Retention

Retention refers to how long your provider keeps files available. Choosing a provider with good retention is essential for a smooth Usenet experience, as not everything is reuploaded and may only be available once. However, retention time in days isn’t always a full indicator; some providers may delete articles sooner than advertised. To help you choose the best provider, I've created a tier list based on actual retention performance. Providers are ranked by retention (highest to lowest), but this list is an approximate guide and may change with improved testing methods. Refer to the Usenet Tree if you’re unsure of your provider's backbone.

S-Tier: Eweka, Omicron
A-Tier: UsenetExpress, Abavia, NetNews
B-Tier: Giganews
C-Tier: Uzo Reto
D-Tier: Base IP, Its Hosted

Please consider supporting smaller providers like Usenet.Farm and ViperNews, even if their retention isn’t the best. Pair them with a larger provider if needed. Avoid the cheapest deals, even with bigger providers, as they’re often unsustainable. Your support helps ensure healthy competition and a more diverse Usenet ecosystem.

Additionally, you should consider that NewsDemon and NewsGroupDirect each have another unique extra storage cluster.