INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
You might think, given that most ISPs no longer provide direct access to it and the majority of the free providers online have disappeared,
that the venerable Usenet service has died a death
But that's not entirely true; there are still many active discussion areas in the bigger groups.But let's be realistic: the real reason to
lean towards Usenet in the current age is for file sharing (made popular by Bittorrent just make sure you remain anonymous using a VPN) –
the groups below alt.binaries.* are very active, carrying many downloadable files of all kinds. But to gain access to the large amount of
Usenet bandwidth you'll need in order to collect these files, you'll have to pay.The key if you're looking at binary newsgroups is, due to
Usenet's distributed server architecture, in finding a provider whose servers are fast, and who retains copies of binary files uploaded to
Usenet for as long as possible
So with that – and many other – considerations in mind, here’s our breakdown of the best Usenet providers.1
NewshostingA top-notch fast and reliable serviceRetention: 3390 days | Newsgroups: 120,000+ | Maximum connections: 60 | SSL: Yes | Free
trial: YesIndustry leading retentionFree newsreader with searchFree zero-log VPN750GB free trial!No support for Bitcoin paymentNewshosting
is the best Usenet provider as tested and vetted by our experts
If you want a strong all-rounder of a Usenet service, then look no further than this provider. It sports the industry’s best retention,
runs its own US and European server farms, and also offers uncensored access to 120,000 newsgroups
You can also get some high-quality newsreader software that includes search, not just for Windows and Mac, but Linux as well. Through an
exclusive TheIndianSubcontinent promo, you will be able to grab a free, albeit rudimentary, zero-log VPN account for extra security and
privacy in addition to 256-bit SSL connections already included with the service.Newshosting tested the fastest as far as download speeds go
It also passed our tests in retrieving old binaries with flying colors as well
Are there any negatives at all here at all There’s very little to complain about, save for the VPN client being a little basic and for
support being only in English, but this doesn’t actually reflect on the core Usenet service you get.Newshosting is competitively priced,
which you can try for yourself with a 750 GB free trial, exclusive to TheIndianSubcontinent visitors, the largest Usenet free trial offered
EwekaSpeedy performance and very impressive retentionRetention: 3356 days | Newsgroups: 125,000 | Maximum connections: 20 | SSL: Yes | Free
trial: YesFree Newsreader with Search Fast Download SpeedsOnly 20 connectionsNo US serversEweka is an impressive operation indeed, running
its own data centre in Amsterdam with its own server farm
The firm has its own trans-Atlantic backbone which allowed us to get the full download speed offered (although no US servers as
yet).There’s a lengthy 3,369 days of retention offered here (growing daily), which is among the strongest Usenet offerings in that
respect, and while you only get up to 20 connections maximum, which is less than many rivals, we found performance to be very speedy in our
And really, that’s what counts. There’s plenty more to like with Eweka besides, including the fact that the service performed well
when it came to our retention testing (grabbing old files)
Eweka users also get free access to the premium Newslazer newsreader, which includes a powerful search tool.There’s also an unrestricted
seven-day trial (if you do not signup through the official TheIndianSubcontinent promotion) to give the service a whirl, and this doesn’t
require you to enter any payment details, either
Considering what you get here, the service is reasonably priced, too.3
SupernewsKeeping Usenet simple and slick…Retention: 2357 days | Newsgroups: 110,000 | Maximum connections: 30 | SSL: Yes | Free trial:
YesServers in US and EuropeTheoretical 100% completion rateNot as much retention as some rivalsIsn’t the cheapest providerSupernews is a
veteran Usenet provider having been in operation since the mid-90s, and it has servers across the US and Europe
You get 2,357 days of binary retention and 5,021 days of text retention, and access to over 110,000 newsgroups.What’s more, Supernews
keeps multiple copies of articles across its network, and the firm claims that this helps to ensure a 100% completion rate. And on the
performance front, you get unlimited speed, with the provider guaranteeing that your connection won’t be throttled in any way, shape or
form.Supernews keeps things pleasingly simple when it comes to plan choices, as well, because there’s only one: a straightforward
unlimited plan with a monthly fee
It’s not the cheapest subscription around, but this is a quality service, and you get a three-day trial to test it out first
Also note that with the TheIndianSubcontinent Pro offer in place at the time of writing, you get your first month at half price.4
NewsgroupdirectA real retention hog with a bundled VPNRetention: 3370 days | Newsgroups: N/A | Maximum connections: 50 | SSL: Yes | Free
trial: NoGreat retention levelsVPN for extra privacy and securityNo free trialYearly subscription isn’t much of a savingNewsgroupdirect
offers an impressive retention level of 3,370 days, and maintains its own network
As with the previous provider, it makes a big promise on the completion rate front, guaranteeing users 100% completion
And furthermore, 100% uptime is also promised.You get a plentiful 50 connections even with the most basic plan, along with SSL encryption,
and access to the Ghost Path VPN service for extra security and privacy on top
Again, the VPN comes bundled with all plans, which is good to see
Customer support is another strong suit here, as well.While there is no free trial, Newsgroupdirect does offer a seven-day money-back
guarantee, so if you’re not satisfied in the first week, you don’t lose anything – although note that you must not have used more than
15GB of bandwidth.Subscription plans are competitively priced, although it’s slightly disappointing that you don’t get much better value
for signing up to the annual plan compared to the six-month option.5
EasynewsDirect Usenet access right from your web browserRetention: Up to 3380 | Newsgroups: 100,000+ | Maximum connections: 60 | SSL: Yes |
Free trial: YesStream or download from any web browserWorks on mobileFree zero-log VPNUnlimited data is expensiveEnglish-only
supportEasynews is a slick operator that differentiates itself by offering the ability to access Usenet directly from within your web
browser as well as supporting mobile access
That’s obviously a commendably hassle-free way to do things, and the web interface is well crafted, plus it also means you can access the
service across all your devices (with no software installation necessary).Retention rates vary, but with the top-end plan you get 2,950 days
retention via the web interface (3,364 days retention via NNTP), although considerably less on some of the more basic plans
That Big Gig Plan also gives you a bundled Zero-log VPN service (albeit with a rather basic client).There’s also good news when it comes
to Easynews’ privacy policy, which is very concise and makes it crystal clear what data is kept by the provider
Performance is good too, although the range of plans is somewhat confusing, and the basic subscriptions are more suited to those with light
downloading needs.Also handy is a 14-day free trial which lets you experience the service before you pay for a subscription (note that there
is a 10GB bandwidth limit)
However, this provider isn’t cheap, particularly if you want unlimited data, and in that case things get pretty expensive.6
NewsdemonA newsgroup service that’s affordable and user-friendlyRetention: Up to 3,150 | Newsgroups: 107,000 | Maximum connections: 50 |
SSL: Yes | Free trial: YesImpressive PerformanceEasy-to-useFree newsreader serviceFragmented pricingResellers are quite common in the Usenet
world, and for good reason: by purchasing a large amount of bandwidth from a major service provider, they can negotiate better terms and
sell on that access to you for a vastly discounted rate
One of the biggest providers to resellers is Omicron Media, which counts nearly 30 clients operating from its vast server backbone.Omicron
Media reseller NewsDemon is our pick of the bunch, offering 50 simultaneous connections and unlimited SSL-secured transfers from European
and US servers for a more-than-reasonable £3.60 ($4.70) per month – or perhaps less, we've seen different prices listed during different
There are also block accounts available.There's the bonus of a VPN connection if you're willing to spend a bit more, or transfer-capped
block accounts for a little less
If you're employed in education, charitable work, or certain media outlets NewsDemon will even offer you free access – though in the
interests of disclosure we should be clear that we've not taken advantage of this offer.7
GigaNewsA comprehensive Usenet solutionRetention: 2,367 days | Newsgroups: 110,000 | Maximum connections: 50 | SSL: Yes | Free trial:
YesFast and secure serviceVPN included with unlimited plansNot cheapOverkill for some usersGigaNews is amongst the most expensive Usenet
providers, but its price reflects the sum of its parts
Alongside access to newsgroups – naturally – a $24.99 (£19) per month Diamond subscription gets you the use of GigaNews' own Mimo
Usenet browser and search engine, SSL access to its servers, and the pro version of Golden Frog's multi-faceted VyprVPN service.Whatever
you're using it for – and even if you're doing something else online entirely – the extra layer of privacy offered by a quality VPN has
to be reassuring.GigaNews' server availability is another plus, with multiple redundancy on US and EU servers owned and run by the company
The real question, however, is whether you plan to use all of the features GigaNews offers
If you're looking to Usenet access for the conversations this is absolutely overkill, and for binary downloads it's still rather expensive,
but if quality is your top priority, then it’s a good choice.8
AstrawebTwo servers for the price of one…Retention: 3,000+ days | Newsgroups: 90,000 | Maximum connections: 20 | SSL: Yes | Free trial:
NoImpressive retention levelsTwo servers (in US and Europe)Question marks over customer serviceOutdated UIAstraweb is another of Usenet's
big mainstays, having run since 1998
Sign up and you're actually gaining access to two distinct services – its download servers in the US and the Netherlands are run as
separate companies, and one server may contain files that the other does not
Essentially Astraweb gives you a main server and a backup server for the price of one.Users have reported that its quality has declined over
Whether or not you believe this is up to you, but Astraweb's longevity in the market does earn it some brownie points, and it does not
resell its services meaning you should see a consistent download rate from its servers.Retention is one of the highest we've seen at over
3,000 days, with a claimed 99% availability
Seeing as the 1% that's missing could be the one critical part of a binary you need, Astraweb – even with its dual servers – is probably
best used with a block account on hand.9
TweakNewsFast, Reliable Access with Exclusive Lifetime DiscountRetention: 2500 days | Newsgroups: N/A | Maximum connections: 40 | SSL: Yes |
Free trial: YesSpeedy performanceAffordably pricedRelatively low retention levelsTech support isn’t the bestThis is a European Usenet
provider which offers solid core features, and it’s a fairly priced service to boot
One interesting point to note is that there is a VPN bundled here, although it only comes with the most expensive plan.We found performance
to be impressive with TweakNews with fast download speeds, and it was also good to see that the included VPN (which is Omicron Media-based)
managed a commendable turn of speed
In fact, it was comparable to a good specialist VPN provider.On the downside here, retention isn’t great, and when we encountered an issue
with the service, we found that tech support was on the sluggish side.In terms of cost, there’s plenty of flexibility, and if you sign up
for annual billing, there are some good value deals to be had – and you can benefit from block subscriptions, too, if that’s the route
There’s also a free trial which gives you 10GB of data to play with (but it has a limit of eight connections).10
UsenetServerA no-frills provider for experienced usersRetention: 3390 days | Newsgroups: 100,000+ | Maximum connections: 20 | SSL: Yes |
Free trial: YesGood retention and performanceBundled VPN with annual planFree Zero-Log VPN availableFor heavy usersFree VPN not included
with monthlyIf you want a dependable Usenet offering with a good core service, then look no further than this affordable provider –
although be warned, it isn’t for newsgroup novices.UsenetServer gives you plenty of retention at 3,371 days, a promised 99% completion
rate, and no restrictions such as data limits or throttling of your download speeds. A slight weak point is that you can only have a
maximum of 20 connections, which is less than many services, but that said, in testing we found UsenetServer to offer 150+ Mbps download
speeds performance levels anyway, so this likely won’t matter.What may matter for beginners is that UsenetServer is rather shaky when it
comes to help but offers good tech support, and while it does offer a bundled zero-log VPN for extra security, the Windows client for the
latter is a poor piece of work
But if you’re an experienced user who knows what you’re doing, all this is likely moot, because you’ll find your own way around the
service just fine anyway.The other strength here is that this is a relatively wallet-friendly provider, particularly when you consider that
with the annual plan, the zero-log VPN service is bundled in
There’s also a free 14-day trial (with a 10GB data transfer limit).9FvSPf6PXgv5owcjqDpAHB.jpg#
