VIPERNEWS Black Friday specials 2023

Best Usenet block account providers

• What is a block account?

A block account is when you buy a predefined number of GB. After that, you are free to use them as you like, there is no time limit to use them up. No automatic top-up – once the GB have all been downloaded, the package is finished. 

• Why a Block Account?

The block account option does have several advantages:

1. People use block accounts to try to get articles that fail to download from the main account. Block account server as a fill server (backup server - slave server).

2. Your main unlimited has a shorter retention period and you want a backup in case you need to go back further.

3. You only pay what you use, and block accounts can be shared between several people = a good way to discover Newsgroups for a low price!

4. Sometimes Block accounts can be cheaper than Unlimited plans depending on your usage. A block account is for someone that doesn't download much.

5. Block account comes without any time limits. Buy a certain amount of GB and use them when it suits you. No obligation for renewal.

• Which Backbones offer block accounts?

Not all backbone providers offer block plans such as Eweka. Here are all the Usenet backbones available: UNS Holdings (Blocknews) - Vipernews (Vipernews) - Tweaknews (Tweaknews) - UsenetExpress (Newsgroupdirect) - Usenet.Farm (Usenet.farm).

• Why should I have a block account on top of my unlimited account?

The reason you would get a block account is so if your primary unlimited account is missing parts of something, you can (usually but not always) use your block account to get them. The block account should only be used as a backup when something isn't complete (Having multiple Usenet provider increase the chances of you being able to find all the files you need). That way you are not paying full price for two unlimited accounts. The fill server will only fill in a few articles that your master servers don't have. Be very careful and choose providers that aren't using the same backend. Your main unlimited server and block account must use differents servers.

• Usenet Provider Combo Recommendations? - Combination of Unlimited/blocks you should get

Completion rates can vary for a number of reasons so all the USENET providers have holes somewhere. Instead of completely changing your main provider you can setup a block server in your newsreader. Secondary account should be a block account from a different upstream/backbone than your main account. A “backbone” is the main provider of USENET providers with massive bandwidth and massive disks. For your backup account to be effective, you need your backup provider to pull from a separate USENET backbone.

Newshosting is my primary. Fast and inexpensive with long retention. Newshosting also offers a free newsreader with an integrated search function. I currently use Vipernews as a backup (priority 1) to my Unlimited Newshosting account (priority 0).

Vipernews Block Review

Vipernews is based in The Netherlands. Vipernews is offering Cheap Usenet Block Accounts in all sizes. Our favorite block Usenet provider.

Service summary:

• Backbone: Vipernews

• Headquarters: Netherlands

• Server locations: Netherlands 

• Retention: 1,500 days

• SSL connections: 40

• Maximum download speed: No speed caps

• Account sharing: Yes

• Payment types: Credit Card, Paypal, Bitcoin, SOFORT Banking, iDeal

• All blocks are non-expiring until consumed

Tweaknews Block Review

Tweaknews is one of the best Dutch Usenet provider for block accounts.

Service summary:

• Backbone: Tweaknews

• Headquarters: Netherlands

• Server locations: Netherlands 

• Retention: 4,200 days

• SSL connections: 40

• Maximum download speed: 100 Mbit

• Account sharing: No

• Payment types: Credit Cards, Paypal, iDeal, Giropay, Direct Debit, SOFORT Banking, AMEX

• All blocks are non-expiring until consumed

Newsgroupdirect Block Review

Newsgroupdirect is a good option to fill in the gaps from your primary provider. Newsgroupdirect's usenet block account plans are the cheapest.

Service summary:

• Backbone: UsenetExpress

• Headquarters: US

• Server locations: US & European 

• Retention: 4,200 days

• SSL connections: 100

• Maximum download speed: No speed caps

• Account sharing: Yes

• Payment types: Paypal, Visa, Mastercard, AMEX, Discover, WorldPay (in pounds sterling), Bitcoin

• All blocks are non-expiring until consumed

Blocknews Block Review

Blocknews is one of our favourite Usenet provider for block accounts. Blocknews uses the UNS Holdings network, the largest network in Usenet.

Service summary:

• Backbone: UNS Holdings

• Headquarters: US

• Server locations: US & European 

• Retention: 5,400 days

• SSL connections: 50

• Maximum download speed: No speed caps

• Account sharing: Yes

• Payment types: Paypal, Visa, Mastercard, AMEX, Discover, Bitcoin

• All blocks are non-expiring until consumed

Usenet.Farm Block Review

Usenet.farm also offer Block account. Usenet.Farm is on a different backbone than all other Usenet providers.

Service summary:

• Backbone: UsenetFarm

• Headquarters: Netherlands 

• Server locations: Netherlands 

• Retention: 1,500 days

• SSL connections: 40

• Maximum download speed: No speed caps

• Account sharing: Yes

• Payment types: Paypal, Wiretransfer, Paysafecard, Bitcoin, iDeal

• All blocks are non-expiring until consumed

It’s important to choose different Usenet providers from different backbones in order to increase completion. If a file is missed from one backbone, it may exist on another. The key is to use an unlimited account on one backbone and have block accounts to fill in missing articles from other backbones.

In the table below, we combine each block account with suggested Unlimited Usenet. A combination of a block and an unlimited account offers excellent coverage.