What is the best Usenet block account? The best Usenet block account is BlockNews. It operates on the massive Omicron backbone, offering over 5,500 days of retention and non-expiring data blocks. It is the perfect backup server for users whose primary unlimited provider operates on a European backbone (like Eweka).
If you have read our guide on how to download from Usenet, you know that the ultimate setup requires an unlimited subscription to a premium provider.
However, even the best Usenet providers are not perfect. Due to variations in backbone coverage and article retention schedules, some content may not be fully available from every provider. When your newsreader encounters these missing articles, the download fails, and you get a frustrating “Missing Articles” error.
To fix this, power users buy a Block Account. A block account is a bucket of data (like 500GB) that you buy for a one-time fee. It never expires. You plug it into your Usenet newsreader as a “Backup Server,” and it automatically swoops in to retrieve any missing pieces your main provider cannot find.
In this guide, we will compare the three best Usenet block accounts on the market to help you build a bulletproof download setup.
| Provider | Best For | Backbone | Retention |
|---|---|---|---|
| BlockNews | Eweka & ViperNews Users | Omicron (US/EU) | 5,500+ Days |
| ViperNews | Newshosting & Easynews Users | Independent (ViperNews EU) | ~100+ Days |
| Astraweb | High-Speed Connections | Omicron (US/EU) | 5,500+ Days |
The Golden Rule: Backbone Diversity
Before you buy a block account, you must understand how the network is structured.
There are dozens of different Usenet companies, but they do not all own their own servers. Many of them are simply resellers renting space on the same underlying “Backbone” (the physical server farm).
If your main unlimited provider is Newshosting, they use the Omicron backbone. If you buy a block account from another company that also uses the Omicron backbone, it is completely useless. If Newshosting is missing certain articles, a block account on the same backbone will likely be missing them as well.
You must buy a block account on a completely different backbone than your main provider.
The 3 Best Usenet Block Accounts
1. BlockNews (Best for Eweka & ViperNews Users)
BlockNews is widely considered the absolute best block provider in the industry. They operate on the massive Omicron backbone, which means they offer an industry-leading 5,500+ days of retention.
If your main unlimited provider is an independent European service (like Eweka or ViperNews), BlockNews is the perfect American-based backup. Their data blocks never expire, and they allow account sharing.
- Backbone: Omicron (US/EU)
- Retention: 5,500+ Days
Read our full BlockNews review for pricing, retention, and setup details.
2. ViperNews (Best for Newshosting & Easynews Users)
If your main unlimited provider is on the Omicron backbone (like Newshosting, Easynews, or UsenetServer), you need a European backup.
ViperNews is an independent, Tier-1 provider based entirely in the Netherlands. Because they operate on an independent European backbone with different retention and propagation schedules, articles often stay on their servers much longer. Their 500GB and 1000GB block accounts are incredibly cheap and never expire.
- Backbone: Independent (ViperNews EU)
- Retention: ~100+ Days (Lower retention, but excellent for new releases).
Read our full ViperNews review for plan pricing and backbone details.
3. Astraweb (Best for High-Speed Connections)
Astraweb is one of the oldest names in the Usenet industry, and our full Astraweb review covers its pricing, retention numbers, and history in more depth. While they used to operate their own independent backbone, they are now a reseller on the Omicron network.
If you just need a massive bucket of data on the Omicron network and BlockNews is currently not running a sale, Astraweb’s 1000GB block plan is a fantastic alternative. They offer up to 50 simultaneous connections, meaning your backup downloads will finish at gigabit speeds.
- Backbone: Omicron (US/EU)
- Retention: 5,500+ Days
How to Set Up Your Block Account in SABnzbd
If you buy a block account, you must configure it correctly. If you make a mistake, your newsreader will use your block data for everything, and you will burn through 500GB in a single day.
If you are using SABnzbd to automate your Sonarr and Radarr downloads, here is the exact setup:
- Open SABnzbd and go to Settings > Servers.
- Click Add Server and enter your new Block Account details.
- Check the box to enable SSL on Port 563 (to ensure your privacy is protected).
- Look for the setting called “Priority” (or “Backup Server” in older versions).
- Set your main unlimited provider to Priority 0.
- Set your new Block Account to Priority 1.
Because the block account is set to Priority 1, SABnzbd will ignore it entirely unless your Priority 0 server fails to find a file piece.