Summer is a great time to lock in a premium Usenet subscription at some of the lowest prices of the year.

Below are some of the best Summer 2026 deals from leading Usenet providers, along with the key features and differences between each plan.

Newshosting - $1.67/month (92% off)

Includes 250 GB Easynews + 500 GB Tweaknews + VPN

• 6,523+ days of retention 
• 100 SSL connections, US & EU servers
• Includes Easynews for browser-based search and Usenet access with no newsreader required
• Bonus Tweaknews account provides additional backbone coverage 
• Free newsreader with built-in search
• VPN included
• 30-day money-back guarantee

Get Summer Deal

Eweka - €2.50/month (83% off)

Includes 1TB Easynews account + VPN

• 6,520+ days of retention (independent European backbone)
• 50 SSL connections
• Excellent completion and reliability
• 1 TB Easynews account included
• Free newsreader with built-in search
• VPN included
• 30-day money-back guarantee

Get Summer Deal

UsenetServer - $1.99/month (90% off)

Includes 1TB Tweaknews + VPN

• 6,523+ days of retention
• 60 SSL connections, US & EU servers
• Bonus 1 TB Tweaknews account
• Strong all-around speed and completion 
• VPN included
• 30-day money-back guarantee

Get Summer Deal

Tweaknews – €2.99/month (77% off)

Includes 500GB Easynews + VPN

• 5,000+ days of retention
• 60 SSL connections
• Independent European backbone
• Excellent as a primary or secondary Usenet server 
• Bonus 500 GB Easynews account
• VPN included
• 30-day money-back guarantee

Get Summer Deal

Easynews – $1.99/month

Includes Browser-Based Access + Search + VPN

• 6,523+ days of retention
• Search, browse, and access Usenet directly from your web browser 
• 60 SSL connections
• Full NNTP access for any newsreader
• VPN included
• 30-day money-back guarantee

Get Summer Deal

Key Points

Article Retention: Leading providers now retain over 6,500 days of articles, giving access to nearly 18 years of Usenet articles.

Completion Rates: Tier-1 providers like Newshosting, Eweka, and Tweaknews deliver excellent completion and reliable performance.

Backbone Diversity: Several of these deals include bonus accounts, providing access to additional Usenet servers for greater redundancy and coverage.

Included Extras: Depending on the provider, plans may include VPN service, browser-based Usenet access, built-in search, desktop newsreaders, or bonus Usenet accounts at no additional cost. 

Tips to Get the Most from These Deals

• Take advantage of any included bonus Usenet accounts for additional redundancy and improved article availability.
• Enable the included VPN for encrypted connections and added privacy.
• If you're new to Usenet, Easynews is one of the easiest ways to get started (browser-based interface and built-in search).

Whether you're looking for maximum retention, an independent European backbone, browser-based Usenet access, or simply the best overall value, there's a Summer 2026 deal for just about every type of Usenet user.

Plex is increasing the Lifetime Plex Pass from $249.99 to $749.99 on July 1.

Who here has a Lifetime Plex Pass?

If you were starting from scratch today and didn't already have Lifetime, would you buy it at $249.99 before the price jump? Or would you just go monthly, stick with free Plex, move to Jellyfin, try Emby, or go another route?

Crazy to think they were running a Black Friday deal for $149.99 just six months ago...

Some people panic at 20% free space. Others run their arrays into the red.

How much free space do you like to keep available?

HDD prices are getting crazy. How's it changed your storage plans?

Still buying drives, waiting for prices to come down, or doing something else?

Curious to hear what everyone is doing.

A lot of people wanting to get into Usenet run into the same problem:

Most explanations are too technical.

So here’s a straightforward breakdown of what Usenet is and how people typically use it today.

What is Usenet?

Usenet is a decentralized text and binary post distribution network that dates back to 1979, making it older than the World Wide Web itself.

Originally it was exclusively text discussion groups called “newsgroups,” where people debated tech, shared advice, explored niche interests, and occasionally got pulled into classic old-school flame wars. Basically early internet forums with a much more raw feel. 

Over time, Usenet evolved into a fast, secure way to post, read, and retrieve both text discussions and binary posts through specialized providers and newsreaders. 

How is Usenet different from “modern” platforms?

With most modern platforms, everything lives on a single company’s servers, for better or for worse.

Usenet works through a distributed network of servers that replicate articles between each other using NNTP (Network News Transfer Protocol). When someone posts to a Usenet server, that article gets propagated across other servers throughout the global Usenet network. 

Some of the things long-time users still like about it:

• Extremely fast transfer speeds
• Long article retention, with some providers storing articles for decades
• No ads or recommendation algorithms
• Open discussion structure through newsgroups
• A more independent internet feel

What do you need to use Usenet?

Modern Usenet setups usually involve 3 parts:

1. A Usenet providerThis gives you access to Usenet servers, kind of like how an ISP gives you access to the internet.

Some of the more commonly used providers include:

• Newshosting
• Eweka
• UsenetServer
• Tweaknews

People usually compare providers based on:

• Retention
• Completion rates
• Speed
• Connection limits
• Whether extras like a built-in newsreader, search, or VPN are included

Some providers like Newshosting, Eweka, and Tweaknews also include their own newsreader with built-in search, which can simplify setup. 

2. An indexerThink of this as a search engine for Usenet posts.

It helps locate posts and generates NZB files.

3. A downloader/newsreaderThis downloads and assembles the articles from Usenet.

Popular options include:

• SABnzbd
• NZBGet

Some people also still use traditional newsreaders for actual text newsgroups and discussions.

What about Easynews?

Easynews is a little different from the traditional setup.

Instead of needing separate tools, it combines:

• Usenet access
• Search
• Downloads
• Browser-based access

So it’s often considered one of the easier entry points since everything can be done directly from a web browser without needing a separate newsreader or additional tools.

Is Usenet still active?

Definitely.

A lot of the original discussion culture moved elsewhere over the years, but Usenet itself is still very active. What’s interesting is that the core system still holds up remarkably well decades later: decentralized servers, extremely fast transfers, long article retention, and open discussion structures without feeds or recommendation algorithms shaping what people see. 

One thing that doesn’t get talked about enough in Usenet setups is storage. 

Eventually the data piles up, then hard drives become part of the hobby too.

Especially if you’re running:

• Plex/Jellyfin
• *arr apps
• A NAS
• Large archives

Here are some options that come up pretty consistently:

Enterprise and NAS-focused drives like Seagate Exos and IronWolf Pro

Usually for:

• 24/7 usage
• Large capacities
• Heavy workloads
• NAS/server setups

Common in bigger Plex/*arr systems.

WD Red Pro

A lot of people seem to like them because they’re:

• Reliable in NAS setups
• Fairly quiet
• Common in RAID/NAS environments 
• Widely used in Synology/QNAP systems

 

Main downside is usually price.

Seagate IronWolf

Feels like the middle-ground option. 

Popular for:

• Home NAS setups
• Lower cost than Pro drives
• Good capacity options
• General-purpose storage

WD Blue / desktop drives

Still common.

Usually in:

• Budget setups
• External enclosures
• Secondary storage
• Smaller servers

Not really designed for heavier 24/7 workloads, but plenty of people still use them. 

One thing people underestimate:

Usenet can absolutely hammer drives over time between unpacking, parity checks, constant writes/deletes, and data scanning. 

Curious what everyone here is running. 

Enterprise drives?

Consumer drives?

Shucked externals?

Full NAS setup?

Any specific drive models people would strongly recommend (or avoid)?

Mac Usenet setups tend to fall into a few different camps.

Some people just use the included newsreader from their provider and call it a day.

Others run full automation stacks with SABnzbd or NZBGet, indexers, Sonarr/Radarr, and other tools running in the background.

And some still browse groups manually the old-school way. 

For newer users, the included readers from providers like Newshosting, Eweka, Tweaknews, and others are probably the easiest entry point since they already include search, SSL, and server access with basically no setup.

But open-source tools are very popular on macOS too, especially for people who want more control or automation.

NZBGet

Probably the lightest Usenet downloaders around.

People like it because it:

• Uses very little CPU/RAM
• Handles repair/unpacking fast
• Runs well on Mac minis, NAS devices, and virtually any hardware
• Integrates easily with Sonarr/Radarr
• Is extremely configurable

A lot of long-time Usenet users swear by it.

NZBGet setup guide

SABnzbd

Alongside NZBGet, probably the most common NZB downloader overall.

Usually recommended because:

• Setup is easy
• The interface is a bit more beginner-friendly
• Automation support is excellent
• Large community and plugin ecosystem
• Runs basically everywhere

A lot of people end up sticking with SABnzbd simply because it’s reliable and easy to maintain.

SABnzbd setup guide

Other newsreaders

There are still users who prefer actual group browsing instead of automation and NZBs.

Pan is one example on Mac/Linux style setups.

That style of setup is more focused on:

• Reading/posting directly to groups
• Manual browsing
• Text discussions
• Traditional Usenet usage

Less common now, but not dead.

Browser-based access

Easynews is probably the biggest example of this approach.

Instead of installing software:

• Everything runs in browser
• Search is built in
• No local setup required
• Works well on Macs and mobile devices

Completely different style of Usenet access compared to SABnzbd/NZBGet setups.

Easynews guide

There are generally two types of Usenet readers most people use:

• Provider-included readers
• Open-source clients/downloaders

Provider-included readers from services like Newshosting, Eweka, and others are usually the simplest way to get started since they already include server access, search, and SSL with no setup. 

Open-source tools like SABnzbd and NZBGet are also very common, especially in setups using indexers, Sonarr/Radarr, and automation tools. They take more setup upfront, but offer a lot of flexibility long term. 

Provider-included readers

Usually best for:

• Beginners
• Simple setups
• Users who want built-in search
• Users who don’t want multiple apps

Most of them include:

• Search functionality
• NZB importing
• SSL support
• Preconfigured server settings

NZBGet

Probably the most lightweight Usenet downloader.

Common reasons people use it:

• Low resource usage
• Fast repair/unpacking 
• Good for NAS systems and low-power devices
• Works well with Sonarr/Radarr
• Highly configurable

SABnzbd

One of the most popular NZB downloaders overall. 

Why people like it:

• Easy setup
• Installation wizard
• Beginner-friendly interface 
• Automation-friendly
• Highly configurable

Pan

Older-style desktop Usenet reader.

More focused on:

• Direct group browsing
• Reading and posting
• Manual usage instead of automation

Browser-based access

Easynews is probably the best-known example here.

Instead of using a separate client:

• Everything runs in browser
• Search is built in
• No local setup required
• Mobile-friendly

Different approach than SABnzbd/NZBGet style setups.

There are more newsreaders/downloaders out there. Would love to hear about what you’re using!