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.
Editor’s Note: We recommend you try out a free trial with EasyNews as part of your research. You can get 50 GBs of free access with uncapped speeds for 7 days to play around with.
Easynews has the best Usenet search engine with the best search results and built-in file previews. This is an all-in-one service that also includes Usenet access and requires no newsreader (it’s web-based, meaning you can also access it from mobile). This is why Easynews is our #1 recommendation.
Here’s a special Easynews 50 GB free trial for Usenetreviewz.com readers.
Top 100 ISPs in the USA w/ USENET service status
| Rank | Provider | Population | Free USENET Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | HughesNet | 308,745,538 | Shutdown 2002 |
| 2 | AT&T Wireless | 306,461,488 | false |
| 3 | Verizon Wireless | 305,032,264 | Shutdown 2009 |
| 4 | Sprint | 279,984,122 | Shutdown 2009 |
| 5 | T-Mobile | 246,589,444 | false |
| 6 | AT&T U-verse | 120,698,372 | Shutdown 2009 |
| 7 | Exede Internet | 114,412,179 | false |
| 8 | XFINITY from Comcast | 109,365,995 | Shutdown 2009 |
| 9 | Comcast Business | 109,104,949 | Shutdown 2009 |
| 10 | Cricket Wireless | 94,688,250 | false |
| 11 | Time Warner Cable | 65,271,476 | Shutdown 2009 |
| 12 | MetroPCS | 54,308,583 | false |
| 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 | false |
| 19 | U.S. Cellular | 25,083,868 | false |
| 20 | Cox Communications | 20,977,073 | Shutdown 2009 |
| 21 | Lightower Fiber Networks | 19,225,335 | false |
| 22 | Rise Broadband | 16,103,060 | false |
| 23 | Windstream | 13,122,457 | Yes. See Below |
| 24 | Optimum by Cablevision | 12,213,255 | Shutdown 2016 |
| 25 | Agile Networks | 11,536,504 | false |
| 26 | Skyriver Communications | 11,503,689 | false |
| 27 | GHz Wireless | 9,699,124 | false |
| 28 | King Street Wireless | 9,603,129 | false |
| 29 | Monmouth Telephone & Telegraph | 8,569,186 | false |
| 30 | Bright House Networks | 8,440,654 | Shutdown 2016 |
| 31 | WOW! | 7,257,892 | Shutdown 2011 |
| 32 | CyberNet Communications | 6,972,035 | false |
| 33 | BelWave Communications | 6,301,425 | false |
| 34 | Suddenlink Communications | 6,177,723 | Shutdown 2014 |
| 35 | Sunesys | 5,913,020 | false |
| 36 | Etheric Networks | 5,852,582 | false |
| 37 | Mediacom Cable | 5,395,908 | Shutdown 2015 |
| 38 | TDS Telecom | 5,077,333 | Shutdown 2010 |
| 39 | Startouch | 5,053,403 | false |
| 40 | Florida High Speed Internet | 4,345,447 | false |
| 41 | C Spire Wireless | 3,993,826 | false |
| 42 | Everywhere Wireless | 3,916,796 | false |
| 43 | RCN | 3,809,880 | Shutdown 2008 |
| 44 | Sonic.net | 3,711,539 | Shutdown 2016 |
| 45 | Wydebeam Broadband | 3,661,286 | false |
| 46 | FairPoint Communications | 3,533,849 | Shutdown 2010 |
| 47 | Wi-Power | 3,518,501 | false |
| 48 | Pixius Communications | 3,327,534 | false |
| 49 | Ranch Wireless | 3,294,333 | false |
| 50 | Level 3 Communications | 3,255,603 | false |
| 51 | Cable ONE | 3,225,624 | Shutdown 2003 |
| 52 | UnWired Broadband | 3,132,772 | false |
| 53 | BarrierFree | 3,030,290 | false |
| 54 | Cruzio Internet | 3,024,653 | Shutdown 2003 |
| 55 | Phoenix Internet | 3,023,649 | false |
| 56 | WATCH Communications | 2,978,692 | false |
| 57 | E-Vergent Wireless | 2,971,347 | false |
| 58 | Zing Wireless | 2,924,980 | false |
| 59 | NextLink | 2,920,402 | false |
| 60 | TierOne Networks | 2,827,432 | false |
| 61 | MHO Networks | 2,742,849 | false |
| 62 | Time Warner Business Class | 2,732,147 | Shutdown 2013 |
| 63 | GTT Communications | 2,588,837 | false |
| 64 | Nextera Communications | 2,586,365 | false |
| 65 | Wisper ISP | 2,498,059 | false |
| 66 | Wifi West | 2,411,052 | false |
| 67 | Earthlink Business | 2,386,827 | Yes. See Below |
| 68 | MegaPath | 2,290,751 | Shutdown 2002 |
| 69 | Freewire Broadband | 2,136,190 | false |
| 70 | DirectLink | 2,125,472 | false |
| 71 | PenTeleData | 2,021,477 | Yes. See Below |
| 72 | Believe Wireless Broadband | 2,016,020 | Shutdown 2014 |
| 73 | Global Capacity | 2,015,306 | false |
| 74 | US Signal Company | 2,013,697 | false |
| 75 | XO Communications | 1,995,744 | false |
| 76 | Cirra Networks | 1,916,843 | false |
| 77 | lv.net | 1,878,128 | false |
| 78 | Utah Broadband | 1,865,241 | false |
| 79 | STL WiMax | 1,863,796 | false |
| 80 | VRFuturenet | 1,860,824 | false |
| 81 | Brown Dog Networks | 1,854,680 | false |
| 82 | ERF Wireless | 1,815,907 | false |
| 83 | On-Ramp Indiana | 1,810,926 | false |
| 84 | Packet Layer | 1,773,320 | false |
| 85 | Wave Broadband | 1,747,210 | Shutdown 2011 |
| 86 | airPowered | 1,663,719 | false |
| 87 | Air-Wans Wireless Broadband | 1,640,596 | false |
| 88 | EasyStreet Online | 1,629,345 | false |
| 89 | Hoosier Broadband | 1,608,106 | false |
| 90 | CellCom | 1,607,399 | false |
| 91 | Keystone | 1,577,701 | false |
| 92 | MetroSpan | 1,557,914 | false |
| 93 | Phoenix Broadband | 1,555,648 | false |
| 94 | Areyouonline.Net | 1,538,762 | false |
| 95 | TruCom | 1,530,946 | false |
| 96 | Internet Free Planet | 1,483,708 | false |
| 97 | Aerux Broadband | 1,476,008 | false |
| 98 | ZipLink Internet.com | 1,462,886 | false |
| 99 | Mercury Wireless | 1,439,628 | false |
| 100 | Internet Nebraska Corporation | 1,386,776 | false |
Free USA Usenet Services
| ISP | ServerName | Free USENET Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Centurylink aka Qwest.net | news.qwest.net | Limited Support |
| Earthlink | news.earthlink.net | Only Customers before 2013 |
| Megapath | news.speakeasy.net | Only Customers before 2010 |
| Windstream | news.windstream.net | Only Customers before 2016 |
| PenTeleData | usenet.ptd.net | Limited 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
| ISP | ServerName | Free USENET Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bell/Sympatico | news.bell.newshosting.com | Dead as of 2006 |
| Montreal DSL | news.montreal-dsl.com | Limited to 60 Days |
UK
| ISP | ServerName | Free USENET Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Virgin Media | news.virginmedia.com | 30 days retention Fast |
| Abel Internet | new.abel.co.uk | Limited Retention |
| Plus Net | news.plus.net | LImited Retention |
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.
- Qwest USENET access - news.qwest.net
- Sonic.net - news.sonic.net
- Earthlink - news.earthlink.net
- 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.
