Gebruikhet
Gebruikhet is a Dutch Usenet provider with eight speed-tiered flat-rate plans (6 Mbps to 200 Mbps) and block accounts (15 GB to 1 TB). Over 1,100 days retention, 150,000 newsgroups, up to 20 connections, 1024-bit SSL, European servers, 99%+ completion. Support in English and Dutch. PayPal, iDEAL, credit card.
Go to Provider →Backbone
A Usenet backbone forms the physical "backbone" of the Usenet infrastructure, on which the actual newsgroups and files (binaries) are stored.
Backbone
Abavia
Server Location
Choose the server location closest to you. Users in the USA get the best speeds when the provider also has servers in the USA. For users in Europe, European servers are recommended.
Server
EU
Jurisdiction and Privacy
Not only technical encryption protects your data, but above all the laws at the provider's location. There are massive differences here:
The US Risk (CLOUD Act & FISA): US companies are legally obligated to grant US authorities access to data. This applies even when servers are located in Europe. Many US providers advertise that they don't store logs. However, in the USA, authorities can force companies to activate surveillance for specific users retroactively – the company's promise is overridden by law.
The Advantage of EU Providers: In these countries, strict data protection laws (GDPR) apply. Government access is subject to high barriers and court orders. There is no automatic "reach-through" by intelligence agencies.
Privacy
Secure
Abuse Procedure
A DMCA Notice is the formal notification from a rights holder to a platform that content infringes their copyright. Takedown refers to the subsequent action of the platform operator to promptly remove this content to avoid liability. The Notice is the trigger, the Takedown is the result.
Abuse
Notice & Takedown
Payment Methods
Whether PayPal, credit card or other options: Especially for international providers, the available payment methods differ. In the comparison, you can filter by this directly.
Payment Methods
PayPal, CreditCard, iDeal
Retention Time
Retention indicates how long posts remain available on the servers. Depending on the provider and backbone, this can vary greatly. If you value the longest possible availability, this filter is particularly useful.
Retention
3+ Years
Protection
If you want to try a provider first, plans with a trial period or money-back guarantee are ideal. This reduces the risk and makes getting started easier.
Protection
not available
Trustpilot Ratings
Trustpilot is an independent platform where users submit real reviews. This score shows how satisfied users are with a provider.
Trustpilot
Plans & PricingPlans & Pricing Compared
Flat 6 Mbit
Speed: 6 Mbit/s
Data: Unlimited Data
Connections: 4
Protection: binding plan
Flat 6 Mbit
Speed
6 Mbit/s
Data
Unlimited Data
Connections
4
Protection
binding plan
monthly
Flat 8 Mbit
Speed: 8 Mbit/s
Data: Unlimited Data
Connections: 6
Protection: binding plan
Flat 8 Mbit
Speed
8 Mbit/s
Data
Unlimited Data
Connections
6
Protection
binding plan
monthly
Flat 10 Mbit
Speed: 10 Mbit/s
Data: Unlimited Data
Connections: 8
Protection: binding plan
Flat 10 Mbit
Speed
10 Mbit/s
Data
Unlimited Data
Connections
8
Protection
binding plan
monthly
Flat 15 Mbit
Speed: 15 Mbit/s
Data: Unlimited Data
Connections: 10
Protection: binding plan
Flat 15 Mbit
Speed
15 Mbit/s
Data
Unlimited Data
Connections
10
Protection
binding plan
monthly
Flat 20 Mbit
Speed: 20 Mbit/s
Data: Unlimited Data
Connections: 12
Protection: binding plan
Flat 20 Mbit
Speed
20 Mbit/s
Data
Unlimited Data
Connections
12
Protection
binding plan
monthly
Flat 60 Mbit
Speed: 60 Mbit/s
Data: Unlimited Data
Connections: 16
Protection: binding plan
Flat 60 Mbit
Speed
60 Mbit/s
Data
Unlimited Data
Connections
16
Protection
binding plan
monthly
Flat 120 Mbit
Speed: 120 Mbit/s
Data: Unlimited Data
Connections: 20
Protection: binding plan
Flat 120 Mbit
Speed
120 Mbit/s
Data
Unlimited Data
Connections
20
Protection
binding plan
monthly
Flat 200 Mbit
Speed: 200 Mbit/s
Data: Unlimited Data
Connections: 20
Protection: binding plan
Flat 200 Mbit
Speed
200 Mbit/s
Data
Unlimited Data
Connections
20
Protection
binding plan
monthly
All About Gebruikhet
Gebruikhet (Dutch for "use it") is a Usenet service operated from the Netherlands, distinguished by an extensive plan portfolio: eight speed-tiered flat-rate plans for heavy users and multiple block accounts for occasional users. The service also offers an above-average newsgroup portfolio with 150,000 newsgroups — more than most competitors.
Customer support is available in Dutch and English via email. Response time is 3–5 business days.
Eight Flat-Rate Plans – Speed as the Differentiator
All flat-rate plans include unlimited downloads and differ only by maximum download speed and number of simultaneous SSL connections:
- 6 Mbps | 6 Mbps | 4 | ~€8.00
- 8 Mbps | 8 Mbps | 6 | ~€10.00
- 10 Mbps | 10 Mbps | 8 | ~€11.00
- 20 Mbps | 20 Mbps | 10 | ~€12.00
- 30 Mbps | 30 Mbps | 12 | ~€14.00
- 60 Mbps | 60 Mbps | 16 | ~€17.50
- 100 Mbps | 100 Mbps | 20 | ~€22.50
- 200 Mbps | 200 Mbps | 20 | ~€24.99
All plans include SSL encryption (port 563) and access to all 150,000 newsgroups.
The price of the 6 Mbps entry plan (~€8/month) is above what other European providers charge for similar speed tiers. The 200 Mbps tier (~€24.99/month) is likewise relatively expensive. Gebruikhet positions itself in the mid-to-upper price segment.
Block Accounts: For Occasional Users
Alongside the flat-rate plans, Gebruikhet offers several one-time-payment block accounts:
- Starter | 15 GB | €5.00
- Small | ~50 GB | ~€15.00
- Medium | ~200 GB | ~€40.00
- Large | ~500 GB | ~€75.00
- XL | 1,024 GB (1 TB) | €110.00
The block accounts suit users who only use Usenet occasionally and don't want a monthly commitment.
150,000 Newsgroups
With 150,000 newsgroups, Gebruikhet offers an above-average newsgroup portfolio. Many competitors offer 85,000–120,000 newsgroups. For users needing access to specialized or less popular newsgroups, this is a tangible advantage.
Technical Infrastructure
- Retention: over 1,100 days — around 3 years of stored binary content
- Completion: 99%+
- Connections: up to 20 simultaneous (highest plan tiers)
- Encryption: 1024-bit SSL (port 563) — an older key format, but still secure
- Server locations: Europe (Netherlands and European data centers)
- Support: email, English and Dutch, 3–5 business days response time
The 1,100-day retention is in the mid-range, sufficient for current and recent content but below the 3,000–7,000+ days offered by tier-1 providers.
20 simultaneous connections (on the highest plan tiers) are sufficient for most home connections; users with very fast fiber connections may hit the connection limit.
Payment
Accepted payment methods:
- PayPal
- iDEAL (Dutch instant bank transfer system)
- Paysafecard
- Credit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express)
Assessment
Strengths:
- 150,000 newsgroups — above-average portfolio
- European server infrastructure
- Block accounts for occasional users
- Support in Dutch (for Dutch users)
- SSL on all plans
Limitations:
- Prices in the mid-to-upper range for the performance offered
- Only over 1,100 days retention — well below tier-1 standard
- Maximum 20 connections — below average for power users
- 3–5 business day support response time — slow by comparison
Who is Gebruikhet for?
- Dutch users who prefer native-language support and iDEAL payment
- Occasional users who want to start with a block account
- Users interested in specialized newsgroups, for whom the 150,000-newsgroup coverage matters
- Users with moderate speed needs (up to 100 Mbps)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many newsgroups does Gebruikhet offer?
Gebruikhet offers access to 150,000 newsgroups — more than most competitors, who typically offer 85,000–120,000 newsgroups.
What plans does Gebruikhet offer?
Eight flat-rate plans from 6 Mbps (~€8/month) to 200 Mbps (~€24.99/month), plus block accounts from 15 GB (€5) to 1 TB (€110).
What is Gebruikhet's retention?
Over 1,100 days of binary retention with 99%+ completion.
How many connections does Gebruikhet offer?
4 to 20 simultaneous SSL connections, depending on the plan.
What payment methods does Gebruikhet accept?
PayPal, iDEAL, Paysafecard, and credit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express).