NewsgroupDirect Review
Last Updated: Jan 17, 2022
| Rating |  |
| Price | $7.00 / Month |
| Retention | 5973 Days |
| Free Trial | 30 Day or 15 GB |
| Features | US and EU Servers |
| Email Support | |
| VPN Included on Some Plans |
Newsgroup Direct uses the same backend service as another reliable Usenet service provider. The company offers block accounts, which are good deals for some users. Recently NewsgroupDirect has partnered with Supernews and came out with a NewsgroupDirect + Supernews deal.
Quick Facts
- Monthly, Bi-Annual, and Yearly Billing
- Unlimited Accounts
- SSL Encryption
- Block Account Option
- More than 5973 Days Binary Retention
- Ghost Path VPN Included with Subscription Accounts
- 3 Backbones for the price of 1: Supernews + Usenet.Farm Access Available
Binary Retention
Newsgroup Direct currently offers 5973 days of binary retention. This is competitive with most other Usenet service providers.
Pricing
You have your choice of subscription or block accounts with this provider. The discounts are mostly seen when you sign up for a longer term of service.
Unlimited Plans
| Plan | Price | Download Limits | Connections | VPN | Supernews Access | Usenet.Farm Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NGD Triple Unlimited | $11.00 | Unlimited | 100 | true | true | true |
| Unlimited 6 Months | $40.00 | Unlimited | 100 | true | false | false |
| Yearly Unlimited Decreasing | $75.00 | Unlimited | 100 | true | false | false |
Block Plans
| Plan | Price | Download Limits | Connections | VPN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 GB Block | $5.00 | 50 GB | 100 | false |
| 100 GB Block | $7.00 | 100 GB | 100 | false |
| 250 GB Block | $10.00 | 250 GB | 100 | false |
| 500 GB Block | $15.00 | 500 GB | 100 | false |
| 1000 GB Block | $30.00 | 1000 GB | 100 | false |
| 2000 GB Block | $45.00 | 2000 GB | 100 | false |
Free Trial Info
Every plan from this Usenet service provider offers a 30-day, 15GB free trial. If you don’t want to get billed, cancel your account before the end of the trial period. Please note, however, that free trials are available only to customers paying by US credit card only.
Special Offers / Coupons
None at present, but the company offers an email newsletter that contains coupons from time to time. The 1,000 GB block access option is priced the same as 500 GB at the time of writing.
You can also checkout their “Usenet Deals” page to see how they match competitor pricing.
Speed Test
Newsgroup Direct performed well in testing. They use the same backend as Thundernews and both companies do have good speed.
Connections
All packages from this service offer a generous 100 connections. This is as good or better than many other providers, though most users won’t need anywhere near one hundred connections to max out their bandwidth.
News Servers / Ports / Configuration
United States (Virginia)
us.newsgroupdirect.com
Ports: 119, 23, 443, 3128, 7000, 8000, 9000
SSL Ports: 563, 80, 81
Europe (Amsterdam, NL)
nl.newsgroupdirect.com
Ports: 119, 23, 443, 3128, 7000, 8000, 9000
SSL Ports: 563, 80, 81
Europe (Frankfurt, DE)
de.newsgroupdirect.com
Ports: 119, 23, 443, 3128, 7000, 8000, 9000
SSL Ports: 563, 80, 81
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why would I want block access?
A: Block access is a great option for users who don’t need a monthly subscription. If you only use USENET occasionally or, for that matter, only need temporary access, go with a block account and save some money. With this service, there’s no difference in how the unlimited and block accounts work, save for the ceiling on the amount of data you can download.
Q: Is there some advantage in having servers in multiple nations?
A: Having USENET servers in multiple nations allows customers to choose which nation they feel the safest downloading from. Some users will prefer to use a server outside their own nation for privacy protection. The EU generally has stricter privacy laws than the US, so some users might prefer to download from one of the European servers this provider offers.
Q: Will servers in another nation be slower?
A: Possibly, yes, but with the speed that USENET provides this isn’t really a problem for most users. Most users will be able to max out their bandwidth no matter which servers they’re using, so speed shouldn’t be much of an issue if you’re using a server located outside your home nation.
Q: Does this provider accept Bitcoin?
A: Not right now, but they’ll hopefully add Bitcoin in the future.
Q: Why do I need SSL?
A: SSL encrypts your traffic to and from the USENET server. This means that anyone spying on the connection can’t see what you’re downloading or uploading, and that’s an important security feature for USENET. We do not recommend unencrypted accounts for USENET. Most providers—including Newsgroup Direct—offer encryption at no extra charge. Our advice: Use it.
Q: Will my downloader or PVR software work with this service:
A: In all likelihood, yes. NewsgroupDirect should be compatible with most any downloader out there. If you have a question, however, remember you can always contact support before you buy and see if the service will work for you. That shouldn’t be a problem for anyone, however.
Q: I’m new to USENET. Will I be able to figure this out?
A: Newsgroup Direct provides you with access to a USENET server, but you’ll probably have to learn a bit about how USENET works on your own, if you’re unfamiliar. You can check out our pages on this site to learn all about USENET and various downloading apps. You can also go with a service such as Newshosting, which offers a simplified, web-access USENET option for their customers.
Support
You can contact support@newsgroupdirect.com for help with your service. You can also use a web form provided on the site to send a support ticket.
Contact Information
NewsgroupDirect
601 Tebeau St #1070
Waycross, GA 31502
888-214-8353
Security /Company Privacy Policy
Newsgroup Direct collects information necessary for collecting payment and establishing an account. You can access any information the company has about you on your account page. The company does reserve the right to collect information online. They will not disclose information, however, unless provided with a court order.
Payment Options
Newsgroup Direct accepts Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, Worldpay and PayPal payments.
Our Opinion
NewsgroupDirect has some very good features compared to its competition. All of its accounts include SSL encryption, something we consider a necessity if you want to keep your usage private. The service is fast and reliable, as well, so the money you spend on a subscription or block account will not be wasted on a slow service. They also offer access to the Ghost Path VPN service with their subscription accounts, which is a great add-on feature.
That being said, there are some lacking elements compared to what some other providers offer. This company doesn’t have its own newsreader, so you’ll have to use a USENET Newsreader to download articles and binaries off of the server. Newsgroup Direct provides information on such apps, and you can check our site for more comprehensive reviews of your options in that regard.
Newsgroup Direct offers servers in the EU and the US. Some users prefer to access USENET outside their own nation and, for such users, having options is certainly an upside to what this company has to offer. Between different nations and SSL, there are plenty of privacy protection features with this service.
All-in-all, Newsgroup Direct has good features, good privacy protection and the block account option is a very nice addition to the service. This is a good service, though we still stand by our list of the best Usenet service providers for maximum value.
