Free Usenet Server List

Last Updated: Jun 18, 2020

The cheapest way to get free USENET access is through your ISP.  However only a handful of  ISPs currently offer USENET access and all of these free USENET servers are  limited when compared to our  recommend USENET providers.

Below is a list of the top 100 Internet Service Providers in the USA that have some or limited USENET access. Keep in mind, that these free USENET plans are typically limited to around 30 days of binary retention and out of 100 Isps only 4 offer free Usenet Acessss.

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Top 100 ISPs in the USA w/ USENET service status

RankProviderPopulationFree USENET Access
1  HughesNet  308,745,538  Shutdown 2002  
2  AT&T Wireless  306,461,488  No  
3  Verizon Wireless  305,032,264  Shutdown 2009  
4  Sprint  279,984,122  Shutdown 2009  
5  T-Mobile  246,589,444  No  
6  AT&T U-verse  120,698,372  Shutdown 2009  
7  Exede Internet  114,412,179  No  
8  XFINITY from Comcast  109,365,995  Shutdown 2009  
9  Comcast Business  109,104,949  Shutdown 2009  
10  Cricket Wireless  94,688,250  No  
11  Time Warner Cable  65,271,476  Shutdown 2009  
12  MetroPCS  54,308,583  No  
13  Verizon High Speed Internet  49,559,491  Shutdown 2009  
14  CenturyLink  48,089,588  Yes. See Below  
15  Verizon Fios  32,722,584  Shutdown 2009  
16  Frontier Communications  28,724,887  Shutdown 2016  
17  Charter Communications  27,484,432  Shutdown 2012  
18  dishNET  26,943,450  No  
19  U.S. Cellular  25,083,868  No  
20  Cox Communications  20,977,073  Shutdown 2009  
21  Lightower Fiber Networks  19,225,335  No  
22  Rise Broadband  16,103,060  No  
23  Windstream  13,122,457  Yes. See Below  
24  Optimum by Cablevision  12,213,255  Shutdown 2016  
25  Agile Networks  11,536,504  No  
26  Skyriver Communications  11,503,689  No  
27  GHz Wireless  9,699,124  No  
28  King Street Wireless  9,603,129  No  
29  Monmouth Telephone & Telegraph  8,569,186  No  
30  Bright House Networks  8,440,654  Shutdown 2016  
31  WOW!  7,257,892  Shutdown 2011  
32  CyberNet Communications  6,972,035  No  
33  BelWave Communications  6,301,425  No  
34  Suddenlink Communications  6,177,723  Shutdown 2014  
35  Sunesys  5,913,020  No  
36  Etheric Networks  5,852,582  No  
37  Mediacom Cable  5,395,908  Shutdown 2015  
38  TDS Telecom  5,077,333  Shutdown 2010  
39  Startouch  5,053,403  No  
40  Florida High Speed Internet  4,345,447  No  
41  C Spire Wireless  3,993,826  No  
42  Everywhere Wireless  3,916,796  No  
43  RCN  3,809,880  Shutdown 2008  
44  Sonic.net  3,711,539  Shutdown 2016  
45  Wydebeam Broadband  3,661,286  No  
46  FairPoint Communications  3,533,849  Shutdown 2010  
47  Wi-Power  3,518,501  No  
48  Pixius Communications  3,327,534  No  
49  Ranch Wireless  3,294,333  No  
50  Level 3 Communications  3,255,603  No  
51  Cable ONE  3,225,624  Shutdown 2003  
52  UnWired Broadband  3,132,772  No  
53  BarrierFree  3,030,290  No  
54  Cruzio Internet  3,024,653  Shutdown 2003  
55  Phoenix Internet  3,023,649  No  
56  WATCH Communications  2,978,692  No  
57  E-Vergent Wireless  2,971,347  No  
58  Zing Wireless  2,924,980  No  
59  NextLink  2,920,402  No  
60  TierOne Networks  2,827,432  No  
61  MHO Networks  2,742,849  No  
62  Time Warner Business Class  2,732,147  Shutdown 2013  
63  GTT Communications  2,588,837  No  
64  Nextera Communications  2,586,365  No  
65  Wisper ISP  2,498,059  No  
66  Wifi West  2,411,052  No  
67  Earthlink Business  2,386,827  Yes. See Below  
68  MegaPath  2,290,751  Shutdown 2002  
69  Freewire Broadband  2,136,190  No  
70  DirectLink  2,125,472  No  
71  PenTeleData  2,021,477  Yes. See Below  
72  Believe Wireless Broadband  2,016,020  Shutdown 2014  
73  Global Capacity  2,015,306  No  
74  US Signal Company  2,013,697  No  
75  XO Communications  1,995,744  No  
76  Cirra Networks  1,916,843  No  
77  lv.net  1,878,128  No  
78  Utah Broadband  1,865,241  No  
79  STL WiMax  1,863,796  No  
80  VRFuturenet  1,860,824  No  
81  Brown Dog Networks  1,854,680  No  
82  ERF Wireless  1,815,907  No  
83  On-Ramp Indiana  1,810,926  No  
84  Packet Layer  1,773,320  No  
85  Wave Broadband  1,747,210  Shutdown 2011  
86  airPowered  1,663,719  No  
87  Air-Wans Wireless Broadband  1,640,596  No  
88  EasyStreet Online  1,629,345  No  
89  Hoosier Broadband  1,608,106  No  
90  CellCom  1,607,399  No  
91  Keystone  1,577,701  No  
92  MetroSpan  1,557,914  No  
93  Phoenix Broadband  1,555,648  No  
94  Areyouonline.Net  1,538,762  No  
95  TruCom  1,530,946  No  
96  Internet Free Planet  1,483,708  No  
97  Aerux Broadband  1,476,008  No  
98  ZipLink Internet.com  1,462,886  No  
99  Mercury Wireless  1,439,628  No  
100  Internet Nebraska Corporation  1,386,776  No  

Free USA Usenet Services

ISPServerNameFree USENET Notes
Centurylink aka Qwest.netnews.qwest.netLimited Support
Earthlinknews.earthlink.netOnly Customers before 2013
Megapathnews.speakeasy.netOnly Customers before 2010
Windstreamnews.windstream.netOnly Customers before 2016
PenTeleDatausenet.ptd.netLimited to 10 GB/month

Free USENET service WorldWide Coverage in 2024

At one time, just about everyone could count on getting free USENET access through their ISP. ISP-provided USENET access is a rarity these days, but some broadband companies still offer basic USENET service. We’ve compiled a list of such ISPs in several different nations.

Remember that the quality of USENET access you get from your ISP is likely to pale in comparison to what you’ll get from a specialty USENET provider. ISPs are likely to have short retention times, limit which newsgroups you can access and, almost certainly, they’ll put limits on binary downloads and throttle your download speed. Nonetheless, ISP-provided USENET access can be useful at times, and it’s worth knowing whether or not your ISP offers it.

We keep this list updated, but be aware that the number of ISPs offering free USENET access is rapidly decreasing and that most customers, in order to enjoy the best USENET has to offer, will need to get USENET access separately from their broadband account.

Canada

ISPServerNameFree USENET Notes
Bell/Sympaticonews.bell.newshosting.comDead as of 2006
Montreal DSLnews.montreal-dsl.comLimited to 60 Days

UK

ISPServerNameFree USENET Notes
Virgin Medianews.virginmedia.com30 days retention Fast
Abel Internetnew.abel.co.ukLimited Retention
Plus Netnews.plus.netLImited Retention
Free Usenet

ISPs in the USA and Free USENET service

Currently as of 2024 for the North American market - only four ISPs offer some form of USENET access included with their plans.

  1. Qwest USENET access - news.qwest.net
  2. Sonic.net - news.sonic.net
  3. Earthlink - news.earthlink.net
  4. PenTeleData - usenet.ptd.net

Internet service providers will offer USENET news server access included with the Internet access plan. Unfortunately, this is becoming less and less common and typically the free USENET servers are limited to 30 days retention. If you want the best USENET service or here if you want free USENET trial offers check out those links.

However, if you want free USENET news access this is the best way. Below is a free USENET news server list below for many of the popular ISP ’s in the USA. Remember this isn’t anywhere near as good as a premium USENET provider but if you are interested in free USENET news servers checking out our list below is your best bet.

As mentioned, it is more the case today that you will need to pay for your USENET access separate from your internet provider. One of the best ways to get free USENET at least for a while is to check out some free USENET trial offers.

USENET services are expensive to run when you compare the volume of data that a relatively small group will be requesting, then you can see why they find it not very cost efficient. The main reason is that people who do run USENET tend to use it a lot and pull a lot of data down from it.

Compare that with light usage of the internet by someone who just uses it to check the weather etc. , and you can quickly see why they need to charge extra for the usage.

In addition to free USENET trials we have special offers and discounts when you can get by visiting our USENET coupons and special offers page.


Best Usenet Services