Best Nzb Downloader For Mac

Firefox or Chrome? Dogs or cats? Coke or Pepsi? NZBGet vs. SABnzbd? These are the questions that boggle the modern mind. In the case of Usenet, it's the rising star NZBGet versus the tried-and-true and beloved-by-millions SABnzbd.

There are a number of ways in which the upstart downloader has a significant advantage over its older counterpart. But the lure of tradition should not be overlooked so easily. End users are funny that way. They'll gladly stick with a piece of software that they know their way around in spite of the many advantages a newer and more efficiently designed piece of software might offer them.

But runtime efficiency and resource usage can't dominate the entire discussion, particularly because of the processing speed of modern computers. The question then becomes: by which standards can we judge a Usenet downloader?

Sep 22, 2021 Usenapp is a Newsreader / Usenet client for Mac OSX. It contains a Newsreader, NZB downloader, and search tool to search, download, and post articles from/to usenet. It has its very own search engine with retention of almost 12 years. Searching for NZB files on Spotweb and all Newznab sites is supported. Advanced Newsreader.

NZB Downloaders: How They Work

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Super-NZB is an NZB-file downloader for Windows and Mac OS X. It will open your NZB files, download from your Usenet server, and automatically run PAR and RAR to extract the files. Using a commonly available 5,000 kbps cable modem, SuperNZB can download more than one gigabyte per hour.

NZB files are Usenet's equivalent to TORRENT files. The NZB simply points to a specific set of posts in a specific newsgroup, and this tells your software where the files to be downloaded are. An NZB downloader is responsible for locating, grabbing, and then piecing together a single file that may span several posts. It is common for an NZB to point to many thousands of posts that make up one large file.

A larger file must be split into smaller parts and posted in pieces. This is because the original RFC for NNTP, which is the protocol that runs Usenet, placed limitations on message sizes.

To make the download process more efficient, many files will be posted in a compressed format. These days, they are usually compressed RAR archives. The following outlines the process a downloader must go through in order to bring you a file you want:

NZB Points to where the files are located and in what newsgroups.
NZB downloader locates and grabs the files.
The NZB downloader is responsible for stitching file parts back together.
The NZB downloader is responsible for repairing the file.
Once the file is assembled and repaired, it is decompressed automatically.
You can now enjoy your file.

What makes this not a massive inconvenience, is that the NZB downloader does the entire process automatically. In effect, all you're responsible for doing is loading the NZB file into your favorite downloader and a few minutes later you have a new file.

How Should NZB Downloaders Be Judged?

Both NZBGet and SABnzbd accomplish the aforementioned process without a hitch. Many who have been using SABnzbd for decades have never encountered a single bug. When you have two great programs that both perform the task that they're meant to perform very well, reviewers are left pouring over the minutia in order to crown a clear winner.

In this case, we've broken down the comparison into a few significant criteria. These are judged according to which program offers the better user experience. It should be pointed out that both programs have been given remarkably positive reviews by a large community of users.

In the case of SABnzbd you have a piece of software with an incredibly positive legacy and which was redesigned in 2014 to correct and improve upon some of the issues folks had running SABnzbd.

NZBGet has done a solid job surpassing SABnzbd in certain areas. It is expected that if development on the project continues, it will not just be a SABnzbd alternative but it will become the preferred choice for downloading.

That being said, there are still some things that SABnzbd does better.

Runtime Speed and Efficiency: NZBGet

SABnzbd is written in Python, which is an interpreted language. Interpreted languages tend to have slower runtime speeds than do compiled languages like C++. NZBGet is written in C++, and this translates to not only using far fewer system resources than SABnzbd, but a faster runtime as well.

Now, for newer PCs, you're probably not going to notice much of a difference. If you're downloading on a laptop or an older PC, you're likely going to want to go with NZBGet because it runs much lighter than its older brother.

It is light enough to run fast on Raspberry PI and Synology SAS devices. This, in essence, underlies the largest difference between the two very popular Usenet downloaders. Both work on Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Customization and Features: NZBGet

As the newer project, it builds on many of the features that SABnzbd offered. Faster runtime speeds do not result in a loss of features. NZBGet actually expands on what SABnzbd can do, building on the rich feature set that it has provided its users with for years.

On top of that, it is still in active development, with new features and settings being added each year. Meanwhile, SABnzbd appears to be in maintenance mode. The interface and feature list haven't changed much over the past few years, and unless someone decides to fork the project, that looks unlikely to change.

Remote Control of NZBGet

The biggest upgrade from SABnzbd is that it allows users to control the interface from a mobile device. Third-party apps like Couchpotato and Headphones can now communicate with it using the RCP-API service.

NZBGet has a Slicker UI

One of the issues with SABnzbd is that you have to open another browser tab in order to access different pages. NZBGet has no such issue. This is a large part of streamlining the overall runtime speed. It's also one of the major reasons why it is the preferred choice for older machines or machines with fewer resources.

File Transfer Notification: SABnzbd

SABnzbd has one major advantage. This involves the way it senses whether a new NZB file has been added to the folder it has been told to watch.

Both of these downloaders can sense when an NZB file has been placed in the watched folder. NZBGet scans the folder every few seconds, while SABnzbd uses a protocol called inotify. Inotify is superior because it doesn't require the constant effort of re-scanning the folder in order to determine if there is a new file there.

For users that expect their computers to power down or go in to sleep mode due to inactivity after they walk away, this can be a major source of irritation for using NZBGet. So long as NZBGet is running, the computer will have to be powered down manually. It will not enter sleep mode after a download has completed and there is no way to configure it any other way.

User Experience: NZBGet

It simply has a nicer interface. While both are very minimalist in design, it has the prettier widgets. That being said, SABnzbd is about as minimalist and uncomplicated as you're going to get.

This may seem a matter of personal preference, but most folks agree that NZBGet has the nicer interface.

Use with Indexers: Both Best

Using either downloader with an indexer offers no significant advantage one way or the other. The process is simple either way. You simply go to your favorite indexer, download the NZB and load it through a simple “add NZB” button.

It's Not a Popularity Contest, It's a Feature Contest

A program in active development that has built on and surpassed its predecessors has to be given the edge over a program with years of popularity and success under its belt. Like so many other things in the modern world, it's not what you've done for me, it's what have you done for me lately. NZBGet has the clear advantage in this regard.

Still, SABnzbd remains the more popular option for a reason. It's a terrific program that is easy to install, set up, and use. NZBGet has the edge in terms of features, interface, and speed, but is it enough of an edge to push SABnzbd from the top spot?

SABnzbd is still the most popular option for a reason. Its legacy of excellence has put it in a position where a new fledgling successor needs to have a significant advantage in order to match the rate of new users and downloads it records every month. For as good as NZBGet is, it hasn't distinguished itself enough to muscle its way into the top spot.

As time passes and development continues for the newer Usenet downloader, that will likely change. Old timers will likely talk about how in their day, you didn't need to configure all those new-fangled features nor the ability to communicate remotely with an NZB downloader. But it's clear to us that the future belongs to NZBGet.

You can get a head start by reading The Ultimate Guide to NZBGet.

There are thousands of articles added to USENET every second, so the key is finding exactly what you’re looking for.

NZB sites will help you find what you are looking for on USENET. They provide NZB.file, which tells your newsreader which files need to be downloaded. This guide walks you through how to get set up with NZB indexers so you can get the best USENET search results possible.

Access to Newsgroup Binaries requires 3 things: : 1) a subscription to a USENET provider - 2) a Newsreader(downloader) and 3) access to NZB sites(Usenet search engines)

➀Subscribe to a USENET provider

☞ Before you can start downloading from USENET, you need to get USENET access from a USENET provider. This will give you access to the servers where articles are posted.

☞ If you are planning to download binaries, the most important factors in selecting the best newsgroup server provider are:

HIGH RETENTION - the amount of time an article posted to Usenet is stored on a USENET provider’s server – the more retention, the more articles you get access to and the better your download completion will be.

SPEED - some providers have faster networks with more server locations than others.

UNLIMITED PLANS WITHOUT DATA CAPS OR THROTTLING - some ‘unlimited’ providers will actually close your account or throttle your download speeds if you download too much.

Here are the top recommended USENET providers:

Newshosting has the fastest USENET backbone with servers throughout the US and EU. It also has the most binary and text retention, maximizing your chances of a complete download when using an NZB file. The price is very good and includes a free newsreader with USENET search (you can also import NZB files into it for fast download), 60 SSL-secured connections and a free Zero-Logs VPN.

Get a 58% Newshosting Lifetime Discount here

☛EWEKA USENET☚

If you care about completion, Eweka is best as it can get. If you have access to private indexers/obfuscated posts, the cheapest omicron deal offers the most value.

Eweka is an independent provider with USENET servers in the EU. It is a separate backbone from Newshosting and, in the event Newshosting does not have the articles available that you want, Eweka should have them so you can complete your download. Like Newshosting, it has great retention and includes a free newsreader with USENET search that also supports NZB file downloads.

Get a 7 day/unlimited GB Eweka free trial here (includes a 27% automatic lifetime discount if you decide to stay on after your trial)

✍ TIP! If you combine Newshosting and Eweka with obfuscated files, you are all set. This combo gets me the best completion of all the different setups I have tried. ✍

✍ I have been using them for well over 10 year now and never had any problem. ✍

Nzb Downloader App

② Selecting a Newsreader

☞ After getting USENET access with a provider, you will now need a good newsreader. This is the software you’ll use to connect to the USENET provider’s servers and download articles.

➜ Newshosting and Eweka offer a free newsreader with your account and that is a real value. It is often preferable to use the Newsreader that your provider supplies as it is often custom tailored to their service and should give you the best possible USENET experience.

➜ You can use any newsreader you want to connect to USENET. Other good newsreaders include SABnzbd and NZBGet. NZBGet is what I use for my USENET downloader. NZBGet’s big features include file name repair of obfuscated file names using the par files. It also has a unique feature called 'fast par-rename', which restores original file names within few seconds, even on very slow machines, eliminating the need for time consuming par-verify step.

✍ Having a reliable USENET account with good retention and network speeds plus a good NZB Site will almost always ensure 100% completion of all downloads✍

☞ The next and last step is finding NZB Files. This is where USENET indexing sites and USENET Search Engines come into play. There are two ways to find NZB files:

➜NZB Sites – These give you the ability to search for articles posted to USENET. There is an enormous amount of NZB sites out there and these communities index the billions of articles on USENET, making it easy to find specifically what you are looking for. Once found, simply grab the NZB file and import it into your newsreader, which will then download all articles associated with that NZB file from your USENET provider’s servers.

➜USENET search engines – USENET search engines are similar to NZB sites in that you can search for articles on USENET and grab the associated NZB files, but there is no community behind them. It’s simply software that crawls posts on Usenet search engines, indexes them, allows you to run searches on the index (think Google search), then create your own NZBs.

➜➜ The big difference between NZB sites and USENET search engines is that NZB sites contain a catalog of NZB Files and are community-driven, while USENET Search engines simply allow you to search against an article index and create your very own NZB files in real time. USENET search engines are also generally free to use, whereas NZB sites often require a membership (some paid).

NZB Sites, on the other hand, do have a big advantage – they provide NZB files even for obfuscated content that is not found by regular USENET search engines. Many files posted to USENET nowadays have obfuscated file names. These files have obfuscated names in order to hide their content. This makes public USENET search engines (Binsearch - Nzbindex) useless and requires joining one or more NZB Sites to get the NZBs for obfuscated releases.

☞ Many files posted to USENET nowadays have obfuscated file names. The file names just look like scrambled letters and numbers. And sometimes uploaders spread the parts across numerous Newsgroups. To decipher obfuscated files and reveal their content, you need a good USENET indexer. They will do all the work for you and even translate the obfuscated file name to the real file name.

☞ We can only recommend signing up for more than one NZB indexing site because each USENET indexer indexes different article posts. USENET indexers don't simply index the USENET server; they choose which Newsgroups to index, so having multiple indexers means you will be getting articles from more USENET Newsgroups. Most NZB sites will typically give you excellent results and have an impressive list of available NZB files, but no one indexer can de-obfuscate all posts.

Factors to consider when choosing an NZB indexer: Be sure to look at the max number of NZB downloads and API calls per day (CouchPotato and Sonarr users will need an indexer that offers an API key). This determines how much you can actually use their service.

☛EASYNEWS - USENET access + USENET search + newsreader combined

➜ ➜ Easynews isn’t specifically an NZB site, but it tops the list because it’s an all-in-one service that has all 3 components you need (vs having to go to 3 different places to get them):

USENET access – Unlimited Tier-1 server access with very good speed and article retention.

USENET search – Built-in search engine that gives the best USENET search results of any single NZB indexer or USENET search engine. This is a huge feature that will save you time and money digging around and signing up for different NZB search sites. Easynews search results can be filtered by file type and also include thumbnail previews - helpful for finding the best search result option based on your personal preference.

Newsreader – Your account comes with access to the web-based Easynews interface, which is fast and gives fast and good search results. No software or NZBs are required. It can be accessed from any tablet, phone or desktop through your web browser, which is unique considering USENET has generally always been limited to desktop computers.

➜ ➜ 50GB free trial for Easynews is available here. This link will also get you a 75% lifetime discount plus unlimited downloads (normally caped at 150GB per month).

☛NZBGeek

➜ My current favourite NZB site is NZBGeek. It’s a very reliable indexer and it has never let me down.

➜ It is also a great NZB indexing site with quality items

☛NZBGrabit.XYZ

➜ Active community (no automation). Users add NZB content to the site.

☛NZBFinder

➜ It's one of the best NZB indexes these days.

☛NZBforyou

➜NZBForyou is is a community based NZB forum

☛Newshosting's Newsreader - Integrated USENET Browsers

➜Newshosting has integrated the NZB search directly into their USENET Browser. All you need to do to get started is type in keywords for articles you are interested in, and their servers will return results from all alt binaries newsgroups on full range of binary retention. You can double click on one of the results that looks interesting to you, and the program will download it for you automatically (and of course the ability to create NZB files from your search result ).

☛Global Search 2.0 - USENET search engine

➜UsenetServerprovides Global Search 2.0 that allows their members to search for articles on their Newsgroup servers.

UsenetServer is currently offering a 14 day, 10 GB free Usenet trial. You can test the value of Global Search 2.0 by taking advantage of the 14 Day/10GB free trial.

☛Binsearch - USENET search engine

➜ Binsearch is probably the most popular USENET search engine that doesn’t require an invitation or registration.

☛NzbIndex - USENET search engine

➜ Nzbindex.Nl is one of our favorite USENET search engine at the moment.

☛ NzbKing - USENET search engine

➜ NzbKing is definitely worth looking at if you’re looking for a new indexing service.

☛NinjaCentral

➜ Excellent choice of indexer for NZBs.

☛Brothers of Usenet

☛The Newgeneration