Giganews

Giganews has been operating as a Usenet provider since 1994, making it one of the longest-established services in the industry. The company owns and operates a Tier-1 backbone network, meaning it does not lease capacity from other providers but instead controls its own infrastructure. All subscription plans include both the VyprVPN service and the Mimo newsreader, which means users receive Usenet access, a VPN, and a newsreader as part of a single subscription. A 14-day free trial offering 10 GB is available to new users.

Own Infrastructure and Backbone

Giganews operates on its own Tier-1 backbone network, which the company has maintained since its founding. Owning the underlying network infrastructure rather than reselling capacity from other providers gives Giganews direct control over routing, peering, and network performance. Servers are located in the United States and Europe. Giganews was also among the first Usenet providers to offer 256-bit SSL-encrypted connections, a capability it introduced before SSL became standard across the industry.

Retention: Binary and Text Newsgroups

Binary retention at Giganews exceeds five years, corresponding to more than 1,825 days of stored binary content. Text newsgroup retention extends significantly further, reaching approximately fifteen years. This makes the text archive particularly deep compared to most providers. For users who primarily access binary content, the five-plus-year binary retention is competitive with other major providers. The long text retention is a distinguishing feature for users who participate in or research text-based newsgroup discussions.

Connections and Download Speed

Giganews allows up to 100 simultaneous connections per account. Download speed is not throttled, and users can generally utilize their full available bandwidth across all plan tiers. Both monthly and annual subscription options are available. No block (metered) account option is prominently offered; the primary model is unlimited subscription access.

VyprVPN Included on All Plans

VyprVPN is a VPN service operated by Golden Frog, the same company that owns Giganews. VyprVPN is included in all Giganews plan tiers at no additional cost. The VPN service supports multiple protocols and provides encrypted VPN connections independent of the Usenet connection. Users who want both Usenet access and a VPN may find the bundled approach reduces the total number of separate subscriptions required. VyprVPN's inclusion distinguishes Giganews from the majority of Usenet providers that do not bundle VPN services.

Mimo Newsreader

Giganews includes access to the Mimo newsreader with all plans. Mimo is a newsreader developed and maintained by Golden Frog. It provides a graphical interface for browsing newsgroups, managing NZB downloads, and handling binary file assembly and repair. Users who prefer a different newsreader can also configure any standard NNTP-compatible client with their Giganews credentials, as the service is not restricted to Mimo only.

Trial, Pricing, and Payment

Giganews offers a 14-day free trial with 10 GB of download data, giving new users the opportunity to evaluate the service, the VPN, and the newsreader before subscribing. Payment options include PayPal and credit card. Cryptocurrency is not listed as an accepted payment method. Multiple plan tiers are available, with higher tiers offering additional features or differing levels of VyprVPN access.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is VyprVPN included with all Giganews plans?

Yes. VyprVPN is included with all Giganews subscription plans at no additional cost.

What newsreader does Giganews include?

Giganews includes the Mimo newsreader with all plans. Subscribers can also use any NNTP-compatible newsreader with their account credentials.

How long has Giganews been operating?

Giganews has been operating as a Usenet provider since 1994.

What is the binary retention period?

Binary retention exceeds five years (1,825+ days). Text newsgroup retention extends to approximately fifteen years.

Does Giganews offer a free trial?

Yes. A 14-day free trial with 10 GB of download data is available to new users.

Giganews combines a long operational history with owned backbone infrastructure and an all-inclusive plan that bundles a VPN and a newsreader alongside Usenet access. The five-plus-year binary retention and the fifteen-year text retention cover an extensive archive. Users evaluating Giganews should consider whether the bundled VyprVPN and Mimo newsreader fit their needs, as the inclusion of these services differentiates it from providers offering Usenet-only access at potentially lower prices.