infrastructure gives users reliable Usenet access to a wide range of articles and archived newsgroup discussions, delivering smooth and efficient Usenet browsing.

UsenetServer

4.7 Stars 

FEATURES: Free Global Search Tool, VPN, 20 Connections, 5,824+ Days of Retention

UsenetServer is a highly regarded service provider, offering impressive retention rates that deliver access to over 15 years of information. With retention spooling that continues to grow their archive, UsenetServer has stellar reliability that makes it easy to find even the oldest, most uncommon articles. 

The popular provider has excellent speeds, passing our multiple speed tests with flying colors. With a global network of servers supporting their service, UsenetServer offers users the ability to browse freely and quickly. Their updated Global Search 2.0 tool, coupled with high retention rates and dependable infrastructure, ensures a smooth and effortless experience for even the most novice Usenet user.

UsenetServer has a collection of impressive features that make it stand out, including SSL encryption for added protection, easy configuration, and a truly knowledgeable support team that is available at all hours of the day. They even offer a generous 30-day money-back guarantee, allowing users to experience the service for themselves before making any financial commitments. Overall, UsenetServer is a great choice for those looking to work with a provider that has its user’s needs in mind.

Best Usenet Service 2024

Tweaknews

4.5 Stars

FEATURES: VPN, 30-60 Connections, 4,500 Days of Retention

For anyone searching for a dedicated European Usenet provider, Tweaknews is an affordable and reliable solution. Although it doesn’t offer as much retention as other providers on this list, Tweaknews has made a name for itself by offering impressive performance, fast speeds, and a dedicated customer support team that is eager to assist with anything from basic troubleshooting to complicated configurations.

Speeds vary depending on the plan you select, but our team had no problems when it came to finding what we needed in a short period of time. Tweaknews also offers no data limits, which is especially important for those who are heavy Usenet users. They also operate their own independent backbone, which makes for an impressive Usenet experience.

One of the primary features of Tweaknews is its affordability. With plans as low as €7,95/mo, users can enjoy the freedom of uncensored Usenet access with excellent speeds, unlimited access, and premium SSL encryption to ensure ongoing protection at one reasonable price. It even works with all Usenet newsreaders, including SABnzbd and UsenetWire, making Usenet accessible to everyone.

Sunny Usenet

4.3 Stars 

FEATURES: 30-40 Connections, 4,100 Days of Retention

Another standout European provider, Sunny Usenet is among the most affordable and easy to use of any other service. They offer plans starting at €3,79/mo, with an eye-catching savings of 20% on longer subscriptions. Coupled with premium SSL encryption and retention that spans 4,100 days, Sunny Usenet is a great option for anyone looking to get started with Usenet on a budget.

Our team was highly impressed with the speed capabilities that Sunny Usenet had to offer. We routinely test providers at different times of the day to ensure that their capacity is fully explored, and we encountered no issues with Sunny Usenet during the most high-traffic hours. We found large articles that we were able to obtain quickly thanks to Sunny Usenet’s fast and reliable network. 

One of the most important aspects of Sunny Usenet is its completion rates, which made it easy to access what we wanted without worrying about incomplete articles. Paired with reliable security measures like SSL encryption on all connections, Sunny Usenet is a great budget-friendly Usenet solution.

Pure Usenet

4.2 Stars 

FEATURES: 8-20 Connections, 4,100 Days of Retention

Based in the Netherlands, Pure Usenet offers users reliable security, speed, and access at a modest price. The provider offers 4,100 days of binary and text retention, and we were able to find every article we searched for with ease. For those seeking a comprehensive Usenet provider that doesn’t skimp on the features, Pure Usenet is an excellent choice. 

Security is the cornerstone of Pure Usenet’s infrastructure, with SSL encryption available on every connection. The connection limits range, depending on your plan, but our testing showed that our browsing was in no way impacted by these limitations. Our team was able to successfully browse and access articles with no interruptions or hiccups, proving that Pure Usenet stacks up among other European Usenet services.

Astraweb

4 Stars

FEATURES: 50 Connections, 4,000 Days of Retention

Astraweb is a straightforward, no-frills Usenet provider. With sturdy retention levels and excellent completion rates, they deliver excellent access to the articles and discussions you need. With unlimited speeds and servers in both the US and Europe, it’s easy to see why Astraweb is among one of the most popular and affordable service providers available. 

In addition to their affordable rates, Astraweb also offers block accounts for users who have specific Usenet needs. These block accounts range from 25GB to 1000GB, making it easy to customize your Usenet experience. 

One feature we loved was the availability of SSL encryption on each connection. This high level of online security is especially important for Usenet enthusiasts who value their privacy and want to guarantee that their activities remain completely confidential. Additionally, the customer support team was extremely helpful and able to handle several complex, configuration-based questions. We also identified an extensive database of support articles and guides that are helpful for Usenet users at all skill levels.

XLNed

4 Stars 

FEATURES: 2-12 Connections, 4,100 Days of Retention

XLNed has earned a reputation among Usenet enthusiasts for delivering reliable access at an affordable price. The provider offers consistent retention rates at 4,100 days and allows users to reach more than 110,000 newsgroups. With these two features combined, users can easily locate articles and discussions relevant to their interests with no delay and fewer interruptions. 

The provider has implemented SSL encryption on all of their plans, making security a breeze. XLNed also offers five different speed options that reach 120 MB/s, and although this doesn’t stack up to some other top providers, our team found that we were able to reach articles fairly quickly with no throttling. 

Based on our research, XLNed offers solid Usenet access, considerable speeds, and an impressive team of support agents who were able to swiftly answer all of our questions. However, the best feature of XLNed is its affordability, with plans starting at €2,24/mo.

Newsgroup Ninja

4 Stars

FEATURES: 50 Connections, 5,824 Days of Retention

Newsgroup Ninja is Reddit’s darling. As a Tier-1 reseller, they deliver comprehensive Usenet access at a reasonable price with a few notable features that make them stand out among other similar providers. The service itself is easy to use but does require some knowledge of Usenet to get started, which makes it attractive for the more seasoned users among us. 

Proudly offering features like unlimited bandwidth, unlimited speeds, and plans as low as $5.83/mo, Newsgroup Ninja delivers a modest package for such a low price. They deliver access to a growing Usenet archive, currently at 5,824 days, and our team was able to find all 15 articles that we searched for with no issues or missing articles.

The service works well with third-party software like NZBGet, which proved to be a perfect complement to one another. With such a low annual subscription price, built-in SSL encryption across 50 connections, and excellent speeds, Newsgroup Ninja proved itself to be a formidable competitor in the Usenet space.

Giganews

3.9 Stars

FEATURES: 100 Connections, Free 14-Day Trial

For any users searching for a straightforward, no-nonsense Usenet provider, Giganews might be up your alley. They offer three modestly priced subscription plans to choose from, with 100 connections and SSL encryption. They also offer access to “over 5 years of binaries,” as well as unlimited speeds.

One of the main draws of Giganews is their inclusion of VyprVPN in select plans. This VPN helps prevent “bandwidth throttling” and 70+ global server locations. In our testing, we found that VyprVPN offered solid connection and decent speeds, but it fell short in terms of available simultaneous connections, allowing for only 5 at a time. 

The service that Giganews offers is consistent and fairly reliable. We did, however, encounter a few issues during our time with the service. Our team was unable to find two of the articles we searched for, and we encountered speeds as low as 42 MB/s. Other than this, we did enjoy the availability of a live chat functionality built into the website, and their selection of tutorials proved helpful.

In Conclusion

When it comes to finding the best Usenet service in 2024, there are many important factors to consider, chief among them being how you plan to use the Usenet platform. Our comprehensive review of these popular providers highlights the strengths and features of each service, from Newshosting’s unbeatable retention and performance to the user-friendly web-based search offered by Easynews. 

By considering factors like speed, retention rates, article completion, and security settings, users can find the provider that best fits their needs and enjoy a satisfying Usenet experience.

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