We compare Usenet providers on retention, pricing, and reliability so you do not have to sort through it yourself. Here are our current top picks, along with what actually matters when choosing one.
| Provider | Best For | Retention | Price | Get Started |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Read full review → |
Best overall | + days | $7.95/mo | Get UsenetServer |
 Read full review → |
Built-in newsreader | 6,150+ days | $8.33/mo | Get Newshosting |
 Read full review → |
Web-based access | 6,400+ days | $9.98/mo | Get Easynews |
 Read full review → |
Best value | 6,556+ days | $6.95/mo | Get FastUsenet |
How We Picked These Providers
We compared current published retention numbers, completion rates where providers report them, monthly and annual pricing, whether a newsreader is included, and how many simultaneous connections each plan allows. We favor providers with retention above 4,000 days (short retention means older posts simply are not available anymore), transparent pricing with no hidden step-ups, and either a built-in newsreader or clear setup instructions for a free one like SABnzbd. We do not rank based on affiliate payout — Giganews, for example, was removed from this page entirely once its affiliate program stopped paying, even though its retention numbers were still competitive.
How to Choose a Usenet Provider
Retention and completion rate matter most for actually finding and downloading what you are looking for; a provider with short retention simply will not have older posts available anymore. Beyond that, check for SSL support, how many simultaneous connections your plan allows, and whether a newsreader is included or you will need to set up your own. Our Usenet FAQ covers all of these terms in plain language if you are still getting oriented.
Retention
Retention is how far back a provider’s server archive goes, measured in days. Longer retention means a wider window of older posts you can still retrieve. All four providers here offer retention well above 4,000 days, but UsenetServer and Fast Usenet lead at over 6,500 days each — more than a decade of archived posts.
Completion Rate
Completion rate measures how often a provider successfully delivers every piece of a file, not just most of it. A single missing piece can make a download fail even with strong retention. Providers at this tier generally report completion rates in the high 99% range, but it is worth checking current numbers directly on a provider’s site since this can shift over time.
Speed and Connections
Your plan’s allowed number of simultaneous connections affects how many files you can pull at once, which matters more if you are downloading larger files or multiple items in parallel. Actual download speed also depends on your own internet connection, not just the provider.
Newsreader Software
You need a newsreader client to actually use a Usenet subscription — some providers bundle one in (Newshosting is the standout here), while others expect you to install a separate one like SABnzbd. See our newsreader comparison if your provider does not include one.
Price and Value
Monthly pricing on this page ranges from under $7 to just under $10, and most providers offer a real discount for committing to a longer plan upfront. We list starting prices here, but always confirm current pricing directly with the provider before signing up, since promotional rates change.
Free Trials
Most reputable Usenet providers offer either a short free trial or a money-back guarantee window, which is worth using to confirm speed and completion rate on your own connection before committing to a longer subscription.
What Retention Numbers Actually Mean
A retention figure like “+ days” translates to just under 11 years of archived posts — meaning a provider with that retention can still serve up content posted over a decade ago, assuming it has not been removed for other reasons (copyright takedowns, for instance). Shorter retention, like Newshosting’s 6,150+ days, still covers roughly three years, which is plenty for most day-to-day use but means very old posts may no longer be retrievable. Retention numbers grow over time as providers expand storage, so the figures listed here reflect current published numbers and will likely be higher by the time you are reading this.
Block Accounts vs. Unlimited Plans
Some providers, in addition to their standard unlimited plans, also sell “block accounts” — a fixed amount of data (for example, 100GB) that never expires and rolls over indefinitely, rather than a monthly subscription. This can work out cheaper for very light or occasional use, though most people downloading regularly are better served by one of the unlimited monthly plans listed on this page. See our Usenet block account guide for more on how these work.
UsenetServer: Our Top Pick
UsenetServer is one of the most popular Usenet service providers, and its combination of long retention and bundled security features makes it a major contender for the top spot on this list.
Key features:
- + days of retention
- SSL-encrypted connections on every plan, not just as a paid add-on
- Free unlimited VPN included with every subscription
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Works with any third-party newsreader (SABnzbd, NZBGet, or your client of choice)
Newshosting: Best Built-In Newsreader
Newshosting is one of the few providers that gives you a genuinely usable client out of the box, so you can start downloading within minutes instead of configuring a separate newsreader first.
Key features:
- 6,150+ days of retention
- Built-in newsreader with integrated search, no separate software required
- SSL encryption, ad blocking, and threat protection included
- Unlimited VPN bundled on higher-tier plans
- 30-day money-back guarantee with 24/7 support
- Higher-tier plans add Easynews web search on top of the standard newsreader
Easynews: Best Web-Based Access
Easynews takes a different approach than the others on this list — instead of requiring a separate newsreader, it gives you a full web-based interface with built-in search, preview, and streaming, which makes it the simplest option if you would rather not install and configure a client at all.
Key features:
- 6,400+ days of retention
- Full web-based access — search, preview, and stream directly in your browser, no newsreader needed
- 7-day free trial with a money-back guarantee
- VPN access included free on the top-tier plan, available as a low-cost add-on on others
- Built-in file preview for images and video before you download
Fast Usenet: Best Value
Fast Usenet offers the lowest starting price on this list while still delivering retention above 6,500 days, putting it in the same league as UsenetServer on archive depth despite the lower cost.
Key features:
- 6,556+ days of retention, the longest on this list
- 50 SSL-encrypted connections
- 14-day free trial, including a year of complimentary newsreader search
- Starting price of $6.95/mo, the lowest of the four providers here
- No bundled VPN — if that matters to you, pair it with one of our recommended VPNs separately
Getting Started After You Sign Up
Once you have picked a provider from this list, actually getting your first download running takes a few steps. First, note your server address, port, username, and password from your provider’s welcome email or account dashboard — you will need these regardless of which newsreader you use. Second, install a newsreader if your provider does not include one; SABnzbd is the easiest starting point for most people and is completely free. Third, enter your provider’s connection details into the newsreader’s server settings. From there, you will need an NZB file (a small index file, not the content itself) to actually start a download — our Usenet FAQ explains where these come from and how they work if you are new to the format.
Most providers also offer either a short free trial or a money-back guarantee window, which is worth using to confirm real-world speed and completion rate on your own internet connection before committing to a longer subscription.
Which Provider Should You Choose?
If you want the deepest archive and do not mind setting up your own newsreader, UsenetServer’s + days of retention makes it our top overall pick. If you would rather not deal with newsreader setup at all, Newshosting’s bundled client gets you downloading within minutes of signing up. If you prefer working entirely in a browser without installing anything, Easynews’s web-based access is the simplest starting point. And if price is your main constraint, Fast Usenet delivers retention nearly identical to our top pick at the lowest monthly cost on this list.
None of these are wrong choices — the four providers here are all established, reliable options, and the differences between them come down to workflow preference and price rather than one being fundamentally better than the rest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Usenet provider has the best retention?
Among our current picks, Fast Usenet and UsenetServer both offer retention well above 6,500 days, among the longest available.
Do I need a separate newsreader?
Some providers, like Newshosting, include one with your subscription. Others expect you to install your own; see our Usenet FAQ for more detail on newsreaders, or our newsreader comparison for free and paid options.
Is a more expensive plan worth it?
Usually the difference comes down to speed and included extras like a newsreader or VPN access, not retention or completion, which are often similar across providers at this tier.
What is the difference between retention and completion rate?
Retention is how far back a provider’s archive goes; completion rate is how reliably it delivers every piece of a given file. A provider can have excellent retention but still fail a download if completion rate is poor, so both matter.
Can I use any newsreader with any provider?
Yes — newsreader software is provider-agnostic. You enter your provider’s server details into whichever newsreader you choose, so switching providers later does not require switching newsreaders.
Do I need a VPN in addition to a Usenet subscription?
They cover different things. A Usenet provider handles your access to the network itself; a VPN protects your broader internet traffic. See our Usenet and VPN guide for how the two work together.
Why isn’t Giganews on this list anymore?
We removed it after its affiliate program stopped paying out. Its retention numbers were still competitive, but we would rather keep this list limited to providers we can honestly recommend end to end.
How often do you update this page?
We review pricing and retention figures periodically and update this page when a provider’s numbers or our recommendations change, rather than on a fixed schedule.
Can I switch Usenet providers later without losing anything?
Yes. Your newsreader and any downloaded files are independent of your provider — switching just means updating the server details in your newsreader settings and canceling your old subscription.
Do these providers offer annual pricing discounts?
Most Usenet providers, including the ones on this list, offer a meaningful discount for paying annually versus month to month. Always check current annual pricing directly with the provider, since promotional rates change.
What happens if I exceed my plan’s connection limit?
Most newsreaders will simply queue additional connections until one frees up, rather than failing outright, though this can slow overall download speed if you are frequently maxing out your plan’s limit.
Is Usenet legal?
Usenet itself is a legal, decades-old discussion and file-sharing network, the same as email or the web more broadly. What you do on it, like anything online, is subject to the same copyright laws that apply anywhere else. See our Usenet FAQ for a fuller answer.
Do I need to renew my subscription manually?
Most providers, including all four on this list, auto-renew by default unless you cancel or switch to a non-recurring block account. Check your account settings after signup if you would rather handle renewals manually.