UsenetServer Review (Still One of the Best)

UsenetServer Search

UsenetServer's custom Global Search 2.0 lets you quickly find what you are looking for among UsenetServer's 110,000 newsgroups.

For even better results, we would recommend you sign up for 1 or more of the best NZB search tools available, but UsenetServer's search tool is appealing because it is free with any UsenetServer plan. 

The demo Usenet search on UsenetServer.com does not do its newsgroup search engine justice, but it gives you a general idea of how it works. Plus, you can try a full, live version of UsenetServer Search as much as you like during your 14-day free trial. 

UsenetServer SSL Means Security & Privacy 

Your privacy is important. Heck, that’s one of the main reasons people choose Usenet in the first place, especially when compared to torrents.

And in that regard, UsenetServer is definitely solid. All accounts (other than the 3-day plan) come with free 256-bit SSL, which will keep your connections safe from prying eyes including your nosy ISP.

UsenetServer doesn’t log your downloads or activities either. 

UsenetServer VPN Comes Free with Annual Plans

Of course, when it comes to privacy, you’re doing yourself a disservice if you don’t have a VPN, even for Usenet service providers like UsenetServer that have SSL connections. And UNS steps up to the plate in that regard – if you’re willing to shell out a little extra. If you already have a VPN, then you are already set and you can skip that option in your UNS plan.

UsenetServer Retention and Stability is Great

Unlimited downloads don’t mean much if you’re dealing with shoddy binaries and poor up-times. Fortunately, you don’t have to worry about that with UsenetServer.

They offer 4,800 days retention, which is the best in the business, along with 99% completion rates – and equally impressive up-times. In short, UsenetServer is there when you need ‘em. For what it’s worth, we didn’t have any problems when evaluating the service.

Fast UsenetServer Downloads

We worried that with UNS’ unlimited transfers at such an affordable price, they may fall short in the download speed department. But we’re pleased to report that they passed that test with flying colors.

All of our downloads finished quickly and painlessly, leaving us pleasantly surprised. Between their data, completion rates, and speeds, you’re gonna need a bigger hard drive! That old one just isn’t going to cut it at this rate.

Where It Could be Better

We gave you the good, and now it’s time for the not so good. Here are the areas where UsenetServer could stand to improve. 
 

UsenetServer Connections are Fewer than Other Providers

UsenetServer’s plans offer anywhere from 10 to 20 connections, depending on the plan you get. Unfortunately, that’s far less than some of their competitors offer – in theory, this makes it harder to fully take advantage of UNS’s unlimited transfers.

For instance, Newshosting, Giganews and EasyNews, all provide up to 50 or 60 connections on their best plans. That’s two- to three-times more than UsenetServer!

In short, if the maximum possible number of connections is important to you, there are definitely better options than UsenetServer.

So-so Customer Service

We had a small issue during signup that gave us a good excuse to try out UsenetServer’s support system. And to be honest, they fell a little short.

Unlike Giganews, EasyNews and some of the other major Usenet newsgroup providers, UsenetServer does not offer 24/7 support, meaning we were left waiting for 5+ hours for a response to our issue. Though, to be fair, we did send our message late in the evening. But nighttime is when Usenet is the most fun. 🙂 

UsenetServer also lacks the live chat feature that Giganews has, meaning you’re stuck communicating via email.

Of course, UsenetServer definitely isn’t the only provider without 24/7 support and live chat. But when some of their closest competitors do offer this, we need to point it out to you.

That’s one of the reasons we consider UNS a less-than a beginner-friendly provider.

No Free Newsreader Included

None of UsenetServer’s plans come with a newsreader app, unlike some of their main competitors. For example, Newshosting is famous for their bundled Usenet newsreader app.

But of course, it’s easy to grab a free (or even a paid) newsreader app of your choice. We have our favorite newsreader apps and we’re sure you have yours. And there is the UNS Global Search feature. 

We mention it as a drawback because the lack of an included newsreader can be a negative especially for new users. Many newcomers to Usenet appreciate a turnkey Usenet provider package that bundles its plans with a newsreader app that works great right from the get-go without any settings to fiddle with. If that sounds like something you need, check out Newshosting instead.

No Anonymous Payments

UsenetServer doesn’t offer Bitcoin as a payment option. But to be clear, the vast majority of other newsgroup providers don’t either.

If you’re extremely concerned about your privacy and don’t want to provide any personal information with your payment details, this is something you’ll want to keep in mind, since you won’t be able to go completely anonymous. Keep in mind though, there are only a few Usenet providers that accept Bitcoin. 

Usenet-Server Settings

If you are looking for the Usenet Server settings for your newsreader software, here they are:

• Main UsenetServer NNTP Server Address: news.usenetserver.com
  • Alternates: news6.usenetserver.com (IPv6), news-us.usenetserver.com, news-us6.usenetserver.com (IPv6), news-eu.usenetserver.com and news-eu6.usenetserver.com (IPv6)
• Main UsenetServer SSL Port: 563 [we recommend you use SSL]
  • Alternates: 443 or 8080
• Main UsenetServer Unencrypted Port: 119 
  • Alternates: 20, 23, 25, 3128, 7000, 8000 and 900

Final Thoughts

What’s our final impression after reviewing UsenetServer?

In the end, UsenetServer isn’t as beginner-friendly or full-serviced as, say, Newshosting or Giganews. There’s no newsreader, it has fewer connections, and its customer support is middle-of-the-road.

But it makes up for it with its low prices, combined with unlimited data transfers and high download completion rates. These three factors make it an extremely popular and respected choice in the hardcore Usenet community. Other UsenetServer reviews on sites such as Comparitech and Newsgroup Reviews call it "Great" and give it high praise.

If you’re a Usenet veteran who regularly relies on Usenet for downloading, including for automated newsgroup downloading, UsenetServer is a solid fit. But if you’re brand new to Usenet and just starting out, we think there are better options to choose from.