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What to Compare in a Usenet Provider
Usenet providers can look alike at first glance. These eight things make the real difference:
Retention
How far back the servers keep articles, counted in days. More retention means older posts and files are still there when you look for them.
Fast Usenet6,654 days, about 18 years, and growing every day
Completion
The share of posted articles the servers actually hold. Missing pieces mean failed downloads, so even a small difference matters.
Fast Useneta published completion rate of 99.99%
Speed and connections
How many connections you get and how close the servers are to you. Together they decide whether you can use your internet line’s full speed.
Fast Usenetup to 50 connections, with servers in the US and Europe
Newsgroups carried
How many groups the provider carries, so you can be sure the ones you want are there.
Fast Usenetmore than 120,000 newsgroups
Peering
How well the provider’s servers swap new articles with other servers around the world. Good peering means new posts arrive quickly and completely.
Fast UsenetSee our network
Plans and price
Whether you pay for a set amount of data each month or for unlimited downloads, and whether the price stays the same after you sign up.
Fast Usenetplans from $2.95 a month, and Unlimited at $6.95
Support
Real people who answer, in ways that suit you. You’ll want help quickly if something stops working.
Fast Usenetsupport tickets and live chat, plus phone support for billing questions
Free trial
A trial lets you test speed, completion and setup with your own newsreader before you pay.
Fast Usenet14 days or 15 GB free, by card or PayPal
Our overview explains retention and completion in more detail.
Back to contentsFree vs. Paid Usenet Access
Usenet used to come free with many internet and university accounts, and Google Groups offered a window onto it until 2024. Most of those options have closed. A few free servers run by volunteers still carry text discussions, and they’re a fine way to try a handful of groups.
Free servers usually carry text groups only, limit how much you can use them, and offer best-effort help. A paid provider adds file groups, years of retention, fast encrypted connections and a support team, typically for a few dollars a month.
Avoid “open” servers that were left unprotected by mistake. Using a server without its owner’s permission isn’t legitimate, and such servers rarely last.
Back to contentsChoosing the Right Plan
Plans come in two kinds: metered plans with a set amount of data each month, and unlimited plans. If you mainly read discussions, you’ll use very little data and a small plan is plenty. If you download files regularly, unlimited is usually simpler and better value.
| Fast Usenet plan (data each month) | Price |
|---|---|
| 6 GB | $2.95 a month |
| 15 GB | $3.95 a month |
| 35 GB | $5.95 a month |
| Unlimited | $6.95 a month |
Every plan includes 50 encrypted connections, our US and Europe servers and the GrabIt newsreader with search. See all plans, or read our overview on how many connections you need.
Back to contentsQuestions to Ask Before You Sign Up
- Is encryption included on every plan, at no extra cost?
- What does the provider log, and what does its privacy policy say? Our guide to privacy and security explains what Fast Usenet keeps.
- Is the price you sign up at the price you keep, or does it rise after an introductory period?
- Can you cancel anytime, without a long contract?
- Where can you use it? Check how many devices or locations can connect at once.
- Is a newsreader included, with setup help for your devices?
- Can you try it free before you pay?
Our provider comparison shows how Fast Usenet stacks up against other providers.
Key takeaway
Compare retention, completion, connections and price, check what’s included and what’s logged, and use a free trial to test it all with your own newsreader.
Switching Usenet Providers
Switching is mostly a matter of changing a few settings in your newsreader: the server name, port, username and password. Your saved NZB files and other settings stay as they are. Our switching guide walks through it, and it takes about 5 minutes.
Back to contentsFrequently Asked Questions
What matters most when choosing a Usenet provider?
Completion and retention: whether the articles you want are there, and how far back they go. After that, compare connections, server locations, support and price.
Is free Usenet worth it?
For a few text discussions, a free server can be enough. For file groups, years of retention, fast encrypted connections and real support, you’ll need a paid provider. Fast Usenet starts at $2.95 a month.
What’s the difference between metered and unlimited plans?
A metered plan includes a set amount of data each month, such as 6, 15 or 35 GB. An unlimited plan has no monthly data cap.
How many connections do I need?
Enough to fill your internet line. Start with your newsreader’s default and raise it only if downloads don’t reach your line’s full speed. Fast Usenet allows up to 50.
Can I share my Fast Usenet account?
Fast Usenet is for personal use. You can use several devices, but connections need to come from one IP address at a time.
Can I try Fast Usenet for free?
Yes. The free trial gives you 14 days or 15 GB free, with 50 encrypted connections, and you can sign up by card or PayPal.