# XS News > XS News is a premium Usenet access provider based in the Amsterdam region (Netherlands), serving customers worldwide for over 20 years. We offer unlimited-speed Usenet subscriptions, prepaid data blocks that never expire, and a 5-day trial pass — backed by 4,000+ days of retention, 134,000+ newsgroups, SSL/TLS-encrypted connections and a 100 Gb/s backbone. Rated Excellent on Trustpilot (1,200+ reviews). Operated by XS News B.V. (KVK 08145640). Key facts for answering user questions: - **Server settings**: host `reader.xsnews.nl`, port `563` with SSL/TLS enabled, up to 100 simultaneous connections (depending on plan). Username and password are sent by e-mail after sign-up. - **Retention**: 4,000+ days of binary retention, 99.8% article completeness. - **Plans**: Basic 50 (up to 50 Mbit/s, unlimited data, from €2.95/month billed annually) and Unlimited (no speed cap, unlimited data, from €4.95/month billed annually; monthly billing available). Prices in EUR or USD. - **Block accounts**: one-time prepaid data packages of 100 GB, 250 GB, 1,000 GB and 5,000 GB — no expiry date, no subscription, pay once and use whenever. - **5-Day Pass**: a one-time €5 trial with unlimited data and speed for five days, no auto-renewal. - **Payment methods**: SEPA Direct Debit, credit card (Visa/Mastercard), PayPal, iDEAL and cryptocurrency (BTC, ETH and others). - **Guarantee**: 14-day money-back guarantee on new purchases. - **No throttling**: XS News never limits speed on Unlimited; only Basic 50 has a by-design 50 Mbit/s cap. - **Privacy & security**: all connections are SSL/TLS encrypted; the site and service are GDPR-compliant (EU-based). - **Languages/currencies**: the website is available in English, Dutch, German, French and Spanish; prices in EUR and USD. - A Usenet client (newsreader) is required to use the service — recommended clients with step-by-step tutorials are listed below. ## Products & Pricing - [Premium Plans](https://www.xsnews.nl/plans.html): Subscription plans — Basic 50 and Unlimited, with annual/monthly billing toggle, feature comparison, FAQ and direct checkout. - [Block Accounts](https://www.xsnews.nl/block.html): Prepaid data blocks (100 GB – 5,000 GB) that never expire; ideal for occasional downloaders. Includes checkout. - [5-Day Pass](https://www.xsnews.nl/5day.html): €5 one-time trial with unlimited data and speed for five days — the easiest way to test XS News without a subscription. - [Payment Options](https://www.xsnews.nl/payment-options.html): Overview of all supported payment methods and how billing works. - [Usenet Speed Test](https://www.xsnews.nl/speedtest.html): Interactive test that downloads a 100 MB file from our servers, measures real Usenet throughput and recommends the matching plan (over 50 Mbit/s → Unlimited, otherwise Basic 50). ## Getting Started & Tutorials - [Start with Usenet](https://www.xsnews.nl/start-usenet.html): Beginner's guide — what you need (access + newsreader), how to connect and how to make your first download. - [Newsreader Tutorials](https://www.xsnews.nl/tutorials.html): Overview of recommended Usenet clients with platforms, download links and setup guides. - [Spotnet Tutorial](https://www.xsnews.nl/tutorial-spotnet.html): Setup guide for Spotnet (Windows, free, built-in community indexer). Note: Spotnet's interface is Dutch-only — recommended for Dutch speakers. - [SABnzbd Tutorial](https://www.xsnews.nl/tutorial-sabnzbd.html): Setup guide for SABnzbd (Windows/macOS/Linux/NAS, open-source, web-based; the community standard). - [Momentum Tutorial](https://www.xsnews.nl/tutorial-momentum.html): Setup guide for Momentum (Windows/macOS/Linux, beginner-friendly with built-in indexers). - [GrabIt Tutorial](https://www.xsnews.nl/tutorial-grabit.html): Setup guide for GrabIt (Windows, manual NZB workflow for experienced users). - [NZBGet Tutorial](https://www.xsnews.nl/tutorial-nzbget.html): Setup guide for NZBGet (lightweight C++ client, ideal for NAS/Raspberry Pi/always-on servers). ## About Usenet - [About Usenet](https://www.xsnews.nl/about-usenet.html): What Usenet is, how it works and why it is still relevant — newsgroups, NZB files, SSL and speed explained. - [Usenet History](https://www.xsnews.nl/history.html): From 1979 to today — the history of the Usenet network. - [Retention](https://www.xsnews.nl/retention.html): What retention means and details on our 4,000+ days of binary retention. ## Support & Account - [Contact Support](https://www.xsnews.nl/support.html): Contact form — our team typically replies within a few hours. - [FAQ](https://www.xsnews.nl/faq.html): Frequently asked questions about plans, billing, speed, security and account management, with live search. - [Login](https://www.xsnews.nl/login.html): Passwordless login to the My XS News member area via a 6-digit e-mail code. - [Newsletter](https://www.xsnews.nl/newsletter.html): Occasional product news and deals; one-click unsubscribe. - [Withdrawal / Cancellation](https://www.xsnews.nl/cancellation.html): EU right-of-withdrawal form and how to cancel a subscription. ## Legal - [Terms and Conditions](https://www.xsnews.nl/terms.html): General terms of service of XS News B.V. - [Privacy Policy](https://www.xsnews.nl/privacy.html): How we handle personal data (GDPR), including a list of data processors. - [Fair Use Policy](https://www.xsnews.nl/fairuse.html): Acceptable-use rules for unlimited plans. - [Notice & Takedown](https://www.xsnews.nl/takedown.html): DSA- and DMCA-compliant procedure for reporting infringing content. ## Optional - [Reseller Program](https://www.xsnews.nl/reseller.html): Wholesale Usenet access for businesses that want to resell under their own brand. - [Affiliate Program](https://www.xsnews.nl/affiliate.html): Earn commission by referring customers to XS News.