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
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
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
its own US and European server farms, and also offers uncensored access to 120,000 newsgroups
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
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
its own data centre in Amsterdam with its own server farm
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 tests
came to our retention testing (grabbing old files)
require you to enter any payment details, either
Considering what you get here, the service is reasonably priced, too.3
veteran Usenet provider having been in operation since the mid-90s, and it has servers across the US and Europe
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
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
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
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
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)
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
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
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
browser and search engine, SSL access to its servers, and the pro version of Golden Frog's multi-faceted VyprVPN service.Whatever you're
reassuring.GigaNews' server availability is another plus, with multiple redundancy on US and EU servers owned and run by the company itself
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,
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
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
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 |
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
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
connections, which is less than many services, but that said, in testing we found UsenetServer to offer 150+ Mbps download speeds
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
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
