Ngroups
NGroups is a Swedish Usenet provider with roots in internet service provision going back to the 1980s and over 16 years of Usenet-specific service. The provider offers 3,000 or more days of binary retention, 30 to 60 simultaneous connections depending on plan, free SSL on all plans, and VPN included on unlimited plans. Servers are operated in the United States and Europe. A 3-day free trial with 5 GB is available.
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
Omicron
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, USA
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
Insecure
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
DMCA
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
CreditCard
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
5+ 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
Light 10 GB
Speed: Unlimited
Data: 10 GB
Connections: 30
Protection: binding plan
Light 10 GB
Speed
Unlimited
Data
10 GB
Connections
30
Protection
binding plan
monthly
Unlimited Eco Quarterly
$ 29.97 total, Duration: 3 months
Speed: Unlimited
Data: Unlimited Data
Connections: 30
Protection: binding plan
Unlimited Eco Quarterly
Speed
Unlimited
Data
Unlimited Data
Connections
30
Protection
binding plan
monthly
$29.97 total
Duration: 3 months
Unlimited Eco Monthly
Speed: Unlimited
Data: Unlimited Data
Connections: 30
Protection: binding plan
Unlimited Eco Monthly
Speed
Unlimited
Data
Unlimited Data
Connections
30
Protection
binding plan
monthly
Unlimited Extra Quarterly
$ 54.96 total, Duration: 3 months
Speed: Unlimited
Data: Unlimited Data
Connections: 60
Protection: binding plan
Unlimited Extra Quarterly
Speed
Unlimited
Data
Unlimited Data
Connections
60
Protection
binding plan
monthly
$54.96 total
Duration: 3 months
Unlimited Extra Monthly
Speed: Unlimited
Data: Unlimited Data
Connections: 60
Protection: binding plan
Unlimited Extra Monthly
Speed
Unlimited
Data
Unlimited Data
Connections
60
Protection
binding plan
monthly
All About Ngroups
NGroups is a Swedish company that has been providing internet services since the 1980s, with Usenet-specific service spanning over 16 years. The provider operates server farms in both the United States and Europe, offering 3,000 or more days of binary retention and a 99.9% completion rate. Free SSL is included on all plans. Unlimited plans include VPN service at no additional cost. A 3-day free trial with up to 5 GB is available to new users.
History and Infrastructure
NGroups traces its origins to a regional ISP operating in Sweden during the 1980s. This background gives the company a longer institutional history with network infrastructure than most dedicated Usenet providers. The company has offered Usenet access as a focused service for more than 16 years. Two major data centers are maintained, one in the United States and one in Europe, accessible via the server addresses us.ngroups.net and eu.ngroups.net respectively.
Retention and Completion
Binary retention at NGroups exceeds 3,000 days, corresponding to over eight years of stored Usenet binary content. Text newsgroup retention extends to more than 10 years (over 3,650 days). The service reports a 99.9% article completion rate, which means the vast majority of articles referenced in NZB files are retrievable. The redundant dual-datacenter architecture helps maintain consistent completion across both US and EU server farms.
Connections and SSL Ports
The number of simultaneous connections varies by plan. The Unlimited Eco plan provides 30 connections; the Unlimited Extra plan provides 60 connections. The Light plan (10 GB per month) also provides 30 connections. SSL-encrypted access is free on all plans and available on ports 563, 80, and 81. Standard non-encrypted access is available on a wide range of ports including 119, 20, 23, 53, 443, 2000, 8080, 9000, 9001, and 9002, making it easy to connect through restrictive network environments.
VPN Included on Unlimited Plans
NGroups includes a VPN service with all unlimited traffic plans (Unlimited Eco and Unlimited Extra) at no additional cost. The VPN provides an encrypted tunnel for general internet traffic independent of the Usenet connection, offering privacy for all online activity. Light (metered) plan subscribers do not receive the bundled VPN. Users on the Light plan who want VPN protection would need to obtain it separately.
Plans and Free Trial
NGroups offers three plan types. The Unlimited Eco plan provides 30 connections with VPN at $9.99 per month (special pricing). The Unlimited Extra plan provides 60 connections with VPN at $19.99 per month. The Light plan offers 10 GB per month with 30 connections at $5.99 per month. A 3-day free trial with up to 5 GB of access is available to new users, giving an opportunity to test the service before committing to a plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is NGroups based?
NGroups is a Swedish company with roots in regional internet service provision dating back to the 1980s.
What is the retention at NGroups?
Binary retention exceeds 3,000 days (8+ years). Text retention extends beyond 10 years.
Is VPN included with all NGroups plans?
VPN is included with the Unlimited Eco and Unlimited Extra plans. The Light (metered) plan does not include VPN.
Does NGroups offer a free trial?
Yes. A 3-day free trial with up to 5 GB of access is available to new users.
How many connections does NGroups allow?
The Unlimited Eco and Light plans provide 30 connections. The Unlimited Extra plan provides 60 connections.
NGroups is a solid choice for users who want a provider with a long institutional history, dual-region servers, and a bundled VPN on unlimited plans. The 3,000+ day binary retention and 99.9% completion rate are competitive for its price range. The Light plan offers a low-cost metered entry point. The 3-day free trial allows new users to evaluate server performance before subscribing. Users who require higher retention or more connections may want to compare NGroups with providers advertising 5,000+ day retention.