Grabit Review
Last Updated: Jan 26, 2025
| Rating |  |
| Price | free but with upgrade fee |
| Retention | 500 Days |
| Free Trial | None |
| Features | Supports Multiple Servers |
| Handles Multiple Downloads | |
| Easy to Use Interface |
Grabit is a Windows-only newsreader that was once one of the simplest ways to get started with Usenet. Its main appeal was browsing Usenet without downloading massive headers and letting the software automatically repair and extract downloaded binaries.
It still offers SSL support, NZB integration, multiple server handling, and a clean interface. However, development has slowed. The last official release (GrabIt 1.7.5 Beta 3) dates back to 2020, and while Shemes.com continues to maintain its search service, the program itself feels dated compared to more modern Usenet apps that offer cross-platform support, integrated automation, and better indexing.
The GrabIt Search service is still paid—$2.49/month, $6/3 months, or $24.99/year—but in 2025 that pricing looks less attractive given the range of free and premium NZB indexers available today. A small update in 2022 improved search indexing by moving away from Giganews servers, but since then there hasn’t been much visible progress.
Highlighted Features
- Easy to use, beginner-friendly interface
- SSL support
- Automatic repair and extract
- Multiple server support
- Up to 8 connections free; up to 50 with paid search
- Built-in NZB import support
- Automatic shutdown after downloads
- Posting allowed from inside the reader
- US and EU search servers (with subscription)
Plans & Pricing
The search service is optional but remains central to GrabIt’s offering:
- $2.49 / 1 month
- $6.00 / 3 months
- $24.99 / 12 months
These plans increase search results and retention access, but you can still use GrabIt for free with external NZB sources if you don’t want the subscription.
Usage Overview
Installation and setup are straightforward, and GrabIt remains a decent choice for beginners who just want to import NZBs and download files. More advanced users, however, will find it lacking modern features like cross-platform support (no Mac or Linux builds), tighter integration with automation tools (Sonarr, Radarr, Lidarr, etc.), and frequent updates.
Conclusion
GrabIt was once a go-to recommendation for new Usenet users because of its ease of use. In 2025, it still works but has clearly fallen behind modern newsreaders that support multiple operating systems, have active development, and integrate smoothly with automation ecosystems. If you want a no-frills Windows program for manually importing NZBs, GrabIt still gets the job done. But if you’re looking for something more advanced or future-proof, there are better maintained alternatives.
