Best Usenet Newsreaders 2020
On this page we have listed the top 5 USENET newsgroup newsreaders 2020 followed a list of all USENET newsgroup newsreaders that are to be found currently.
In addition to USENET newsreader software you will need a USENET provider ( See our Top 5 Recommended USENET Providers for 2020 ) and some place to find content most easily done via an NZB site (recommended) or USENET Search Engine.
Top 5 Usenet Newsreaders ( updated April 2020 )
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What is a Usenet Newsreader
- Allows you to connect to multiple USENET Providers
- Permits you to subscribe to a particular newsgroup and read it
- May allow you to post to Usenet
Essential Features
- NZB File Support – does your newsreader support import NZB files. This is a relatively new feature however very neccessary. You should cross off the list any newsreader that does not support NZB files.
- yEnc Support – all newsreader should support yEnc. We are not going to get into what yEnc is but if your Newsreader does not support yEnc its way too old and take it off your list
- SSL support – Its good to have privacy when you are on Usenet both to stay anonymous and to keep your ISP from lowering your download rates. Make sure your newsreader supports SSL.
Possible features
- Thumbnail preview of Images – some newsreaders do and some newsreaders don’t either way
- Automatic Extraction of binaries of Features – can your newsreader unpackage par and rar files. This is a really nice feature otherwise you will have to manually fix corrupt file using a third party program such as quickpar.
- Usenet Search – Are you able to search Usenet easily with you Newsreader ?
Detail on Top 5 USENET Newsreaders
First Place - Newshosting
Pros
- ✔ Quality Software
- ✔ Search USENET newsgroups
Cons
- ✖ Monthly Fee
Newshosting's newsreader comes free with Newshosting's Usenet service and has usenet search built in. It's less than $10/month for the bundled Usenet service and search.
Newshosting's newsreader is available on Windows, Linux and MacOSx and covers all the basics like unrar, unzip and unpar. Just search, click and download. Alternatively just double click on an NZB file to get it working
Second Place - SABnzbd
Pros
- ✔ Multi Platform
- ✔ Lots of extensions
Cons
- ✖ No USENET Headers
Sabnzbd is a web based USENET newsreader and will run on Windows, Mac and Unix(or any platform that supports the Python programming language). By itself Sabnzbd is nothing spectacular
However when combined with various other open source projects such as Sonarr and other NZB sites then Sabnzbd really comes to life and shines. Sabnzbd is a bit complex but if you stick with it you will be rewarded.
Third Place - NZBGet
Pros
- ✔ Fast and Multiple Platform
- ✔ Small Memory Footprint
Cons
- ✖ No USENET headers
NZBGet is a cross-platform binary newsgrabber for nzb files, written in C++. It supports client/server mode, automatic par-check/-repair and web-interface.
NZBGet requires low system resources and runs great on routers, NAS-devices and media players. Quality USENET Newsreader but limited to NZB downloads only
Fourth Place - Newsbin
Pros
- ✔ Years of Development
- ✔ Excellent Search Service
Cons
- ✖ Windows Only
Newsbin is specifically designed for downloading binary files from USENET. There is a one time charge for lifetime upgrades and they have a free trial.
If you are serious about USENET and you want one of the best newsreaders that is constantly being upgraded then you will like Newsbin. The only possible negative that we could mention about Newsbin is that Newsbin only works under Windows
Fifth Place - NewsLeecher
Pros
- ✔ Decent USENET Search
- ✔ Quick and responsive
Cons
- ✖ Windows Only
NewsLeecher newsreader is a windows only USENET newsreader with an excellent UI. Newsleecher is offered as a standalone product or as a part of the new NewsLeecher USENET access service.
It comes with search features and works on the Windows platform only.
Ten points to consider when choosing a USENET newsreader
- Price– This should be obvious but some USENET newsreaders are free and some USENET newsreaders cost money. Some USENET newsreaders are included for free if you sign up for a USENET package. Lets take the example of one of our favorite USENET newsreaders: Newshosting Newsreader. Newshosting’s newsreader comes included when you signup for Newshosting’s USENET service. Many USENET providers offer this capability. Tweaknews also includes their newsreader similar to Newshosting. Finally some USENET newsreaders are hybrid USENET newsreader and USENET service such as Easynews.
- Search Ability– some USENET newsreaders such as Newshosting come in with a free built in search mechanism where as some USENET newsreaders only download NZB files and are not able to search USENET in any way. Finally some USENET newsreaders such as Newsbin and Newsleecher have USENET search services as add-on additional charges.
- OS Compatibility– Many of the USENET newsreader currently are platform independent such as NZBGet and SABNzbd, however you should always check to
- Multiple News Services– Some USENET newsreaders have been developed to support a connection to only one USENET service at a time. While this may have been a good idea years ago or a good idea today if you are only reviewing text groups, the truth is that if you are downloading binaries from USENET many times, binary files will be taken down from one USENET server because someone or some organization complains. So in many cases it is recommend to have multiple news servers and a newsgroup newsreader that support multiple USENET services. All the providers mentioned on our top 5 USENET newsreader list above support this option.
- Integration – In the last few years, automation tools like Sonarr and Couchpotato have become very popular. To use the tools effectively, both your USENET newsreader and your automation tools (Sonarr, Couchpotato or Sickbeard,etc) will need to be configured properly. Note: all of our top 5 USENET newsreaders can be configured to work together but some of the older USENET newsreader such as Thunderbird or Xnews will not work well in conjunction with these automation tools.
- Headers compatibility– In some cases you will want to download the latest USENET headers or message subject headings from a USENET newsgroup to see what is being posted. Not all browsers support the downloading and browsing of USENET headers. Some USENET newsreaders such as NZBGet and SABNzbd would be better called NZB downloaders as with these USENET newsreader you are not able to easily scan the latest message headers in a USENET newsgroup. In some cases you might not need this nor be interested in the ability to download USENET headers as you might be using only NZB sites for finding your desired content.
- Difficulty in use – Setup up time– some USENET newsreaders are easier to setup than others. One of our top recommendations,Newshosting really doesn’t get any easier – just download and run the installer and you can search by group or by search term. Easynews is also another very easy choice. No need to download anything. Just login to the website and search. Then click to download.
- SSL Connections– All of our top recommendations support SSL connections but historically some USENET newsreaders did not support SSL. SSL means privacy which is a good thing. Remember to verify that you are connecting via an SSL connection.
- Additional Automation Features– Flashback 10 years ago and many USENET newsreader did not support what are now defined as essential features for a good newsreader such as unpar and unrar, unzip and uudecode. Currently most USENET newsreader or at least all that we have on our top 5 list above automate the downloading, decoding and repairing of USENET but if you want to take observe all the steps a user would have to go through to manually download, decode and repair files take a look at Mozilla’s Thunderbird or XNews. Both of these programs are very basic USENET newsreaders.
- NZB importation ability – just as some newsreaders do not allow you to view the USENET headers or subject headings of a USENET newsgroup, conversely some USENET newsreaders do not allow you to import NZB files. NZB files are historically somewhat new to USENET and some of the older and simpler newsreaders such as Mozilla’s Thunderbird or XNews do not support the importation of NZB files.
All Working USENET newsreaders as of April 2020
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Additional USENET newsreader evaluation tips
- Pro tips – As mentioned above , when choosing among newsgroup readers especially for downloading binaries you want to make sure that they support multiple connections, SSL and NZB file processing. The quickest way to do this is to choose two SSL only servers, choose an NZB file for the word ubuntu and then test.
- If you look at each usenet client review page you will see more details in addition to what is here now.
- Have a look around our free usenet newsreader client page to help you be informed.
