Whether you are an avid Usenet user or someone that plans to jump into it in the future, it's important to use a Virtual Private Network (VPN). A Usenet VPN provides you with the much-needed anonymity you require to download NZB files or make use of Usenet's private communication safely.
What are the best VPNs for Usenet services?
Here is a quick look at the best VPNs for Usenet. If you want to know more about each provider, please keep scrolling or head over to our VPN reviews.
- ExpressVPN - The best VPN for Usenet. It's an Amazing all-round service, with swift speeds, and a robust no logs policy.
- NordVPN - The best value-for-money Usenet VPN. It comes with top-notch privacy features and super fast servers, all at an affordable price.
- Surfshark - The best multi-user VPN for Usenet. It comes with unlimited connections and slick apps for all devices. Plus, it's incredibly affordable.
- Private Internet Access - The most secure service VPN for Usenet. It's the only VPN provider to have its no logs claims proven in court.
- CyberGhost VPN - An easy-to-use VPN for Usenet. Perfect for those wanting an easy to use service, complete with a no logs policy.
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It's important to keep these key features in mind when choosing the best Usenet VPNs:
- It has strong encryption
- It has no leaks
- It's equipped with key security features, like a kill switch
- It offers fast VPN speeds
We can only recommend VPNs that offer all the above, as no one wants to risk their safety or twiddle thumbs waiting for a Usenet download. So, now you know what we're looking for, let's take a closer look at our recommendations.
The Best Usenet VPNs | In-depth Analysis
The list below is an in-depth look into the best Usenet VPNs. Each one offers superb speeds for quick downloads, hides your IP address to avoid potential legal troubles, and is backed up by a host of security features.
ExpressVPN is the best VPN for Usenet. It's the fastest VPN we test, has strong privacy features, and a no logs policy. It has great apps for iOS, Android, Mac, and Windows. ExpressVPN Demo ExpressVPN is regarded as one of the best VPNs around, based in the privacy-haven of the British Virgin Islands. It is one of the faster VPNs, meaning your Usenet downloads and uploads should be lightning-fast. And better yet, your privacy is kept intact thanks to a staunch no logs policy, a suite of security features (such as a kill switch), and the transition to 100% RAM servers - meaning absolutely no data retention or unauthorized tampering. Alongside Usenet services, you can also torrent with ExpressVPN's low-key support for P2P and unblock just about any streaming service you can think of, including Netflix, BBC iPlayer, hulu, and more. ExpressVPN really is the ultimate VPN for entertainment. But don't just take our word for it, give it a try with its 30-day money-back guarantee. NordVPN is the best-buy VPN for Usenet. It offers impressive customization, consistent speeds, and it has been independently audited – more than once. Nord Demo NordVPN is a worldwide popular VPN, thanks to its consistent speeds and superb privacy features that it offers at an affordable price. This also makes it an ideal choice for a seamless Usenet experience. We continuously use and test this VPN on Android, iOS, Windows, and Mac and we're really satisfied with its apps – they are elegant, modern, and perform very well. An interactive server map that comes along is a nice bonus too! Not only does NordVPN works with Usenet, games, and popular streaming websites, giving you secure access to a variety of content, but it's also extremely feature-rich and highly customizable. You will benefit from its obfuscated (stealth) servers, a kill-switch, Double protection, and a long list of other advanced privacy features, which are all available to you with NordVPN's basic plan. Don't hesitate to test them all with its 30-day money-back guarantee! Surfshark is the best multi-user Usenet VPN on our list. It offers excellent speeds and unlimited simultaneous connections for a fraction of the price on longer subscriptions. Surfshark Demo Surfshark is somewhat the new kid on the block, hailing from the British Virgin Islands – a brilliant place for privacy. It has quickly garnered a reputation to rival even the most established of competition, providing a solid no logs policy, a kill-switch, and recently switching entirely to diskless RAM-based servers to ensure no data is retained – perfect for Usenetters. It provides one of the highest values of all VPNs, with longer plans costing a fraction of its counterparts while still accessing Netflix, Amazon Prime, BBC iPlayer, and more. One of the biggest draws is its unlimited simultaneous connections, meaning Surfshark can cater to your entire family and then some. This is all great on paper, but why not see it in practice thanks to its 30-day money-back guarantee? PIA is a secure VPN for Usenet and remains one of Reddit's favorites thanks to its court-proven no logs policy - a claim no one else can make. PIA Demo Privacy nuts might recoil at Private Internet Access (PIA) being based in the US, but it is the only recommendation on this list to have proven its no logs claims twice in court. This means it absolutely does what it says on the tin, keeping your Usenet habits completely private. Its obfuscated servers will help you fly under the radar, unblocking a huge range of geo-restricted websites and services, and it has a kill switch on all platforms. Both PIA's Windows and macOS clients offer a wide range of customization, with advanced features such as Shadowsocks proxies, split tunneling, port forwarding, and top-of-the-range encryption choices to boot. And with a generous 10 simultaneous connections and a 30-day refund period, it's well worth dipping your toe in the water. CyberGhost is a beginner-friendly Usenet VPN. It's perfectly suited to beginners that want to keep secure while using Usenet services on Android, iOS, Windows, and Mac. CyberGhost Demo CyberGhost is based in Romania, a location that is perfectly suited for privacy enthusiasts. The service keeps no logs, meaning all your Usenet habits are kept under wraps. You can use CyberGhost on up to 7 devices at once. And don't worry, each app has a built-in kill switch enabled by default, so your device's internet connection will cut if your VPN happens to drop out, and your personal details will remain a secret. With its simplicity, you are unlikely to run into any problems, but customer support is available 24/7 just in case you do. Why not try it out for yourself with CyberGhost's unprecedented 45-day money-back guarantee on subscriptions longer than one month? 1. ExpressVPN
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Which is the fastest VPN for Usenet?
To avoid frustratingly long download times, it's important to ensure that you pick a fast VPN to avoid it becoming a bottleneck. To help you understand what sort of speeds you can expect from our recommended VPNs for Usenet, we run regular speed tests on them and display the results in the table below.
| ExpressVPN | NordVPN | Private Internet Access | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ProPrivacy.com SpeedTest (average) | 100 | 85.9 | 62.2 |
| Performance | 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Reliability | 9 | 8 | 8 |
| Speed | 100 | 568.0 | 254.93 |
What is Usenet?
Usenet is a file-sharing service that predates torrenting. It was created in the late 1970s as a distributed discussion system, so users can avail a lot of text content, share messages, and text files divided into categories called newsgroups. Today there are plenty of data on Usenet other than texts, even copyrighted material.
It’s not a peer-to-peer (P2P) system like many other file-sharing systems, so users need a provider to access Usenet properly.
What is an NZB file?
An NZB file is the binary file containing the Usenet data. Newzbin started to index these files, that’s how they became NZB files.
In simpler terms, an NZB file is to Usenet what a torrent file is to torrent clients.
For information about using a VPN for torrent sites, take a look at our best VPN for torrent sites guide.
Is Usenet Legal?
Much like torrenting and Kodi, Usenet is misunderstood, with its illegal uses clouding its reputation. It has legitimate uses, but is more often than not used to download copyrighted material from NZB sites - which is illegal. Any time you are getting something for free from an unofficial source, you are likely breaking the law. We don't advocate piracy, but we do advocate privacy and security in all walks of life - which is why you should connect to a VPN when 'Usenetting'.
For more information, we recommend checking out our is torrenting legal? guide.
Is Usenet Safe?
Unlike torrenting, Usenet means you don't have to worry about your IP address being on display to the public. This means you're dodging copyright enforcers that lurk in the more popular P2P downloads. In fact, we are not aware of legal action against any individual Usenet user, which is a feat given its lengthy history.
This doesn't mean Usenet is inherently safe, however, as it depends on the servers you choose to download from. Since many aren't exactly above board, there are plenty of people out there trying to make a quick buck without regards to your personal welfare. And even if you choose a reputable provider, you must trust the owners of the servers you are downloading from, as it is entirely possible they could fingerprint and log your activity despite claiming otherwise.
No matter your intentions with Usenet, there's no reason you shouldn't keep your sessions private. A no logs VPN makes that possible, securing your activity and protecting yourself from getting in trouble. Even if your VPN connection drops for some reason, enabling a kill switch will cut your device's internet connection entirely.
Can I use a free VPN for Usenet?
Simply put, it would be a bad idea. There are more cowboy VPNs out there that don't respect your privacy, instead collecting and selling your personal data to recuperate the same costs a premium VPN makes through charging customers.
Legitimate free VPNs that we can recommend are few and far between, but are always clad with limitations, such as data caps, bandwidth restrictions, and a limited number of servers to choose from. This is because they act as a taster for premium counterparts. Our suggested free VPNs are certainly better than nothing for your privacy, but don't hold a candle to the best Usenet VPNs listed above.
Can't access NZB websites? A Usenet VPN could help
The main use of Usenet these days appears to be uploading and downloading NZB files. But many ISPs remove NZB sites from their Domain Name Service (DNS) servers. It blocks NZB site access by preventing your web browser from finding the address of the NZB files.
A VPN easily gets you around this problem by using its own DNS servers. Your web browser should be able to find the address you need for NZB site access there. Further, since all communication between the DNS and your computer is encrypted, your ISP has no way of even knowing you are interested in NZB sites.
Best Usenet VPN: Conclusion
Each of the VPNs we discuss in this 5 Best VPNs for Usenet guide has a no logs policy, a kill switch, and plenty of servers to choose from, each of which goes a long way toward mitigating the risk of you getting in trouble. Now that you know why a Usenet VPN is so useful, here's a reminder of our top picks:
From $6.67/month
The best VPN for Usenet. It's an Amazing all-round service, with swift speeds, and a robust no logs policy.
- ProPrivacy TrustScore:
- 10 out of 10
- Simultaneous connections
- 8
- Server locations
- 160
- Free trial
- No
From $3.69/month
The best value-for-money Usenet VPN. It comes with top-notch privacy features and super fast servers, all at an affordable price.
- ProPrivacy TrustScore:
- 9.9 out of 10
- Simultaneous connections
- 10
- Free trial
- No
- Server locations
- 135
From $1.99/month
The best multi-user VPN for Usenet. It comes with unlimited connections and slick apps for all devices. Plus, it's incredibly affordable.
- ProPrivacy TrustScore:
- 9.8 out of 10
- Simultaneous connections
- Unlimited
- Server locations
- 140
- Free trial
- Yes
From $2.19/month
The most secure service VPN for Usenet. It's the only VPN provider to have its no logs claims proven in court.
- ProPrivacy TrustScore:
- 9.7 out of 10
- Simultaneous connections
- Unlimited
- Server locations
- 84
- Free trial
- No
From $2.11/month
An easy-to-use VPN for Usenet. Perfect for those wanting an easy to use service, complete with a no logs policy.
- ProPrivacy TrustScore:
- 9.6 out of 10
- Simultaneous connections
- 7
- Free trial
- Yes
- Server locations
- 126
Usenet VPNs – FAQs