What would BitTorrent look like if it was lightning fast, always available, completely private, and secure? It’d look a lot like Usenet. Read on to learn how to ditch Torrenting and enjoy super speeds and selection on Usenet.
My pick for the best Usenet Client is: SABnzbd (Windows, Mac and Linux) On Android, the best client is PowerNZB, see my review here Another popular client is NZBGet, this client is a bit lighter on system resources than SABNZBd. $10 per Month. Free & Easy Binary. Newshosting Newsreader offers individuals a premium news client for free. After all Newsleecher was the pioneer for the first Usenet Client in the world to support NZB format.
We’re not here to argue that you’ll never use a torrent again, of course. It’s just that almost nobody knows that Usenet even exists—mostly because there isn’t a good completely free option. But these days, you have to pay for a VPN to torrent safely anyway, right? Why not use a cheap unlimited service that doesn’t require a VPN and has blazing fast, consistent speeds. Every download will max out your bandwidth.
What Is Usenet and Why Should I Care?
First, let’s talk about a system nearly everyone is familiar with, BitTorrent. Torrents are a form of distributed file sharing. You get a torrent file, and that torrent file connects you to a tracker, which in turn helps your BitTorrent client find all the other computers around the world sharing that file. Your ability to find and download files is dependent on other people sharing them, as well as the quality and speed of their connections to the internet. Torrents are not inherently private or secure because there is no way, even on the nicer private trackers, to engage in the entire process of torrenting without sharing your identity (or the identity of your proxy or seedbox at least). Torrenting is, even on a private tracker, a public activity, requiring a VPN to hide your location and identity.
By contrast, Usenet is private, secure, and as fast as your broadband connection can handle. What exactly is Usenet and how does it provide these things? A bit of history is in order.
Usenet is, by modern standards, an ancient internet system. Harking back to the early 1980s, Usenet was created to serve as a global distributed discussion system. Sub groups existed for everything from hardware hacking discussion to movie critiques to alternative lifestyles. The heyday of Usenet as a global discussion forum has long since passed (although some groups are still active). Usenet, however, lives on thanks to binary groups and the introduction of the NZB file.
Binary groups are sub groups that specialize in the distribution of non-text files. These files are broken up into pieces and shared as text blocks in thousands of sequential Usenet messages. You can find virtually any type of file that you can imagine downloading in those groups—from tiny files to multi-gigabyte Blu-ray image files. Accessing the binary groups was an arcane art and required multiple steps as well as a lot of frustration when those multipart files didn’t download or unpack correctly. Eventually, people decided they’d had enough and the NZB file was born.
Although the origin of the NZB format is murky (some accounts claim it was created by Newzbin, others that it was first created by Dutch computer enthusiasts and lifted by Newzbin), the practical application of NZB files is perfectly clear. NZB files are XML indexes that make sharing and accessing files on Usenet extremely easy. Back in the olden days of binary sharing on Usenet you had to, by hand, find all the pieces of a shared file and reassemble them yourself using a variety of programs. In the early 90s, for example, doing something as simple as downloading a wallpaper pack was a multi-step and failure-prone procedure.
NZB files did away with all that tedious hands-on activity and made it simple to retrieve the entire file set with nothing more than a single NZB file. To bring it back to the BitTorrent comparison, NZB files are much like Torrent files, except instead of pointing you to thousands of file sharers around the world, NZB files point you to the thousands of pieces of the file on a high-speed Usenet server.
When you load an NZB file in a Usenet client, you are establishing a direct one-to-one link with your Usenet provider—no extra peers, outside access to your machine, or sharing of files from your collection back to the internet. It’s all the benefits of BitTorrent and none of the downsides.
All you need to get started with Usenet is a Usenet service provider, an NZB index, and a Usenet client. Let’s take a look these three things and get you up and running with Usenet.
One final note on Usenet before we continue: Usenet can be used to download all sorts of stuff, and we’re simply telling you how it works. The legality of certain material on Usenet is going to vary by country, but the biggest thing you need to know is that you should never upload any copyrighted material to Usenet. That’s generally illegal everywhere, so don’t do it.
Selecting a Service Provider
Unlike BitTorrent, Usenet is going to cost you some money. It’s a small price to pay for blazing fast downloads and privacy, however. Your ISP likely has Usenet servers available but there’s a 99% chance they’re unsuitable our purposes. If your ISP is one of the remaining ISPs that offer Usenet access, they most likely don’t provide access to the binary groups, which makes them useless as a file sharing service. Not only that, but the speed is likely restricted, as well. This is not true of non-ISP providers.
Before we start suggesting potential providers, let’s highlight some critical terms and what you should be looking for in a Usenet provider:
- Retention: Retention is the length of time the Usenet server retains the binary files. The longer retention the better. If you’re paying for a premium server, you should expect retention on the order of years. Top providers usually have a retention rate in excess of 1,000 days. A server with a low retention rate will be nothing but frustrating. At minimum, you should accept nothing short of at least 800+ days of retention.
- Quotas/Monthly Caps: Providers offer tiered service that can range anywhere from 10 GB per month to unlimited access. We’d suggest taking the free 30 day trial nearly every Usenet provider offers, and then at the end of the month checking your usage to determine what tier you’d like. These days, however, with huge file sizes, you’re going to almost always want the unlimited plan.
- Server Connections: This is the number of concurrent connections you can have with the main servers. Some people overemphasize the importance of this number. Nearly every Usenet provider offers 10+ concurrent connections, and it’s easy to saturate even 100 MB broadband with only 5-10. If a provider tries to wow you by saying they offer 20+ connections, it’s more for show than for practical application (unless you’re sitting on an fiber backbone).
- Security Features: The big one here is SSL encryption for your connection. You want SSL. This ensures that nobody between your computer and your Usenet provider knows what’s going on with your connection. You’re taking the effort to set up a Usenet connection for fast, private, and secure downloading. Don’t skip on SSL! Some of the high end providers offer additional security features like VPN services (useful if you want to keep torrenting to access rare files) and secure file storage (encrypted Dropbox-like arrangements). Those addons are nice but not critical for our purposes.
Armed with these terms, it’s time to start looking at popular Usenet providers. We’re going to highlight two of the most popular providers here:
- NewsHosting: These guys are the best in the business. They offer 2536 days of retention, up to 60 connections at once, a free VPN included with your subscription, full encryption for all connections, and they are cheaper than most of the other tier-1 providers. They even have a free Usenet browser, so you can easily find things without having to use some clunky app. And, of course, they have a free trial period.
- UsenetServer: Yet another tier-1 provider with 2536 days of retention, full encryption for connections, and unlimited data transfer with their paid plans. They’ve got a search interface that you can use, and a free trial period for 14 days so you can try before you buy.
Once you’ve signed up for an account or free trial, it’s time to configure your Usenet client.
If You’re Using Newshosting, You Can Use Their Client App
When you’re just getting started, the easiest thing to do is download the official client, and Newshosting provides a simple client that makes it easy to download, run, and get started. Just download it from your account page, and then sign in with your credentials.
You can use the Search box in the upper right-hand corner to look for stuff to download. You also can just open an NZB file directly, the Newshosting client immediately starts downloading it. You can scroll down further in this article for an explanation of how to find NZB files.
This is definitely the easiest way to get started with Usenet, but as you get more comfortable you’ll quickly find that it’s not the best solution for power users. It’s great for simple stuff, but most serious Usenet enthusiasts use SABnzbd or nzbGet—we prefer the former, so that’s what we’ll explain today.
Power User? Here’s How to Install and Configure SABnzbd
SABnzbd is, by far, one of the best Usenet clients out there. It’s stable, integrates with so many helper apps, and offers such robust features we’re not even going to waste your time mentioning other Usenet apps. SABnzbd is written in Python and is available for Windows, Mac, Linux, Unix, BSD (and any other OS you can compile and run a Python application in).
One of the most valuable things about SABnzbd is how lightweight it is. Many Usenet apps are sloppily coded and enormous resource hogs—we’ve tested quite a few over the years that would redline a processor while simply idling, let alone actually downloading and unpacking files.
Grab a copy of SABnzbd for your operating system here, and then run the installer (it’s largely a click-next kind of installation). The only thing you’ll want to do is check all the options on the Choose Components screen. You want SABnzbd to run at startup so it’s always working, and you want to associate NZB files with the app.
Note: if you’re using macOS, the installation is even simpler, just double-click on the installer and drag it to the Applications folder.
After the installation finishes, your default web browser will open up a connection to the local host on port 8080, where you’ll be greeted by the SABnzbd Quick-Start Wizard. Select your language, and then click the “Start Wizard” button. Add your details, which for Newshosting will be:
- Host: news.newshosting.com
- Username: <usually your email address>
- Password: <your password>
You can also click to set advanced options if you want to—SSL is enabled by default these days, and you’ll definitely want to make sure you’re using a secure channel. For reference, the SSL port is usually 563.
Once you’ve filled in everything, click the “Test Server” button, and once you’ve verified that it works, just click to finish the installation and get to the web interface.
Tweaking Common SABnzbd Options
You can use SABnzbd right out of the box by feeding it NZB files using the web interface, but there are ways to make that even easier.
Set Up Your Watched Folder to Make Downloading Easier
If you’re running SABnzbd on your desktop PC, the biggest change you’re going to want to make right away is to set the Watched Folder so that when you download an NZB file, it gets automatically picked up by SABnzbd and your download starts right away. Head into Config and then click the “Folders” option at the top. From there, change your Watched Folder to the same place you’ve set your browser to download—usually just the Downloads folder in your home directory.
If you’re going to run SABnzbd on a different PC on your network, you can set the Watched Folder to a new folder, maybe called NZB, and then share that folder on your network. Or you could use something like Dropbox to easily sync NZBs from your local PC to the server.
Accessing SABnzbd from Another Computer
If you want to access SABnzbd from another computer—maybe you’re installing this on your home server—you’ll need to go into Settings and then click the “General” tab at the top. By default, the server listens on the loopback 127.0.0.1 address rather than your actual IP address, so you’ll want to change that here. For reference, here’s how to find your IP address, and also how to set a static IP address.
From here, you can also change the Port number in case it conflicts with anything, and you can enable HTTPS. That’s not particularly useful on your desktop PC at home, but if you were running this on a server somewhere, it’s a good option.
At this point, you’re ready to go. You just need some NZB files.
The Care and Feeding of Your Usenet Client
![Nzb Client Windows 10 Nzb Client Windows 10](/uploads/1/2/4/9/124918000/138808258.png)
At this point, you have a Usenet provider, and you have a properly configured Usenet client. All you need now are some NZB files to feed to your client. The following are popular NZB indexing sites. Most have free access with limited retention and require some sort of signup and or nominal payment for full access (i.e. $10 a year).
An important thing to consider here is whether the index is raw or hand indexed. Raw indexes are simply giant searchable databases of all the files on Usenet—powerful to use but a little tricky for new users to navigate successfully—whereas hand-indexed databases are sorted, categorized, and quality-vouched for you.
- NZBIndex: This site is free, doesn’t require registration, and the quality of the index isn’t great, but when you’re first starting out it’s not a bad place to try. There’s going to be a lot of garbage to sort through.
- NZBFinder:Registration is required for this NZB index, and you’re going to have to pay if you want to download anything. The good news is that it integrates with Sonarr, Radarr, Sickbeard, and all your favorite power user tools.
- NZBGeek: This site requires registration and payment—they do accept cryptocurrency—but they have a hand-tailored list of NZBs along with a forum in case you have questions.
- NZBPlanet: This site is paid only. It’s popular, but we’ve never tried it.
You can also search for “nzb indexer” to see the latest new sites out there—these sites tend to shut down randomly and new sites start all the time.
All you need to do to feed your client and get the downloads rolling is visit one of the above indexes, grab an NZB file or two (or two hundred), and then dump them into the Watch Folder. SABnzbd will grab the NZB files, start the download, unpack the files, and place them in your specified Finished Download directory. That’s it. Armed with a long-retention provider, SABnzbd, and a good index, you’ll never have to wait around on a slow, clunky, and public BitTorrent download again.
Have experience with Usenet providers, clients, or useful third-party applications? Let’s hear about it in the comments.
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Usenet groups were the social media of the early internet, where users could come together in groups specialized by topic, and discuss news, events, and general issues (and arguments!) relating to that topic. However, it was not so easy to navigate between them or to keep up with the latest posts.
Usenet clients simplified the process of navigation and updates, making it easier to find the information you wanted.
While social media has since evolved through forums into dedicated chat sites like Facebook and Twitter, Usenet groups are still very much alive and running, and have adapted to the modern internet - as have Usenet readers.
Even better, the spam problems that had begun to plague Usenet groups have been very much reduced, and NZB managers often provide easy and effective ways to locate content.
Here we'll look at the best in Usenet clients and NZB downloaders, to keep the process of surfing for content in Usenet groups as accessible as possible.
- Check out our best Usenet providers of 2018
- Also discover the best web hosting services out there
- Want your company or services to be added to this buyer’s guide? Please email your request to [email protected] with the URL of the buying guide in the subject line.
1. Newsbin Pro
Fast, feature-packed news reading from the Usenet veteran
Loads of essential features
Newsbin Pro is a full-featured commercial Usenet client for Windows.
After more than 20 years of development, it's probably no surprise that the program is absolutely crammed with high-end functionality. But despite that, it manages to be straightforward and user-friendly. The installer prompts you to enter your Usenet server details, then you can search for the files you need and download them right away.
Newsbin Pro uses multiple techniques to boost its performance. XFeatures header compression support can download headers up to 10 times faster. You're able to set up multiple servers for simultaneous use, and the program can block RARs which are password-protected or contain executable files, hopefully reducing the time you'll waste downloading spam and malware.
Heavy-duty Usenet users might still find their downloads take a while, but Newsbin Pro can help there, too. You're able to limit the program's bandwidth use, allowing it to run in the background without hogging your connection, or you can use the scheduler to download files while you sleep.
All this runs smoothly, with full support for all the standards you would expect. Newsbin Pro can handle SSL encryption, and supports per-server SOCKS 4, SOCKS 5, and HTTPS proxies. Smart NZB handling can automatically download the files you need, and the AutoPAR feature repairs or replaces missing or corrupted RARs, then expands the contents.
Newsbin Pro is available with a standard search subscription for one year at $30 (£25), but you can buy Newsbin Pro without the search function for $20 (£18). A free trial is available.
2. Newsleecher
Usenet searching with the emphasis on speed
Speedy Usenet search
Newsleecher is a popular Windows Usenet reader with many timesaving technologies and extras.
The program's SuperSearch is a speedy Usenet search tool with handy wildcard support. The SuperLeech service can be set up to regularly check Usenet for the files you need, downloading copies almost as soon as they've been uploaded. And if you're tired of wasting time on spam files, there’s more good news: NewsLeecher can detect and avoid password protected files, RAR-in-RAR files, and anything containing an executable (EXE or SCR).
NewsLeecher was the first Usenet client to support NZB files, and its latest version provides many ways to work with the file type. You can create NZBs directly from articles or search results, import them manually or set the program to monitor folders, import anything new and automatically download the specified files.
All this is presented in a handy tabbed interface. You can manage servers in one tab, browse articles in another, and there are tabs to run searches, check the transfer queue, even access downloaded files via an embedded Explorer window. It's a great way to keep track of all your ongoing tasks with minimal on-screen clutter or hassle.
Newsleecher providers unlimited Usenet access for $9.49 (£8.50) per month, and there's a free 14-day trial available.
3. NZBGet
Expert-level, fast and free NZB processing
Highly configurable
NZBGet is a lightweight open source NZB downloader which runs almost anywhere: desktops (Windows, Linux, Mac), routers, NAS devices, media players and more.
The package works this magic by running as a background process which is largely accessed from a browser-based interface. This allows NZBGet to be used from mobiles and tablets, as well as its host hardware, and ensures you get a consistent interface everywhere.
Operations are mostly very easy. Add one or more NZB files from the interface, copy them to NZBGet's incoming folder or just point the program at a URL and it'll download the files you need. NZBGet is highly optimized for speed, even on low-end devices (the developer says you can run it with less than 32MB of RAM).
The focus on performance continues elsewhere with intelligent PAR file verification, smarter retries and a multi-core repair process ensuring damaged files are recovered as fast as possible.
Neat bonus touches include speedy and accurate deobfuscation of file names, effortlessly restoring cryptic nonsense – like, for example: cf8ae6185547f6ca0ad263439f2279fa.01 – to its original version.
While NZBGet could be used by newsgroup novices without too much difficulty, the real value here is for more expert users. Automation features include support for powerful RSS filters, plus there are a huge number of low-level options and settings, and every aspect of the program can be controlled via an RPC API and your own scripts.
4. Nzb360
A powerful NZB manager for Android
Stylish and easy-to-use interface
Nzb360 is a comprehensive NZB manager for Android. The app works with a host of popular services: SABnzbd, NZBGet, Deluge, Transmission, µTorrent, qBittorrent, Sick Beard, Sonarr, Radarr, CouchPotato, Headphones and unlimited Newznab Indexers.
Set up a service on your PC, for instance, tell Nzb360 about it, and you're able to monitor and control what's going on. The app queues up content for your services, ensuring it works even if the remote computer is turned off (although built-in Wake-On-LAN support means you may also be able to start your system remotely).
There's support for managing a wide range of connection types, including local/remote addresses, SSL/TLS, HTTP authentication, URL rewrites, reverse proxies, and more.
Nzb360 isn't an app for beginners, and there's something of a learning curve as you figure out how to get the software working as you would like.
Still, an attractive and well-designed interface points you in the right direction, and experienced users should have few problems (the exceptional 4.8 average review score on Google Play suggests the developer is doing something right). But if you do have any issues, the built-in feedback mechanism and a web support forum are on hand to help you out.
If you're interested, a free build gives you a basic idea of Nzb360's abilities, and the full-featured Pro version is available at the bargain price of $7.49 (£6.50) for a lifetime licence.
5. Usenet Wire
The news client of choice for some big Usenet providers
Video and image previews
Usenet Wire is a polished, professional and easy-to-use Usenet client for Windows, Linux and Mac.
The package is more about simplicity than high-end NZB-handling power, but there's still plenty to enjoy here. The well-designed interface looks great, and works just as you would expect. A quality search system helps you find the files you need. Previews for images and videos confirm that the files really do contain what the uploader has promised, and whatever you download is automatically validated, repaired if necessary, and decompressed, ready for use.
Usenet Wire can't match the expert-level automation options of a utility like NZBGet, but there are some handy tools here. Searches can be automated to look out for specific results and automatically download them, for instance.
While this sounds great, there's a problem: you can't buy Usenet Wire as a standalone product. Instead it comes bundled as a free Usenet client with some Usenet providers.
At the time of writing, downloads from the Usenet Wire website will prompt you to set up an account with TweakNews. When we reviewed TweakNews, we found it had a limited 2,500 days binary retention and slow tech support, but if you can live with that, downloads are fast and the prices are very low.
Newshosting also bundled a version of Usenet Wire when we last reviewed the service, and that could be a smarter choice. Retention is above 3,300 days, downloads are fast, a generous 750GB trial allows in-depth testing and there are some big sign-up discounts.