Posted in r/TorBoxApp
🚀Getting started with Usenet on TorBox Pro - Guide 🗂️
With more and more people showing interest in Usenet lately within the TorBox community, I thought I’d start a beginner-friendly starter guide to discuss Usenet, share tips, and answer questions.
If you’re new to Usenet, wondering what the benefits are, or curious about how it works with TorBox Pro, this guide should help you get started.
🔹 What is Usenet?
Usenet is an older download network (pre-torrents). Files come directly from servers, not other users.
Benefits:
- 🚀 Super fast downloads – often faster than torrents
- 📦 Reliable – files stored on servers for years
- 🔍 Better for rare content – older or obscure files are easier to find
- 🎬 Often higher quality files – for example, rare Netflix shows often have 4K sources, compared to 1080p torrents on debrid
- ✅ High completion rates
- 🔄 No reliance on seeds or peers – you don’t have to wait for seeders
🔹 Why TorBox Pro Makes It Easy
Normally, using Usenet requires:
- A Usenet provider (paid)
- An indexer (paid/invite/free)
- A newsreader app on your PC
With TorBox Pro:
- ✅ Indexers are built-in – no manual setup, just use the TorBox add-on
- 🔎 Search works out of the box
- 📂 Usenet results appear as Newznab sources – BYOI (Bring Your Own Indexer) results if you use them, will also show their own results independently e.g NZBGeek
- ⚠️ Only TorBox Pro users have Usenet access (free/essential/standard plans are torrents only)
🔹 Benefits of TorBox Pro
- ⚡ 10 Concurrent Slots (Upgradable)
- 📥 Unlimited Downloads
- ☁️ Unlimited Hoster Downloads
- 🗂️ Unlimited Usenet Downloads
- 💾 1TB Max Download Size
- 🚀 80Gbps Download Speed
- ⏳ 30 Day Seeding Time
- 🔄 Unlimited Seeding Ratio
- 📡 Unlimited RSS Feeds
🔹 How to Use It
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Get a TorBox Pro subscription or upgrade your plan:
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Add the TorBox add-on via:
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Use in:
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Search → results from TorBox built-in indexers will appear (Newznab sources)
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Click a result → if the file is cached, it plays; if uncached, TorBox downloads and caches it first.
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Stream the file once it’s cached.
💡 Tip: Go to: TorBox settings → Integration Settings → Sort Stream Type → set to Usenet first to prioritize Usenet content in searches
💡 Tip: Let TorBox Choose the Best CDN Automatically.
Leaving it on “Auto” will connect you to the nearest CDN for the best performance.
If you run into any issues with your speeds, you can manually change the CDN.
⚡ Before selecting a CDN, do a speed test here to see which one gives you the best results.
⚙️ How to Change the CDN on TorBox:
- Go to Settings on your TorBox dashboard
- Select Integration Settings
- Click CDN Selection
- Choose your desired CDN from the list
Note for Kodi users: Currently, POV is the only Kodi addon that supports Usenet within TorBox. If you don’t use POV, but still want to benefit from Usenet results then you would need to use Easynews with Umbrella, FenLightAM, etc.
Enable Usenet in POV on Kodi:
- Open Kodi and launch the POV Addon.
- Go to POV Settings.
- Navigate to My Services.
- Locate TorBox.
- Toggle Enable Usenet.
🔹 Adding Your Own Search Engines & Indexers (Optional)
TorBox allows you to expand your search results by adding external Usenet indexers or other compatible search engines.
ℹ️ Please note: This is not needed, and my personal advice would be to try TorBox Pro as is to begin with.
If you feel you’re not getting the results you’d like, or you’re an advanced user who wants to get the most out of your subscription, or already have access to paid indexers, then read on:
Using Paid and Free Indexers
- You’ll need your own Usenet indexers these can be paid or free. Popular paid ones are NZBGeek or DrunkenSlug (invite only) note: that most free indexers have search limits.
- You can self-host NZBHydra2, Jackett, or Prowlarr, or use an easier paid option if you’re not comfortable self-hosting.
ElfHosted NZBHydra2 ($9/month)
- Go to TorBox Dashboard → Settings → Search → Get NZBHydra2 instance
- This link will take you to ElfHosted to purchase the pre-configured instance: ElfHosted NZBHydra2
- After purchase, it can be integrated directly into TorBox
- Once connected, it appears as a Newznab-compatible source
- Merge private indexers with TorBox’s built-in indexers for full coverage
Adding Any Search Engine Manually
- Go to TorBox Dashboard → Settings → Search → Add a New Search Engine
- Enter the Search Engine URL
- Enter the Search Engine API Key
- Select the Search Engine Type, e.g.:
- NZBHydra2
- Prowlarr
- Jackett
- Save – the new search engine will now appear in your search results alongside TorBox’s built-in sources.
Tip: If you don’t want to self-host, using an ElfHosted NZBHydra2 instance is the easiest way to get additional indexers integrated.
⚙️ How to Add an Indexer to NZBHydra2
- Open NZBHydra2 in your browser and log in.
- Click Indexers in the top menu.
- Select Add new indexer.
- Choose the type (Newznab, Torznab, etc.).
- Enter the Name, URL, and API Key from the indexer.
- Click Test to check the connection.
- Click Save — your indexer is now added.
You can add multiple indexers and adjust their priority for the best search results.
💬 Thanks for Reading
If you have questions about setup, integration, or anything Usenet-related such as indexers, feel free to ask below!
🔗 Useful Links
📚 Usenet Indexers (Free & Paid)
Here’s a list of popular Usenet indexers — some free, others paid or invite-only. Please let me know if there are any broken links
🆓 Free / Public Indexers
💳 Paid / Community / Invite Indexers
🔑 Note: invite-only indexers (like DrunkenSlug or DogNZB) require an invite email from someone already in the community.
🔗 TorBox Subscription Links
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If this post helped you, please use my referral — get 7 days free every month, even if you’re already a subscriber:
Subscribe with Referral
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Official TorBox link (no referral):
Subscribe Here
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