Usenet (Unix User Network) is a network in which messages and files are exchanged. It can be roughly compared to a huge Internet forum. In Usenet, you can find thousands of exciting discussions on a wide variety of topics. In addition to pure text discussions, you can also find a wide variety of files (so-called binaries) on Usenet.
You may have heard that Usenet is the "Internet within the Internet". However, it is an independent platform and was created long before the "World Wide Web". You can find out more about the origins of Usenet here. To access Usenet, however, an Internet connection is absolutely necessary.
Newsgroups
The Usenet is also sometimes referred to as a "service on the Internet with newsgroups". The published contributions in the Usenet are sorted into so called newsgroups. 
These are quasi file folders in the Usenet. Depending on the provider, all content is then stored for different lengths of time. Our test winner USENEXT, for example, offers access to over 100,000 newsgroups. Text newsgroups are stored on the servers for 10 years and binaries for 8 years. So nothing is lost so quickly here. Since so many contributions accumulated in the course of the years, a manual search in the whole folders is meanwhile very laborious. For this reason, newsreaders and indexing services have been developed, among other things.
How to get into the Usenet?
Newsreader
The Newsreader is the search engine in Usenet. In other words, it's like Google on the Internet. Without such Usenet software, it is almost impossible to use Usenet today. User needs newsreader for Usenet Fortunately, there are now some good and even free software. For example Tangysoft, holmez and Momentum. The latter makes it especially easy for newcomers to get started.
Usenet provider
To gain access to the Usenet, you need a Usenet provider. Similar to an Internet provider, your Usenet provider only provides you with access to the Usenet. You can then access the Usenet directly with a newsreader. You just have to enter the access data that you receive from your Usenet provider and you are ready to go.
You can find an overview of our top providers in our large Usenet provider comparison.
What does Usenet cost?
To access Usenet, you need a newsreader and a Usenet provider. Perhaps you are now wondering what all this actually costs. We have tested many providers and can tell you that free software is usually sufficient for newsreaders. All providers in our comparison are free of charge! 
Reasonable Usenet providers with adequate speed usually charge between 7 and 15 Euro per month. However, many providers offer a trial period to try out Usenet for free. Our test winner USENEXT, for example, offers you the opportunity to test Usenet for 14 days free of charge. The most popular package from USENEXT (Rookie+), for example, costs only 7.95€ / month. So all in all you pay about 8€/month for a reasonable access. Of course there are also for much users still larger packages.
Speed of downloads
In connection with Usenet, there is always talk of "high-speed downloads". Unlike in peer-to-peer networks, where extremely slow download rates are often found, downloads are made from professionally operated servers of a provider. These servers are usually equipped with high-speed connections to the Internet and thus enable super-fast downloads. There are no central servers. As a rule, providers operate complete server farms to cope with the onslaught of users. Published content is constantly exchanged with other providers.
Is the Usenet legal?
Probably one of the most exciting questions when it comes to Usenet. Quite simple is also the answer. "YES", it is a completely legal service. However, it is true there, as everywhere else, that you have to abide by valid laws. Just like on the Internet itself, there are black sheep on Usenet and not all the content offered is legal. If you download a copyrighted film or a pirated copy of a music album from the Internet, this is illegal. It's the same on Usenet. You can find out more about this in our article "Is Usenet legal?".
Our recommendation - USENEXT
Our test winner in the provider comparison is the German provider USENEXT. The price-performance ratio is simply right! Here you can also test the Usenet for 14 days free of charge:
Read the article: nzbleecher - free usenet online for more information on the subject.